Amazon fires : Tussle between North and South

Amazon is ablaze but why the entire world is concerned about it? Amazon has been in news for quite some time. Amazon is the largest rainforest on the earth. Although Amazon River flows through countries like Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador and Brazil, the largest part of these forests lies in Brazil. The rainforests influence the climate of the world in many ways. It's a big consumer of carbon dioxide emitted by various sources including human activities. That means it slows down the pace of global warming. It is said that it contributes 20℅ of oxygen to the world, hence called lungs of the planet. It is home to millions of different flora and fauna. Nearly one million indigenous people live here. In such a scenario deforestation of this region is going to have a huge blow to the already deteriorating environmental situation around the globe.

Fire in Amazon rainforest

According to National Institute of Space Research of Brazil there is 84℅ increase in fires in Amazon as compared to the same period of 2018. Wildfire often occur in dry season but there are also the deliberate acts of clearing the forest. This time there are unprecedented number of fires set a large part the rainforest ablaze.

The Amazon forest of Brazil are being cleared for farming and pastures for cattle. Satellite images shows the clearing of a vast area in first half of the year, since Jair Bolsonaro became president of Brazil. Every minute a hectare of forest is being cleared. The deforestation is done by farmers for cattle ranching. Brazil is the largest exporter of processed meat to EU and largest exporter of beef to the world. Actually there are economic and political aspects of this issue.

Satellite image by NASA on Amazon fires 2019 

Although Bolsonaro, who is called 'Trump of the tropics', denies the allegations of encouraging the deforestation, his regime witnessing the highest number of fires in the rainforest. His dispensation withheld $60m fund earmarked for sustainability projects in Brazil. Brazil says that Amazon is not a world heritage but it is theirs, they are entitled to use this resource as they want. Bolsonaro Government eased the system of fines which was used by his predecessor governments to discourage the deforestation. Now the entire world is blaming Brazil for these fires.

Jair Bolsonaro, President of Brazil

Environment doesn't observe boundaries. Air, water, forests and land are designed to join people and nations together. Nature that exist to create interdependence even among the antagonists has now become a hot issue of international politics. There is emerging scenario of resource scarcity and the income gap between the developed and developing nations. In their pursuit of 'catch up with west' developing nations are blindly exploiting their natural resources and adding to environmental degradation. Developing countries have their own arguments.

Europe and USA have exploited their resources to its fullest. Europe had also gone for a deforestation spree. Industrialisation of USA in decade of 1950s and early 60s posed a severe threat to the land and water, lakes and ponds, fish and forest life. Now, they are talking about curbing the exploitation of resources. Germany, France and other developed countries are asking Brazil to contain deforestation. French president Emanuel Macron has triggered another spate of debate by his reaction. He wanted a discussion on Amazon blaze on the forum of G-7. Bolsonaro reacted strongly. He said discussion on Amazon fires without the participation of countries of the region shows colonial mind-set.

G-7 leaders to discuss fires in Amazon rainforests

This blame game is not going to serve any purpose. Amazon blaze is doing harm to Brazil too. It's own population is suffering. Brazil and other countries of the region will also face the repercussions of climate change as well as the entire world. Any discussion, solution or agreement must be done with due consultation with the countries of the Amazon. Not only tropical forests but also all natural resources should be used to promote sustainable development.

Protests as G-7 leaders to talk on Amazon fires

Earth summit held in Rio, Brazil was hampered by disputes between the wealthy industrialised Nations of the North (Europe and North America) and the poorer developing countries of the South (Latin America, Africa and parts of Asia). Developing countries were reluctant to hamper their economic development by environmental restrictions raged by developed world unless they are properly compensated by increased financial aid. Which will help them to pursue sustainable development with and environmentally sound growth. The process of consultation and making a consensus can be started from there itself.

 ~ Rashmi Prabha

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