Brazil’s Amazon rainforest continues to be savaged by raging wildfires and the severity of the blaze has prompted an outcry worldwide. Environmentalists, celebrities and world leaders have spoken out about the devastating damage caused by the fires with numerous campaigns and crowdfunding pages having been launched in response. French President Emmanuel Macron wrote of the devastating inferno on Twitter accompanying his message with an image of the rainforest engulfed with flames and smoke.
Mr Macron wrote: “Our house burns. Literally. The Amazon, the lung of our planet that produces 20 percent of our oxygen, is on fire. It’s an international crisis.
“G7 members, see you in two days to talk about this emergency.”
But the image of the burning forest is years out of date, with some pointing out the photo is old.
The picture used was taken by photographer Loren McIntyre, who died in 2003, meaning the image is at least 16 years old.
French website 20 minutes reported that Mr McIntyre did several reports of the Amazon in the 1970s and 1980s for National Geographic magazine.
He also published books on the transformation of this forest.
The Elysée responded to the claims that the photo does not represent the current fires affecting the region.
They said: “The choice of the photo was focused on an iconic photo, which has also been used by NGOs or celebrities.
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The severity of the tragedy in the Amazon has prompted a slew of celebrities to voice their support.
Leonardo DiCaprio, Madonna and Lil Nad X are just a few who have taken to social media to send their support and condolences.
Brazil’s President, Jair Bolsonaro, has deployed the armed forces to fight the forest fires, amid international outrage over rising deforestation.
Soldiers were sent to quell the flames in nature reserves, indigenous lands and border areas beset by fires.
World leaders had threatened to target Brazil’s economy if the nation did not act to stop the fires.
France and Ireland have said they will not ratify a large trade deal with South American nations and Finland’s finance minister has called on the EU to consider banning Brazilian beef imports.
In response, Mr Bolsonaro said forest fires “exist in the whole world” and “cannot serve as a pretext for possible international sanctions”.