Bolsonaro wins ‘Anti-Prize’ Fossil of the Week even 9,000 km from the COP

President Jair Bolsonaro (no party) won for Brazil the “anti-prize” Fossil da Semana, granted by the Climate Action network to countries that, in the organisation’s assessment, most harm climate negotiations at COP26, in Glasgow (Scotland).

Bolsonaro received the grievance “for the horrible and unacceptable treatment of indigenous peoples” after criticizing activist Txai Suruí, who on Tuesday (2) spoke in Glasgow to dozens of world leaders, including British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Bolsonaro did not attend the COP for the leaders’ meeting, which brought together the Presidents of the United States, Joe Biden, and France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Prime Ministers of Italy, Mario Draghi, and Canada, Justin Trudeau.

Meanwhile, the Brazilian chose to meet with politicians from the far-right Liga party, in Italy, after participating in the G20 summit.

On Wednesday (3), in Brasília —about 9,000 km away from the event center where government officials try to reverse the image of a climate villain created in the last two COPs—, the president of Brazil attacked indigenous people and, indirectly, to paiter-suruí Txai, in conversation with her followers.

“They’re complaining that I didn’t go to Glasgow. They took an Indian there — to replace the [cacique] Raoni—to attack Brazil. Has anyone seen any Germans attacking Germany’s fossil energy? Has anyone ever seen them attacking France because the environmental legislation there is nothing like ours? Nobody criticizes their own country. Has anyone seen the American criticizing the fires there in the state of California? It’s just here,” complained Bolsonaro, in front of the Alvorada Palace.

In his speech, Txai, 24, highlighted the effects of global warming, mentioned the murder of environmental defenders and defended the participation of indigenous peoples in the decisions of the climate summit. She is the daughter of Almir Suruí, 47, one of the best known indigenous leaders in the country and a harsh critic of the Bolsonaro government.

In the Fossil da Semana justification, CAN says that the president’s attacks triggered a wave of online attacks against the activist. The NGO adds that there is accumulated evidence of the Brazilian government’s disrespect for indigenous rights.

“Invasions of indigenous lands have skyrocketed; wild gold mining is polluting waterways, intimidation is rife and they have a vice president who justified denying fresh water to villages affected by Covid because ‘Indians drink from rivers.’ “