A fire burns along a highway in a deforested section of the Amazon basin on November 23, 2014 in Ze Doca, Brazil. (Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Aug 21, 2019
The Amazon rain forest--the lungs of the world--have been on fire for several weeks, and Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro suggested Wednesday, without evidence, that the fires were started by non-governmental organizations.
"Maybe--I am not affirming it--these [NGO people] are carrying out some criminal actions to draw attention against me, against the government of Brazil," Bolsonaro said in a video posted on his Facebook account, The Associated Press reported. "This is the war we are facing."
"The fires were lit in strategic places," said Bolsonaro. "All the indications suggest they went there to film and start fires. That's what I feel."
Greenpeace Brazil shot back, with its public policy coordinator Marcio Astrini calling the president's statement "sick" and "pitiful."
"Increased deforestation and burning," said Astrini, "are the result of his anti-environmental policy."
In a video that's gone viral, a Pataxo woman expressed anguish as she pointed to the destruction the fires have brought, which she blamed on deforestation for cattle ranching--a practice Bolsonaro has actively encouraged. The video was shared by the U.S. based Sunrise Movement, which said in a tweet: "We cannot tolerate political agendas of deforestation. We will not watch our future burn away."
\u201cPeople are deliberately starting fires in the #AmazonRainforest to illegally deforest indigenous land for cattle ranching\n\nPatax\u00f3 woman: \n\u201cThese assholes came in and burned down [our reservation]... I want all of the media here to see this\u201d \nhttps://t.co/uGFp7RItHK\u201d— Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05 (@Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05) 1566397344
\u201cThe Amazon rainforest, the "planet's lungs," supplies 20% of the world's oxygen. \n\nCurrently, it's burning at a record rate-- 80% higher than the same time last year.\n\nWe cannot tolerate political agendas of deforestation. \n\nWe will not watch our future burn away. \n\n#AmazonFires\u201d— Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05 (@Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05) 1566397127
While the country has been experiencing "epochal deforestation" driven by agriculture--and with it, trampling of indigenous rights--the deforestation has gone into overdrive since Bolsonaro's election. The development prompted Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg earlier this summer to say, "We are literally sawing off the branch we all live on."
The extent of the deforestation was recently laid out by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Data released by the agency showed that deforestation in June was 88 percent higher than it was in June of last year. Bolsonaro responded by calling the data a "lie" and firing the agency's head.
INPE also said Tuesday that the country had already seen over 72,000 fires this year, which marks an unprecedented high. Roughly half the fires, the agency said, have been in the Amazon .
"The fire that we're seeing today is a fire that's directly related to deforestation," Ane Alencar, scientific director of Institute of Environmental Research in Amazonia, said Tuesday.
Despite the raging fires--which can be seen from space--the administration appears to be doubling down on climate destruction, prompting the vocal ire of environmental campaigners.
Brazil's environmental minister was in Salvador in the state of Bahia on Wednesday for the Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week and was greeted by loud boos.
As he took the stage, activists held signs reading "Amazonia in flames" and "Against environmental deforestation."
The activists, said 350.org, stood up "for what is right," and urged "him to take action to keep fossil fuels in the ground."
\u201cAs fires rage in the Amazon, Brazil Environment Minister attends #ClimateWeekLACC in Salvador to pretend there's a future in fossil fuels. Activists were there to call his bluff. \n\n#ZeroFosseis #FossilFree\u201d— 350 dot org (@350 dot org) 1566396070
\u201cRight now: Activists from @350brasil\u00a0stand up for what is right, by refusing to stand up for the entrance of the country's Environment Minister. Instead, they're calling on him to take action to keep fossil fuels in the ground. #fossilfree #zerofosseis\u201d— 350 dot org (@350 dot org) 1566394212
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The Amazon rain forest--the lungs of the world--have been on fire for several weeks, and Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro suggested Wednesday, without evidence, that the fires were started by non-governmental organizations.
"Maybe--I am not affirming it--these [NGO people] are carrying out some criminal actions to draw attention against me, against the government of Brazil," Bolsonaro said in a video posted on his Facebook account, The Associated Press reported. "This is the war we are facing."
"The fires were lit in strategic places," said Bolsonaro. "All the indications suggest they went there to film and start fires. That's what I feel."
Greenpeace Brazil shot back, with its public policy coordinator Marcio Astrini calling the president's statement "sick" and "pitiful."
"Increased deforestation and burning," said Astrini, "are the result of his anti-environmental policy."
In a video that's gone viral, a Pataxo woman expressed anguish as she pointed to the destruction the fires have brought, which she blamed on deforestation for cattle ranching--a practice Bolsonaro has actively encouraged. The video was shared by the U.S. based Sunrise Movement, which said in a tweet: "We cannot tolerate political agendas of deforestation. We will not watch our future burn away."
\u201cPeople are deliberately starting fires in the #AmazonRainforest to illegally deforest indigenous land for cattle ranching\n\nPatax\u00f3 woman: \n\u201cThese assholes came in and burned down [our reservation]... I want all of the media here to see this\u201d \nhttps://t.co/uGFp7RItHK\u201d— Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05 (@Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05) 1566397344
\u201cThe Amazon rainforest, the "planet's lungs," supplies 20% of the world's oxygen. \n\nCurrently, it's burning at a record rate-- 80% higher than the same time last year.\n\nWe cannot tolerate political agendas of deforestation. \n\nWe will not watch our future burn away. \n\n#AmazonFires\u201d— Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05 (@Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05) 1566397127
While the country has been experiencing "epochal deforestation" driven by agriculture--and with it, trampling of indigenous rights--the deforestation has gone into overdrive since Bolsonaro's election. The development prompted Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg earlier this summer to say, "We are literally sawing off the branch we all live on."
