Like Burning a Renaissance Painting

Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon rainforest reached a record high for the first 6 months of 2022, as an area five times the size of New York City was destroyed (an increase of 10.6% from the same months last year). The Amazon is the world’s largest rainforest, containing vast amounts of carbon which is released as trees are destroyed, warming the atmosphere and driving climate change. Deforestation is creeping deeper into the forest as well - in the first 6 months of 2022, Amazonas, a state in the heart of the rainforest, recorded more destruction than any other state for the first time. Experts in Brazil blame right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro for rolling back environmental protections and emboldening loggers, ranchers and land speculators who clear public land for profit.

The title for this painting comes from a quote by EO Wilson: “Destroying rainforest for economic gain is like burning a Renaissance painting to cook a meal”.

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