Get The Facts – The Amazon Rainforest

Written by @_djreign

Sharing some important news to keep you informed about what’s going on across the globe. 

Literally one of the biggest things happening on Earth right now is the Amazon rainforest, which is the largest tropical rainforest on the planet and accounts for more than 20% of all the oxygen we breathe across the globe, thus earning the title “the planets lungs”, is currently on fire. 

You may be seeing posts on social media with images of the Amazon on fire by many celebrities, but don’t be misled by them. Some of the pictures, including the one Jaden Smith posted, are from 1989 which was a year before his father Will Smith starred in Fresh Prince of Bel Air. 

It is a fact that the Amazon rainforest is on fire and naturally fires do happen but it is burning at its highest rate since 2013. Most of these fires have been intentionally set which is a common practice for loggers and ranchers to clear the land for cattle, logging, and farming (which is also done in the United States).

The unique thing is that in some parts of the world and even America, the fires in the forest actually need to happen to sustain crops and wildlife, but the Amazon rainforest is unique because it is not built for fire. If there is a naturally occurring fire it is low on the ground and doesn’t last because the rain puts it out once it reaches the ground (approximately 10 minutes). 

Okay so now we got the facts out of the way, let’s talk about the real reason the fires are happening in the Amazon. It’s simple – beef and money. 

Not the kind of beef that is conflict between humans, but cattle beef. The world, specifically China, Hong Kong, and Egypt, eats a whole lot of beef and ranchers in Brazil need room to raise their cattle. 

Brazil is the leading provider of beef to Asia, which accounts for 44% of all beef exported to both Hong Kong and China. Approximately 1.64 million tons of beef was shipped from Brazil in 2018 cashing in at $6.57 billion, making it the leader in beef exports according to CNN.

Wow. 

I wonder if they have tried the Impossible Burger in China and Hong Kong yet?? 

Stay informed Reigndrops.

To read in depth visit CNN, Amazon Facts or National Geographic.