Rain forests are quite justifiably described as ‘the lungs of the earth’. They are essential to plant and animal life, indeed the survival of the planet, because of their ability release oxygen into the atmosphere and trap carbon dioxide through the process of photosynthesis. Our southern neighbour, Brazil, accounts for more than half of the world’s rain forests.
In recent weeks, forest fires have been raging in Brazil with such intensity that worldwide concerns are being expressed about not only their implications for the environment but also the Brazilian government’s apparent indifference and inaction to deal with an environmental disaster of such enormous consequences. There were protests in front of the Brazilian embassies in several major cities in the western world. At the United Nations, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern at the damage to what he describes ‘a major source of oxygen and biodiversity’. Earlier this month, Norway and Germany suspended funding for projects in Brazil in an attempt to force the authorities to curb deforestation. And at the G7 Summit that commenced last Saturday in France, sharp differences arose over French President Macron’s threat to block the EU-Mercosur trade deal involving Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, because of the Brazilian authorities’ failure to address the situation.
