Organizations of workers, landless peasants, environmentalists, human rights advocates, students, among others, rejected on Saturday the proposal to reform the Code in a national seminar held in Sao Paulo called by over 20 social groups to analyze the issue.

The initiative is strongly supported by the ruralist members of Parliament and the representatives of agribusiness in Brazil. The decision was postponed because the Workers Party denounced that the text submitted by Rebelo to plenary was different to the one that was previously circulated. There were accusations and enraged yelling at Parliament.

According to different Brazilian social movements and organizations, the project aims to reduce Permanent Preservation Areas and grant an amnesty to rural businessmen fined by the government due to the deforestation of native forests. The groups point out that the proposal weakens the protection of forests and facilitates preserved spaces and areas to agribusinesses. It also aims to repeal the measures that limit foreign investments on agriculture and land concentration.

The Brazilian Association of Forest Engineering Students, Nucleo Friends of the Earth Brazil, the Workers Union (CUT), the Federation of Family Farmers, the Movement of Dam-Affected People, the Movement of Peasant Women, the World March of Women and the Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) are among the groups that oppose the proposal. Several of these organizations are part of Via Campesina Brazil.

Environmental laws are an obstacle for transnational corporations, financial institutions and capitalist landowners, said Joao Pedro Stedile, from the MST and Via Campesina Brazil.

According to the MST, Stedile stated that the main goals of agribusiness are to ensure financial amnesty for big landowners who deforested and broke the law; to end with a Brazilian law that establishes that it is mandatory to preserve native plant species in a percentage to be determined by the different regions; and to open the doors for forest and cellulose companies.

“There is enough energy in society to end with these manipulations of economic power”, said the leader. “We believe in the strength of society to drive the House of Representatives to veto this proposal. If that’s not possible, then the Senate or President Dilma should veto it” he added. The leader also proposed to hold a national plebiscite so that the people can decide if they want to reform the Forest Code or not.

The Code “is an innovative law which establishes a sustainable use of forests. Contrary to what ruralists and their allies say, the Forest Code does not generate unproductive areas”, warned La Via Campesina Brazil in a statement issued in December. The current law puts the interests of the Brazilian people above private interests”, he added.

Meanwhile, the former Environment Minister and candidate to the Brazilian Presidency, Marina Silva, said at the event in Sao Paulo that “instead of moving forward, we are moving backwards”, with reference to the debate about reforming the Forest Code.

According to the MST, Silva said that agribusiness goes against the Constitution of 1988, which guarantees the social function of land, and particularly against article 225, that considers a healthy environment is a right of the people. “For them, (the reform of the Code) is not enough and they want to repeal the Constitution. It is the responsibility of the people to maintain the Constitutional right to a healthy environment”, she said.

Silva, former Senator from the Green Party, demanded Dilma Rousseff’s administration to establish a forestry policy to generate the necessary conditions for farmers to produce, generate income, preserve the environment and recover what was destroyed.

Meanwhile, CUT’s Environment Secretary, Carmem Foro, said that it is necessary that the people confront the interests of agricultural transnational companies. Also, Special Advisor to the Brazilian Environment Minister, Luiz Antonio de Carvalho said that the national government won’t accept the reduction of Permanent Preservation Areas. “President Dilma will maintain her position, which was held even during the elections, and will not grant amnesties to deforesters”, said Carvalho.

In March, La Via Campesina Brazil and the Federation of Family Farmers submitted a proposal to protect forests and recover areas which were illegally deforested, contrary to Rebelo’s project to reform the Forest Code.

“Contrary to agribusiness that destroys the land that uses and then takes over other lands in an illegitimate way, we, family farmers and peasants, have a historical relationship with our lands. Without them, we are pushed towards the cities”, read a joint press release. The proposal promotes an active position by the Government, that includes the establishment of public policies to promote family agriculture.

Photo: http://www.culturadigital.org.br