In Brazil, artists and activists protest against mining bill

By DIANE JEANTET
Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Thousands of Brazilians have gathered outside Congress in Brasilia to protest a set of bills that they say threaten the Amazon rainforest and the Indigenous people living in it. Wednesday’s event was organized by Brazilian musician Caetano Veloso and brought together more than 200 environmental groups and artists. Lawmakers began debating a bill seeking to allow mining projects on protected territories, but the leadership later announced that the proposals will first be studied by a task force and no vote will be held before mid-April. The bill was initially presented by Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro in 2020, but lingered in Congress until the war in Ukraine triggered a possible shortage in fertilizers provided by Russia.