What Is Happening To The Amazon?

The Amazon rainforest in Brazil has been burning for 3+ weeks. The fire is spreading really fast and NO ONE is doing anything about it. The Amazon rainforest is huge, like half the size of the USA. It is the largest rainforest on earth. Over 1.5 soccer fields are burning every minute.

The Brazilian government refuses to act. People are exploiting the situation for financial gain, some are even purposely staring fires!

Why should we care?

The Amazon is the Earth’s lungs. It produces 20 per cent of the oxygen in the atmosphere. You guys still like breathing, right? The Amazon is essential in slowing down global warming, the trees help absorb the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It is also home to 10% of the world’s species and 40,000 plant species. 3,000 edible fruits are grown there. Innocent wildlife are dying and could become extinct.

Also smoke from the fire has been carried 1,700 miles, reaching Peru, Bolivia and Paraguay. Smoke inhalation has very serious health effects and can cause breathing problems. 

If we don’t act now, the rainforest could become dry and start producing carbon dioxide (the gas that causes climate change). This horrible fire will affect our ecosystem, oxygen and food supply.

What can you do to make a difference?

1. Donate

Send money to organizations that protect the rainforest. For example Rainforest Trust, World Wide Fund for Nature, Amazon Conservation, Amazon Watch.

2. Plant Trees And Stop Consumption 

Reduce your paper and wood consumption. Tress are cut down to produce paper. In order to save the trees, we should reduce the amount of paper we use. For example, use both sides of the paper before you throw it away or don’t purchase hard copies of things you can read online. FYI, if everyone saved one sheet of paper a day, 40,000 trees can be saved a year. Recycling paper can save seventeen trees, which reduces 58% of air pollution. Here is a list of places in Dubai where you can recycle paper, plastics, cans,etc. 

Use the search engine Ecosia.org. It plants a tree for every 45 searches you run.

3. Raise awareness

Every voice counts. Raise awareness, do something small. Repost and reblog stories about the amazon fire

We can’t let our lungs burn!! #prayforamazonia #savetheamazon #saveourselves #SparkAwareness