Ministry of Environment inaugurates site to foster fair trade in the Amazon

17/06/2005 - 9h49

Alana Gandra
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Rio - Through the National Forest Program, the Ministry of Environment is participating in Fashion Rio for the first time, in partnership with the Amazonia Brasil project. The intention is to take advantage of the Rio fashion event, which is part of the official Brazilian calendar in this sector, to stage the advance premiere of the Mercado Amazônia site (www.mercadoamazonia.com.br), which will list in detail all the products derived from the Amazon forest whose commercialization does not damage the environment and can be undertaken in a socially just and economically viable manner, without middlemen.

One of the originators and coordinators of the project, Débora Laruccia, said that an analysis was made of local producer communities, and this information was placed on the site, indicating where people who are interested can find the products, how to obtain them, and their aggregated value.

Laruccia affirmed that the project's philosophy is to support the communities in the sale of what they produce, so that they can remain in the forest, thus ensuring care in the maintenance and preservation of nature.

The Mercado Amazônia site is being presented in Paris, until August, as part of the commemoration of the Year of Brazil in France and will be launched officially in Brazil in July. Fashion Rio, which is being held in the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, runs through Monday (20).

Translation: David Silberstein