Brazil’s president has accused France and other countries of getting involved and having a “colonialist mindset” after expressing their fears over the Amazon wildfire.
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In Brazil there has already been over 74,000 forest fires since January 2019. This is an increase of 83% when compared to the same period of time in 2018. The current Amazon wildfire smoke can be seen from 400 miles up in space.
Many world leaders are now increasingly worried about the situation as the Amazon is described as the world’s lungs as it is the main place were carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere. The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the fires are an “international crisis”, writing on Twitter: “Our house is burning. Literally…”
Our house is burning. Literally. The Amazon rain forest – the lungs which produces 20% of our planet’s oxygen – is on fire. It is an international crisis. Members of the G7 Summit, let’s discuss this emergency first order in two days! #ActForTheAmazon pic.twitter.com/dogOJj9big
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) August 22, 2019
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro hit back, saying: “I regret that Macron seeks to make personal political gains in an internal matter for Brazil and other Amazonian countries. The sensationalist tone he used does nothing to solve the problem.”
In a second tweet, he said: “The French president’s suggestion that Amazonian matters be discussed at the G7 without the involvement of countries of the region recalls the colonialist mindset that is unacceptable in the 21st century.”
Fires in the rainforest at this time of year are not unusual but environmentalists blame the increase on farmers on purpose so they can clear land for agriculture. Forest fires are common in the Amazon and can be caused by lighting strikes and other natural causes. Most of the worst-affected regions are in the north.
Images of the fire have been shared on social media with the hashtag #PrayforAmazonas.
