From the Liveblog of
Thursday, August 22, 2019
Rights group blames Brazilian government for Amazon fires
Amnesty International says Brazilian government failures are responsible for fires raging in the Amazon rainforest.
The comment by the rights group on Thursday came after Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro suggested some non-governmental groups could be setting the blazes in retaliation for losing state funds under his administration.
Bolsonaro did not provide any evidence for his allegation, which escalated international concern over the vast rainforest that is a major absorber of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Large swathes of the Amazon rainforest are burning.
There have been more than 72,000 fire outbreaks in Brazil so far this year pic.twitter.com/sd2jeVcoU0
— The Guardian (@guardian) August 22, 2019
Kumi Naidoo is secretary-general of London-based Amnesty International. He says the group has documented illegal land invasions and arson attacks in the Amazon, including a region where many fires are raging.
The World Meteorological Organization said this week that satellite images show smoke from Amazon fires is reaching the Atlantic coast and Sao Paulo.
— AP
The Times of Israel Community.