Amazon drought emergency widens

[IndianaGreen]

Amazon drought emergency widens

A worsening drought in the Amazon basin has prompted Brazil to extend an emergency across the Amazonas state.

Brazil's military has been distributing supplies and medicine to tens of thousands of people stranded by the dramatic drop in water levels.

Witnesses say rivers and lakes have dried up completely, leaving behind kilometres of sand and mud.

Environmental campaign group Greenpeace has blamed deforestation and global warming for the drought.

It quoted scientists as saying that the burning of forests has raised temperatures in the Amazon, preventing the formation of clouds.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4344310.stm

[babylonsister]

1. After what's happened this summer,

:wow: :wow:

Edit to add: the Amazon Rain Forest? Up is down...

[ninkasi]

2. I am so depressed at what we have done

to our Mother Earth. Her vengeance will be harsh, but we are to blame. Some of us have tried to stem the tide, but there have not been enough of us to stand up against corporate greed

Many years ago, when my youngest child was in her teens, she got upset when I would put my foot down on certain things she wanted to do. She said she couldn't wait to be an adult, and "do whatever I want." I explained that when you do what you want, there is a price. Sometimes the price you pay is worth your actions, sometimes it isn't. Being adult is knowing the difference, and being willing to pay the price.

Our problem is that we are paying the price for corporate interests, and their ever increasing thirst for more wealth, more resources, and more power. I am willing to pay the price for what I do, but hate paying the price for other's stupidity.

[cliss]

3. A very good post.

I agree.

It's the greedy corporations which are behind this. I can't remember how many acres of amazon jungle gets cut down every day. It's unbelievable. Just to put in grazing land for cattle, to be turned into McBurgers.

The president of Brazil, Lula De Silva said, "We believe this is very good for our economy" (the slash and burn and complete destruction of his country). What he meant was, "it's very good for my pocket book". Screw the Brazilians. Oh, they might get a few jobs herding catttle or slaughtering them.

But they - and the rest of us - are the losers.

[krkaufman]

4. Scary to see how sensitive the balance truly is. n/t