‘It's ecocide' Activists rise against laws that favour industry

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Bra sília after one of the Brazil’s leading musician , Caetano Veloso , called a protest to denounce what environmentalists are calling a historic assault on the environment under President Jair Bolsonaro.

- Constance Malleret and Tom Phillips

The Atopela Terra ( Stand for the Earth ) demonstration in the capital opposed what activists call a “death combo” of five bills being considered by congress. The senate is expected to vote on three of those bills in the coming weeks, while two are expected to face votes in the lower house.

If approved, the proposals would give the go-ahead for commercial mining on indigenous lands and jeopardise the land rights of tens of thousands of indigenous people; loosen environmental licensing requirements and regulations over pesticide use; and boost land grabbers and illegal loggers in the Amazon, where deforestation has soared under Brazil’s far-right president.

“It’s ecocide,” said Janaína Fernandes, who was among those who turned out to voice anger at the assault on Brazil’s environment.

Veloso, who was joined at the rally outside congress by celebrities including the rapper Emicida, the actor Lázaro Ramos and the singer Daniela Mercury, urged citizens to fight legislation that posed “a clear threat” to the environment.