Portuguese Language Blog

Today, we’re going to watch a video about the Amazon and an indigenous tribe there, and the work the tribe’s chief has done to combat deforestation and to use technology to connect his tribe to the world and to protect the environment. Part of the video is in Portuguese with English subtitles, and the other part involves simultaneous translation, so you’ll have to pay attention to make sure you understand.

Here are some questions to answer to see how well you understood!

1. How do you say “in the past,” according to the video?

2. The chief mentions using an “arco e flecha.” What is this in English?

3. What is “wisdom” in Portuguese?

4. How do you say “tool” or “instrument” in Portuguese?

5. What is “floresta” in English?

6. How do you say “alliance” or “partnership” in Portuguese?

Note: questions go up until 13:00.

The government of Acre, a small state in the Amazon rainforest that borders Peru, has launched a new plan aimed to curb deforestation. The proposal, which will go into effect in 2010, will monetarily reward Acre’s workers (including loggers, fish ranchers and indigenous tribes) who avoid cutting down trees and/or who actively protect the rainforest. People who produce the most using the smallest amount of space, and those who make a profit without affecting the environment will also receive funds.

Acre’s government plans to invest R$478 million (US$265.5 million) over the next fifteen years to cut down on carbon dioxide emissions. The first area to be targeted will be near the state’s largest highway, which suffers from some of the highest levels of deforestation. The government hopes to get some of its funding from a REDD program (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries), which is a compensation program for countries or companies that help cut down on carbon emissions.

Currently, 602 square kilometers of forest are destroyed each year in Acre. The plan hopes to minimize that number and bring it down to 120 square kilometers per year by 2020. If the plan works, an area as large as 3,649 square kilometers of forest could be saved. The plan would also have social benefits, as workers would receive financial compensation for doing their part in conserving the Amazon.

This week, Brazil’s three biggest retailers announced that they will not purchase beef from blacklisted ranchers in the Amazon. According to a recently released report from Greenpeace, certain ranchers in the state of Pará are responsible for deforesting the Amazon and are causing destruction at a rapid rate. In fact, the report shows that ranching is the number one cause of Amazon deforestation.

In turn, CBD (the Pão de Açucar chain), Carrefour, and Walmart, along with 72 other retailers will stop buying meat from the offending ranchers. Also, the big three companies have decided to monitor their beef shipments closely and to conduct an assessment to make sure no meat comes from the deforesting ranchers. CBD reported a total of 11 banned companies.

The Greenpeace faults the Brazilian government for failing to live up to its commitment to reducing Amazon deforestion.