Lula is anticipated to play a crucial role in saving the Amazon at COP27. The article highlights the challenges faced by free press and democracy in France, emphasizing the importance of independent journalism in advancing ecological and democratic causes. Reporterre, a non-profit media outlet, underscores its commitment to free and independent reporting, despite financial challenges, and calls for public support to sustain its operations.

Brazil's upcoming presidential election sees a stark ideological divide between incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and former president Lula, with significant focus on environmental issues. Bolsonaro's tenure has seen increased deforestation and violence against indigenous communities, while Lula promises stronger environmental protections and indigenous rights. The election also highlights the broader socio-economic crises facing Brazil, including hunger and economic instability.

Thousands of mostly Afro-Brazilian demonstrators, led by federal deputy David Miranda of the left-wing Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL), protested against police brutality in Rio de Janeiro. The United Nations has identified racism as a structural problem in Brazil, with Afro-Brazilians comprising 80 percent of fatalities in police raids. A demonstrator reported that police raids in the favelas often result in killings, including the deaths of two of their cousins.

In Santo Amaro, a small town in the heart of Bahia, Brazil, a human and environmental tragedy persists due to a lead smelter that operated from the 1960s to the 1990s. The closed facility continues to poison residents with diseases related to lead exposure. Adailson Pereira Moura, a former employee, tirelessly fights to secure just compensation for the affected inhabitants.

In Santo Amaro, a town in Brazil's Bahia State, residents continue to suffer from illnesses due to lead poisoning from a smelter that operated from 1960 to the 1990s. Despite the ongoing health and environmental disaster, justice has been elusive. Former factory worker Adailson Pereira Moura is actively seeking compensation for the victims before time runs out.

In Brazil, the second country with the highest number of Covid-19 victims, many residents of poor neighborhoods could not get diagnosed due to a lack of available tests. Consequently, many may have contracted the virus unknowingly and are now suffering from severe aftereffects. Mônica Cirne Albuquerque, a physiotherapist, treats residents of Rio's northern suburb, Alemão, for free. Symptoms vary among patients, including muscle fatigue, weakness, and respiratory difficulties. Over a hundred patients with such aftereffects are awaiting treatment. Albuquerque highlights the lack of attention to Covid-19 aftereffects in favelas, where testing has only recently become available, revealing a 25% positivity rate.

Record-breaking fires in the Amazon last year caused international outrage, but this year's fire season, lasting until October, could be even worse. Reporters Pierre Le Duff and Louise Raulais visited the Pantanal region in western Brazil, where vast areas of this large wetland are turning into a desert of dust and smoke, devastated by mostly human-caused fires. The once-rich wildlife is now more endangered than ever.

Record-breaking fires in Brazil's Pantanal region are causing severe environmental damage, with the majority of the fires being human-induced. The region, known for its rich biodiversity, is rapidly turning into a desert of dust and smoke, posing a significant threat to its ecosystem. The fire season, which lasts until October, is expected to have devastating consequences.

Mara, a six-ton elephant, has found sanctuary in Brazil after decades in circuses and zoos, overcoming a COVID-19 quarantine and a long journey from Argentina. Born in India, Mara's life has spanned three continents, with her recent relocation to Elephant Sanctuary Brazil marking a significant improvement in her living conditions. The sanctuary, run by Scott and Katherine Blais, offers a safe environment where Mara can recover from past traumas and live alongside other rescued elephants. The article highlights the broader movement against animal acts in circuses and the legal challenges surrounding animal rights.

One year after Jair Bolsonaro's election as president of Brazil, public opinion is mixed. Bolsonaro, a former army captain with far-right views and a nostalgic stance towards Brazil's dictatorship, has made significant headlines. Alongside his free-market economy minister, he has aimed to transform the country and eliminate corruption. The article explores how Brazilians perceive Bolsonaro's leadership and policies after his first year in office.