Greenpeace activists arrested in Brazil after protest at Cargill

[Eugene]

Posted on Fri, May. 19, 2006

Greenpeace activists arrested in Brazil after protest at Cargill

MICHAEL ASTOR
Associated Press

SAO PAULO, Brazil - Police detained 16 activists from the environmental group Greenpeace
on Friday after they invaded an Amazon River port owned by the U.S. grain giant Cargill Inc.

Eight activists invaded the port by boat and draped a large banner reading "Cargill Out"
over the grain loaders before being seized by police.

<snip>

The port in Santarem has been a flash point of controversy in recent years, with federal
prosecutors accusing Minnetonka, Minn.-based Cargill of building the facility without filing
a proper environmental impact review.

<snip>

The port sits at the end of an unpaved road that leads through nearly pristine rain forest
to soybean fields in the central-western state of Mato Grosso. Soy producers are lobbying
the government to pave the road, which is impassable for much of the year.

<snip>

(Paving the road opens the surrounding forest to clear cutting.)

Full article: http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/politics/14622840.htm