March 31, 2007

Brazil Cracks Down on Soy

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Brazil’s environmental agency is finally cracking down on the soy crop that has been devastating the Amazon. In response to Greenpeace activism, Brazil has closed a soy-processing facility and port both operated by the U.S.-based multinational Cargill. Greenpeace has been publicizing the fact that large swaths of rainforest are being cleared to make room for the soy crop. Last May, a Greenpeace ship blocked the port. Vegetarians can keep eating tofu in peace, because according to the Greenpeace report, “Eating up the Amazon,” the Amazonian soy crop actually feeds chickens that wind up in fast-food restaurants and supermarkets.

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It is astonishingly hard keeping a newsroom afloat these days, and we need to raise $253,000 in online donations quickly, by October 7.

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