Leonardo Dicaprio’s Foundation Pledges $5 Million in Aid for Amazon Rainforest Fires
CONFLICT RESOLUTION - MEDIATION, ACTIVISM, BRICS, LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN, ENVIRONMENT, 2 Sep 2019
26 Aug 2019 – Leonardo DiCaprio’s new environmental foundation, Earth Alliance, has made an initial pledge of $5 million to help fight the raging fires devastating the Amazon rainforest. The Oscar-winner’s organization, which made the announcement over the weekend, addresses urgent threats against the planet.
After Brazil’s space research center INPE identified a record-breaking surge in fires in the iconic rainforest this summer, outrage and concern have grown across the world. The massive Amazon rainforest, known as the “lungs of the planet,” is the most biodiverse ecosystem on earth. Many organizations have stepped up to help provide aid to the affection region and its indigenous population, including Earth Alliance, which launched the Amazon Forest Fund on Sunday.
The fund will focus on “providing critical resources for indigenous communities and local partners working to protect the life-sustaining biodiversity of the Amazon against the surge of wildfires burning across the region,” according to Earth Alliance. It says the donations will be distributed directly to local partners and the indigenous communities protecting the Amazon.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B1ltR2QgDXT/?utm_source=ig_embed
“We are deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in the Amazon, which highlights the delicate balance of climate, biodiversity, and the wellbeing of indigenous peoples,” the group said.
The Amazon fires have become a global issue, escalating tensions between Brazil and other countries that believe Brazil’s right-wing populist President Jair Bolsonaro has neglected commitments to protect the environment. Bolsonaro’s policies have emboldened farmers and ranchers to clear more land in the rainforest for agriculture, speeding up the rate of deforestation.
See Pictures from the Amazon Rainforest Wildfires: 30 Photos
Facing public pressure over the fires, Bolsonaro authorized Brazil’s armed forces to aid firefighting efforts, saying he’s committed to protecting the Amazon region. However, conservationist Paul Rosolie told “CBS This Morning” that military action isn’t enough and said the Amazon is at risk of “collapsing.”
“As we chop more of the rainforest down — and this has been going on for decades, this is not an isolated issue — as we chop more of the rainforest, what we’re risking is reaching a tipping point, where that moisture system might be too dry to produce the rain. And then you have a serious problem on your hands, because you’re talking about the entire Amazon sort of collapsing,” Rosolie explained.
Earth Alliance also warns that destruction of the Amazon rainforest releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, diminishing an ecosystem that absorbs millions of tons of carbon emissions every year and is one of the planet’s best defenses against the climate crisis.
© 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Tags: Amazonia, BRICS, Brazil, Conflict, Deforestation, Development, Economics, Environment, Geopolitics, Indigenous Rights, Latin America Caribbean, Media, Politics, Power, Racism, Social justice, Violence, West, World
DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Read more
Click here to go to the current weekly digest or pick another article:
CONFLICT RESOLUTION - MEDIATION:
- Progress in the Overall Solution of the Middle East Problems
- The Attempts to Resolve the Middle East Problems Comprehensively
- Putin Tells German Leader That Ukraine Peace Deal Possible
ACTIVISM:
- Conscientious Objectors Refuse to Enlist in the Israeli Army: “Get Out of Gaza Now!”
- Lee Lakeman and the Whoredom of the Left
- Greek Piraeus Port Dockworkers Block 21 Tons of Ammunition Cargo to Israel
BRICS:
- Trump Threatens 100% Tariff on BRICS if They Act to Undermine US Dollar
- The BRICS Effect
- What Is the BRICS Group and Why Is It Expanding?
LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN:
- Cuba Expresses Solidarity with Venezuela and Condemns New US Sanctions
- Mexico’s President Hits Back at Trump’s Threat with Fiery Letter, Blames U.S. for Arming Criminals
- UN General Assembly Renews Long-Standing Call for End to US Embargo against Cuba
ENVIRONMENT: