dilma rousseff

Following years of intense pressure from the agribusiness sector, Brazil's parliament yesterday afternoon approved sweeping reforms to the country's forest protection law that spell destruction for the Amazon rainforest.

The forest code is in danger, and with its future lies the fate of the Brazilian Amazon. This week, after another delay to the vote on the new law, thousands of Brazilians demonstrated in Brasilia, demanding Dilma veto the new law.

At the end of 2011, before Brazilian government officials closed up shop for the holidays, President Dilma demanded final approval on the new forest code. This new proposal condemns the Brazilian forests and is a deal between government and agribusiness that was made in back rooms and secret meetings.

The next stage of voting on Brazil’s new Forest Code – which could have devastating impacts on the Amazon - has been once again postponed before going to President Dilma Rousseff.

We are edging closer to an "ecological calamity" in the Amazon rainforest and a vote in the Brazilian senate has pushed us closer to the brink.

Yesterday, it voted to approve destructive changes to the laws governing forest protection – called the Forest Code - that would open up the Amazon rainforest to rampant destruction. But it is not too late.

Copenhagen, December 2009: amidst the general feeling of disappointment due to the lack of leadership at the UN climate conference, Brazil is responsible for one of the very few rays of hope: the chief of cabinet announces a set of very ambitious environmental targets, including a commitment to a 80 per cent reduction in deforestation by 2020. The chief of cabinet's name? Dilma Rousseff. Her job today? President of Brazil.