Sep 8, 2019
Amazon!
When the mission of moon landing by ISRO is happening, people all over the world shifted their social media posts from #prayforamazon to #moonmission, I am writing here to spend a few minutes with you to discuss the environment around us. I knew I am late to talk about but I think the problem is not yet over!
God sculpted this beautiful world with trees, oceans and happiness. When all the countries moved towards industrialization, Brazil is the only country which maintained its eco life balance. The Amazon rainforest, covering Brazil to Colombia, Peru and other South American countries, is the world’s largest tropical rainforest, famed for its biodiversity. It’s blessed by thousands of rivers, including the powerful plants & animal species.
Recently, the Amazon rainforest has experienced a major surge in the number of wildfires this year, with more than 74,000 reported so far. It’s an 84 per cent increase over the number of wildfires at the same time last year. Its also said that it produces 20% of World’s oxygen and titled “ Lungs of the Earth”. When such disheartening Wildfire events happen, it’s a warning that we move close to danger.
How this WildFire Occurs?
A fire needs three things: fuel, oxygen and heat. Oxygen is naturally present in the atmosphere and the tree becomes the fuel. The only thing that is left out is heat, which is directly got from the sun, a lightning strike. The thing to be noticed here is more than 90 per cent of Wildfires is Manmade such as arson, campfires, discarding lit cigarettes, improperly burning debris, playing with matches or fireworks and prescribed fires.
So, Heat, oxygen and fuel form the fire triangle. Firefighters often talk about the fire triangle when they are trying to put out ablaze. The idea is that if they can take away any one of the pillars of the triangle, they can control and ultimately extinguish the fire.
The interesting thing is WildFire helps in maintaining biodiversity and ecological balance. How?
Forests like Amazon have dense trees that the sunlight doesn't reach the ground and the seed remains idle in the soil. When this wildfire spreads, the dense trees fall down and forms as a natural fertilizer for the plants. They clear out decaying brush, restore nutrients to the soil, and even help plants germinate which helps in ecological balance. Humans have made the destruction from wildfires worse at every step. Suppression of natural fires has allowed dry vegetation to accumulate. But, when these wildfires are spread beyond the limit, the damages are worst and it is essential to control.
To have a deeper understanding of this issue? Do watch this video for complete information which is clearly explained.
# Do Politics Play Role?
Brazil’s president, Jair Bolsonaro, called the deforestation data “lies.” On Wednesday, he accused non-governmental organizations of starting fires after the government withdrew funding for these groups. He provided no evidence for this claim.
When pressed further about the fires on Thursday, Bolsonaro said the government didn’t have the resources to respond. And he again reiterated his claim that NGOs started the fires, according to the BBC:
Asked on Thursday who was responsible for starting the fires, he responded: “The Indians, do you want me to blame the Indians? Do you want me to blame the Martians?… Everyone is a suspect, but the biggest suspects are NGOs.”
Asked if there was any proof of this, he replied: “Did I accuse NGOs directly? I just said I suspect them.”
Whatever the problems that Brazil faces now and what solution they prefer its completely their internal matters. Am I here to provide a solution? No, I am not a superpower and I can’t do this singlehandedly. I am asking everyone to join hands to find the solution, not for Brazil but for the Environment.
On the note, we are given some signs of warning to save the earth. I am not here to scare you but India particularly should take some preventive measures to save before we stand for help from others. Leaving all to think with a quote of this famous person!
A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people. — Franklin D. Roosevelt
