A photo from Mercy for Animals drone investigation of Amazon deforestation. (Image: Mercy for Animals)
'The Future of Earth Is at Risk': New Drone Footage of Deforestation in Amazon Shows Cost of Meat Industry
"Global demand for meat is destroying the Amazon rainforest."
A new investigation from the group Mercy for Animals uses drone footage to reveal the scope of devastation in the Amazon rainforest for growing meat.
"Global demand for meat is destroying the Amazon rainforest," filmmaker Mark Devries says in a video highlighting some of the group's work.
The footage shows acres of recently deforested land, cleared for grazing pastures for cattle.
As Common Dreams has reported, the government of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has accelerated the exploitation of the Amazon.
Devries explains that humans are taking the world's most precious rainforest resource for granted and cutting it down "at a rate of thousands of square kilometers a year."
"Why are we doing this?" continues Devries. "Mostly for hamburgers and the like."
Mercy for Animals managing director Sandra Lopes, in a statement, said that "since the main cause of deforestation in the Amazon is meat production, it's imperative that governments, corporations, and individuals around the world take action to reduce global meat consumption and increase the availability of plant-based foods."
"The Amazon rainforest is a fundamental ecosystem for the planet and the climate," said Lopes. "If we don't act now to protect it, the future of life on Earth will be at risk."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. US voters have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
A new investigation from the group Mercy for Animals uses drone footage to reveal the scope of devastation in the Amazon rainforest for growing meat.
"Global demand for meat is destroying the Amazon rainforest," filmmaker Mark Devries says in a video highlighting some of the group's work.
The footage shows acres of recently deforested land, cleared for grazing pastures for cattle.
As Common Dreams has reported, the government of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has accelerated the exploitation of the Amazon.
Devries explains that humans are taking the world's most precious rainforest resource for granted and cutting it down "at a rate of thousands of square kilometers a year."
"Why are we doing this?" continues Devries. "Mostly for hamburgers and the like."
Mercy for Animals managing director Sandra Lopes, in a statement, said that "since the main cause of deforestation in the Amazon is meat production, it's imperative that governments, corporations, and individuals around the world take action to reduce global meat consumption and increase the availability of plant-based foods."
"The Amazon rainforest is a fundamental ecosystem for the planet and the climate," said Lopes. "If we don't act now to protect it, the future of life on Earth will be at risk."
A new investigation from the group Mercy for Animals uses drone footage to reveal the scope of devastation in the Amazon rainforest for growing meat.
"Global demand for meat is destroying the Amazon rainforest," filmmaker Mark Devries says in a video highlighting some of the group's work.
The footage shows acres of recently deforested land, cleared for grazing pastures for cattle.
As Common Dreams has reported, the government of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has accelerated the exploitation of the Amazon.
Devries explains that humans are taking the world's most precious rainforest resource for granted and cutting it down "at a rate of thousands of square kilometers a year."
"Why are we doing this?" continues Devries. "Mostly for hamburgers and the like."
Mercy for Animals managing director Sandra Lopes, in a statement, said that "since the main cause of deforestation in the Amazon is meat production, it's imperative that governments, corporations, and individuals around the world take action to reduce global meat consumption and increase the availability of plant-based foods."
"The Amazon rainforest is a fundamental ecosystem for the planet and the climate," said Lopes. "If we don't act now to protect it, the future of life on Earth will be at risk."