Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil’s President, is miffed with Emmanuel Macron, France’s President, and refuses to accept the $20m (£16.3m) aid pledged by G7 countries for the wildfires in the Amazon till Macron takes back his words.
The two statesmen are having quite a public showdown with Bolsonaro jeering Macron’s wife on Facebook and condemning the French leader of disrespecting Brazil’s sovereignty.
On the other hand, Macron has called Bolsonaro a liar, and said that Brazilian women are probably ashamed of their president in response to the jibes the Brazilian president hurled at the French lady.
G7 leaders decided to play the ‘Good Samaritan’ by pledging $20m (£16m) after discussing the current situation in the Amazon in a meeting in the southern French town of Biarritz. This is in addition to Britain’s $12m (£9.8m) and that of Canada’s $11m (£9m).
But, Brazil’s right-wing leader said accepting the aid would leave his country like “a colony or no man’s land” and hinted that vested western interests were at play in wanting to exploit Brazil’s natural reserves.
Macron debunked Bolsarano’s interpretation stating that the money was not just aimed at Brazil but at nine countries in the Amazon region, including Colombia and Bolivia. He added that France also considered itself an Amazon country via its overseas region of French Guiana.
Opinions about accepting the aid was divided in Bolsarano’s governance earlier; however, latest developments suggests that Brazil is ready to accept foreign aid to help fight fires in the Amazon but only if it could determine how it is spent.
Bolsonaro has always wanted to increase development in the region and is not happy with more sanctions by environmental invigilators. However, he is fast losing popularity at home and finding himself increasingly cornered over his response to the blazes in his backyard.
Data from Brazil’s space agency indicates that deforestation has spiked by 67% in the first seven months of 2019. And fires are blazing in almost 3,800 square miles in Bolivia, near its border with Paraguay and Brazil.
With mounting international pressure, Mr Bolsonaro has declared that 44,000 troops have been stationed to fight the blazes. But, reports suggest minimal military presence in the area with only a few soldiers seen patrolling roads and lending a hand.
Apart from world leaders, many others have come forward to help, Leonardo DiCaprio has pledged $5m (£4m) in aid to the Amazon through his organization-Earth Alliance.
What do you think about Brazil’s stance? Let us know your thoughts below.
Lifestyle
Vegan culture, food, beauty & more
Gordon Ramsay Ditches Vegan Hate and Backs Flora’s Plant-Based Butter in New ‘Skip the Cow’ Campaign
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 28th January 2025
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, once infamous for his digs at vegans, has taken a sharp turn in the kitchen. Ramsay has teamed up with Flora, the famous UK-based spread brand, as its global ambassador, marking a bold new chapter in Flora’s “Skip the Cow” campaign. Flora, established in 1964, has long been a household name …
The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America
- Totally Vegan Buzz Team
- 27th January 2025
Latin America is experiencing an extraordinary rise in plant-based dining options. A new study, spearheaded by Veganuary in partnership with the food discovery platform HappyCow, reveals that Latin America now boasts over 10,000 vegan, vegetarian, and vegan-friendly restaurants—an impressive 21.6% jump compared to last year. Brazil takes the crown as the number one country, with …
Continue reading “The Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Places in Latin America”
VEGAN MEMES
NEED A LAUGH?
QUIZZES
All the quizzes you love to binge!
QUIZ: If you score 11/12 on this quiz, you’re a verified vegan food expert
- Marlon Farrugia
- 10th January 2020
How much vegan knowledge do you have stored away? Do you have to Google your way through a shopping trip, or do you have all the bad E-numbers memorised? Find out now with this quiz. [wpViralQuiz id=27203]
QUIZ: What is your perfect Vegan Halloween Costume?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 13th October 2019
Spook Season approaches. There will be ghosts, goblins, ghouls, and glucose. You need a costume, and you want to it to show off your personality, which means VEGAN. But what to choose? Take our quiz to find out your perfect outfit. [wpViralQuiz id=33494]
QUIZ: What kind of vegetable are you?
- Marlon Farrugia
- 26th September 2019
“If you were a vegetable, what kind would you be?” A question that has tormented humanity throughout the ages – until now. [wpViralQuiz id=31281] Read: QUIZ: If you score 19/20 on THIS quiz, you’re a Vegan God