Economist Podcasts Felling through the cracks: rainforests in crisis
Mar 17, 2023
In this insightful discussion, Robert Guest, Deputy Editor at The Economist, explores the pressing economics of rainforest preservation, highlighting the severe lawlessness threatening these vital ecosystems. Anne Rowe, the magazine's obituaries editor, reflects on Nobel laureate Oe Kenzaburo's powerful storytelling, shaped by the trauma of Hiroshima, and his quest to voice the voiceless. The conversation interweaves the urgency of environmental action with the profound impact of literature and personal narratives on healing and understanding.
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Open Illegal Mining in Itaituba
- In Itaituba, Brazil, illegal mining is openly practiced, impacting the Amazon rainforest.
- Shops sell mining equipment, advertise internet for mines, and purchase gold, enabling illegal activities.
Failed Amazon Raid
- A planned raid with Brazil's National Parks Agency was foiled when miners were alerted to the authorities’ presence.
- This highlights the challenges of enforcing regulations in the vast, lawless Amazon.
Rainforest Protection Paradox
- Preserving rainforests outweighs deforestation benefits, yet lawlessness hinders protection efforts.
- Weak rule of law, unclear property rights, and corruption hinder efforts to pay landowners for conservation.
