Amazon Gold Dispute Heats Up With Lawmaker Threatening to Involve the Pope
- Brazil president wants to open up area bigger than Switzerland
- Lawmaker says mining will inevitably harm sensitive areas
An illegal gold mine in the Jamanxim National Forest in northern Brazil, on Nov. 29, 2009.
Photographer: Antonio Scorza/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Brazil’s latest move to allow mining in the Amazon is sparking a war of words as the government calls opponents alarmists and a lawmaker threatens to seek the Pope’s help to protect forests and communities.
After Wednesday’s announcement to strip protection from a national reserve between the northern states of Para and Amapa sparked criticism, President Michel Temer took to Twitter saying he’s committed to sustainable development. His office also said the area is no "paradise” and that proper permits would be required for any gold operations.