Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Ecologists Get Ready for National Meet

By IPS Correspondents and - - Reprint | | Print |

RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 25 2003 (IPS) - The first National Environment Conference, Nov. 28-30 in Brasilia, will be an opportunity to strengthen the positions of Minister Marina Silva and the ecological movement, which have suffered blows from several recent governmental measures. The Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva government this year provisionally authorized the planting and sales of genetically modified soy, introduced Amazonian projects with great environmental projects in the 2004-2007 Investment Plan, and gave the green light to importing used tires from Uruguay — all measures opposed by ecological movement and the Environment Ministry.

In preparation for the conference, more than 65,000 people have participated in local conferences in the country's 26 states.