Protests over Amazon fires break out across the world

Local media reports that farmers, feeling emboldened since the 64-year-old Bolsonaro took office, have started many of the fires in order to clear land for development. Bolsonaro pushed back on those claims, first blaming environmental groups and then shifting the blame to nongovernmental organizations.

“On the question of burning in the Amazon, which in my opinion may have been initiated by NGOs because they lost money, what is the intention? To bring problems to Brazil,” he said.

Protests broke out in front of the Brazilian embassy in London, with demonstrators carrying signs that read, “Our house is on fire,” and “The planet deserves better.”

Protesters reportedly splashed red paint against the embassy building in London to demonstrate against violence toward indigenous people in the Amazon.

In Ireland, the group Extinction Rebellion organized a protest outside of the Brazilian embassy in Dublin. Demonstrators chanted, “When Bolsonaro’s on the attack, stand up and fight back.”

The leader of the Irish Green Party, Eamon Ryan, joined the protest and said that it was a peaceful demonstration.

“It was very simple, very last-minute, very peaceful. People were sitting outside and then at one point everyone went in, not to the embassy itself but to the foyer and we listened to some speeches,” Ryan said.

Protests also cropped up in other countries around Europe and South America.

In addition to the increase in fires, the Amazon, which provides 20% of the planet’s oxygen, has seen a marked increase in deforestation this year. Bolsonaro recently fired the head of Brazil’s space agency over data that found an 88% increase in deforestation in June compared to the same month last year.