To Mr. President Jair M. Bolsonaro,

It is a harmful practice to ascribe to others the responsibility for events for which you are actually responsible. The undersigned organizations are deeply concerned with the fallacious and very serious statement made by you on the 21th of August, implying without any evidence that non-governmental organizations could be responsible for the ongoing burning in the Amazon as way of denouncing your government internationally.

As the President of Brazil, your responsibilities include the conservation of an ecologically balanced environment, according to our Constitution.

This specific accusation is already an unacceptable outrage in itself - but what makes the situation even worse is that this is not an isolated case. You have frequently highlighted your will to eradicate all activism activity in Brazil, as well as declared, without any evidence, that NGOs in Brazil have illegitimate practices.

It is outrageous to see that institutions which dedicate themselves fully and selflessly to social causes are attacked and unfairly accused of being responsible for the harms that they actually work hard to exterminate. Unfortunately, doing this brave job in Brazil often brings a risk to the lives of those who work for a more just and humane country that respects its environment and its freedom.

NGOs should be considered government allies in many key agendas for building a prosperous, dignified and developed society. We therefore reinforce that if there is genuine aspiration and concrete action to defend the public interest and to tackle illegal practices, the government must respect, value and seek to collaborate with organized civil society. We are able and willing to join efforts to work for Brazil.

1. 342 Amazônia
2. 342 Artes
3. Advocacy Hub
4. Agenda Pública
5. Atados
6. Bancada Ativista
7. BrCidades
8. Casa Fluminense
9. CEDAPS
10. CENPEC
11. Cidade Escola Aprendiz
12. Delibera Brasil
13. Engajamundo
14. Frente Favela Brasil
15. Fundação Tide Setubal
16. Gestos-Soropositividade, Comunicação e Gênero
17. Gregaria (Argentina)
18. Habitat para a Humanidade Brasil
19. Hivos - Organização Humanista para Mudança Social
20. Imargem
21. Instituto Alana
22. Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor - Idec
23. Instituto Cidade Democrática
24. Instituto Construção
25. Instituto de Defesa do Direito de Defesa - IDDD
26. Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Baiano
27. Instituto de Governo Aberto
28. Instituto Ethos de Empresas e Responsabilidade Social
29. Instituto Luísa Mell de Proteção aos Animais e Meio Ambiente
30. Instituto Physis - Cultura & Ambiente
31. Instituto Socioambiental - ISA
32. Instituto Update
33. Instituto Vladimir Herzog
34. Mapa Educação
35. Move Social
36. Movimento Acredito
37. Movimento Boa Praça
38. O Instituto
39. Open Knowledge Brasil
40. Oxfam Brasil
41. Pacto Organizações Regenerativas
42. Política Viva
43. ponteAponte
44. Programa Cidades Sustentáveis
45. Rede Conhecimento Social
46. Rede Justiça Criminal
47. Rubens Naves Santos Jr Advogados
48. SOS Mata Atlântica
49. Szazi Bechara Storto Rosa Figueiredo Lopes Advogados
50. TETO Brasil
51. Transparência Brasil
52. Uneafro
53. Urbanismo Vivo (Argentina)
54. Vote Nelas

Pacto Pela Democracia is a civil society platform that coordinates the efforts of more than 120 NGOs and political actors from across the ideological spectrum, to strengthen the capacity of civil society to defend democratic processes and institutions, promote dialogue, tolerance, and the value of a democratic political culture in Brazil. You can reach us via email: contato@pactopelademocracia.org.br