THE Amazon rainforest fires are the fault of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) claims Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro. The current fires spreading through the Amazon have been so severe that even thousands of miles away some towns and cities have been covered in black smoke. Brazil is home to the largest tropical rainforest in the world but is now under serious threat as a result of the horrific fires ravaging the tropical zone.
Recently, some critics pointed the figure as current Mr Bolsonaro for the cause of the fires.
However, the outspoken President has hit back at his accusers and has even gone as far as to identify the key culprits.
Speaking on Facebook Live, Mr Bolsonaro blamed NGOs for the current crisis as he accused them of trying to undermine his Government.
He said: “They are now feeling the pinch from the lack of funding.
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Amazon rainforest: Mr Bolsonaro attacked his critics (Image: AFP/GETTY)
Amazon rainforest: He accused the NGOs (Image: AFP/GETTY)
“Maybe the NGO types are conducting these criminal acts in order to generate negative attention against me and against the Brazilian government.
“This is the war we are facing.”
Mr Bolsonaro who has at times been nicknamed, ‘Captain Chainsaw’, faces such a crisis that the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), has reported that fires have hit an all-time high.
The President has also received criticism from Greenpeace, who condemned his aggressive approach towards deforestation.
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Amazon rainforest fire: The fires have ravaged the country (Image: REUTERS)
The organisation also labelled him as the threat to “climate change equilibrium” due to his relaxed approach to exploiting the country’s natural resources in order to boost the economy.
There have been 72,000 forest fires in Brazil this year, with more than half of those concentrated in the Amazon.
Such is the severity of the crisis, that black smoke has travelled from over 1,000 miles away to cover the city of Sao Paulo.
Hitting back at Mr Bolsonaro, current environment minister, Marin Silva took hit back at the president for his accusation that NGOs may indeed be causing the fires.
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Amazon rainforest fire: There have been 72,000 fire this year in the country (Image: REUTERS)
Amazon rainforest fire: The extent of the fires (Image: Google)
She wrote: “The Amazon is on fire.
“The president says NGOs may be behind this.
“The lack of commitment to the truth is a chronic pathology.
“This irresponsible attitude only aggravates an environmental disaster in Brazil.”
Amazon rainforest fire: The fires raging in the region (Image: AFP)
Supporting the minister’s claims, Mr Bolsonaro had vowed to develop the Amazon for farming and mining.
He did this in spite of international concern that such a move would devastate an area which is not only one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world but also a huge source of oxygen.
In an earlier statement, responding to the accusations, he said: “I used to be called Captain Chainsaw.
“Now I am Nero, setting the Amazon aflame.”
Amazon rainforest fire: Bolsonaro has been under severe criticism (Image: REUTERS)
Away from the political infighting, certain areas in the country have declared a state of emergency.
The state of Amazonas has been in a state ofemergency, Acre, which is on the border with Peru has been on alert since last Friday.
According to the WWF: “without tropical rainforests, the greenhouse effect would likely be even more pronounced, and climate change may possibly get even worse in the future.”