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Almost 73,000 fires in the Amazon rainforest, almost double the 40,000 in 2018. It is a very high record. Fires are started by people (it's the time of year when farmers use fire to clear the land) but the heat and dryness leads to fire spreading, and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is not trying help. Discover more stories on Business Insider Spain . The Amazon rainforest is burning. This year, between January and August, almost 73,000 fires have been recorded , almost double the almost 40,000 that were recorded in 2018. It is a very high record. Since Thursday, there are almost 10,000 new fires active. One of the reasons for the massive increase in fires is human activity, and Brazil's president, Jair Bolsonaro, doesn't care.
"Before they called me Captain Chainsaw. Now I am Nero, setting fire to the Amazon," he said ironically, downplaying the number of fires in the Amazon. Bolsonaro has also noted that it is the time of year when farmers use fire to clear the land. Since he came to power, Bolsonaro has hindered the work of government agencies to protect the rainforest. Read more: Life without plastic: how these families Middle East Phone Number List who want to save the planet do it The fires have created a smoke zone measuring approximately 3.1 million square kilometers wide, and forest loss is critical to mitigating global warming. The rainforest is meant to absorb carbon, not produce it. And although it may seem overwhelming and devastating, and far removed from everyday life, you can act.
Here we've compiled some of the things you can do to help. Learn about the topic and tell others about it A piece of the Amazon rainforest burning near the city of Novo Progresso, Brazil. A piece of the Amazon rainforest burning near the city of Novo Progresso, Brazil. Nacho Doce / Reuters You can learn more about this scandal through official sources, and educate your friends and family on the details. The more people know about the severity of the problem, the more can be done. For those who can read Portuguese, there is Brazil's National Institute for Space Research , which uses satellite images and records the number of forest fires. Otherwise, InfoAmazonia has a map showing the fires that are active in Brazil. Another tool it offers is a map that allows you to compare your location with Amazon deforestation.
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