Fires in the Amazon: international pressure intensifies on Bolsonaro

While nearly 2,500 new fire starts in the space of 48 hours have been recorded throughout Brazil, international pressure is mounting on Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to save the "lungs of the planet".

The latter accused Emmanuel Macron, Thursday, August 22, to have "a colonialist mentality", after the latter has given an appointment to members of the G7 to "talk about the urgency" of the fires in the Amazon in Biarritz this weekend. end.

In two successive tweets, the Brazilian president accused his French counterpart of "exploiting an internal issue in Brazil and other Amazonian countries" with "a sensational tone that does nothing to solve the problem".

- O Governo brasileiro segue aberto ao diálogo, com base em dados objetivos e no respeito mútuo. At the same time, the following groups of candidates are taking part in the G7 semesters, which is taking part in the regioa, evoca mentalidade colonialista descabida no seculo XXI.

"The Brazilian government remains open to dialogue, based on objective facts and mutual respect," said climate-skeptic Jair Bolsonaro. "The French president's suggestion that Amazonian affairs be discussed at the G7 summit without the participation of the region evokes an outdated colonialist mentality in the 21st century."

Emmanuel Macron had expressed his concern in a tweet, unfortunately illustrated by an image taken by a photographer who died in 2003. "Our house burns ... The Amazon, the lung of our planet that produces 20% of our oxygen, is in "It's an international crisis." G-7 members, go in two days to talk about this emergency. "

Our house burns. Literally. The Amazon, the lung of our planet that produces 20% of our oxygen, is on fire. It's an international crisis. G7 members, see you in two days to talk about this emergency. #ActForTheAmazon pic.twitter.com/Og2SHvpR1P

Sportsmen and show business stars mobilized

The French president's tweet echoed a salvo of calls to save the Amazon launched by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who said on Twitter "deeply concerned" by the fires raging in the largest tropical forest of the world, 60% of which are in Brazilian territory.

"In the midst of the global climate crisis, we can not accept more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity," writes Antonio Guterres, claiming that the Amazon is "protected".

In the face of this "tragedy", Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno proposed to his Brazilian counterpart the sending of three brigades of firefighters specialized in forest fires.

Calls for the Amazon have also risen from the sporting world, with Cristiano Ronaldo, who posted on Twitter a photo of 2013 taken in a non-Amazonian state, according to the fact-checkers of AFP. And show business, including the American singer Madonna, who posted on Instagram a photo of 1989, captioned: "President Bolsonaro please change your policy.We must wake up."

75,336 forest fires since the beginning of the year

Protests were scheduled for the Amazon on Friday in Sao Paulo and Rio. The movement of young Swedish Greta Thunberg, the face of the fight against global warming, "Fridays for Future", has called for protests in front of Brazilian embassies and consulates around the world.

While the advance of fires in the world's largest rainforest was very difficult to assess, the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) reported nearly 2,500 new fire starts in 48 hours throughout Brazil. Deforestation, which is advancing rapidly, is the main cause of fire starts.

According to the INPE, 75,336 forest fires were recorded in the country from January to 21 August - 84% more than in the same period last year - and more than 52% are in the country. Amazon.

With AFP