Dear John,
Right now, the Amazon rainforest -- the lungs of the Earth -- is burning.
Devastating fires over the last month have destroyed thousands of square miles of rainforest. We don’t yet know the full impacts on biodiversity. Residents of Sao Paolo, Brazil are forced to breathe smoke-filled air. The fires have displaced Indigenous communities who have worked to protect the forest for generations. And the destruction of the Amazon threatens to worsen the climate crisis.
The fires were directly caused by a rush to expand industrial agriculture in Brazil -- the result of policies and politicians that put corporate profits ahead of our environment and communities.
A Green New Deal that phases out fossil fuels and transforms our food systems is the only solution to this crisis. We can build a green economy that serves people and the planet -- before anti-climate corporations raze even more of our precious rainforests and pump even more carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. But we can’t do this without you, John.
Help save the Amazon and support a strong Green New Deal: Donate $10 or more NOW!
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Brazil has reported nearly 85% more fires burning than this time last year. Records show up to 80,626 fires have burned so far in 2019. Scientists note that the government’s policy of encouraging land clearance for cattle ranchers and other agricultural businesses has led to unprecedented levels of deforestation. In fact, the government of Brazil eliminated the scientific body in charge of monitoring deforestation in the first place.
But make no mistake -- giant corporations in the U.S. are fueling these policies. For example, Wall Street giant Blackrock is investing the money of people like you in companies that destroy the Amazon to raise cattle and grow soybeans.
As long as the Amazon is burning, the deck is stacked against us to prevent climate chaos. And as long as our government looks the other way as multinational corporations exploit our Earth for profit, the Amazon is at risk.
A Green New Deal is the comprehensive solution we need to address the climate crisis, put communities at the center of our solutions, and rein in corporate power. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez kickstarted momentum for a Green New Deal. Friends of the Earth members like you have taken to the streets, to Congressional offices, and to social media to support and strengthen this ambitious solution. But we’re running out of time to make it a reality -- and we need your help.
Help prevent climate chaos, save our rainforests, and stand up to corporate power: Donate $10 or more NOW!
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We’re going up against huge corporations and their powerful cronies in the Trump administration and Congress -- a daunting task. But with Friends of the Earth Members like you at our side, I know we can win this fight and protect our climate and wild places.
We have a comprehensive plan to take on the climate crisis while supporting communities on the front lines of this fight:
- Protecting our rainforests is a key ingredient to preventing climate chaos. So we’re working with champions in Congress to advance legislation to hold corporations accountable for their role in fueling the fires. And our efforts are paying off -- this week, Rep. DeFazio introduced the “Act for the Amazon Act.”
- At the same time, we’re taking the message directly to Blackrock and other financiers that they need to stop supporting rainforest destruction. Friends of the Earth members like you have signed petitions, made phone calls, and showed up at Blackrock’s headquarters to deliver the message that Blackrock must divest from the climate crisis. Blackrock’s CEO is paying attention -- but we need to keep the pressure on.
- We’re pushing Members of Congress across the political spectrum to support a strong Green New Deal that ends our dependence on fossil fuels and addresses the role of agriculture in the climate crisis. Our organizers have gotten Representatives on the record taking strong stances against fossil fuel projects. Now, we’re building support for a broader approach to phasing out fossil fuels and reining in Big Ag once and for all.
- This month, Friends of the Earth members like you will walk out of schools and workplaces around the world as part of the Global Climate Strike. With this international action, we’ll call our leaders’ attention to the gravity of the climate crisis. The message will be clear: If we don’t act fast, the Amazon fires are just the beginning of the harm our environment will face. Anything less than ambitious climate action is unacceptable.
You know that when we work together, we can move mountains. You and I have already made huge strides in taking on the fossil fuel industry and stopping projects like the Williams Pipeline in New York.
But we’re running out of time to prevent the worst impacts of climate chaos. We’ve got to act fast, before our most iconic wild places and the biodiversity they support disappear forever -- and communities around the world are left with poisoned air, polluted water, and an unlivable planet.
Make a generous contribution to Friends of the Earth and help protect our rainforests, climate and communities from Big Ag and Big Oil.
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Standing with you,
Jeff Conant,
Senior international forests program director,
Friends of the Earth
