SHILLONG: FridaysForFuture Shillong (Meghalaya Climate Movement), in solidarity with the other FridaysForFuture and Extinction Rebellion (XR) chapters in the country, has opposed the invitation of the Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, to attend the 71st Republic Day Celebrations in the city as the chief guest.
In a statement, the NGO said, “President Jair Bolsonaro and his government have failed to safeguard the lives of local and indigenous people and a future for generations to come. In fact, he has deliberately shown interests for the destruction of ancient forests of Amazon. To show our dissent for the actions of his government, we reject his presence as our chief guest for the celebration of our Constitution, the Republic Day Parade.”
The NGO also blamed Bolsonaro’s government for unsustainable level of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
“The crux of why we, Fridays For Future Shillong, an environmental conservation organisation, are striking against the visit of President Jair Bolsonaro is because we believe the actions of his government are responsible for the unsustainable level of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest, and possibly his government, through third-party players, may have a connection into the alleged murder of indigenous activist in the Amazon, who protested against such actions. Therefore, we, in Meghalaya, as indigenous people ourselves, stand in solidarity with our Amazonian siblings, who had to bear the brunt of state-sponsored corporate greed,” the NGO said.
