Groups Condemn Biofuels as "False Solution"

The Netherlands--Criticism is mounting denouncing Brazilian President Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva's visit this week to the Netherlands and the Czech
Republic on a tour focused on promoting ethanol and other biofuels. The
Brazilian president is visiting The Hague, Rotterdam and Amsterdam and will
meet with Dutch Queen Beatrix and Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende.

Although Brazilian presidential spokesman Marcelo Baumbach said that Lula will
tell European leaders that bio-fuels are "a cleaner alternative that causes
less harm to the environment," [1] others have differing opinions.

"Even amidst the undeniable evidence of negative impacts of biofuel production,
the Brazilian Government continues to present their ethanol program as a
'special success," proclaimed Camila Moreno from Terra de Direitos. "In reality
Brazil seeks to profit from an export industry which has little to do with real
concern about climate. While promoting themselves as 'green', the government
has meanwhile allocated 65% of the moneys earmarked for the energy sector
within the Growth Acceleration Plan (PAC) to oil and gas industries."

"The claim that agrofuels (biofuels) cause less harm to the environment misses
the point of the devastating impacts agrofuels have," stated Nina Holland of
the Dutch research and campaigning organisation Corporate Europe Observatory.
"Agrofuels are a false solution to climate change and not only will they
exacerbate the climate crisis, agrofuels compete with agricultural resources,
threatening the food security of the world's poorest communities, increasing
deforestation, as well as threatening biodiversity and land rights." [2]

"Spurred by the possibility of a rich market for ethanol investors -- many of
them foreign -- have been buying tracts of land in Brazil, pushing up prices
and driving away the small-scale family-based farms that supply up to 60
percent of the country's food", added Lucia Schild Ortiz of Friends of the
Earth Brazil.

"Brazil has chosen to ignore a vast mountain of evidence that agrofuels are
contributing to hunger and climate change," said Dr. Rachel Smolker, main
author of "The Real Cost of Agrofuels" [3] and lead Agrofuels Campaigner for
Global Forest Coalition and Global Justice Ecology Project. "The bottom line is
that there is a limited amount of land available, a large population to feed
and a desperate need to preserve remaining biodiverse ecosystems. Instead of
focusing on improving efficiency and reducing consumption, Brazil is advocating
further destruction.

Baumbach stressed the biofuels issue, but noted that Lula will also seek to
deepen cooperation with the Netherlands on other issues including ports and
maritime transport, education, culture and water.

According to the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, the Netherlands became one of the
main foreign investors in recent years in Brazil. In 2007, the Netherlands
topped the list with direct investment of 8.1 billion dollars, some 23.6
percent of the total received by Brazil.

Touting the Lula tour, Netherland's Leudal Trading Company reports that
Dutcham, the Dutch Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, is involved "behind the
curtains", in assisting the Dutch employers´organisation VNO-NCW with the
setting up of a round-table session with important business leaders in the
bilateral relation between Brazil and the Netherlands. [4]

In related news:
On Tuesday, 15 April, groups across the United Kingdom will be holding protests
against the government's decision to introduce mandatory biofuel blending.
This includes a demonstration outside Downing Street, as well as protests
outside the constituency offices of Ruth Kelly, Secretary of State for
Transport, and Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for the Environment, and outside
several fuel stations. From 15th April, all diesel and petrol in the UK will
have to be blended with biofuels. [5]


Notes:
[1]
http://www.topnews.in/lula-visit-netherlands-czech-republic-bio-fuels-agenda-231790
[2]
http://www.corporateeurope.org/agrofuelfolly.html
[3]
http://www.globalforestcoalition.org/img/userpics/File/publications/Therealcostofagrofuels.pdf
[4]
http://www.leudaltrading.com/index-5.html
[5]
http://www.biofuelwatch.org.uk/actionsapr08.php


Dutch version of Press Release:
http://www.globalforestcoalition.org/news/view/87
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