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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Brazil's Amazon minister resigns | Brazil's Amazon minister resigns |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Brazil's Environment Minister, Marina Silva, a staunch defender of the Amazon rainforest, has resigned from her post. | |
| In a resignation letter to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva she said the move was "personal and irrevocable". | |
| She also referred to difficulties she had faced "for some time" in implementing the government's environmental agenda. | |
| Environmental campaigners say her resignation is a major setback for the rainforest in Brazil. | Environmental campaigners say her resignation is a major setback for the rainforest in Brazil. |
| "Brazil is losing the only voice in the government that spoke out for the environment," said Sergio Leitao, director of public policy for Greenpeace in Brazil. | "Brazil is losing the only voice in the government that spoke out for the environment," said Sergio Leitao, director of public policy for Greenpeace in Brazil. |
| "The minister is leaving because the pressure on her for taking the measures she took against deforestation has become unbearable," he added. | "The minister is leaving because the pressure on her for taking the measures she took against deforestation has become unbearable," he added. |
| Economic development | Economic development |
| Marina Silva has blamed the increasing deforestation of the Amazon on Brazilian cattle ranchers and farmers. | |
| She had unsuccessfully opposed several government infrastructure projects in the Amazon rainforest, including two big hydroelectric dams on the River Madeira, and a major new road. | |
| According to Brazilian media reports, she was also believed to be dismayed at the recent appointment of another minister to act as a coordinator for the government's newly announced strategy for the Amazon. | According to Brazilian media reports, she was also believed to be dismayed at the recent appointment of another minister to act as a coordinator for the government's newly announced strategy for the Amazon. |
| The government's decision to authorize genetically modified grains, and the construction of a new nuclear power plant, also went against the minister's environmental concerns. | The government's decision to authorize genetically modified grains, and the construction of a new nuclear power plant, also went against the minister's environmental concerns. |
| Correspondents say Ms Silva's resignation will reinforce a perception that President Lula is more concerned with economic development than conservation. | Correspondents say Ms Silva's resignation will reinforce a perception that President Lula is more concerned with economic development than conservation. |
| "The environmental area was relegated to no priority," said Denise Hamu, secretary general of WWF in Brazil. "She got tired of the thankless struggle." | "The environmental area was relegated to no priority," said Denise Hamu, secretary general of WWF in Brazil. "She got tired of the thankless struggle." |
| Others, however, have welcomed her decision to step down. | Others, however, have welcomed her decision to step down. |
| "I hope the next minister is not as radical as Marina. She was an obstacle to economic development in Brazil," said Rui Prado, head of the agriculture federation of Mato Grosso, a big farming state. | "I hope the next minister is not as radical as Marina. She was an obstacle to economic development in Brazil," said Rui Prado, head of the agriculture federation of Mato Grosso, a big farming state. |
| The child of rubber-tappers from the Amazonian state of Acre, Ms Silva was illiterate until the age of 14. | The child of rubber-tappers from the Amazonian state of Acre, Ms Silva was illiterate until the age of 14. |
| She worked with the rainforest activist Chico Mendes, who was later murdered, and she was appointed environment minister when Lula won the presidency in 2002. | She worked with the rainforest activist Chico Mendes, who was later murdered, and she was appointed environment minister when Lula won the presidency in 2002. |