Actor Mark Ruffalo showed his support for Colombian President, Gustavo Petro, for protecting the Amazon rainforest. In a message posted on X, (formerly Twitter), the performer who rose to fame after playing Bruce Banner / Hulk in several of the Marvel Cinematic Universe films, assured that Petro is exercising "the kind of leadership humanity needs from you":
Under President @petrogustavo, Colombia is the first Amazon nation to back what science demands: a goal to protect 80% of the rainforest by 2025, and a call to stop oil drilling in the Amazon.
That is precisely the kind of leadership humanity needs from you, Mr. President.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) August 10, 2023
The publication was not originally addressed to Gustavo Petro, but to Brazilian President Lula Da Silva. A man who, Ruffalo assured, is "one of my heroes." However, he also criticized the decisions made by the president during the Amazon Summit entitled 'United for our Forests':
You’re one of my heroes, @LulaOficial, but it breaks my heart to see the Belém Declaration has no concrete goals to protect the rainforest #AmazonSummit.
The Amazon emergency is a climate emergency, and we can't afford any delays.
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) August 10, 2023
Mark Ruffalo critical of Da Silva's environmental policy
In fact, the praise for Gustavo Petro was not casual. The actor used this as an example to assure that Lula Da Silva's government could show more concern for the environment and, thus, protect the entire Amazon Rainforest, a cause for which he has already shown concern on several occasions:
And yet, as great as @petrogustavo's government is, you, @LulaOficial, have the potential to be even greater. After all, Brazil holds 60% of the Amazon & your nation commands so much attention.
Maybe you can bring your trademark boldness and leadership to #UNGA in NYC?
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) August 10, 2023
Colombian president Gustavo Petro has been immersed in a corruption scandal in recent days, due to the alleged illegal financing of his electoral campaign by drug traffickers, according to the president's own son.