Amazon burning

[Darren179]

Thought some of you might be interested in this article seeing as some of our favorite snake species come from the region.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20041208/sc_nm/environment_brazil_dc

[joey]

stupid humans. stupid humans. stupid humans.

[RepTylE]

The slash and burn agriculture has been done for thousands of years. the Aztecs did it but on a much smaller scale. After they worked the land until it was useless for growing crops, they either built on the cleared ground or moved on. In time the jungle reclaimed the land. Unfortunately these days, the practise takes on a much larger scale and thousands of species are destroyed or displaced.
I don't think that the developing nation exemption is wise. Whether you are a rich natiion destroying natural habitat or a poor nation, the end result is still the same.

They call the Amazon the lungs of the world...well maybe the anti-smoking people should crusade down there.

[joey]

Sorta kills geogie bushs' theory of clearcutting to prevent forest fires. Hell, lets burn'em all down.

[chas*e]

Everytime you eat a Big Mac or a Whopper you help to burn the forests and jungles of the world....it is sad but true...the forests burn to plant cattle grasses for these multi-national companies not for substance crops to feed the people of their country.
I have seen this first hand, but what are these poor people to do, Their land is bought up and they are told what to plant or "goodbye"....don't worry it happens here too. The governments of these 3rd world nations and our nations both work on CASH.. they are told what to do also by the real bosses..the multi-national corp.
Remember when Macdonalds used to be a restaurant not a corperation..lol

[joey]

I've also heard that forests are being cleared for crops of soybeans.

It all basically boils down to the "real bosses' --the US of A...my country t'is of thee---controlling these 3rd world countries--installing who they want/ who will be their puppets. It's all greed, money, power. Sickening.

Ever see 'Supersize me?" You'll never want to eat at Mickey-D's again. ...trust me.

[Double J]

I have been to Peru, and saw a number of examples of this on a smaller scale.

What is sickening is that people will clearcut an area, burn the trees where they lay, and sell the charcoal to make new fires. I ahve seen it, and I have ridden on a cargo boat down the amazon full of charcoal created in this manner. It has to be one of the most idiotic, and fruitless practices I have ever encountered.

[RepTylE]

The underlying theme is greed. Plain and simple. In a movie that I saw about the Amazon, the native aboriginals called the clearcutters the termite people who chew up the forest. I guess that sums it up as well.

[latazyo]

which country are you from joey?

[joey]

I'm from the states---but hoping to move out after I get my degree.