South America

"As Bolsonaro Keeps Amazon Vows, Brazil’s Indigenous Fear ‘Ethnocide’"

"President Jair Bolsonaro is moving aggressively to open up the Amazon rainforest to commercial development, posing an existential threat to the tribes living there."

"URU EU WAU WAU TERRITORY, Brazil — The billboard at the entrance of a tiny Indigenous village in the Amazon has become a relic in less than a decade, boasting of something no longer true.

“Here, there is investment by the federal government,” proclaims the sign, erected in 2012, which is now shrouded by fallen palm tree fronds.

Source: NY Times, 04/21/2020

SEJournal Relaunches WatchDog with a ‘Voice,’ Plus Coronavirus and More

SEJournal welcomes back from hiatus our WatchDog feature, now recast as an opinion column from Joseph A. Davis, Society of Environmental Journalists’ veteran freedom of information advocate and longtime SEJournal contributor. In part one of a two-parter, find out why we’re relaunching the new column, plus get Davis’ take on government openness (or lack thereof) around coronavirus, as well as more on SEJ’s deep commitment to open information and a rundown of its recent FOI activities. And watch for part two next week.

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"Brazil Agency Gives Out Fewest Environmental Fines In 24 Years"

"Brazil’s federal environment agency last year gave out the fewest fines for breaking conservation laws since 1995, the agency’s press office told Reuters on Monday, as the efficacy of the agency, known as Ibama, continues to fall under President Jair Bolsonaro."

Source: Reuters, 03/10/2020

Illustrating the Environment in a New Light

Freelance photographer Morgan Heim explores the ethical and creative considerations of non-traditional photography when reporting on wildlife issues, in a sidebar to the latest EJ InSight. See a slideshow of images with her unique approach. Plus, Heim on surviving in today’s constrained news media economy and the implications for storytelling, independence and integrity.

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Environmental Lawyer Who Won Huge Judgment vs. Chevron Loses Everything

"Last August, during the second-hottest year on record, while the fires in the Amazon rainforest were raging, the ice sheet in Greenland was melting, and Greta Thunberg was being greeted by adoring crowds across the U.S., something else happened that was of great relevance to the climate movement: An attorney who has been battling Chevron for more than a decade over environmental devastation in South America was put on house arrest."

Source: The Intercept, 01/30/2020

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