Brazil's Congress Under Fire for Weakening Environmental and Indigenous Ministries.

Brazil's congress has moved to weaken the powers of the environment and Indigenous peoples ministries, potentially crippling efforts to protect Indigenous communities and the Amazon. The move would strip the environment ministry of control of the rural environmental registry and water resources, and the ministry for Indigenous peoples of responsibility for delimiting Indigenous territories, handing those powers to the justice ministry. Activists fear the changes would deal a severe blow to the environment ministry and Indigenous ministry, and represent a step backwards for Indigenous rights.