Brazil's Lula Cracks Down on Amazonian Gold Mining

Brazilian security forces have launched a major assault on an illicit gold-mining settlement in the Amazon, leaving behind a trail of devastation. The settlement, known as Vila Cururu, was a hub of depravity and lawlessness, with miners using explosives and pickaxes to burrow deep into the hillsides in search of treasure. The encampment was eventually abandoned after troops launched a land and air assault in late March, forcing miners to flee into the surrounding forests.

The destruction of the forests is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gold mining on the Amazonian ecosystem.

The assault is part of a broader effort by Lula to tackle the scourge of gold mining in Indigenous territories. The president has pledged to eradicate the practice, which has had a devastating impact on the environment and local communities. In the Sararé region, which is home to a protected area of savanna and woodland, an estimated 17.3 square miles of forest have been destroyed since the gold rush began around five years ago.

The destruction of the forests is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gold mining on the Amazonian ecosystem. As Lula's eviction tsar, Nilton Tubino, noted, the price of gold and global instability have contributed to the surge in mining activity. However, the president's efforts to tackle the issue are a step in the right direction, and it remains to be seen whether they will be enough to stem the tide of destruction.