AMAZON AT RISK FROM BOLSONARO POLICIES ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Jair Bolsonaro, President-elect of Brazil was stabbed during the election campaign amid raging alarm about his social conservatism and policies[1] (political, economic, social, and environmental). The Amazon is home to more than over 400 tribes, with about 100 uncontacted tribes[2].

The indigenous people have a 500 year history of fighting to keep their lands and save the forest from deforestation due to greedy corporations lobbying to profit from the Amazon after financing corrupt government collaborators/political candidates during electoral campaigns. The watchdog group, Greenpeace implicated Cargill and McDonald's, along other large companies illegally obtained soy from deforested land[3].

Strategically, Brazil’s Amazon biodiversity generation and loss impacts on the world’s climate, as 15% of the global greenhouse gas emissions come from tropical deforestation[4]. Therefore, the preservation of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest, the indigenous people’s land, plant and animal species is a global concern. The nation’s climate change law caused a drastic fall in annual deforestation rate from about 27,000km2 in 2004 to about 4,500km2 in 2012.

However, Bolsonaro is threatening to pull Brazil out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, if Brazil's sovereignty over the Amazon region is compromised[5]. He renounced plans to host a crucial United Nations (UN) climate talks in 2019[6]. Observers described the renunciation as anti-internationalism (The Climate Observatory NGO) and calls for newer and tougher action by European commission to end deforestation has been intensified. Ernesto Araújo, the new foreign minister chosen by the President sees climate change as a ploy by “cultural Marxists” to stifle western economies and promote the growth of China.

Another major cause of conflict between the far-right politician, the indigenous people and international community is his proposal to industrialize the Amazon through international agribusiness[7] and mining which has implications for global warming and displacement of the tribal peoples. The merging of both the environment and agriculture ministries is designed to further expose the Amazon to deforestation and economical exploitation.

Additionally, Bolsonaro's intention to strip the community dwellers of the Amazon of indigenous land rights led to violent attacks and destruction of their villages by pro-Bolsonaro forces. This article aims to analyze the Brazilian crisis using the Dual Concern Theory which proposes strategies for dealing with different conflict management styles across cultures, along with recommendations.

Why is Amazon being targeted?

The Amazon Rainforest has been described as the "Lungs of the Planet". It is a massive carbon sink, contains 1/5 of the world´s fresh water, produces 20% of the global oxygen by land plants[8], is home to over 10 million species of plants, animals and insects, and provides varieties of material products, such as minerals, timber, rubber, and Brazil nuts. Illegal logging and mining operations are alarmingly common and have been difficult to control by the government agencies, in an area which is as large as the United States.

The Amazon also suffered massive deforestation and flooding of reservation lands after the World Bank funded clearing of thousands of square miles of forest in the 70’s for giant hydroelectric projects and cattle ranches, without regard for reservation status[9]. Changes in regional precipitation patterns are another a major consequence of deforestation and have leaded to drought in Brazil's southeast[10]. There is also growing concern over further deforestation due to rising temperatures and CO2 levels, which is released when trees die.

Hence, globally there is a consensus for governments to take a stand on the fight against deforestation, not just through environmentally friendly policies but also take formidable action at the local and international arena. The United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), reported that controlling deforestation is vital for curtailing global warming[11].

The Dual Concern Theory and the Brazilian Crisis

Accommodation, avoidance, competition, collaboration and compromising are the five negotiation strategies that were proposed by the Dual concern theory (Pruitt&Rubin,1986)[12]. The dual dimensions of concern for self and concern for others, could be either high or low depending on the conflict management styles.

The dynamics of social life and culture of the indigenous people of Brazil is collectivistic, with emphasis on high concern for others. Bolsonaro’s proposed policies are in contrast to the norm, with low concern for others, the preservation of the rainforest and global warming.

The collaborating strategy of the theory that indicates high concern for self and others (among the indigenous people), has grown stronger in recent times due to the anti-nature policies by Bolsonaro, placing higher concern and interest in agribusinesses and big corporations. His plans include scrapping the country’s Environment Ministry and putting it under the Agriculture Ministry, led by agribusiness[13]. Bolsnaro threatens to pull Brazil out of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, where Brazil agreed to end illegal deforestation by 2030.

Concerned of losing their ancestral lands and forced to give up their traditions and norms, anxiety and anger is increasing amongst indigenous tribes, that will not give up without a fight[14]. The people will be inclined to protect their cultural worldview against the consumer based capitalistic values of greedy corporations. Negotiating parties (the government and big business) display a stronger concern for self, which brings more competitive and dominating conflict management styles.

Conclusion
Illegal money laundering from sources such as government corruption and drug trafficking[15], the demand for monetary profits from enterprises, and Bolsonaro’s proposed policies pose evident threat to the Amazon. This problem pleads for practical solutions that compose and maintain a healthy balance between the excessive needs of menacing corporations and the survival of Amazon’s outstanding ecosystem.

The Dual Theory, which suggests a collaborative approach between the conflicting parties at hand, should be applied with exigency. This would enable a win/win exchange where agents maintain their relationship dynamic while ensuring that both parties achieve their goals[16].

Alternative and realistic solutions[17] that stem from this model are very much feasible. In addition to the development of a new economic model that does not threat the biodiversity of the Amazon, the reinforcement of special operations against illegal deforestation in the Amazon, conducted by the Police Federal of Brazil, and the implementation of more sustainable practices that award profit whilst preserving the environment, such as ecotourism, “a responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people”[18] can be efficiently reinforced.

Additionally, alternatives to extraction of non-renewable natural resources have been proposed to halt the oil frontier such as carbon capture and sequestration[19], an international effort that brings public awareness.
Furthermore, switching to an insect rich diet as a healthier source of protein and minerals solves not only the problem of massive land usage for livestock and crops grown to feed them, but also finds a solution to all the organic waste humans produce, as it serves as food for insects[20].

Planting Hemp[21] is also a great alternative to produce paper, building materials, textile, biofuel, medicine and so much more. And it actively absorbs heavy-metal contaminants and radiation from soil, gradually purifying the earth.
Russian Scientists did many experiments that prove that seeds and trees grow faster and stronger inside pyramids[22]. The same was proved by Wilhelm Reich with Oregone energy accumulators[23], where he showed that it is possible to prevent drought and grow crops in deserted areas.
The environmental protection of the Amazon jungle is a commitment between the indigenous people, which will only succeed with the collaboration of the Brazilian government, and the active support of the world.

REFERENCES

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