BRAZIL
Fighting Fires
Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research said that fires in the Amazon have increased by a whopping 28 percent from a year ago, despite government pledges to reduce deforestation in the rainforest, the Independent reported Monday.
The agency recorded a total of 6,803 fires last month compared to 5,318 in the same month in 2019.
The huge increase has sparked concern that another wave of devastating fires might occur as it did in August 2019, when 30,900 fires were recorded by the institute – marking a 12-year high.
Environmentalists and the international community have voiced concern over the policies of rightwing President Jair Bolsonaro, who has called for opening up the Amazon to farming, logging and mining to boost Brazil’s economy, according to the New York Times.
Bolsonaro has changed his stance following international pressure: In May, he deployed the military to protect the rainforest and last month he ordered a ban on forest fires for four months.
Despite the measures, analysts believe that these actions amount to little more than damage control.
Meanwhile, Brazil’s worsening reputation has thrown up roadblocks to its two main foreign policy goals – a trade deal with the European Union and membership in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
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