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Showing posts with the label ENVIRONMENT

Brazil govt open to foreign aid for fighting Amazon fires: Spokesman

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The essential point is that this money, on entering Brazil, will be under the control of the Brazilian people An aerial view shows smoke rising over a deforested plot of the Amazon jungle in Porto Velho, Rondonia State, Brazil, in this August 24, 2019 picture taken with a drone.   Amazon rainforest : Brazil will accept foreign aid to help fight fires in the Amazon rainforest on the condition that the Latin American country controls the money, the president's spokesman said Tuesday. "The Brazilian government through President (Jair) Bolsonaro is open to receiving financial support from organizations and even countries," Otavio Rego Barros told reporters. "The essential point is that this money, on entering Brazil, will be under the control of the Brazilian people.

Bolsonaro says Macron must withdraw insults before Brazil accepts G7 aid

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The Amazon forests have been hit with this decade's worst blaze. Brazil's handling of the fires has led to ill-feeling between the two Presidents A helicopter drops water over a wildfire. The wind-swept blazes have forced tens of thousands of evacuations and destroyed dozens of homes in Southern California.   International news : Brazil may reject the $20 million offer from G7 nations to combat the Amazon fires if French President Emmanuel Macron fails to withdraw his "insults", the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said on Tuesday. "First of all, Macron has to withdraw his insults. He called me a liar. Before we talk or accept anything from France...he must withdraw these words then we can talk. First, he withdraws, then offers (aid), then I will answer," Sputnik quoted Bolsonaro as saying. He, however, refuted his Chief of Staff, Onyx Lorenzoni's words. "Thanks, but maybe those resources are more relevant to reforest Europe," ...

Don't hold your breath: Amazon fires aren't depleting Earth's oxygen supply

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There's enough oxygen in the air to last for millions of years, and the amount is set by geology rather than land use A tract of Amazon jungle burns in Boca do Acre, Amazonas state, Brazil August 24, 2019    Amazon rainforest : Fires in the Amazon rainforest have captured attention worldwide in recent days. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who took office in 2019, pledged in his campaign to reduce environmental protection and increase agricultural development in the Amazon, and he appears to have followed through on that promise. The resurgence of forest clearing in the Amazon, which had decreased more than 80% following a peak in 2004, is alarming for many reasons. Tropical forests harbor many species of plants and animals found nowhere else. They are important refuges for indigenous people, and contain enormous stores of carbon as wood and other organic matter that would otherwise contribute to the climate crisis. Some media accounts have suggested that fir...

G7 members agree to release $22 million to fight Amazon rainforest fire

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French President Emmanuel Macron said G7 nations would release $22 mn In this Aug. 20, 2019 drone photo released by the Corpo de Bombeiros de Mato Grosso, brush fires burn in Guaranta do Norte municipality, Mato Grosso state, Brazil    G7 Summit : G7 members have agreed to provide logistical and financial support to help fight fires in the Amazon rainforest. French President Emmanuel Macron said G7 nations would release $22 mn. However, President Jair Bolsonaro said the plan of an “alliance” to “save” the Amazon treated Brazil “as if we were a colony or no man’s land”. A record number of fires is burning in Brazil, according to the country’s space research agency.