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| Aerial view of rainforest burning; Source: REUTERS |
On September 24th, 2019, President Bolsonaro of Brazil claimed that the Amazon “remains pristine and virtually untouched.” However, data from Brazil’s space agency has shown that the number of forest fires in 2019 increased by 84 percent in comparison to 2018. Currently, the Amazon serves as a large buffer for climate change due to its ability to absorb billions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. This drastic increase indicates great danger for the Amazon and it’s status as a carbon sink. In fact, scientists fear that due to the fires, the forest will begin contributing planet-warming gases to the air. Studies show that the largest cause of these forest fires was deforestation, and preventing deforestation could mitigate the harmful effects of future fires. Bolsonaro responded to these reports by stating that the rainforest was not global property, and emphasized the media’s exaggeration of climate change.
Discussion Questions:
Should Brazil be held responsible for allowing abundant amounts of deforestation to take place in the Amazon?
Should the Amazon be considered global property?
How can the United Nations take effective steps towards protecting the Amazon in the future?
Sources:
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/10/world/amazon-rainforest-wildfires-climate-change-study/index.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/24/brazils-president-attacks-amazon-rainforest-lies-thanks-trump.html
I think that Brazil should be held somewhat accountable for the deforestation because the Amazon rainforest is located in Brazil. Brazil may not be the only reason fo the amount of the deforestation but they most likely are the main cause of he problem considering it is the home to the Amazon.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that it is primarily Brazil's responsibility to take care of their property, especially when it has a such a large global impact. Furthermore, they clearly have the power to enforce laws permitting deforestation but they choose to prioritize the economy over the environment and they should be penalized.
DeleteI believe that the Amazon should be considered a global property because it produces one of the highest oxygen rich air on Earth and it contributes to the overall human well-being as well. However, I also think that it should not be considered a global property because it is geographically located in Brazil, and is recognized as a part of Brazil. Countries across the world do not have as much control over the Amazon as Brazil does and therefore it would not be considered a global property.
ReplyDelete- Cassie Vass
DeleteI believe that the first step for the UN to solving the problems of deforestation and climate change are to make the people of the world, especially the leaders, to be more aware of the harmful impact this has on the global environment. If global concern about climate change becomes more prevalent, more leaders will be elected based on the plans they have to help stop climate change, thereby circumventing the need for specific countries have sanctions put on them against their will, as international pressure to be environmentally conscience increases. This would ensure more cooperation between nations when dealing with future and current environmental crises while still allowing countries to individually decide how much they can give up to help the environment.
ReplyDelete-Leo Thompson
I definitely think that Brazil's government should take some of the blame for the current state of the deforestation in the Amazon. However, we as a global population need to also be making better decisions about things like recycling and wasting less food in order to save the world from increased temperatures.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I realize that Bolsonoro is tryng the best he can to keep the situation under control, and we all need to be mindful and put things into perspective. While this issue is mildly troubling, it is not so concerning that we need to hear stories about this in the media everyday.
In my opinion, Brazil should be held accountable for allowing so much deforestation to take place in their country. Afterall, it is land under their control, and they should be the ones responsible for outlawing deforestation. Especially since the Amazon has been considered one of the main areas that absorb carbon dioxide from our atmosphere, and because global warming will affect the entire world, it should at least be shared property between the Brazilian government and the United Nations. Furthermore, even if no cooperation is possible, the UN must urge the British government to increase the area of land that is protected from deforestation or other destructive forces (see linked article).
ReplyDeletehttps://globalforestatlas.yale.edu/amazon-forest/land-use/protected-areas
--Yossi Moff
DeleteI think that Brazil should be held most responsible for allowing such large amounts of deforestation. It is in control of the laws and policies enforced in their country, and they are ultimately the ones who can enforce a law controlling deforestation.
ReplyDeleteI feel that the Amazon should be considered global property, being such an important factor in the rate of climate change that will affect the entire planet. Since the Brazilian president denies the growing threat of climate change, I think the UN should take effective steps to discuss (with the president) steps for action to protect the Amazons. We should increase awareness of climate change not only in Brazil but also in all places of the world. Then perhaps in the future we can elect leaders that recognize climate-change related issues and will move to help our future on this planet.
