Latest news with #Quilombola

Straits Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Lula signs bill to ease Brazil environmental licenses but vetoes key provisions
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva looks on during a press conference at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, U.S., September 25, 2024. REUTERS/David Dee Delgado/File Photo BRASILIA - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed into law a bill easing environmental licensing rules, but vetoed dozens of provisions, the executive secretary of the president's office said on Friday. Dubbed the "Devastation Bill" by environmentalists, the motion approved by Congress and backed by Brazil's powerful agribusiness community significantly weakens environmental controls in licensing processes, giving states and municipalities more power to issue licenses for new business developments. Agribusiness has backed the bill because it would make expanding operations in environmentally sensitive areas easier. Lula approved the bill but struck down or altered 63 of its nearly 400 articles, said his office's executive secretary, Miriam Belchior. Belchior told journalists in Brasilia that the vetoes sought to preserve the integrity of the licensing process, ensure legal certainty, and protect the rights of Indigenous and Quilombola communities. "We maintained what we consider to be significant advances in streamlining the environmental licensing process," she said. Of the provisions struck down, 26 were vetoed outright, while another 37 will either be replaced with alternative text or modified in a new bill. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore PM Wong calls on S'poreans to band together for nation to remain exceptional in National Day message Singapore Nation building is every Singaporean's responsibility, not the work of one party alone: Pritam Singapore Four foreign leaders to attend NDP 2025 at the Padang Singapore 'This is home', for retired shop owner putting up 11th flag display in Toa Payoh to mark SG60 Singapore Singapore leaders send congratulatory letters to South Korean counterparts to mark 50 years of ties Singapore Relaxed rules 'not a silver bullet', but a step in right direction, say nightlife businesses Business Singapore's digital banks trim deposit rates, mirroring moves by incumbent players Singapore Chief Justice allows founder of site that ran fake KKH story to be called to the Bar Lula's administration will send the new bill to Congress under a constitutional urgency procedure, Belchior said. This new proposal will introduce a "Special Environmental License" designed to fast-track strategic projects while filling the legal gaps created by the vetoes, she added. REUTERS


Reuters
3 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Lula signs bill to ease Brazil environmental licenses but vetoes key provisions
BRASILIA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed into law a bill easing environmental licensing rules, but vetoed dozens of provisions, the executive secretary of the president's office said on Friday. Dubbed the "Devastation Bill" by environmentalists, the motion approved by Congress and backed by Brazil's powerful agribusiness community significantly weakens environmental controls in licensing processes, giving states and municipalities more power to issue licenses for new business developments. Agribusiness has backed the bill because it would make expanding operations in environmentally sensitive areas easier. Lula approved the bill but struck down or altered 63 of its nearly 400 articles, said his office's executive secretary, Miriam Belchior. Belchior told journalists in Brasilia that the vetoes sought to preserve the integrity of the licensing process, ensure legal certainty, and protect the rights of Indigenous and Quilombola communities. "We maintained what we consider to be significant advances in streamlining the environmental licensing process," she said. Of the provisions struck down, 26 were vetoed outright, while another 37 will either be replaced with alternative text or modified in a new bill. Lula's administration will send the new bill to Congress under a constitutional urgency procedure, Belchior said. This new proposal will introduce a "Special Environmental License" designed to fast-track strategic projects while filling the legal gaps created by the vetoes, she added.


Reuters
3 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Brazil's Lula enacts law easing environmental licensing but vetoes large parts
BRASILIA, Aug 8 (Reuters) - Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has signed into law a bill that eases environmental licensing rules for projects, but vetoed 63 of its provisions, the executive secretary of the president's office said on Friday. The original proposal, supported by Brazil's powerful agribusiness community, was heavy criticized by environmental groups, which had taken to calling it the "devastation bill." President Lula's vetoes aimed to preserve the integrity of the licensing process, ensure legal certainty for projects, protect the rights of indigenous and Quilombola communities, and streamline procedures, Miriam Belchior said. Belchior also announced that the government would send a new bill to Congress under a constitutional urgency procedure in order to fill what she called the "gaps" left by the vetoes and avoid legal uncertainty.