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The Amazon rainforest, the world's largest rainforest and supplier of more than 20% of the Earth's atmospheric oxygen, is burning at record rates, drawing strong international attention. Environmental activists have staged protests at Brazilian embassies worldwide, accusing President Bolsonaro of supporting farmers who burn forest land to expand agricultural fields.
The severe wildfires in the Amazon, which have been raging for the past three weeks, are still not being brought under control.
On August 26, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that G7 leaders had agreed to help countries in the Amazon basin cope with the wildfires, which he described as a "serious international crisis." However, Macron criticized Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro for failing to fulfill his obligations to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Macron announced that the G7 would "immediately send aid to the Amazonian countries worth at least 20 million euros (22 million USD)".
In response to Macron's "criticism" and proposal, a representative from Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's office told G1: "We appreciate (the G7 offer), but perhaps this aid is more suited to reforestation in Europe." Accordingly, President Bolsonaro expressed concern about whether providing the international aid package included a scheme to exploit Amazon resources and undermine Brazil's growth.
On August 27, Bolsonaro further shared that because his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron had called him a liar, Macron would have to apologize before Brazil would consider accepting the G7's $22 million aid package.
On August 24, the Brazilian government deployed the military to prevent an environmental disaster.
The Amazon wildfires have been raging for over three weeks and show no signs of stopping. They have turned the skies over Brazil "from day to night." Although the fires are more than 2,700 km from São Paulo, winds are still carrying smoke from them to the city. Some residents have even noticed that the rainwater is black, like sewage.
Many residents are concerned that the toxic fumes will particularly affect the respiratory system and health of young children.
Smoke from the Amazon turns the sky over Sao Paulo from "day to night".
Conflicts between the Brazilian government and European countries are hindering efforts to extinguish the Amazon rainforest fires, threatening the opportunity for global cooperation in protecting the "lungs" of the Earth.