I believe Brazil is to blame for the Amazon rainforest fires. They aren’t taking any action to stop the fires in any way and are instead claiming that the media is over exaggerating the fires. There is clear evidence and data that reveals that there are huge fires in the rainforest that have never been seen before. Because of Brazil’s ill-advised actions, I believe that the rainforest should be under global property. Other countries will take care of the rainforest better and it’ll in turn help the planet. According to CNN, the rainforests provides a buffer for climate change. It greatly reduces the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere due to the huge amount of plants using the CO2. The fires have destroyed an incredible amount of the rainforest which may in turn lead to climate change getting worse and shortening the time humans have to correct and fix the planet. If we fix the fires, it’ll help the planet.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cnn.com/2020/01/10/world/amazon-rainforest-wildfires-climate-change-study/index.html
-Bryan Kwan
DeleteI believe that it is partly Brazil's responsibility for allowing abundant amounts of deforestation to take place in the Amazon. The forest is located in Brazil, therefore it is their national duty to take care of it. Especially because the whole world is being greatly affected by this area, it strengthens the importance of needing to protect the rainforest. To add on, I do believe the rainforest should be considered global property because of its worldwide affects. Because the rainforest influences the planet as a whole, everyone should have a say on how to manage it in order to have the best for our planet.
ReplyDelete- Danielle Sipes
DeleteI think that we should regard the Amazon as global property because of its huge role in producing oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, and, essentially, combating climate change. However, deeming the Amazon as global property or not won’t affect our concern for it. Bolsonaro's comment about the Amazon rainforest not being a global property was just an attempt to downplay the seriousness of these fires, yet I do believe he does have the right to not consider the Amazon as global property since it is part of Brazil. Whether we believe it is or isn’t global property, we cannot deny the seriousness of these fires and how they are affecting our planet in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Brazil should be held responsible because they currently have done very little to mitigate forest fires. Furthermore, the data shows that forest fires in the Amazon have increased and the fact that Bolsonaro continues to avoid any responsibility for what is happening which makes seem like hes just trying to avoid blame.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is Brazils’ responsibility to solve this issue as it is a matter of state, the country lacks sufficient resources without the help of the world. The problem with the fires is one of deforestation for farming purposes, this is a global issue as well. Many countries globally including Brazil are looking to modernize with a growing population that needs to be fed and housed. In a global world we need to help them do that while protecting natural resources like the amazon. It cannot be left to these countries to do it all by themselves without resources or infrastructure. I do not believe we live in a world anymore where we can hold up a single entity to be solely responsible and accountable for protecting the world's environmental treasures and what is now a global world. Especially in light of global disasters such as the Australian fires the warming of the permafrost and many more. National boundaries are not important to world health. (brooke freeman)
ReplyDeleteBrazil should take responsibility for the Amazon. The Amazon is a major part of Brazilian tourism industry and helps to boost Brazil’s economy. If Brazil makes money off the Amazon they also must take care of it. However, that being said, Brazil is a relatively poor country and does not have the resources needed to fully fight the fires. The United Nations and other allies must send money, aid, and manpower to help fight the fires. According to this BBC article: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-50507996, the current Brazilian president is far-right. The right has never been concerned with climate change and the environment, so saving the Amazon will definitely not be at the top of Bolsonaro’s to-do list. Furthermore, his new far-right party’s main goals are to fight corruption and advance Christian values, a far-cry from climate change or the environment.
ReplyDelete-Ian Chiu
DeleteBrazil is definetly responsible for the Amazon Rainforest. It is in their territory and I think they should treat it as a national park where no one can do anything to it without consent from the government and she areas should be permanently left so no one can cut them down. Deforestation is the main problem, that can easily be stopped if the government of Brazil made an effort to do so. I also think the UN should get involved because they could pressure Brazil to make these changes to help protect the Amazon which is so important to the health of the Earth
ReplyDeleteI agree that Brazil should be held responsible for their lack of attention paid to the devastating fires in the Amazon. Though Brazil is not the only one at fault, rather the entire international community needs to change its views on Climate Change and recognize how imperative taking measures to prevent it needs to be. If there was a global attitude more aware and proactive about climate change then devastating events such as these may be cut down.
ReplyDeleteThe President Bolsonaro of Brazil should be held responsible for allowing the abundant amounts of deforestation to take place in the Amazon; his policies, or lack thereof, have turned a blind eye to the farmers, miners, and loggers illegally cutting down and settling fire to the forest (in fact, nearly all fires started in the Amazon are manmade). On top of that, many of the Brazilian people are unhappy and actively protesting about the handling of the Amazon, but are wary of foreigners, being extremely sensitive to biopiracy. Anyhow, the Amazon should be considered global property because it is so important internationally, acting as a climate regulator and potentially affecting rain patterns from all the way to Europe. Due to activities done in Brazil, their chunk of the Amazon alone is responsible for about 50% of the entire world’s greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and has caused a large loss in the planet's biodiversity; thus, it is necessary for intervention from the international community to take place, as the Amazon affects the future of all countries. The UN should consider Bolsonaro’s treatment of the Amazon as a threat to the peace, and they should order action from international firefighters, as well as an enormous economic boycott and donations from countries all over.
ReplyDelete