Amazon deforestation data dismissed by president of Brazil
Source: Radio New Zealand
7:48 pm today
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has accused his own country's national space institute of lying about the scale of deforestation in the Amazon.
Arara indigenous chief Tatji Arara jumps over an illegally felled tree, as he patrols indigenous land in
Brazil. Photo: Mauro Pimentel/ AFP
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has accused his own country's national space institute of lying about the scale of deforestation in the Amazon.
He said the institute was smearing Brazil's reputation abroad by publishing data showing a dramatic increase in deforestation there.
The far-right president said he wanted to meet with the head of the agency to discuss the issue.
The National Space Research Institute said its data is 95 percent accurate.
Mr Bolsonaro's comments came a day after preliminary satellite data released by the institute showed more than 1000 square kilometres of rainforest had been cleared in the first 15 days of July - an increase of 68 percent from the entire month of July 2018.
Read more: https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/394848/amazon-deforestation-data-dismissed-by-president-of-brazil
Bolsonaro says claims of hunger in Brazil 'a big lie'
7 HOURS AGO
Bolsonaro says hunger in the country is "fake news," while the latest figures from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization show 5.1 million Brazilians are "undernourished."
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro interviews with foreign correspondents at Planalto Palace in Brasilia on July 19, 2019. (AFP)
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday there was no hunger in the country, citing the lack of rail-thin poor people in the streets as proof.
Speaking to foreign journalists, Bolsonaro blamed "populists" for propagating "a big lie" that some of Brazil's 209 million people did not have enough to eat.
"There is no hunger," the far-right leader said, noting Brazil "was rich in practically every type of crop".
"You don't see poor people in the street with bone-thin bodies like in other countries.
Speaking to foreign journalists, Bolsonaro blamed "populists" for propagating "a big lie" that some of Brazil's 209 million people did not have enough to eat.
More:
https://www.trtworld.com/americas/bolsonaro-says-claims-of-hunger-in-brazil-a-big-lie-28384
= new reply since forum marked as read
He's helping Bolsonaro keep his iron fist in power...
So much for "speaking truth to power" and "sunlight is the best disinfectant" 