The extent of the deforestation was recently laid out by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Data released by the agency showed that deforestation in June was 88 percent higher than it was in June of last year. Bolsonaro responded by calling the data a "lie" and firing the agency's head.
INPE also said Tuesday that the country had already seen over 72,000 fires this year, which marks an unprecedented high. Roughly half the fires, the agency said, have been in the Amazon .
"The fire that we're seeing today is a fire that's directly related to deforestation," Ane Alencar, scientific director of Institute of Environmental Research in Amazonia, said Tuesday.
Despite the raging fires--which can be seen from space--the administration appears to be doubling down on climate destruction, prompting the vocal ire of environmental campaigners.
Brazil's environmental minister was in Salvador in the state of Bahia on Wednesday for the Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week and was greeted by loud boos.
As he took the stage, activists held signs reading "Amazonia in flames" and "Against environmental deforestation."
The activists, said 350.org, stood up "for what is right," and urged "him to take action to keep fossil fuels in the ground."
\u201cAs fires rage in the Amazon, Brazil Environment Minister attends #ClimateWeekLACC in Salvador to pretend there's a future in fossil fuels. Activists were there to call his bluff. \n\n#ZeroFosseis #FossilFree\u201d— 350 dot org (@350 dot org) 1566396070
\u201cRight now: Activists from @350brasil\u00a0stand up for what is right, by refusing to stand up for the entrance of the country's Environment Minister. Instead, they're calling on him to take action to keep fossil fuels in the ground. #fossilfree #zerofosseis\u201d— 350 dot org (@350 dot org) 1566394212
The Amazon rain forest--the lungs of the world--have been on fire for several weeks, and Brazil's right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro suggested Wednesday, without evidence, that the fires were started by non-governmental organizations.
"Maybe--I am not affirming it--these [NGO people] are carrying out some criminal actions to draw attention against me, against the government of Brazil," Bolsonaro said in a video posted on his Facebook account, The Associated Press reported. "This is the war we are facing."
"The fires were lit in strategic places," said Bolsonaro. "All the indications suggest they went there to film and start fires. That's what I feel."
Greenpeace Brazil shot back, with its public policy coordinator Marcio Astrini calling the president's statement "sick" and "pitiful."
"Increased deforestation and burning," said Astrini, "are the result of his anti-environmental policy."
In a video that's gone viral, a Pataxo woman expressed anguish as she pointed to the destruction the fires have brought, which she blamed on deforestation for cattle ranching--a practice Bolsonaro has actively encouraged. The video was shared by the U.S. based Sunrise Movement, which said in a tweet: "We cannot tolerate political agendas of deforestation. We will not watch our future burn away."
\u201cPeople are deliberately starting fires in the #AmazonRainforest to illegally deforest indigenous land for cattle ranching\n\nPatax\u00f3 woman: \n\u201cThese assholes came in and burned down [our reservation]... I want all of the media here to see this\u201d \nhttps://t.co/uGFp7RItHK\u201d— Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05 (@Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05) 1566397344
\u201cThe Amazon rainforest, the "planet's lungs," supplies 20% of the world's oxygen. \n\nCurrently, it's burning at a record rate-- 80% higher than the same time last year.\n\nWe cannot tolerate political agendas of deforestation. \n\nWe will not watch our future burn away. \n\n#AmazonFires\u201d— Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05 (@Sunrise Movement \ud83c\udf05) 1566397127
While the country has been experiencing "epochal deforestation" driven by agriculture--and with it, trampling of indigenous rights--the deforestation has gone into overdrive since Bolsonaro's election. The development prompted Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg earlier this summer to say, "We are literally sawing off the branch we all live on."
The extent of the deforestation was recently laid out by Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Data released by the agency showed that deforestation in June was 88 percent higher than it was in June of last year. Bolsonaro responded by calling the data a "lie" and firing the agency's head.
INPE also said Tuesday that the country had already seen over 72,000 fires this year, which marks an unprecedented high. Roughly half the fires, the agency said, have been in the Amazon .
"The fire that we're seeing today is a fire that's directly related to deforestation," Ane Alencar, scientific director of Institute of Environmental Research in Amazonia, said Tuesday.
Despite the raging fires--which can be seen from space--the administration appears to be doubling down on climate destruction, prompting the vocal ire of environmental campaigners.
Brazil's environmental minister was in Salvador in the state of Bahia on Wednesday for the Latin America and Caribbean Climate Week and was greeted by loud boos.
As he took the stage, activists held signs reading "Amazonia in flames" and "Against environmental deforestation."
The activists, said 350.org, stood up "for what is right," and urged "him to take action to keep fossil fuels in the ground."
\u201cAs fires rage in the Amazon, Brazil Environment Minister attends #ClimateWeekLACC in Salvador to pretend there's a future in fossil fuels. Activists were there to call his bluff. \n\n#ZeroFosseis #FossilFree\u201d— 350 dot org (@350 dot org) 1566396070
\u201cRight now: Activists from @350brasil\u00a0stand up for what is right, by refusing to stand up for the entrance of the country's Environment Minister. Instead, they're calling on him to take action to keep fossil fuels in the ground. #fossilfree #zerofosseis\u201d— 350 dot org (@350 dot org) 1566394212
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