Musk, the Brazilian government is discussing an agreement to supply rural Internet, they control Amazon By Reuters

By Gram Slattery

RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) – Elon Musk and Brazilian Communications Minister Fabio Faria met in Austin on Tuesday to discuss a partnership that would take advantage of SpaceX technology to bring the Internet to rural schools and reduce illegal deforestation.

In a statement, the Brazilian government said they both talked about how SpaceX and Starlink, the company’s satellite broadband service, can help control the Amazon (NASDAQ 🙂 forest for illegal logging, while also providing Internet connections for remote schools and health they have. centers.

“We are working to seal this important partnership between the Brazilian Government and SpaceX,” Faria said in the statement. “Our goal is to move the Internet to rural areas and remote areas, in addition to helping control Amazon wildfires and illegal deforestation.”

Faria and Musk also appeared in a video posted on Minister Twitter’s (NYSE 🙂 account on Tuesday.

“With better connectivity we can help ensure Amazon’s preservation,” Musk said.

Brazil gave a boost to the United Nations Climate Change Summit in Glasgow, suggesting that it would step up surveillance of the Amazon to end the illegal deforestation by 2028, two years ahead of the previous target.

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