US President Joe Biden received a letter in Washington this morning with a request signed by major units of Brazilian civil society: He demands respect for democracy, free elections and the protection of the forest from Jair Bolsonaro.
The two leaders will meet on the sidelines of the Americas Summit in Los Angeles in the coming days. Biden avoided any contact with the Brazilian for months and hasn’t even called Bolsonaro since he took office. The Brazilian supported the arguments of Donald Trump, the defeated candidate in the American elections, that the result was fraudulent.
But ahead of an empty summit, Biden responded to an old meeting request with the aim of persuading the Brazilian to travel to the United States.
There is an understanding within Itamaraty that the Americans will not use the meeting to publicly humiliate Bolsonaro. But civil society now insists that the meeting could be used by the president as a seal of approval for acts of aggression against their government and democracy.
The letter requesting the American president was signed by more than 70 organizations, including the Articulation of Brazilian Indigenous Peoples, Article 19, the Arns Commission, Conectas Human Rights, Greenpeace Brazil, the Vladimir Herzog Institute, the Homeless Workers Movement, and Washington. Brazilian Office. UOL was informed that the document had reached Biden’s team.
“We understand your goals of bringing the Americas together through the Summit, especially in the face of the crisis in Europe. But we send this letter to you during your meeting to urge you to resolutely defend democracy, free and fair elections, climate action and fundamental protection of the rainforest, if Brazilian democracy collapses, Mr. All your efforts to “build a sustainable, resilient and equitable future” will be futile, the President states at the Americas Summit.
“As Brazilian NGOs, we are concerned that President Jair Bolsonaro will use the meeting with you to argue that your administration supports your attacks on democracy, free and fair elections, the environment, science, fundamental human rights and human rights. The Amazon Jungle,” they warn.
The group, which still consists of organizations representing the LGBTQIA+ movement and other sectors, did not neglect to remind the American of the differences that exist between the two leaders.
“Mr. Biden, the man you have invited into a private dialogue, curses the critical values most Americans value. While you maintain common sense gun control in the United States, Mr. Bolsonaro is bringing more guns to Brazilian society and promoting paramilitary groups,” he pointed out. they do.
“While his policies on the epidemic were aimed at embracing science, Mr. Bolsonaro was hostile to masks and vaccines – especially for children. He compared Afro-Brazilians to cattle,” they say.
“While you advocated love and inclusion, Mr. Bolsonaro promoted physical violence against the LGBTQIA+ community,” they emphasize.
Killing Democracy in Latin America’s Largest Country
But the warning refers to the intentions of the Brazilian president regarding a final democratic break.
“Right now, inflation, hunger, violence and deforestation are on the rise in Brazil. Instead of getting his country out of crisis, Mr. Bolsonaro is launching a coup. He’s attacking our Supreme Court and laying the foundations to discredit the upcoming elections. And kill democracy in Latin America’s largest country,” they said.
“We are preparing for the January 6 version of Bolsonaro if he loses re-election,” warns the groups, citing the date when the Capitol was attempted to be occupied by supporters of Donald Trump.
The document also urges Americans not to abide by the Brazilian government’s environmental policies. “The continuation of Mr Bolsonaro’s government will doom the Amazon Jungle and its peoples, destroying the few chances the world still has to keep the 1.5C goal alive,” they say.
“Any agreement with Brazil on the Amazon must involve civil society. Negotiations should only progress when Brazil demonstrates its determination to protect the forest, reduce deforestation rates and halt political efforts to weaken environmental laws through the various bills supported by Mr. Bolsonaro.” , they argue.
“We hope that your values and principles will guide you to make the best decisions for the future of democracy, cooperation, peace, friendship and freedom on our continent,” concludes the group of such entities as Peregum Black. Reference Institute, Marielle Institute Franco, Instituto Sou da Paz, Free Journalists and Climate Observatory.
source: Noticias
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