Amazon deforestation accelerates

[muriel_volestrangler]

The destruction of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil has accelerated for the first time in four years, Brazilian officials say.

Satellite images show 11,968 sq km of land was cleared in the year to July, nearly 4% higher than the year before.

The government said the figure was unsatisfactory but could have been a lot worse if it had not taken action against illegal logging.

High commodity prices had allegedly tempted farmers to clear more land.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7756241.stm

[IndyOp]

1. Thank you muriel -- can you recommend a good organization to donate to in order

to support reforestation in the Amazon and/or various locations around the world?

I am going to do a Google search someday soon, but I thought I would ask just in case you - or someone who sees this thread - has a recommendation.

:hi:

[Richard D]

2. Rainforest Action Network.

[IndyOp]

3. Very, very cool. I've been to the RAN website and found a couple of great articles

about RAN actions...

TIME MAGAZINE: Taking on King Coal
http://understory.ran.org/2008/11/06/time-magazine-taking-on-king-coal/

Archer Daniels Midland CEO Patricia Woertz Admits Rainforest Destruction in Brazil
http://cms.ran.org/media_center/news_article/?uid=4778

:applause: :applause: :applause: :applause:

[Richard D]

4. Cool

A really scary thing is that you can see the destruction of the jungle on Google Earth from pretty high up. It's really massive and really dangerous what is happening there. Most people have no idea of the importance of the jungle and that cutting some of it down is no small loss.