Save the rain forests

THE burning Amazon rainforest is becoming a hot political topic. While Brazilian warplanes attempt to extinguish the flames from the air, the conflagration has concentrated minds at the G7 summit and beyond.

French President Emmanuel Macron said G7 countries would pledge £18million and Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Britain would give £10million to help Brazil. But events have also shone a light on the country’s President Jair Bolsonaro, who is scarcely playing a strong hand, sending insults flying.

These cataclysmic events should be above national concerns. The retention of the Amazonian rainforest is not simply a Brazilian issue but a global problem.

The rainforest is a vast and vital carbon store and all endeavours should be to help Brazil find ways to conserve it, for it is worth far more to us all in the long run. We may have differences with Mr Macron, but it’s hard to disagree with his description of the fires as an “international crisis”.