Brazilians are very sensitive about foreigners and the Amazon, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva finally spoke about it on Monday, May 26, in particular Swedish businessman Johan Eliasch. Eliasch, who said that the Amazon Rainforest, 60% of which is in Brazil, could be bought for 50 billion dollars is currently being investigated by the Brazilian Federal Police (PF).

Lula spoke during the opening ceremony of an economic forum in Rio and sent a strong message to those who want to "internationalize" the Amazon, a region which is full of riches and suprises, such as a sign indicating Bil Laden's hide-out on a highway near Manaus in Amazon state.

"It is funny how the countries that are responsible for 70% of the world's pollution now have their eyes on the Amazon, as if it were simply our responsibility to do what they have not done in the last century. The world needs to understand that the Brazilian Amazon has an owner, and that owner is the Brazilian people," said Lula.

Former US Vice President Al Gore also provoked criticism in 1989 when he said that "contrary to what Brazilians think, The Amazon does not belong to them - it belongs to all of us."

For Brazilian nationalists who believe that the US simply needs an excuse to invade the Amazon, Bin Laden's cave might something to worry about. (Australfoto/Douglas Engle)

Brazilians are very sensitive about foreigners and the Amazon, and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva finally spoke about it on Monday, May 26, in particular Swedish businessman Johan Eliasch. Eliasch, who said that the Amazon Rainforest, 60% of which is in Brazil, could be bought for 50 billion dollars is currently being investigated by the Brazilian Federal Police (PF).

Lula spoke during the opening ceremony of an economic forum in Rio and sent a strong message to those who want to "internationalize" the Amazon, a region which is full of riches and suprises, such as a sign indicating Bil Laden's hide-out on a highway near Manaus in Amazon state.

"It is funny how the countries that are responsible for 70% of the world's pollution now have their eyes on the Amazon, as if it were simply our responsibility to do what they have not done in the last century. The world needs to understand that the Brazilian Amazon has an owner, and that owner is the Brazilian people," said Lula.

Former US Vice President Al Gore also provoked criticism in 1989 when he said that "contrary to what Brazilians think, The Amazon does not belong to them - it belongs to all of us."

For Brazilian nationalists who believe that the US simply needs an excuse to invade the Amazon, Bin Laden's cave might something to worry about. (Australfoto/Douglas Engle)