Brazil's Tiny Green Party Leaves Government To Protest Amazon Destruction

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BRASILIA - "Legislators for Brazil's small Green Party quit the government on Thursday to protest its failure to prevent a near-record rise in destruction of the Amazon rainforest.

The party said Wednesday's government announcement that Amazon deforestation hit its second-highest level last year was the final straw after what it called a string of disastrous environmental policies by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

"This government represents one of the biggest-ever reversals for Brazilian environmental policy," said Jovino Candido, one of seven Green Party members in the lower House of Deputies who withdrew support from the ruling coalition in Congress. The Green Party has only a tiny fraction of the 513 deputies in the lower house, but its departure marked another political setback for Lula as he tries to rebuild support after a string of defeats.

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Environmentalists have applauded Lula's efforts to create vast Amazon reserves to promote sustainable use of timber and land resources but they have criticized his inability to enforce environmental laws protecting the vast jungle. Illegal loggers, land speculators and farmers deforested an area of rainforest larger than the US state of New Jersey between 2003 and 2004. Brazil's soy and beef farmers often move into deforested areas, driven by high global prices and booming demand for their exports."

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http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/30890/story.htm