Real World Radio interviewed Maureen Santos, of Brazilian organization FASE, one of the organizers of the event. The activist is also part of the Brazilian Network for Peoples Integration.

The seminar was aimed at “summarizing the false solutions that imply the commodification of nature based on local and international testimonies and to discuss the strategies and commitments to confront them”, according to their newsletter.

The event was organized by Brazilian group Grupo Carta de Belem, which comprises several social movements and organizations of the country against the commodification of nature, such as: Friends of the Earth Brazil, FASE, Jubilee South Brazil, Via Campesina Brazil and Terra de Direitos. International groups were also coordinating the event such as the World March of Women, ATTAC France, Ecologistas en Acción, ETC Group, Friends of the Earth International, Fundación Solón and the Bolivian Platform against Climate Change.

In the interview with Real World Radio Santos highlighted the strong process of commodification of common goods in Brazil. She said the new Forestry Code opens up gaps for common goods to be commodified and said there are bills on REDD plus and payment for environmental services that worsen that situation.

Several Brazilian social movements and organizations have made efforts to teach local, indigenous and peasant communities about the advance of capital on territories and common goods. They have also tried to take these concerns to the national Congress.

Yesterday’s activity focused mainly on REDD, which consolidated an already existing process of commodification of forests in Brazil. REDD entails sophisticated projects in developing countries that involve different actors such as corporations and banks and the payment to local communities to preserve their forests.

Many social movements and organizations from all over the continent are warning that communities are rarely consulted and that once these projects are implemented their livelihood and rights are seriously affected.

They also point out that REDD may lead to market mechanisms that allow developed countries and big corporations to purchase carbon bonds in order to avoid reducing their polluting emissions (offsetting mechanism) and that the same corporations that have deforested also benefit from funds to prevent deforestation (double economic profit).

Santos expressed her concern over the divide caused by REDD among indigenous communities. The activist said some impoverished indigenous communities that have never benefited from public policies are tempted to accept funds to maintain their lifestyle because they have historically lived in harmony with nature.

“We need to be very careful not to condemn these communities”, said Santos. “They are already suffering. We need to work with them to make them see these contracts they are signing, not only REDD but also payment for environmental services, may bring problems in the future and that their problems may not be solved”.

Santos highlighted the solutions provided by peasant movements, especially their proposal of food sovereignty and agroecology. The ruling food system is to blame for most of the greenhouse gas emissions globally. FASE’s representative thinks Brazilian public policies should recognize the key role played by peasants, who feed the world in a sustainable way, instead of supporting agribusiness.

Photo: Radio Mundo Real.