[ad_1]
Gabriela Sa Pessoa is a journalist passionate about the intersection of human rights and climate change. He came to MIT Washington Post, where he worked from his native Brazil as a news researcher covering the Amazon, human rights abuses and environmental crimes. Before that, he played roles in two of Brazil’s most influential media outlets: Folha de S. Paulo, which includes local and national politics and UOL, where he was assigned to cover the coronavirus and later joined the investigative division.
Sá Pessoa has been awarded the 2023 Elizabeth Neifer Fellowship by the International Women’s Media Foundation, which supports its recipient with research opportunities and further training at MIT. Boston Globe and The New York Times. He currently works at MIT’s Center for International Studies. Recently, he sat down to talk about working at Amazon, recent changes in Brazilian politics, and his experience at MIT.
Question: One of the focuses of your report is human rights and environmental issues in the Amazon. As part of your scholarship, you contributed to a recent editorial Boston Globe About the fight against deforestation in the region. Why is it important to report on this topic?
A: For many Brazilians, the Amazon is a remote and remote area, and people living in other parts of the country are not fully aware of all its problems and all its potential. It’s like the United States – like many people here, they don’t see how it can be related to the human rights abuses and rainforest destruction that’s going on.
But we’re all complicit in the destruction in some way, because the economic forces that drive deforestation all have a market, and those markets are everywhere, in Brazil and here in the U.S. I think part of journalism is showing people. In the United States, in Brazil, and elsewhere, that we are part of the problem, and as part of the problem, we must be part of the solution by understanding that we care about it and take actions that are within our power.
In the United States, for example, voters can influence policy, such as the ongoing negotiations for financial support to combat deforestation in the Amazon. And as consumers, we can be more aware – is the beef we consume linked to deforestation? Does the wood for our construction sites come from the Amazon?
The truth is that we have turned our backs on the Amazon in Brazil for so long. It is our duty to protect it for the sake of climate change. If we don’t take care of this, there will be serious consequences for our local climate, local communities and the whole world. This is a huge human rights issue because our lives depend on it, both locally and globally.
Question: You were before you came to MIT The Washington Post in São Paulo, where you contributed to the coverage of the last presidential election. What changes do you expect in Lula’s new administration?
A: The first signs regarding climate and environment were positive. But the optimism didn’t last even a semester, because politics showed itself. Lula is struggling to form a majority in the conservative Congress, where agribusiness has enormous power and influence. As we speak, environmental policy is under attack in Congress. A parliamentary committee recently passed a resolution to curb the governing powers of Environment Minister Marina Silva and the newly created National Indigenous Peoples Ministry, headed by Sonia Guajajara. Both Marina and Sonia are global environmental and human rights champions, and I wonder what influence Congress will have on ratifying these changes. It remains unclear what impact this will have on efforts to combat deforestation.
In addition, there is internal bickering within the government between environmentalists and proponents of mining and large infrastructure projects. State oil company Petrobras is seeking authorization to explore and drill for offshore oil reserves in the Amazon River estuary. The Federal Environmental Protection Agency has issued a final report on the shutdown, saying it is critical and endangers the region’s sensitive environment and local communities. And, of course, it will be another source of greenhouse gas emissions. ,
That said, this is not a government of denial. I must highlight the administration’s swift response to the Yanomami genocide earlier this year. In January, an independent media organization called Sumauma reported the deaths of more than five hundred indigenous children from the Amazon’s Yanomami community in the past four years. It was a big shock in Brazil and the administration responded immediately. They have sent task forces into the region and are now evicting the illegal miners who were sickened and ultimately responsible for these humanitarian tragedies. To be clear: this is still a problem. not resolved. But this is already a good example of positive action.
Fighting the Amazon and Cerrado forests, another biome critical to climate regulation in Brazil, will not be easy. It will take time to restore the environmental policy, and the agencies responsible for enforcement are insufficient. In addition, environmental crime has become more sophisticated, linked to other major criminal organizations in the country. In April, for the first time, there was a decrease in deforestation in the Amazon after two consecutive months of higher numbers. These are still preliminary data, and it is still too early to confirm whether they signal a turning point and may point to a downward trend in deforestation. In turn, the Cerrado recorded record deforestation in April.
There are problems everywhere in the economy and politics that Lula will have to overcome. In the first week of the new term, January 8, we saw an uprising in the capital of Brazil by Bolsonaro voters who will not accept the election results. The events resembled what Americans saw in the 2021 Capitol attacks. We also seem to have imported problems from the United States, such as mass killings in schools. We never had them in Brazil, but now we see them. I wonder how the country will solve these problems and whether the US can inspire a solution. That’s what I’m thinking about while I’m here: Are there solutions here? What are they?
Question: What have you learned so far from MIT and your fellowship?
A: It’s hard to put everything into words! I mainly take courses and attend lectures on issues relevant to humanity, such as existential threats such as climate change, artificial intelligence, biosecurity, and more.
I’m learning all these things, but also as a journalist I think I’m learning more about how I can incorporate a scientific approach into my work; For example, more positive. I’m already a tough journalist, but I’m thinking about how to be tougher and more transparent about my methods. Being in an academic and scientific environment is inspiring in this way.
I’m also learning a lot about how to cover science topics and thinking about how technology can offer solutions (and problems). I’m learning so much that I think I’ll need some time to digest and fully understand what this period means to me!
Question: You mentioned artificial intelligence. Want to weigh in on this topic and what you’ve been studying?
A: It was a particularly good semester to be at MIT. Generative AI, which has become more popular since ChatGPT, has been a topic of intense discussion this semester, and I’ve been able to attend many classes, workshops, and events on AI here, especially from a policy perspective.
Algorithms have been influencing the economy, society, and public health for many years. It had great consequences, but also injustice. Popular systems like ChatGPT have made this technology incredibly popular and accessible, even for those who are not computer literate. It is scary and at the same time very exciting. Here I learned that like other technologies, artificial intelligence also needs protection. Think of the pharmaceutical or automotive industries that must meet safety criteria before bringing a new product to market. But with artificial intelligence it will be different; Supply chains are very complex and sometimes not very transparent, and the speed at which new resources are developed is so fast that it challenges policymakers’ ability to respond.
Artificial intelligence is radically changing the world. It is exciting to have the privilege of being here and watching these discussions. Finally, I have a report on the future. At least I hope so!
Question: What are you working on in the future?
A: After MIT, I’m going to New York to work The New York Times in their internship program. I’m really excited about it because it’s going to be a different pace than MIT. I am also doing research on carbon credit markets and hope to continue this project in both reporting and academic settings.
Honestly, I feel inspired to continue learning. I want to spend more time here at MIT. I would love to do my Masters or join any of the programs here. I’m going to work on getting back into academia because I think I need to learn more from an academic environment. I hope it’s at MIT, because honestly, it’s the most interesting environment I’ve ever been in, with all the people here from different fields and different backgrounds. I’m not a scientist, but it’s inspiring to be around them, and if there’s a way I can contribute to their work in a way that they can contribute to mine, I’d be thrilled to spend more time here.
[ad_2]
Source link
