Brazil's Bolsonaro slams Biden for 'coward threats' over Amazon

By Jake Spring

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump hosts a working dinner with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., March 7, 2020. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo/File Photo

 

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro reacted angrily on Wednesday to U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's call for a world effort to offer Brazil $20 billion to end Amazon deforestation or face unspecified "economic consequences."

 

Bolsonaro wrote on Facebook he interpreted Biden's comment in a U.S. presidential debate on Tuesday night as a threat of economic sanctions if Brazil did not take the offer.

 

Bolsonaro wrote in Portuguese and English that he does not accept "bribes" or "coward threats."

 

The president said Brazil was taking action on deforestation and reasserted that he views foreign interest in the Amazon as financially motivated and an attempt to undermine Brazilian sovereignty.

 

"The greed of some countries towards the Amazon is a well-known fact," Bolsonaro said.

 

"However, the explicit demonstration of this greed by someone who is running for the presidency of his country is a clear sign of contempt for cordial and fruitful coexistence between two sovereign nations."

 

In November's U.S. election, Biden is challenging Republican President Donald Trump. Bolsonaro openly admires Trump and has sought to ally Brazil with the Trump administration, with the two leaders seeking to deepen trade ties.

 

In Tuesday's heated debate, Biden said Brazil provided an example of how Trump "has no relationship with foreign policy."

 

"The rainforests of Brazil are being torn down," Biden said.

 

"I would be gathering up and making sure we had the countries of the world coming up with $20 billion, and say, 'Here's $20 billion. Stop tearing down the forest. And if you don't then you're gonna have significant economic consequences.'"

 

Official data show that an area roughly the size of Lebanon was deforested in Brazil's Amazon for 2019, an 11-year high, with preliminary government data for 2020 showing forest clearances up 34.5%.

 

Bolsonaro's right-wing government maintains that Brazil is a model of conservation because of the size of forest land still standing.

 

Brazil has repeatedly said the world should pay up if it wants more forest to be preserved. Brazilian Environment Minister Ricardo Salles reacted on Twitter to Biden's offer of funding, writing: "Just one question: Biden's $20 billion in aid, is that yearly?".

 

Bolsonaro ended his statement in English by calling Joe Biden by the wrong first name.

 

"What a shame, Mr. John Biden! What a shame!"

 

(Reporting by Jake Spring; Editing by Nick Macfie and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-10-01

 

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Betcha he still takes the $20B.

He’s a dirt bag just like his idol hopefully a one term fiasco just like his idol hopefully they can get someone responsible to run things there brazil has lots of potential 

Glad Biden said something. I have a feeling that the Brazilians will get rid of the corrupt Bolsonaro soon enough.

Why the money?, just take it with UN approval. This stands above Brazil. 

Edited October 1, 20205 yr by Jack Mountain

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro reacted angrily on Wednesday to U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's call for a world effort to offer Brazil $20 billion to end Amazon deforestation or face unspecified "economic consequences."

 

When your words upset detritus like bolsonaro, you know you are right.

1 hour ago, geriatrickid said:

Glad Biden said something. I have a feeling that the Brazilians will get rid of the corrupt Bolsonaro soon enough.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2022_Brazilian_general_election

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_on_the_Jair_Bolsonaro_presidency

3 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_for_the_2022_Brazilian_general_election

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinion_polling_on_the_Jair_Bolsonaro_presidency

everything's fine, they don't need cash

1 hour ago, Jack Mountain said:

Why the money?, just take it with UN approval. This stands above Brazil. 

Exactly.  In the past (and present) oil has been seen as a global necessity, and countries invaded to control their reserves.  Now is the time to recognise that the environment is an even greater global necessity, literally a life and death giving resource. Countries who abuse it, especially in the case of the Amazon - a particularly vital part of the whole Earth's ecosystem and well being, should lose the right to control it.

Troll post reported and removed

1 hour ago, Bluespunk said:

When your words upset detritus like bolsonaro, you know you are right.

I could not agree with this more...if you are saying or doing something to get this guy upset you are obviously on the right side of history. 

So bolsonaro has started to negotiate.

He shall take it easy. After November 4th nobody will talk about sleepy Joe anymore.

7 minutes ago, Deli said:

He shall take it easy. After November 4th nobody will talk about sleepy Joe anymore.

No, they'll be talking about ass kickin' President-elect Biden.

9 hours ago, webfact said:

 

Bolsonaro's right-wing government maintains that Brazil is a model of conservation because of the size of forest land still standing

is a bar of chocolate still a bar when you get to the last square ..

Off topic post removed, topic is not about Mr Biden Son

Sleepy Joe showing off his international diplomacy and I do mean DIP lomacy....

Can someone please get rid of Bolsonaro?! 

Off-topic posts and replies reported and removed. 

 

21 hours ago, ballpoint said:

No, they'll be talking about ass kickin' President-elect 

Edited October 2, 20205 yr by Anant72
Misunderstood the comment.