The Amazon is burning, and so are our hearts. Fires are raging at the highest rate in Brazil’s beloved rainforest, which will strike a heavy blow to the battle against climate change. Known as the ‘lungs of the planet’, the Amazon produces 20% of the oxygen in the Earth’s atmosphere.
There have been an alarming 72,843 fires in Brazil this year, with more than half in the Amazon region, according to the CNN. Home to countless species of flora and fauna, it’s the largest rainforest in the world and is pivotal in slowing down global warming.
#Fires have been #burning in the Brazilian #Amazon for weeks. Smoke from the uptick in fires caused a blackout in #SaoPaulo on Monday. Track the fires in real time and access historical fire data on #GFWFires: https://t.co/HPNol2tNTL pic.twitter.com/MLAzUA2jeM
— Global Forest Watch (@globalforests) August 21, 2019
The situation has been brewing over the past three weeks and caught the media’s attention when images and videos of giant plumes of smoke rising from the forests circulated on social media. In fact, darkness spread across the city of Sao Paulo, which is located 1,700 miles away from the Amazon, as the smoke and ashes blanketed the sky.
🌎Just a little alert to the world: the sky randomly turned dark today in São Paulo, and meteorologists believe it’s smoke from the fires burning *thousands* of kilometers away, in Rondônia or Paraguay. Imagine how much has to be burning to create that much smoke(!). SOS🌎 pic.twitter.com/P1DrCzQO6x
— Shannon Sims (@shannongsims) August 20, 2019
As global citizens, we must do our bit to shine the spotlight on this hazardous issue that will wreak havoc on our climate and all living being. If you care about the environment, here’s what you can do.
Speak up: Environmentalists and people around the world have raised concerns for what can have lethal effects on climate change, with hashtags such as #SaveTheAmazon and #PrayForAmazon trending on Instagram and Twitter. We, at Villa 88, urge all global citizens to #SparkAwareness about this environmental hazard, so that we can shine the spotlight on this global conundrum. Educate your family and friends, and speak up for the Amazon peoples, who seem to be bearing the brunt of Brazil’s political disputes, as these fires are anything but accidental, as reports suggest.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1dTB7qosYQ/
Be a responsible consumer: Are your switching off all electronic appliances at your home and workplace when they’re not in use? Every little step counts and change surely comes from within. Choose green energy providers and opt for renewable energy options wherever possible.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ddRplA9qC/
Support rainforest communities: Global initiatives such as the Rainforest Action Network have been working to safeguard rainforest communities. You can extend support to them and other locally-based programs that have been shining the spotlight on people who depend on the forest for sustenance and have been living there sustainably for centuries. Show that you care.
