Brazil intends to increase its police presence in the Amazon rainforest in order to stem deadly disputes over illegal logging, according to The Washington Post. In less than one week, at least three activists have been killed in the states of Para and Rondonia; a fourth person who may have witnessed the murders in Para has also been killed. The watchdog group Catholic Land Pastoral says that during the past 20 years, 1,150 activists have been killed, mostly by hired gunmen affiliated with logging, ranching and farming interests.
Brazil intends to increase its police presence in the Amazon rainforest in order to stem deadly disputes over illegal logging, according to The Washington Post. In less than one week, at least three activists have been killed in the states of Para and Rondonia; a fourth person who may have witnessed the murders in Para has also been killed. The watchdog group Catholic Land Pastoral says that during the past 20 years, 1,150 activists have been killed, mostly by hired gunmen affiliated with logging, ranching and farming interests.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the planet, a journalist covering Vietnamese illegal logging was stabbed, according to ThanhNienNews.com. The journalist had covered illegal logging in Vietnam's Anh Son District, during which he charged government officials with land management misconduct. The journalist was taken to a hospital and received 21 stitches in three wounds.
