Brazilian wildfires: Bolsonaro accuses NGOs of burning rainforest
Brazil’s president says environmental charities are setting fires for revenge
Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro has claimed NGOs are behind the record number of fires raging in the Amazon rainforest, drawing condemnation from conservation groups.
Bolsonaro suggested that charities had set fires in response to his government cutting their funding: “On the question of burning in the Amazon, which in my opinion may have been initiated by NGOs because they lost money, what is the intention? To bring problems to Brazil.”
He could not give any evidence for the accusation, and said it was just his “feeling”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Bolsonaro made the bizarre claims amid “growing international criticism” over his failure to protect the Amazon, says The Guardian.
Brazil has already experienced more than 72,000 fire outbreaks this year, more than half of them in the Amazon.
Conservationists have blamed Bolsonaro for the fires, saying he has encouraged loggers and farmers to clear the land, leaving in vulnerable to wildfires.
“Those who destroy the Amazon and let deforestation continue unabated are encouraged by the Bolsonaro government’s actions and policies. Since taking office, the current government has been systematically dismantling Brazil’s environmental policy,” said Danicley Aguiar, of Greenpeace Brazil.
Under his administration, the government’s environment agency has issued fewer penalties, and ministers have repeatedly sided with loggers rather than indigenous groups living in the forest.
Data published in June shows that deforestation in the Amazon has surged since Bolsonaro took office in June, and that the rainforest is disappearing at a rate of more than three football pitches per minute, says The Guardian.
The president fired the head of Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) last month after its satellite data showed increasing deforestation, reports the newspaper.
Inpe reported that fires had increased 84% this year compared to the same period in 2018, reports the BBC. The body pointed out that, with no unusually dry weather, the fires are likely to be the result of deforestation rather than a change in conditions.
The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and is home to one million indigenous people, and around three million species of animals and plants.
The rainforest plays a key part in slowing down global warming – trees absorb CO2 and release oxygen back into the air. Without tropical rainforests like the Amazon, says the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), “the greenhouse effect would likely be even more pronounced, and climate change may possibly get even worse in the future”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How Harris and Trump differ on education
The Explainer Trump wants to disband the Department of Education. Harris wants to boost teacher pay.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
How to minimize capital gains tax on investments
The Explainer It can take a chunk out of your profits
By Becca Stanek, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: November 4, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published