Tag: Amazon

Friday, October 25th 2019 - 09:45 UTC
Alarming level of mercury contamination in Amazon dolphins: illegal gold mining

Amazon river dolphins are showing alarming levels of contamination mainly because of illegal panning for gold, conservationists say. Researchers measured contamination levels in 46 of these large freshwater creatures known for long, bottle-like snouts in major basins of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia and Peru.
Wednesday, October 23rd 2019 - 09:48 UTC
Conservative Catholics disrupt Vatican Amazon synod and dump in the Tiber “pagan” idols

The Vatican on Tuesday accused ultra-conservative Catholic social media of fomenting hate, a day after militants stole statues they considered pagan idols from a church and dumped them in the Tiber river.
Saturday, October 12th 2019 - 09:40 UTC
Vatican considering giving laywomen in the Amazon official ministries

Deep in the Amazon forest, young couples looking to wed or baptize children often turn to Sister Alba, who fills in where Catholic priests cannot be found. But in many remote areas, there are not even enough nuns to go around, and it is laywomen who play a key role in the evangelization of indigenous people.
Monday, October 7th 2019 - 09:47 UTC
Amazon planning a regional data center in Argentina; congress passes bill to attract digital services and nanotechnology

Amazon.com Inc.’s cloud division plans to build a regional data center in a free-trade zone in Argentina, according to Buenos Aires media reports. The Seattle-based company is preparing to invest about US$ 800 million in the project over 10 years and will reap considerable tax benefits by locating the data center in the Bahia Blanca-Coronel Rosales districts of the province of Buenos Aires.
Monday, October 7th 2019 - 09:37 UTC
Pope Francis opens Amazon synod calling to listen the “cry of Mother Land” and condemning “destructive interests”

Pope Francis opened a synod Sunday to champion the Amazon's poverty-stricken and isolated indigenous communities by condemning the destructive “interests” he blamed for the fires that devastated the region.
Friday, October 4th 2019 - 09:49 UTC
Pope looking into options to recruiting more priests in the Amazon region

A shortage of Catholic priests in the Amazon is eroding the church's influence in the remote region, bishops in Brazil and Peru warn, ahead of a Vatican synod dedicated to the rainforest. Wilmar Santin, one of the scores of Brazilian bishops set to attend the Oct 6-27 gathering, says the church is ceding ground to more nimble Evangelical rivals and needs to lift its game.
Wednesday, September 25th 2019 - 09:55 UTC
Bolsonaro tells UN the Amazon rainforest belongs to Brazil and attacks world media for 'lying'

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attacked the media on Tuesday for “lying” about the fires in the Amazon and criticized international concern for the rainforest as fueled by interest in the region’s biodiversity and mineral wealth.
Wednesday, September 11th 2019 - 09:46 UTC
Numerous messages of support for French First Lady, insulted by Bolsonaro

World leaders have offered their support to Brigitte Macron, the wife of France's president, after a string of public insults from Brazilian leaders targeting her appearance.
Tuesday, September 10th 2019 - 09:52 UTC
Bolivia's Morales alliance with large farming interests (and Amazon deforestation) could cost him his re-re-reelection

In the tropical Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, a wealthy farming hub on the edge on the Amazon rainforest, President Evo Morales gathered with ranchers late last month to celebrate a maiden shipment of beef to China.
Saturday, September 7th 2019 - 09:00 UTC
Brazil's agribusiness joins the campaign to stop rainforest fires in the Amazon

The Brazilian Amazon is facing its worst spate of forest fires since 2010, with news of the destruction of the world's largest rainforest last month prompting global outcry and worries that it could hurt demand for the country's exports.