Since the Amazon forest started burning, people have intentionally started fires to clear the areas. Photo by NASA [CC BY-SA 2.0].
By Madeline Ramirez, Staff Writer
Weeks have gone by since news of the Amazonian rainforest wildfires first spread across the Internet. Within the span of days, social media buzzed about the blazes that were overtaking the iconic forest and its lush greenery and wildlife. Since then the media has moved on to the next hot topic with many not understanding the full significance of the issue.
The biggest question regarding the fires revolves around their origins: what started them in the first place? The genesis of these fires lies in the corrupt practices of corporate entities. Prominent companies like Credit Agricole and BNP Paribas from France, financial groups Blackrock and Capital Group from the United States and pharmaceutical powers Johnson & Johnson have been found fanning the flames of the inferno for profit by illegally clearing land. Grain producers (think Cargill, Bunge and Archer Daniels Midland) who control 60% of the soybean industry in Brazil also participate in and directly profit from clearing land and using forest fires as a guise.
Political actions, such as recent reforms to the Forestry Law have allowed amnesty for illegal deforestation and reduced the number of protected jungle and savannah territory. In Bolivia, President Evo Morales supported the Amazon burning with political rhetoric that authorizes “controlled” clearing of forests.
Contrary to what many may think, the Brazilian government has not put out or announced any efforts to quell the burning. President Jair Bolsonaro actually embraced the fires as a method of capitalist gain. Politicians are sweeping the issue under the rug, with figures like Bolsonaro’s advisor Filipe Martins publicly rejecting, “the empty, hysterical and misleading rhetoric of the mainstream media, transnational bureaucrats and NGOs”. The government interest values financial profit over environmental preservation, with influential figure such as Brazilian politician Dilma Roussef even permitting for German mining companies to operate in the region for a short time. Bolsonaro has repeatedly rejected international aid specifically for this purpose.
So what does all of this mean for the Amazon forests? The fires themselves are a direct threat to the native people who live within and along forest borders. The wildfires have created living conditions that don’t allow for work outdoors and in regions that are too dry and hazardous. While the forest is not “the earth’s lungs,” as some have claimed, the Amazon is in fact a carbon sink that absorbs approximately 5% of the earth’s carbon supply. The mass destruction of its fauna will release that stored carbon back into the atmosphere, resulting in catastrophic effects on the air components and temperature. More than ever, it is essential that the public stay informed and steer clear of misinformation doled out by online sources.
