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THE PRESIDENT of Brazil, the conservative Jair Bolsonaro, scolded actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio on Twitter, who posted a tweet related to deforestation in the Amazon. The South American president asked the Hollywood star to “give up his yacht before lecturing the world” about the environment.
“The region has faced an avalanche of illegal deforestation at the hands of the extractive industry in the last three years,” DiCaprio tweeted and attached a graphic from Brazilian company MapBiomas on the increase in deforestation in the Amazon.
The president’s response was neither brief nor subtle. In a comical but forceful tone, the president wrote a thread of 8 tweets pointing out the hypocrisy of DiCaprio and other progressives, who turn a blind eye to pollution in socialist countries in Europe and Asia, and criticize Brazil and ignore its efforts to preserve its natural lungs.
– You again, Leo? This way, you will become my best electoral cable, as we say in Brazil! I could tell you, again, to give up your yacht before lecturing the world, but I know progressives: you want to change the entire world but never yourselves, so I will let you off the hook. https://t.co/FxCnqhFv6D
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) July 28, 2022
“You again, Leo?” replied Bolsonaro in a first tweet. “So you will become my best electoral cable, as we say in Brazil! I could tell you, again, to give up your yacht before lecturing the world, but I know progressives: they want to change the whole world but never themselves, so I’ll let you off the hook.”
The Brazilian leader went on to say that he finds it strange “to see a guy who pretends to love the environment” putting his interest on Brazil while ignoring “the fires that damage Europe and his own country,” and wondered if the actor is “obsessed” with his country or if he thinks he is “the only one on Earth.”
“But don’t worry,Leo,” misinformation Bolsonaro continued, “unlike the places you pretend not to see by playing the brilliant role of a blind man, Brazil is and will remain the nation that preserves the most. You can keep playing with your Hollywood star toys while we do our job.”
– Actually, in my government average deforestation is way lower than it was in the past, when the crook turned candidate that your Brazilian buddy supports was in power.
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) July 28, 2022
Bolsonaro’s plans against deforestation
The President explained to DiCaprio that, during his administration, deforestation in Brazil has been “much lower” than in past administrations, such as those of the communist Luis Ignacio “Lula” da Silva or the socialist Dilma Rousseff. He also pointed out that his country preserves more than 80% of its native vegetation and has “the cleanest energy” of all the G20 countries.
“It is also clear that you do not know that my government announced a new commitment to eradicate illegal deforestation by 2028, and not by 2030 like most countries,” the president stated. “Or maybe you do know, but for some reason, it’s misinformation to be ignorant. I hope you don’t get too much for this role.”
The president asked the actor, “if it were within his power,” to stop “spreading disinformation” about his country and his government, reminding him that he once used a 2003 graphic to refer to the 2019 wildfires. “But I have forgiven you. So please go and sin no more,” he joked.
– By the way, what do you think about the hitting coal market in Europe? And what about Greta Timberlake, do you know what she has been up to lately and what she has to say about it? If I was hosting a barbecue in my house, I'm sure she would be yelling "How dare you?".
— Jair M. Bolsonaro (@jairbolsonaro) July 28, 2022
“By the way, what do you think about the success of the coal market in Europe? And what about Greta Timberlake, do you know what she’s been up to lately and what she has to say about it? If I were hosting a barbecue at my house, I’m sure she would be yelling ‘How dare you?” concluded Bolsonaro.
DiCaprio, who was appointed United Nations Messenger of Peace for Climate Change in 2014 and is member of the board of several environmental organizations, has been photographed more than once partying with celebrity friends on his luxury yacht, most recently on a trip across the French Riviera.
