Centuries-old trees destroyed as rainforest is chopped down for Pope's visit to Brazil (edit)

Daily Mail - UK ^ | UPDATED: 02:56 EST, 15 July 2013 | Matt Roper

[haffast]

Authorities in Brazil have denounced church leaders as criminals for chopping down more than 300 centuries-old trees in a national park - so pilgrims can celebrate mass during the Pope’s visit to Rio de Janeiro.

Pope Francis will make his first international trip to the world’s largest Roman Catholic country later this month.

Organisers of an event in the diocese of Sao Sebastiao de Itaipu, in the city of Niteroi, claimed they needed to clear an area of Atlantic rainforest to accommodate the expected crowd of up to 800 pilgrims.

A total of 334 trees at the edge of the Serra da Tiririca national park, but also on church-owned land, were felled.

Niteroi's vice-mayor, Axel Grael, claimed the church did not seek permission to ‘deforest’ the land.

He told Brazil's O Globo newspaper: ‘The incident is lamentable. An event for youth should be educational and demonstrate a commitment to the environment and the future. This removal is a criminal act.’

Andre Ilha, from Rio de Janeiro's state environment institute - which is responsible for the forest - said the destruction would never have been allowed.

snip

[haffast]

Full title: "Centuries-old trees destroyed as rainforest is chopped down for Pope's visit to Brazil to allow pilgrims to celebrate mass"

Oh, it's been done before. Note the special World Youth Day state authority. Screw you locals:

Clearing a path for pilgrims - 2008
Sunanda Creagh Urban Affairs Reporter - May 24, 2008

"The Deputy Premier and Minister for World Youth Day, John Watkins, used sweeping powers under the World Youth Day Act to "prescribe" the City of Sydney as a government agency - which means he can direct it to do whatever the World Youth Day Co-ordination Authority requests."
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/clearing-a-path-for-pilgrims/2008/05/23/1211183103025.html

Hope they didn't pee in the water:

Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers Releases Message for World Tourism Day
Zenit ^ | July 12, 2013 | Junno Arocho Esteves
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3042321/posts?page=6

ENVIRONMENT - USCCB

"Letter to Senate Subcommittee on Energy on The Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Act"
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, June 24, 2013
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/environmental-justice-program/upload/Letter-to-Sen-Energy-on-energy-efficiency-2013-06-24.pdf

Letter to Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change
Bishop Stephen E. Blaire, February 21, 2013
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/upload/Letter-to-Bicameral-Task-Force-on-Climate-Change-2013-02-21.pdf"

Letter to President Obama on Climate Change Religious leaders, including Bishop Stephen E. Blaire,
January 29, 2013
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/upload/Letter-on-Climate-Change-to-President-Obama-2013-01-29.pdf

Environmental Justice Program - USCCB
http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/human-life-and-dignity/environment/upload/Letter-on-Climate-Change-to-President-Obama-2013-01-29.pdf

"Related Partner:

http://catholicclimatecovenant.org/

"Today the great gift of God’s Creation is exposed to serious dangers and lifestyles which can degrade it. Environmental pollution is making particularly unsustainable the lives of the poor of the world … we must pledge ourselves to take care of creation and to share its resources in solidarity." — Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

[GOP_Party_Animal]

Authorities in Brazil have denounced church leaders as criminals for chopping down more than 300 centuries-old trees in a national park...

Then it says: A total of 334 trees at the edge of the Serra da Tiririca national park...

Then finally: ...on church-owned land, were felled.

So it's the Church's land out side of the park. BFD.

[Venturer]

Only 800 pilgrims?

That doesn’t seem right. Must be more than that expected.

[TArcher]

Rom 1:25-26
25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over...
NIV

[Hieronymus]

The reporter destroyed most of his credibility with me by noting that a crowd of up to 800 pilgrims is expected.

I imagine that he is off by three degrees of magnitude, which is about right for the press in the U.S.—but I had thought that the Brits were a bit better.

[cuban leaf]

"Don't worry. We'll make more."

[cripplecreek]

So it's the Church's land out side of the park. BFD.

It all depends on how much Brazil has bought into the stupidity of Agenda 21. One of their favorite methods of control are the ever expanding "Buffer zones" where development on private buffer lands is extremely limited at best.

[grobdriver]

Eh.
In a couple of hundred years there'll be a new batch of centuries-old trees.

What's the fuss?

[Tax-chick]

O noes! Gaia will get back at them!

[kitkat]

– Copacabana prayers: The pope addresses crowds of young people expected on July 25 on Copacabana beach. Brazilian officials say they expect up to 1.5 million people to come for the World Youth Day celebrations — lower than the number initially estimated by organizers.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/445301/praying-on-the-beach-pope-francis-program-in-brazil#ixzz2ZD62IrpA
Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

[IronJack]

Turn the trees into patio furniture for all I care. In fact, I’ll confess that this is secretly part of my growing “Pave the Rainforest” campaign. Our goal is to completely eliminate these pestiferous liberal havens from the planet.

[haffast]

Poorly written article quoting a Brazilian newspaper O Globo.

Tiny Sao Sebastiao de Itaipu, in the city of Niteroi, Brazil may be only able to accomodate 800 pilgrims and their vehicles at a time?
http://paroquiasaosebastiaoitaipu.blogspot.com.br/

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Sao+Sebastiao+de+Itaipu&FORM=HDRSC2

Offered to replant trees to escape penalties. Church may not be able to trump state.

Wonder what the entry fee will be at this pilgrim trap? It's showtime.

Copacabana to Niteroi
https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Niteroi,+brazil&daddr=Copacabana+-+Post+6+Rio+de+Janeiro+-+RJ+-+Brazil+

Pope Francis' Brazil schedule
http://www.rio2013.com/en/news/details/1945/pope-francis-brazil-schedule#

Pope doesn't go to Niteroi.

JPII "relics" (vial of his blood....yuck.... and other stuff) doesn't go to Niteroi.

Girls of Rio may not be at Niteroi.

Not much of a draw.

Conservative posers on FR miss the irony and hypocrisy of (c)hurch's socialist teaching, or maybe they didn't miss it, and choose to deflect and obfuscate instead.

Pope is going to Catedral São Sebastião (St. Sebastian Cathedral) on Saturday July 27:
http://www.rio-de-janeiro.info/catedral-metropolitana-de-sao-sebastiao.htm

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Catedral+S%C3%A3o+Sebasti%C3%A3o+Rio+de+Janiero&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=catedral+s%C3%A3o+sebasti%C3%A3o+rio+de+janiero&sc=0-14&sp=-1&sk=

Mayan influence. Cone shaped.

Cross within a circle. Interesting.

[dfwgator]

And the trees are all kept equal / By hatchet, axe, and saw.