Brazilian Government to Commercialize Part of the Amazon

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Category: Science/Environment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. commercialize / kəˈmɜr ʃəˌlaɪz / (v) – to turn something into an opportunity or means to earn money
    Example:

    Entrance to the national park was free before the government decided to commercialize the park.


  2. reserve / rɪˈzɜrv / (n) – land that is protected because of the people, plants, or animals that live in it
    Example:

    Local tribes live in some of the country’s reserves.


  3. gold rush / goʊld rʌʃ / (n) – a situation in which many people rush to a place where gold has been discovered, hoping to find more
    Example:

    A gold rush can endanger nature reserves.


  4. indigenous / ɪnˈdɪdʒ ə nəs / (adj) – naturally existing or living in a certain place
    Example:

    All indigenous tribes have their own unique cultures.


  5. alleviate / əˈli viˌeɪt / (v) – to lessen
    Example:

    The government should help alleviate the condition of farmers affected by pestilence.


Article

Read the text below.

The Brazilian government is planning to open part of the Amazon rainforest for mineral exploration and mining.


Brazil has recently experienced an economic slump, and millions of citizens are currently unemployed. As such, the country is looking to recover by strengthening its mining industry. The government plans to open part of the Amazon, which is rich in gold and iron, in order to bring in new investments and jobs and to fight illegal mining.


The government is planning to commercialize a big part of the Brazilian Amazon, including 10% of its protected areas and tribal reserves.


The announcement received criticism from activists and environmental groups, saying that this would result in deforestation, affecting wildlife and water resources. An organization also said that the gold rush could harm indigenous communities and local cultures in the Amazon.


However, the mining and energy ministry assured the public that the protected areas and communities will not be affected and that they will keep the initiative sustainable.


Ecuador, which also shares a part of the Amazon, has experienced a similar problem as Brazil.


In 2007, there were plans to drill oil in one of the Ecuadorian Amazon’s protected areas. The oil drilling did not initially push through when the president got international funding for a conservation plan. However, the funding had been insufficient and the oil drilling plans were passed to alleviate poverty.


Critics are still on the lookout for possible problems with the oil drilling, including water and soil pollution in the area.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• Do you think that the advantages of commercializing the Amazon rainforest can outweigh its disadvantages? Why or why not?
• If you were part of the Brazilian government, how would you deal with the backlash? Explain.

Discussion B

• Instead of opening the Amazon to mining, what possible alternatives can Brazil consider to recover from the country’s economic slump? Discuss.
• If your country opened a protected area for commercial activities, what would you demand from the government to make sure that it will not be destroyed? Discuss.