"What’s at Stake in Brazil’s Election? The Future of the Amazon" -New York Times' Somini Sengupta, Oct. 17th, 2018
Article Summary by Milana Baldizzi
In the recent New York Times article by Somini Sengupta, Brazil's recent and ongoing election is highlighted, along with the potential environmental disasters that would be faced if election front-runner Jair Bolsonaro is voted into office. Sengupta goes in detail in explaining each of Bolsonaro's policies and how they will specifically cause tragedy on the environment. One excellent example is where she specifies the dangers that the Amazon forests and its inhabitants face. Firstly, however, the candidate himself is explained. Jair Bolsonaro is a far right-politician widely supported in Brazil, but his potential decisions in office will most definitely not be beneficial towards the country in the long run, nor the Earth. Bolsonaro has been sitting on the idea of withdrawing from the Paris climate agreement, scrapping the Environmental Ministry in favor of the Agricultural Ministry (which is most obviously biased and inclined towards companies and farming, instead of sustainability), and dismisses the idea of reserving land for the Amazon's indigenous peoples. Along with this, he also vows to reduce penalties on those found guilty of violating environmental protection laws. Brazil has been well-known to be a leader in global climate agenda, yet Bolsonaro's win would guarantee a loss in all the progress the country has made thus far in reducing deforestation and preserving the natural resources in the land. Sengupta's article states, "Deforestation rates began falling steadily starting around 2005. But that trend has since reversed, and, according to satellite surveys by Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, more than 3,000 square miles of forest cover were lost between August 2015 and July 2016." Sengupta further explains what these trends in deforestation means for Brazil, and for the Earth in general. She cites researchers and analysis to specify how cutting down forests results in a rise in emissions, and how Brazil is the worlds sixth largest producer of carbon emissions. Sengupta concludes her article by strongly quoting that "The recent rollback of conservation measures reflects the growing influence of a powerful conservative wing within Brazil’s legislature..." and that "A Bolsonaro victory would amplify its influence".