Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro is a deeply conservative politician, who appears to oppose anything that climate advocates say or pursue, and his government sees climate change as a hoax.
In his latest outburst, Bolsonaro has blamed American actor Leonardo DiCaprio of stoking the Amazon forest fires without providing any proof to back up his assertion.
DiCaprio, a known environmentalist, has denied any link with fires that raged in Amazon- the lungs of the planet for being a great source of oxygen – summer this year, and drew international criticism for Brazilian government’s inability to put out them.
“The future of these irreplaceable ecosystems is at stake and I am proud to stand with the groups protecting them,” DiCaprio observed in a statement posted on Instagram.
He made it clear that his not-for-profit organization – Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation – has not supported the organizations being targeted for the fires.
“While worthy of support, we do not fund the organizations targeted.”
The actor, who rose to global fame with his performance in 1997 film Titanic and is an Academy Awards winner, said he would continue to support the Brazilian indigenous communities, local governments, scientists, educators and general public who are working tirelessly to secure the Amazon for the future of all Brazilians.
While blaming DiCaprio for the fires in the fabled forests, President Bolsonaro, alleged that the Hollywood star was donating money to inflame Amazon fires.
“DiCaprio is a cool guy, isn’t he? Giving money to set the Amazon on fire,” Bolsonaro in capital Brasilia.
But the question is what purpose, if any, Bolsanaro’s assertion would achieve. Will he, instead, lead efforts to save Amazon ecological treasure –a common resource for humanity – from burning?
