I think it's clear that Lula just doesn't care about protecting the rain forest. So often, left leaders in the developing world share a lot more of the developmentalist ideology that their enemies have than they might think. He wants different people to benefit than the dictatorship did, but ultimately the goals are about the same.
Seu Trend,
It's the cumulative effect of all this that has me pissed. The insistence on great hydroelectric projects is stupid. Does he forget what happened just a few short years ago with the drought and the resulting rolling blackouts?
It's not that he even has a tin ear: he just doesn't care, period.
I agree. It really is worth repeating and stressing that, as depressing as it is, the fact that Lula has sent troops to try to prevent further deforestation at the hands of ranchers and farmers, while not being fully effective, is much more than any of the previous administrations have really done. I know that's not much, and it excuses nothing - I think that, more than anything, it shows how much environmental issues have been totally ignored in presidential politics in Brazil throughout recent history.
Or to put it another way: It's really depressing because Lula's policies and attitudes have been extremely damaging, yet he's still one of the first to really even try to deal even nominally with the environment (not including signing accords and pieces of paper without implementing actual plans and policies). There's definitely a long way to go, though, and this doesn't help at all.
And just to make clear, I in no way think sending troops is enough, particularly when you still want hydroelectric power; it's just already more than other presidents (and members of Congress) have done in Brazil.
Lula has made some progress on social and economic fronts, but he has also done a lot to cripple the Brazilian left. He's also much more interested in himself than he is in any political movement. The rumors here are that he is considering becoming a senator from Pernambuco when he leaves office. That would be insanely counterproductive -- he could easily be elected in any state, so he would take a spot in the most left-wing state in the country?
Commenting by HaloScan
