The widespread fires in the Amazon rainforest are causing major worry among European leaders. While it doesn’t seem to be getting much coverage in the United States, it is leading the news on the BBC. In one must-see report on the network (watch above) a correspondent pointed out, “This matters not just for Brazil, but for the entire planet.” Now French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to point out how dire the situation has become.
I couldn’t agree more, @EmmanuelMacron. We did lots of work to protect the environment at the #G7 last year in Charlevoix, & we need to continue this weekend. We need to #ActForTheAmazon & act for our planet — our kids & grandkids are counting on us. https://t.co/KwaR8Eevq5
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 23, 2019
And the BBC writes that other members of the G7 are concerned as well:
European leaders have also expressed dismay over the fires, with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying he is “deeply concerned” about “the impact of the tragic loss of these precious habitats”.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the fire an “acute emergency… shocking and threatening not only for Brazil and the other affected countries, but also for the whole world”.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that “Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday admitted farmers could be illegally setting the rainforest ablaze but told foreign powers not to interfere.” And that may be exactly what the U.S. president is doing. We can’t find any reaction from Donald Trump or other U.S. officials.
At the G7, "Bolsonaro is likely to be defended by Donald Trump, who regards the far-right Brazilian leader as a close regional ally and has ignored the science underlying the climate crisis."
Authoritarian dingbats are going to kill us all. https://t.co/ICxbhXlduY
— Joshua Holland (@JoshuaHol) August 23, 2019