I BELIEVE by now the vast majority have heard of Brazil’s new president Jair Bolsonaro, and some of his more than controversial decisions especially regarding the environment.
What many may not know is that millions of Brazilian citizens are suffering and asking for help, and I say that because I am one of those citizens.
Despite living in Scotland since 2014 and loving my new country, I feel suffocated and I do suffer for my homeland.
Every day, Brazilians deal with the fact that one by one their basic rights such as a a proper pension plan and access to education and public healthcare are being removed.
The panorama Bolsonaro gives is of a country marked by worker exploitation, violence, racism, discrimination, repression, dilapidation of national heritage, disrespect for human rights and disrespect for democratic rights guaranteed by the constitution, and the constant threat of the return to a military dictatorship.
The level of deforestation in the Amazon is already critical; the government allows its destruction and sells the rights to international mining companies to exploit our lands and poison our rivers.
Indigenous peoples are being slowly murdered by mercury used in mining, and rapidly by loggers and miners who invade their lands and slaughter them in cold blood. Black communities are being summarily executed by militias.
Journalists who dare to tell the truth are being punished with summary layoffs and sometimes even worse ... Glenn Greenwald, an American journalist based in Brazil, is constantly being threatened with arrest, deportation and even worse directly by Bolsonaro.
It has come to my attention that the British Government is showing the Brazilian Government international support and forming partnerships there, like supporting Brazil’s entry into the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Scotland has a very beautiful and important history of international solidarity with countries victimised by fascist governments. I ask that please you do not abandon us at this time of emergency. Write to your MSPs and ask them to pay attention to Brazil.
Regardless of your political stance, to stand up against Bolsonaro means to stand up for human rights.
Nathalia Urban
Edinburgh
WHEN reading R J Bulloch’s letter in The National on Sunday (July 28), his words rang a few bells.
Not all the advice given to Nicola and the SNP is helpful. The constant demands about independence now are obviously the result of party frustration, and the apparent perception that the SNP is collectively sitting on its behind, sucking its thumb in puzzlement, is totally false.
And the demand for a Plan B when we are wary of a Plan A is vain hope. As a fairly long-time member of the SNP I know there will be teams working on various scenarios; as soon as any plan is made public it will be shot down.
However, we see the Westminster plan shifting by the day; I find it mildly surprising at the cavalier treatment of the Irish back stop, but perhaps Mr Johnson sees this as the answer to the Irish Question; let Ireland be reunified and get rid of these DUP irrelevancies. They just cost Westminster money.
I have been a member of the SNP for more than 50 years, and “walked 500 miles”, at least, delivering leaflets.
I shudder at the thought of us making a false move due to the impatience of current members.
Jim Lynch
Edinburgh
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