August 26, 2021

07:08

Priscilla Peixoto – from Cenarium

MANAUS (AM) – On Wednesday night, 25th, the Juridical Preparatory Center (CPJUR) transmitted, via YouTube, the webinar with the theme Sustainable Development in the Amazon. The program had as participants the former Minister of the Environment and professor Marina Silva and the diplomat and coordinator of CPJUR’s Center for Political Education and Renewal, Arthur Virgílio Neto.

During the online seminar, Arthur highlighted the importance of sustainability, which, according to the diplomat, is “considered a third dimension right”. As Arthur said, sustainability is linked to good environmental and economic practices.

“I make a very big difference between economy and ecology, and I think that the two things have to complement each other. I don’t see any other way out for Brazil but to compose the model in which good environmental practice joins and connects with good economic practices, I look forward to this and I believe that this is the model that Brazil should follow”, evaluates Arthur.

When asked about sustainable development in the Amazon, guest Marina Silva brought up points that the United Nations (UN) proposes with regard to the subject. According to her, the issue is not only environmental, but also economic, social, and cultural.

“I usually add three more points besides those already put forward by the United Nations. Besides the fact that development has to be sustainable from the environmental, economic, social, and cultural points of view, it also needs to be political, because many environmental problems are being produced by wrong political decisions. It needs to have an ethical and also an aesthetic commitment because of its beauty, for its richness and great imagetic and symbolic value and for being a place that gives us an identity and relevance in the world”, says Marina.

“Taking it seriously”

Arthur highlighted alternative plans that involve sustainability and talked about the problems faced, today, by Amazonas State. According to the diplomat, if there was no Manaus Industrial Pole (PIM), deforestation in Amazonas would be “brutal”. “We are the one that less depredated because we had a source and that is falling every moment. I can predict at the level that the Free Trade Zone is going in the medium term, it may close its doors because it didn’t have any stimulus to stand up”, commented the diplomat.

The Amazonian calls attention to the need to take more seriously the themes of preservation and sustainability and fires off: “The phase of playing has passed. Today, it is mandatory for any governor to be committed to good environmental practices”, he stressed.

About the current government, Arthur criticized the lack of commitment and care with the Amazon and affirmed that the current policy instigates harmful, negative practices that hurt the future of society. “I dare say that Brazil without the Amazon has no future. Brazil with the Amazon and with national and international partnerships will have a bright future”, said Arthur.

“Environmental Viability”

Among the several points highlighted during the broadcast, Marina spoke about the problems involving the expansion and conclusion of BR-319. The former minister commented on the impacts that the road has on the forest area. She pointed out that the project of a highway like BR-319 needs to be viable not only from the economic point of view, but also from the social, cultural, and especially environmental point of view.

“Until today this environmental viability has not been proven. It is a complex debate and we have to understand that the Amazon is responsible for the rainfall regime and if it exceeds 25% of devastation, we will have one of the greatest losses in relation to rainfall shortage and we could turn into a savanna, damaging all Brazilian agribusiness and transform the South, Southeast and Midwest into real deserts” said Marina.

To watch the entire broadcast and the debate on the issue just access the link.