In April, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) began judging seven environmental lawsuits that favor land grabbing, the release of pesticides, the annulment of environmental licensing and the recognition of indigenous lands.
Faced with this worrying scenario, Brazilian religious institutions from various spiritual traditions and members of the Council of the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative in Brazil (IRI Brazil), sent the president of the Supreme Federal Court (STF), Minister Luiz Fux, an Open Letter against the set of Bills known as the Environmental Destruction Package, especially Bill 191/2020, which frees mining, garimpo and other large enterprises on indigenous lands.
The document, sent on 28/03, was signed by the following organizations: National Conference of Bishops of Brazil (CNBB); National Council of Christian Churches of Brazil (CONIC); Brazilian Evangelical Christian Alliance (ACEB); Religions for Peace Brazil and the National Union of Islamic Entities of Brazil (UNI).
In the letter, the religious institutions highlighted their concern about the trial of the following lawsuits:
- ADPF 760: non-compliance with the climate targets of the Paris Agreement and the Program to Combat Amazon Deforestation);
- ADPF 735: withdrawal of Ibama's autonomy in Operation Green Brazil 2);
- ADPF 65: exclusion of civil society from the Council of the National Environment Fund);
- ADO 54: failure to combat deforestation);
- ADO 59: suspension of the Amazon Fund);
- ADI 6148: change in air quality standards made by CONAMA Resolution); and
- ADI 6808: automatic granting of environmental licenses by Provisional Measure).
An excerpt from the document says: "We believe that Brazil is a place blessed with great natural riches which, if used carefully and wisely, can provide a dignified life for all people and living beings, today and in the future. Our challenge, therefore, is to improve laws and public policies to increase the conditions for preserving the environment, containing climate change and preserving life. Approving the 'Package of Environmental Destruction' would be going against history and wisdom."
Since the beginning of the trial, the STF has overturned three of the current decrees on environmental policy, ordering the resumption of social participation in councils and committees.
Read the open letter in full below.
