Brazil: Activists blame agro-industry for Amazon fires at Porto Velho protest

W/S Activists at protest, Porto Velho
M/S Protester talking
M/S Protest signs on wall
SOT, Ariadne, protester, (Portuguese): "We are here today, spontaneously without any leadership, because the whole population of Rondonia is feeling the effect of the wildfires this year as it has been increasing. This [wildfires] is a political project for the expansion of the agriculture industry. The forests are on fire in strategic locations for the agriculture industry. It is not local people who are setting the fires, even though we have this dry season and usually we have fires, this year has increased in a way that is impacting the Amazon in general and also people's health."
M/S Woman photographing signs
C/U Protest signs
SOT, Pritama, protester (Portuguese): "I think it is the right time for us to be able to create a project to re-forest the city and create a more comfortable climate, and an aesthetic point for people. I feel that people come to this city to do their business and leave. There is a lack of cultural identity. I've been thinking a lot about how students can create a cultural identity. I feel it has a direct impact on the city, and of course with deforestation as well."
M/S Woman holding protest banner
M/S Protesters
C/U Protest signs
SOT, Joaquim, protester, (Portuguese): " I am here today to represent our Amazon and our rights. I believe we are all in the same boat. I believe we must act because the problem is so big. The crisis is huge. We have to defend it [the Amazon], defend our rights, our jungle, and hold to account those people up there who just ignore the problem. So our intention to be here is to draw attention to this problem, to this big problem that Brazil is facing today."
M/S Protesters with flags
M/S Protester wearing gas-mask
M/S Sign reading in Portuguese: "Amazon anti-capitalism"
SCRIPT
Activists in Porto Vehlo, a Brazilian city which has been affected by the recent Amazon wildfires, came out to protest against the government's environmental policies on Sunday.
"We are here today, spontaneously without any leadership, because the whole population of Rondonia is feeling the effect of the wildfires this year as it has been increasing. This [wildfires] is a political project for the expansion of the agriculture industry," said Ariadne, one of protesters.
"The crisis is huge. We have to defend it [the Amazon], defend our rights, our jungle, and hold to account those people up there who just ignore the problem. So our intention to be here is to draw attention to this problem, to this big problem that Brazil is facing today," said Joaquim, another activist.
Porto Vehlo is the capital of Rondonia, one of the states that have been hit by a record number of wildfires.