Lula Accuses the Rich of Hypocrisy and Calls for More Voice for Global South and Indigenous Peoples

247 - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticized rich countries on Tuesday (24) and defended the rights of indigenous peoples and countries of the Global South as one of the main paths to advance sustainable development goals worldwide.

“The false opposition between state and market was abandoned by developed nations, which have returned to practicing active industrial policies and strong regulation of the domestic economy,” he said in his speech at the opening of the United Nations General Assembly.

The Brazilian head of state mentioned the African continent and also cited Cuba to emphasize the need to increase the representation of less-resourced nations at the UN.

“African countries take loans at rates up to eight times higher than Germany and four times higher than the United States. It’s a reverse Marshall Plan, where the poorest finance the richest. Without greater participation of developing countries in the leadership of the IMF and the World Bank, there will be no effective change,” he added.

In the president’s view, this inequality “results in harmful effects on the political landscape.” “It is unjustified to keep Cuba on a unilateral list of states that supposedly promote terrorism and to impose unilateral coercive measures that unduly penalize the most vulnerable populations,” he compared.

The president also said it is necessary to listen to “indigenous peoples” on this issue. “It is no longer acceptable to think of solutions for tropical forests without listening to indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and all those who live in them. Our vision of sustainable development is based on the potential of the bioeconomy.”

In his speech, Lula stated that Global South countries need more representation at the United Nations. “At the founding of the UN, we were 51 countries. Today, we are 193. Many nations, especially on the African continent, were under colonial rule and had no voice in determining their objectives and functioning. There is no gender balance in the exercise of the highest functions. The position of Secretary-General has never been held by a woman. We are approaching the end of the first quarter of the 21st century with the United Nations increasingly weakened and paralyzed. It is time to vigorously address this situation, restoring to the Organization the prerogatives that come from its condition as a universal forum.”