The Amazon rainforest has been burning uncontrollably for three continuous weeks now, adding to the already-devastating series of fires in the area throughout the year. More than 73,000 fires have been reported in the Amazon in 2019 alone, amounting to an increase of over 80% compared to last year. And things are only getting worse.
What the fires could mean for the planet
This is an unprecedented disaster for the entire planet, as every single person on earth relies on the Amazon to live. That rainforest alone produces 20% of the globe’s oxygen, crucially recycling CO2 that would otherwise do us harm in the atmosphere. If as little as 20% of the Amazon rainforest is destroyed, a chain reaction could trigger that could decimate life as we know it, by increasing dryness and fires which would destroy even more rainforest—which would in turn release over 140 billion tons of harmful carbon dioxide up into the air, negatively affecting ecosystems across the world and making the climate crisis even worse.
So, we know what could happen. We know it’s bad. The question is, what can we do about it? Thoughts and prayers are certainly not enough, and Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, has pledged to destroy even more of the rainforest anyway to appeal to corporate interests. So, it’s time the rest of us actually take action.
What we can do about it
Changing our lifestyle is the first step to delaying climate change as much as possible, getting into healthier habits all around for yourself and others. You can also educate yourself and as many people as you can by doing further research and sharing your findings with friends and family, who can in turn do the same. Recycling is also important, and volunteering for a charity is always an option.
Short of volunteering and changing your lifestyle, though, there’s yet another thing you can easily do that could have a significant effect on the rainforest’s conservation efforts. You can donate to a charity of your choice, but take care to do the proper research beforehand so your money doesn’t go to waste. Here are five charities dealing with the Amazon situation right now that have been highly rated on Charity Navigator for their financial ethics.
These charities can make a big difference. Also, it’s important to make your voice heard: call, email, or write your corresponding representatives and ask them to rise to the occasion and start fighting for policies that would actually have a measurable effect on the issue, whether about the Amazon rainforest or climate change as a whole. If enough people get to it, change will eventually come—and we really need it sooner rather than later.
So, as bad as things are right now, there is hope. We just have to do our part.
Don’t miss these other articles:
350 Million Trees In 12 Hours: Ethiopia’s Crazy Environmental Feat
10 Persistent Myths About Climate Change You Should Really Stop Repeating
Trump’s New Laws Endanger American Species Like Bald Eagles And Grizzly Bears
