Amazon defender Silva enters Brazilian election race

Source: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14151143.htm

By Raymond Colitt

BRASILIA, May 16 (Reuters) - Former rubber tapper turned environmentalist Marina Silva joined Brazil's presidential race as candidate for the small Green Party on Sunday, pledging clean government and sustainable development.

The soft-spoken former environment minister trails the two front-running candidates by a wide margin and most analysts say her chances of winning the presidency in October are slim.

But as a world-renowned champion of the Amazon, she is likely to get the limelight she seeks to push the environment higher up on the campaign agenda.

At a party convention on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, Silva on Sunday pledged to promote sustainable economic development and to combat social injustice and corruption.

Read more: Reuters