An out-of-control wildfire is burning through the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, caused by farmers using fire to clear their land. Also to blame is Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has encouraged logging and decimated the rainforest. Environmental organizations say the Brazilian President has encouraged ranchers, farmers, and loggers to ‘exploit and burn the rainforest’ in the name of ‘progress.’
To give you an idea, there have been more than 80% fires this year than last.
This is critical to, well, the world, since the Amazon is the largest rainforest on the planet and produces 20% of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere.
Now, a leading environmentalist says “The Amazon is incredibly important for our future, for our ability to stave off the worst of climate change,.This isn’t hyperbole. We’re looking at untold destruction — not just of the Amazon but for our entire planet.”