The Amazon rainforest is by far the world’s largest rainforest in the world and it’s engulfed in flames. This summer, the Amazon rainforest has been burning since the Aug. 13. In the past 50 years 17% of the Amazon rainforest has been lost due to deforestation, but now there is finally media coverage on it. 

   The media is just now noticing this and finally when the media talks about it, the world is knowledgeable about it. In reality, we should have known about this years ago, “something that’s been happening for awhile and I was just surprised it blew up now,” current resident of Brazil, Augusto de Oliveira stated his response to the media finally covering this story. 

   The assumed cause of these fires is mainly deforestation, “I think it’s really just people setting it on fire,” said Augusto de Oliveira. The president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has cut funds from Brazil’s environmental policies and sciences. 

   The president lashed out in defense of the fires, “The Amazon is ours” responding to the criticism against his government’s environmental policies, “We preserve more than anyone.” Defending his rights to deforestation. 

      The air quality is worsening and the skies are darkening, “Monday afternoon it got dark at 2pm, orangish dark,” Augusto Olivera said. This should be a concern not just for Brazil, but for the world because the Amazon produces so much oxygen. The world isn’t taking the necessary action for this, “We are all too busy with our own lives,” Emma Peaslee of Environment Club stated. This isn’t the first time it has been engulfed in flames, and it won’t be the last. That leaves us with the question: when, if ever, will this stop?