Starlink antennas seized in illegal mining in Yanomami Land

[ad_1]

Equipment was found during operations by Ibama and the Federal Highway Police in the Amazon rainforest. Federal agents seized the internet kit at an illegal mine Ibama via AP Brazilian federal agents aboard three helicopters seized two Starlink internet antennas, weapons and ammunition at an illegal mine on Tuesday (14), in the Amazon rainforest. The action was carried out by agents of the Special Inspection Group of Ibama (GEF) and the Rapid Response Group of the Federal Highway Police (GRR). They were met with gunfire, but the garimpeiros escaped. An officer who participated in the operation said he found a working antenna. The broadband internet company Starlink is an arm of SpaceX, owned by billionaire Elon Musk. Federal agents seized 600 grams of mercury, 15 grams of gold, 508 rounds of ammunition of various calibers and personal documents. In addition, they destroyed 3,250 liters of fuel, four mining barges, 12 generators, 23 camping and storage units, and seven boat engines. The mining area, which became known as “Ouro Mil”, is controlled by the First Command of the Capital (PCC), according to federal investigations. In addition to the two antennas seized on Tuesday, Ibama seized five other antennas from Musk’s company in Yanomami lands in the last month. Equipment Abandoned by Gold Miners in Yanomami Indigenous Territory Ibama via AP Countless numbers of Starlink terminals may have been taken with gold miners as they fled into the forest. Ibama told the AP that, along with other federal agencies, it is studying how to block Starlink’s signal in illegal mining areas. The AP reached out to James Gleeson, director of communications for SpaceX, with questions about Starlink’s presence in Brazil and its use by illegal miners in remote areas, but did not receive a response. READ ALSO: Satellite Internet: service offered by Musk is the new ‘race’ for billionaires Elon Musk’s satellite Internet already reaches all continents Use of Starlink antennas in mining Starlink’s high-speed Internet system has been a tool for illegal prospectors in Brazil to coordinate their actions and receive prior notice of police raids, in addition to making payments. Since taking office this year, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has empowered authorities to crack down on environmental violations, particularly illegal mining in Yanomami Land, Brazil’s largest indigenous territory. In recent years, around 20,000 miners have contaminated the region’s waters with mercury, used to separate gold, harming traditional indigenous life, bringing diseases and causing widespread hunger. Illegal prospectors have used the internet for a long time, but until then, it was necessary to send a technician, usually by plane, to install a fixed antenna, which cannot be loaded whenever mining sites are moved or invaded. Even so, the connection was slow and unstable, especially on rainy days. Starlink in Brazil Starlink – which debuted in Brazil last year and spread quickly – has solved these problems. The installation is of the “do it yourself” type, the equipment works even when moving, the speed is as fast as in the big Brazilian cities and it even works in storms. The Amazon is seen by Starlink as an opportunity. This was underscored by Musk’s visit to Brazil last May. He met with then-president Jair Bolsonaro and the region was at the center of the conversation. “Super excited to be in Brazil for the launch of Starlink for 19,000 disconnected schools in rural areas and environmental monitoring of the Amazon,” tweeted Musk at the time. Bolsonaro and Elon Musk pose for a photo in the interior of SP Reproduction/Social networks This project with the Brazilian government, however, did not advance. SpaceX and the Ministry of Communications did not sign any contracts, and only three terminals were installed in schools in the Amazon for a trial period of 12 months, the Ministry’s press office told the AP. However, Starlink took off in the region and began to bring about change. SEE ALSO: Musk goes back and says he will continue to finance Starlink internet network in Ukraine Four months after Elon Musk’s announcement, an AM school receives internet through Starlink

[ad_2]

Source link