Greenpeace activists in Brazil have recently drawn attention to the record-breaking drought in the Amazon basin. Demonstrating their concern for the environmental catastrophe, the activists placed a banner on a newly formed sandbank in the basin’s major river, the Solimoes. The banner posed a simple yet profound question to the world: “Who Pays?”
The Amazon, often referred to as the ‘lungs of the Earth’, is currently grappling with an unprecedented drought, attributed to climate change and global warming. In particular, the continued use of fossil fuels is blamed for contributing significantly to the environmental damage in this region.
The intense drought has led to a drastic drop in the water level of the Solimoes River, exposing the riverbed and leaving communities that rely on the river for transport stranded. The situation is grave, with record-low water levels leading not just to wildfires and exposed riverbeds, but also to stranded river communities.
Romulo Batista, a spokesperson for Greenpeace Brazil, has highlighted the plight of vulnerable communities such as Indigenous people and fishermen, who are bearing the brunt of the effects of climate change in the Amazon. The drought has had severe consequences, including increasing river and lake water temperatures, which has led to the death of fish and endangered freshwater dolphins.
Batista further asserts that climate change is already drying up the rivers in the world’s largest rainforest. According to him, water temperatures in the Solimoes River have skyrocketed, reaching a deadly 40 degrees Celsius. This increase in temperature is not just deadly for the aquatic life but also for the communities that depend on these water bodies for their livelihood.
The question raised by Greenpeace’s banner remains relevant: “Who Pays?” As the world grapples with climate change and its disastrous effects, the cost is currently being paid by the ecosystem and the vulnerable communities that rely on it. It is a wake-up call for global leaders and policymakers to take immediate action to address the root cause of these environmental catastrophes, most notably, our continued dependency on fossil fuels. The Amazon crisis is not just a regional issue, but a global one that warrants urgent attention and action.
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