setembro, 23 2011

Yesterday's (Sept. 21) approval by the senate Standing Committee for Constitution, Justice and Citizenship affairs of Senator for Santa Catarina Luiz Henrique's (PMDB) report on draft bill PLC 30/2011, which promotes changes to the Current Brazilian Forest Law, was just one stage in the process, and the debate is far from over. Voting involved four hours of discussion among the senators and doubts on certain parts of the text were left for the other standing Committees  (Agriculture, Science and Technology and Environment) to address. Although many took a negative view of that outcome, others have not lost hope and feel there are opportunities to obtain further progress in the debate.
 
Meanwhile, society at large continues to mobilise in a bid to have its opinions properly represented and its citizenship respected. One such effort was the recent "1st Marathon of Explanatory Information on changes to the Forest Law", promoted by the Brazilian Committee for the Defence of Forests and Sustainable Development with a vigil for the forests transmitted by streaming on the site in Portuguese  [http://www.florestafazadiferenca.org.br/].
 
The 72-hour live transmission mobilised people all over Brazil and entities representing various social segments participated. On the Internet, 24 million Twitter users accompanied the movement and adhered to it using hashtag #florestafazadiferença, in yet another demonstration of the well-known power of the social networks.
 
Wednesday (21) was also National Tree Day. There was a public act conducted by the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops (CNBB),  formalising the church's position against the proposed changes to the Forest Law and the petition was officially launched.  Signatures have been pouring in as people begin to understand and become increasingly aware of the evil effects the proposed bill could have on them, their cities and Brazilian nature reserves.
 
In the same direction, other live events are taking place in several states, such as the drive for petition signatures today in São Paulo and the meeting on the University of Brasilia campus (UnB) scheduled by students whose committee has already sent in an open letter to Senator for Acre Jorge Viana (PT).
 
Agenda
 
Among the scheduled events, on Friday (Sept. 23) there will be a Climate Justice Panel at the Anglican Church of Brasilia with the participation of former senator Marina Silva, who is concerned with the senate's obvious intention to accelerate the voting of the Forest law reform bill and finalise the process in October. She declares that the senate has been unwilling to accept society's contributions to the bill and that the text being approved by the senate is just as bad as the one originally approved by the House of Representatives.
 
This Sunday (Sept. 25) in the Brazilian capital, members of the Federal District Committee in Defence of the Forests and Sustainable Development will be promoting the petition during a bicycle ride (to mark the International Car-Free Day) and there will be a symbolic act to Embrace the Olhos D?Agua Park at 10:00 am as part of the drive to protect Brazilian springs.
 
On Monday (Sept. 26) the main speakers at a debate in the auditorium of the Federal District section of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB-DF) will be senator Jorge Vianna, former Brazilian environment minister Marina Silva, the president of the Senate's Standing Committee for Environmental affairs Rodrigo Rollemberg and Lawyer André Lima, member of the Bar Association DF's Environmental Law Committee.
 
The debate aims to discuss issues that could have the greatest impact on the Federal District, embracing aspects like Cerrado water resources and urban planning aspects of the city. According to the president of the association's Environmental Law Committee, Getúlio Humberto de Sá, the Brazilian Bar Association cannot fail to contribute to the debates. "The OAB/DF has always been known for its active participation in all socially relevant. The debate surrounding the Forest Law reform bill is not only an issue that affects the environment; it is also a question of citizenship and human rights".