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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Brazil launches rainforest fund | Brazil launches rainforest fund |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has launched an international fund to protect the Amazon rainforest and help combat climate change. | Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva has launched an international fund to protect the Amazon rainforest and help combat climate change. |
| The fund will promote alternatives to forest-clearing for people living in the Amazon, and support conservation and sustainable development | The fund will promote alternatives to forest-clearing for people living in the Amazon, and support conservation and sustainable development |
| Officials will seek donations abroad and aim to raise $21bn (£11bn) by 2021. | Officials will seek donations abroad and aim to raise $21bn (£11bn) by 2021. |
| But a government minister said Brazil would not accept foreign interference in its Amazon policy. | But a government minister said Brazil would not accept foreign interference in its Amazon policy. |
| The environmental group Greenpeace said it was the first time Brazil had accepted a link between global warming and preserving the rainforest. | The environmental group Greenpeace said it was the first time Brazil had accepted a link between global warming and preserving the rainforest. |
| 'Sovereignty non-negotiable' | 'Sovereignty non-negotiable' |
| Speaking at the launch in Rio de Janeiro, President Lula said Brazil was aware of how much the Amazon meant to the wider world. | Speaking at the launch in Rio de Janeiro, President Lula said Brazil was aware of how much the Amazon meant to the wider world. |
| A look at the rainforest Brazil has launched a fund to protect | |
| "It's better for the country's image to do things right, so we can walk in international forums with our heads high," he added. | "It's better for the country's image to do things right, so we can walk in international forums with our heads high," he added. |
| But the Brazilian leader also insisted that the Amazon's preservation was Brazil's responsibility. | But the Brazilian leader also insisted that the Amazon's preservation was Brazil's responsibility. |
| "We... want the sovereignty that we hold over Amazonian territory and the decisions that are made in this region to be respected," he said. | "We... want the sovereignty that we hold over Amazonian territory and the decisions that are made in this region to be respected," he said. |
| Roberto Mangabeira Unger, minister for strategic affairs, put the point more forcefully: | Roberto Mangabeira Unger, minister for strategic affairs, put the point more forcefully: |
| "The fund is a vehicle by which foreign governments can help support our initiatives without exerting any influence over our national policy. | "The fund is a vehicle by which foreign governments can help support our initiatives without exerting any influence over our national policy. |
| "We are not going to trade sovereignty for money." | "We are not going to trade sovereignty for money." |
| New thinking | New thinking |
| The Amazon rainforest Largest continuous tropical forestShared by nine countries65% Brazilian territoryCovers 6.6m sq km in total Pop: 30m - 23.5m are in Brazil | |
| Greenpeace in Brazil said that the country was accepting the link between global warming and preserving the forest for the first time. | Greenpeace in Brazil said that the country was accepting the link between global warming and preserving the forest for the first time. |
| "For a long time, Brazil was violently opposed to this, insisting fossil fuel was to blame," said Sergio Leitao, director of public policies for Greenpeace Brasil. | "For a long time, Brazil was violently opposed to this, insisting fossil fuel was to blame," said Sergio Leitao, director of public policies for Greenpeace Brasil. |
| "That's true, historically speaking, but today forests play an important role." | "That's true, historically speaking, but today forests play an important role." |
| Brazilian Environment Minister Carlos Minc called for a radical change in environmental attitudes: | Brazilian Environment Minister Carlos Minc called for a radical change in environmental attitudes: |
| "We are committed to reducing the destruction of the rainforest, to eliminating illegal burning and to guaranteeing a better quality of life for all. | "We are committed to reducing the destruction of the rainforest, to eliminating illegal burning and to guaranteeing a better quality of life for all. |
| "Our war is not won by simply reducing illegal burning in one month, it will be won once this environmental model that is destroying our communities and biodiversity is history." | "Our war is not won by simply reducing illegal burning in one month, it will be won once this environmental model that is destroying our communities and biodiversity is history." |