Cargill and the Priest: Priest Stands Up Against BigAg and Deforestation

In the Brazilian town of Santarem, one brave priest is the only thing standing between multi-national grain trader Cargill and the rest of the Amazon

Father Edilberto Sena arrives at Rural Radio station and takes up his position behind the microphone. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his script for today's show. One question is scribbled on it for the daily debate: ‘Why is this happening?'

Edilberto isn't just referring to climate change. The Amazon rainforest is being torn down by agribusinesses which use the land to farm soya and export to European livestock farmers, feeding the growing demand for cheap meat. For ten years Father Edilberto has stood at the heart of Santarem's campaign against the world's leader in this trade, Cargill.

‘In Santarem people started to say, "why is it so much hotter?". I tell people this is not God's doing; this is happening because of the destruction of the rainforest.'