The Amazon forest fire. (via Twitter)Taking an about turn on the position taken by its Environment Minister Ricardo Salles earlier, Brazil has now rejected the $22 million aid to fight raging forest fires in the country which threaten the Amazon rainforests.
“We appreciate (the offer), but maybe those resources are more relevant to reforest Europe,” said Onyx Lorenzoni, chief of staff to President Jair Bolsonaro, as reported by AFP.
“Macron cannot even avoid a foreseeable fire in a church that is a world heritage site. What does he intend to teach our country?” he added referring to the Notre-Dame fire that engulfed the centuries old cathedral earlier in April.
Salles had earlier welcomed the proposed funding from G-7 but the decision has been reversed following a meet between the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his ministers.
Forest fires recorded in the Amazon rainforest - the ‘lungs of the world’ have been 83 per cent higher in number till now in 2019 over a similar period last year. With the Amazon rainforests playing a crucial role in maintaining the planet’s environment, Bolsonaro’s environmental policy has been been heavily criticised for the increase.
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