One year has passed since the world was shocked by the images of the fires blazing across the Amazon in Brazil. But since then, the forest hasn’t stopped burning —and 2020 could be even more devastating for the rainforest and the Indigenous Peoples who call it home. Last week, Greenpeace Brazil flew over the state of Mato Grosso to capture images of the Amazon. Even though the government had ordered a ban on forest fires in the state starting at the beginning of July, the photos show smoke, flames, and just how ineffective the ban has been.
Last year, more than 1 million hectares of forest were burned, and the trend shows the destruction is far from over. Last June, more than two thousand fire hotspots were registered in the Amazon, the highest number in the last thirteen years. Since Brazil’s President Bolsonaro took office in January 2019, his government’s agenda has been very clear: dismantle environmental protection law and agencies, so that forest destroyers can burn the forest freely, clearing the land to turn it into pastures, without being held accountable.
The consequences of this destruction are dire. From Siberia to the Amazon, fires are raging across the world. Losing our forests means losing the fight against the climate crisis, putting biodiversity at risk of extinction, and threatening the lives of Indigenous Peoples who depend on the forest standing for their survival. Fighting to protect the forest and Indigenous lands from fires and deforestation become even more difficult—and crucial —during a pandemic.
With a mortality rate from COVID-19 150% higher than the Brazilian average, Indigenous Peoples are already more vulnerable during the pandemic. The smoke from the fires will put their respiratory system at even higher risk during a time when access to healthcare is limited in remote areas in the Amazon.
But things can be different. After the public’s outcry last year, there is increasing pressure on Brazil’s government. Investors, companies and governments have been signaling their concerns about the destruction of the forest and its impact on the environment, and their message is clear: they don’t want to do business with forest destroyers. Even though last week Bolsonaro announced a “fire moratorium” for 120 days, the images of Mato Grosso show how his measures have been performative and inefficient.
To properly protect the forest and its Peoples, the Brazilian government must properly fund environmental agencies, reinforce environmental laws and protect the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The exploitation of nature and people is a major cause of the current health, climate and biodiversity crises.
We must demand governments and companies end business with forest destroyers and invest and support resilient economies that put nature and people first.
Discussion
I cannot understand why the world leaders stand by and let the Brazilian rain forest be destroyed, the world needs the rain forests for oxygen, they are destroying the lungs of the world, why cannot the world leaders especially USA tell Bolsanaro that it must stop or they WILL BE STOPPED FORCIBLY.
I live in Ireland and our weather tends to be moderate and chilly. Always. Very little snow, quite a bit of soft rain, few storms. However, I know we have a high water table, and sea levels are higher than previously. We don't notice a big change in climate, but it may come from underneath!
I agree we must speak out and do what is right. But I don't have a huge position or a bunch of followers how do I spread the word and try to help?
Please someone do something. Tesco and sainsburys etc stop buying your meat from here and all companies stop using palm oil in your products as all this is pushing the people to burn and chop it down. People stop buying new wood furniture that companies claim is from sustainable sources, it is not, this is where wood products are sourced. Goverments around the world must step in as the earth will burn if we don't. The issues like all the wars and things like this are biblical and predicted as the start of the end of the world
Sounds like these people involved in the destruction of all these natural places need to wake up. Watch David Attenborough's testimate to what is happening to our beautiful planet and take it to heart and start doing the things necessary to stop and reverse the terrible changes happening right now to our planets beautiful and diverse places. Otherwise governments need step in as babysitters to force these groups to change (for the greater good) and help to the best of their ability these groups achieve lifestyles or bussiness/work that meets guidelines for helping save our environments and the people and Wildlife living there.
Mother nature will take care of it Lol. Jim Duncan
Our lovely Planet is dying. Causa mortis: greed and indifference. Mother Nature cries for help. We must do whatever we can in order to save Life.
We should put pressure on European Union to not buy beef from Brazil.
Major problem with industrialization and corporatization has always been that money is more important. People are only consumers and nature is expendable in the grand scheme. They seem to be more worried about creating the tallest building than cutting down the tallest tree. It's amazing how low our most valuable resource has become...civilization...yeah right...more like devastation. The greatest jeopardy of the world is ourselves, maybe one day the lesson will be learned but apparently it's not today.
