Sun, May 25, 2008 - Page 14 News List

Amazon’s protector steps down

When Marina Silva resigned as Brazil’s environment minister, the Amazon lost its greatest champion. But how did a poor orphan rise to such power, only to walk away? And what is in store for Brazil’s rainforest?

By Tom Phillips  /  THE GUARDIAN , BRASILIA

While supporters have described her exit from power as a defeat for the green cause, she insists that progress is being made. “Today we are living through the challenge of prevention, of looking twice before doing something, discussing twice before doing something. Because each thing that we alter can lead to ... dramatic consequences. Those who celebrated the industrial revolution never thought that we were injuring the planet, almost fatally. We didn’t have this knowledge. Today we know.”

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