Brazil’s Environment Minister Ricardo Salles this month suspended all contracts and partnerships between the ministry and non-governmental organizations for 90 days while they undergo an in-house analysis, a move that environmental groups called “illegal.” A ministry statement said Salles’ Jan. 14 measure is aimed at allowing the agency to examine the “conditions, amounts and expiration dates” of the agreements. But critics say the measure reflects distrust of NGOs on the part of new Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. The president, who made a campaign vow to “end activism” in Brazil, issued an executive order on Jan. 1, his first day in office, requiring government monitoring of NGO activity in Brazil. On Jan. 2, a social-media post under his name asserted that indigenous peoples “are exploited and manipulated by NGOs.” Salles’ contract suspension affects all nonprofits—domestic and foreign—that receive funds managed or co-managed by the Environment... [Log in to read more]