The New York Museum of Natural History seeks to cancel a tribute to Jair Bolsonaro: "We are deeply concerned"

The New York Museum of Natural History He said he "was considering options" after discovering that he would hold an event at his headquarters in honor of Brazil's President, Jair Bolsonaro.

The Brazilian President, criticized inside and outside his country for his policies threatening the environment and indigenous communities, will receive a prize from the Chamber of Commerce of Brazil and the United States at the Museum. Bolsonaro was chosen by the House to receive the "Personality of the Year" award at a gala dinner that is expected to bring together more than 1,000 people.

"The external private event, to which the current president of Brazil will be honored, has been booked at the museum before being known (the name of) laureate," the museum said on Twitter. "We are deeply concerned and explore our options"

The site Gothamist He quoted an environmentalist who pointed out "a particularly bitter irony … that a man trying to destroy one of the most precious natural resources can be named the year's Personality in a dedicated space to the celebration of the natural world ".

In an open letter published Wednesday in the French newspaper Le Monde, 13 representatives of Brazilian indigenous peoples denounced Bolsonaro's environmental policy, claiming that they were on the verge of "apocalypse".

"The government wants to monopolize the whole Amazon, bleed it even more by building new roads and railways," the letter says.

Since taking office on 1 January, Bolsonaro has been rebroadcasting environmental protection laws for miners and farmers. Hours after taking office, the president decided to transfer regulations and the creation of new indigenous reserves in the Amazon jungle to the Ministry of Agriculture, dominated by a "lobby" of agricultural societies.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, who today said in a WNYC radio program that Bolsonaro was "a very dangerous human being," was one of the first to criticize the event. asked the Museum of Natural History to cancel the event.

"(Bolsonaro) it is dangerous not only because of its racism and its homophobia, but also because, unfortunately, it is the person who has the greatest power that has an impact on what will happen in Amazonia in the future"Said De Blasio.

This event has been held annually since 1970 to highlight the work of two people who "played a key role in building relationships" between the United States and Brazil. according to GothamistEach ticket costs around $ 30,000 and has already been sold.

(With information from AFP and EFE)