Bolsonaro and right-wing contempt for the planet

Undermining the environment...

One of the first things that Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro did after his inauguration on January 1, was to attack the environment. He did this via an executive order that transferred the supervision of swathes of the Amazon to the business orientated Ministry of Agriculture. It's a bit like entrusting the welfare of elephants to ivory traders. Indigenous reserves that fell under a special Ministry that worked for their protection are now at the mercy of business. 

So, the Amazon forests, often referred to as "the lungs of the earth", are once again in danger and with them the health of the planet. As well as that, many species could be at risk owing to the destruction of their habitats. If all that were not enough, the livelihoods and very existence of indigenous tribes are also at risk.

Patronising the Macuxi

The Macuxi, who live around Raposa Serra do Sol, are such a people. They had fought for their rights and had won. For the last ten years they have been enjoying life without threats of exploitation. At the end of last year Bolsonaro put them back in the firing line:

“It is the richest area in the world. There are ways to exploit it rationally. And for the Indians, to give them royalties and integrate them into society,” he said in December.

Right-wing consistency

The consistent contempt right wing administrations have for the planet and for environmental issues is not coincidental. It is integral to right-wing philosophy, just as racism is. And for exactly the same reason: rapacious greed. This greed does not care if it steals from poor. It does not care if it slams the door on the rest of humanity. And most certainly, it does not care if it depletes the resources that belong to other lifeforms and future generations. No, It does not care, as long as the rich get richer.