Lula and Leonardo DiCaprio discuss the Amazon and indigenous peoples as Brazil debates the future of rare earths
The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, received in Brasilia the American actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio to discuss environmental protection and the rights of indigenous peoples. The meeting, which lasted about 40 minutes, focused on reducing deforestation in the Amazon and creating new indigenous reserves.
DiCaprio recalled his visit to the Xingú region 25 years ago, where he met Chief Raoni Metuktire, a reference in the defense of the forest and indigenous peoples. The actor highlighted the work of his NGO alongside the Brazilian government to protect the Amazon.
Tropical Forests Forever Fund
The activist was accompanied by Wes Sechrest, executive director of his organization, who emphasized the creation in Brazil of the Tropical Forests Forever Fund. This mechanism aims to allocate part of its returns to compensate countries that preserve their forests, while ensuring returns for investors.
The meeting was also attended by the first lady, Janja Lula da Silva, the Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Eloy Terena, and the Minister of Environment, João Paulo Capobianco.
Parallel debate: rare earths in Brazil
Meanwhile, the Brazilian Congress approved a bill that expands the Executive’s intervention capacity in the rare earths sector and grants tax incentives to companies that process these minerals within the country.
Brazil has the second largest global reserves, behind China, but lacks the necessary technology to exploit them on a large scale. Senator Eduardo Braga noted: “We do not have the technology. We need to partner and ensure technology transfer for the Brazilian nation”.
Strategic relevance
Rare earths are essential for the production of wind turbines, electric motors, weaponry, and batteries. The United States and international companies have shown interest in Brazil as a supplier, although Lula insists that the minerals must be processed in the country to add value and prevent them from leaving as mere raw materials.
The project creates a National Council for the Industrialization of Critical and Strategic Minerals, responsible for authorizing agreements and corporate changes in companies in the sector. The law includes tax benefits for companies that manufacture high value-added products in Brazil, such as magnets or batteries.
The meeting between Lula and DiCaprio strengthens the alliance between politics and environmental activism in defense of the Amazon and indigenous peoples. At the same time, the debate on rare earths reflects the tension between economic development and technological sovereignty.
Brazil seeks to position itself as a leader in conservation and in the industrialization of strategic resources, avoiding being just an exporter of raw materials.