I honestly am at a loss for words. All that is happening and has happened already is so outrageously appalling and so much more than I could even begin to put in to words, it couldn't even begin to do it justice. In just how wrong and incredibly foolish, to say the least; all of this is. It brings feelings of fear, hopelessness, pain, and sadness me so much. I shed a tear for us and the creatures but for the forest I weep the trees in my heart, distain. All of mankind and life for our future seams so much more than bleak. Something must b done but what? If there is a God or something with the ability to affect this and them who wreak such destruction and exploitation of the land. The universe itself perhaps. I pray, that whatever it may be; that it smotes the !*#&* out of all the ones who so foolishly press on against all the we cherish and take them down and out of this world and the next and never again gives them another chance to incarnate ever again. Cus all of this is straight bullshit!!!!!!
Fires are raging in Oregon and California - still.
That's so interesting!!!!
Stop burning the forests. Now!
The massive plumes of smoke generated by the wildfires raging across California have led to the longest stretch of unhealthy air quality alerts on record in the Bay Area, with 25 straight days of "Spare the Air" alerts, Erin DeMerritt, Bay Area Air Quality Management District spokeswoman, told CNN. The previous record was 14 consecutive days during the 2018 Camp Fire.
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/09/09/weather/california-orange-skies-wildfires-photos-trnd/index.html
What on earth can one do when world leaders are not intelligent enough to realise what they are doing. These fires are a threat to their own lives, all lives. If they don’t bear the responsibility of other people, countries, the world, they should be deposed.
Mother nature is starting the Earth's defense systems.hurricanes,earth quakes,fires,pandemics,flooding.she is just getting warmed up. the worst is yet to come.mega earth quakes. causing massive tidlewaves,and volcanoes,and loss of Most of ecosystem
We live in the ecosystem too. Once the animals are gone, we are next...but we have known about this for ages. Mother Nature is well into Earth's defense, and it is aimed at us, where the blame belongs. Hence the pandemic...and it has just started.
The d o d has spent over 2 billion on defense contracts. In first week of september.some of it for base improvements in Cuba and Kuwait.and the rest on high tech weapon system.lol Mean while the country they are defending is burning up.lol
Stop killing the world. World leaders......If you don't do something NOW you won't have anything or anyone to lead !
I'm so angry to read about this senseless destruction! Where are all the large businesses and leaders of the world? Why is no action being taken? How can they let this happen? Surely every citizen of the world should know about this and help take action. Greed and short sightedness has taken over and pretty soon there won't be a way back for anyone. This beggars belief.
All the fuss about covid19...why bother when the lungs of the earth are being allowed to be burned out? An elected moron is devastating the Rainforest and the homes and lives of indigenous peoples and no one seemingly can stop him. What would be the reaction if your home, landscape etc.was being set alight killing your animals and destroying your lifestyle? Would nobody step in and stop the culprits from doing so? Hitler is almost universally condemned for the unforgivable treatment of the Jewish people and other groups. I argue that there is no difference in the purposeful destruction of the Rainforest and the genocide of its people and it should not be ignored by the rest of the world. Apart from the natural needs of the world, the eco systems controlling the air that we all breath it is immoral for the peoples of the Rainforest to be annihilated in this dreadful way. Speak out for them, get it noticed and let's get it stopped. The Rainforest belongs to the world not Bolsonaro..
Stop deforestation och slash and burn amazon rainforest!
I think this is a real crisis
As a Brazilian resident i can say that my country does not invest nor does it care about the rain Forrest, other countries should not help my country with incentives because it will not go towards aiding the amazon. Trust me when i say Amazon days are counted so sad that other world powers NATO dont have the courage to intervene and put a stop to these fires,i dont believe in my country's ability to put a stop to these fires you shouldn't either that way maybe it will survive.
can we just stop burning the forests?
Please!I
That’s outrageous! Im shocked that this Bolsonaro would kill his people in the name of what ? Fly a plane over and drop him in .not really , but does he care about the environment at all ??
Bolsonaro is a fascist fanatic poor. He is killing his own people he got covi19 and his still kissing people insane