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Thursday, August 2, 2007

The Amazonian woods threatened by the soy culture

Brazilian production of soy has doubled in 4 years, and Brazil became quickly the 2nd world exporter, after US. This culture seems to be providential for the country: commercial benefits for the farm sector arise to 34 billions of dollars. This money is compulsory for the country’s financial credibility, which faces an important debt.
However, the soy culture leads to different negative consequences. The big industrials buy at a very low price fields of small farmers, who have no other choice than going in the poor suburbs. Traditional production lets place to huge soy fields, which replace the woods and accelerate deforestation. In 2004, the forest lost a surface equivalent to Switzerland. Soy culture facilitates the development of other activities harmful for the woods, particularly the construction of roads, necessary for the seeds’ transport. The biggest one crosses the equatorial forest on 130km. Those roads open the way for wood exploiters, breeders, which participate as well to the woods' destruction. Totally, the equatorial forest has already lost a surface equivalent to France and Portugal together.
Harmony brought by the Amazonian woods in South America begins to be broken, some drinkable water rupture in the big cities are appearing. This does not disturb the frenzy for the soy culture, which did not procure any benefits for the population. Indeed, the soy culture profits only to a minority. More than 65% of Brazilians suffer from malnutrition at diverse degrees, while all efforts are turned to this culture, which will feed European cattle. Moreover, this “manna” is just temporary, because soy uses up the earth. Fields are rich thanks to the forest recycling, but when trees are cut down, the ground die. In few years, business men will let Brazil for other better fields.
Marina Silva who comes from Amazonian region, was named Minister of Environment. She seems decided to take measures to fight against deforestation. An Amerindian proverbs says: “When the last tree will be cut down, the last river contaminated, the last fish captured, then you will discover you cannot eat money”.

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