Bolsonaro rejects 'Captain Chainsaw' label as data shows deforestation 'exploded'

[Judi Lynn]

Data says 2,254 sq km cleared in July as president says Macron and Merkel ‘haven’t realized Brazil’s under new management’

Tom Phillips Latin America correspondent
Wed 7 Aug 2019 11.25 EDT



An aerial view of deforestation in the western Amazon region of Brazil. Photograph: Carl de Souza/AFP/Getty Images
Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon “exploded” in July it has emerged as Jair Bolsonaro scoffed at his portrayal as Brazil’s “Captain Chainsaw” and mocked Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel for challenging him over the devastation.

Speaking in São Paulo on Tuesday, Brazil’s president attacked the leaders of France and Germany – who have both voiced concern about the surge in destruction since Bolsonaro took office in January.

“They still haven’t realized Brazil’s under new management,” Bolsonaro declared to cheers of approval from his audience. “Now we’ve got a blooming president.”

The far-right populist repeated claims that his administration – which critics accuse of helping unleash a new wave of environmental destruction – was the victim of a mendacious international smear campaign based on “imprecise” satellite data showing a jump in deforestation.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/07/bolsonaro-amazon-deforestation-exploded-july-data

[gtar100]

1. How quaint, he thinks he has a choice in the matter.

"Captain Chainsaw" will stick. He's worked hard to earn it. I'm sure it's tame compared to what a lot of other Brazilians are probably calling him.