Samba and cake - What does it take to save the Amazon?

As a Greenspeaker, I have often used the McDonald's campaign from 2005 as an example of a success story. With every telling, this story reminds me why we do what we do and proves that non violent direct action can make an enormous difference even on the other side of the world.

The Amazon rainforest was being cleared to grow soya. Cargill, the culprits, refused to engage with Greenpeace so we targeted their biggest customer instead - McDonald's – by donning giant chicken suits and showing the world what Ronald McDonald really gets up to with his chainsaw. A few short hours later, the campaign resulted in McDonald's agreeing to buy only sustainably grown soya beans. Not long after this success, the Brazilian government agreed to a 2-year moratorium on clearing rainforest for soya. This gave us valuable time to get more solid measures in place and since then deforestation has decreased year on year.  

Until, that is, last year. Proposed changes to the Forest Code – the Brazilian laws protecting the Amazon – has led to increased forest clearance. The Forest Code is about to be weakened by vote in the Federal Senate and this may ultimately be approved by President Dilma.

It's not just Europeans that oppose deforestation. The weight of the international scientific community agrees that deforestation leads to disaster. And a whopping 85% of Brazilian people are in favour of saving their rainforest.

Greenpeace Brazil asked for urgent help. Offices around the world have been on standby, waiting for the opportune moment to act. With voting potentially occurring in the next fortnight, that time came on Monday. Fifteen offices globally held events to send a strong message to Brazil.

In London, some of us marched to the Brazilian embassy with a huge flag, a huge cake, and a real live samba band! We recreated the carnival atmosphere despite the grey London skies, and made it loud and clear to embassy staff as well as all the curious passers-by that the Amazon is vital and must not be destroyed. The outcome was the best we could hope for. Embassy staff agreed to send the message to Brazil as well as to meet with Greenpeace to discuss the Amazon issue. Brazilian broadcasters came along to interview us and the huge cake (Edible message: 85% of Brazilians say SAVE THE AMAZON) eventually disappeared inside the building.

The vote has now been postponed to next Tuesday. As the Brazilian campaign director Paulo says, “Buying time is crucial: if the project is not voted next week than it will be very very difficult for the Congress to decide this year. Next year, with Rio +20 knocking on Dilma's door, the wind will blow in our favor. “