August 24, 2019

72,000 wildfires in the Amazon

Popular Resistance -Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research confirmed with satellites what environmentalist organizations around the world had been announcing since President Jair Bolsonaro took office; the Amazon, often called the “Lungs of the World,” is in danger.

Between January and August, 72,843 intermittent wildfires have been registered in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest due to the “development policy” undertaken by President Jair Bolsonaro in matters of agriculture and mining.

“I used to be called Captain Chainsaw. Now I Am Nero, setting the Amazon on fire. But it is the season of the fire,” the President arguing it was a natural process in the face of criticism. The President even rejected the data provided by INPE, which had reported that fires increased by 83 percent this year compared to the same period in 2018. At least 68 protected areas have been affected by the fires. INPE director was dismissed by Bolsonaro under the accusation of fostering a “terrible” image of Brazil abroad with “fake” data.

Fires may be common during the dry season but they are also caused by farmers who make illegal burning to clear lands and carry out their business who are sheltered by the lack of government control, enforcement of environmental laws and Bolsonaro’s policies that favor landowners.

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