SpaceX And Brazilian Government Cooperate With Internet Services And Counter Illegal Deforestation

Elon Musk and Brazilian Communications Minister Fabio Faria. (photo: twitter screenshot)

JAKARTA - The world's richest man and SpaceX owner Elon Musk and Brazil's Communications Minister Fabio Faria met in Austin on Tuesday, November 16 to discuss a potential partnership that would leverage SpaceX technology to bring the Internet to rural schools and reduce illegal deforestation.

In a statement, the Brazilian government said the two were talking about how SpaceX and Starlink, the satellite broadband service offered by the company, could help monitor the Amazon rainforest to tackle illegal logging, while also providing internet connections to remote schools and health centers.

Acharam que iríamos parar com o leilão do 5G? Não! Agora vamos buscar empresas de inovação para investirem no Brasil. Queremos que o país seja hub de inovação da América Latina com o 5G. Eu acredito no 🇧🇷! #LetsDoThis @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/s7G4spT94A

— Fábio Faria 🇧🇷🇧🇷🇧🇷 (@fabiofaria) November 16, 2021

"We are working to close the important partnership between the Brazilian government and SpaceX," Faria said, according to a statement quoted by Reuters. "Our goal is to bring the Internet to rural areas and remote places, in addition to helping control fires and illegal deforestation in the Amazon rainforest."

Faria and Musk also appeared in a video posted on the minister's Twitter account on Tuesday.

"With better connectivity, we can help ensure the preservation of the Amazon," Musk said.

Brazil pushed at the United Nations climate change summit COP 26 in Glasgow to suggest it had improved management of the Amazon and vowed to end illegal deforestation by 2028, two years ahead of its previous target.

But scientists, diplomats, and activists say the promises mean little, given how deforestation has spiked under President Jair Bolsonaro to levels last seen in 2008.