Pope anti-forest fires

VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis said yesterday that the Amazon forest was vital for our Earth and is urging prayers that fires there are quickly controlled.

Francis added his voice to the chorus of international concern that the blazes in Brazil would have grave repercussions on the world’s environmental health.

The pontiff, who is from the neighbouring South American nation of Argentina, told the public in St Peter’s Square that “we’re all worried” about the vast Amazon fires.

He warned that that green “lung of forest is vital for our planet”.

Brazilian troops on Saturday deployed in the Amazon to fight the fires. | STOCKHOLM: Greta Thunberg, the 16-year-old environmental activist from Sweden who has become a global phenomenon, is getting closer to her destination as she sails across the Atlantic to attend UN climate talks.

Thunberg is aboard the Malizia racing yacht, which is now under 1000 nautical miles (1 852km) from New York, said captain Pierre Casiraghi in a video message from the boat late on Saturday.

“It’s quite bumpy today, and a bit of a storm, crossing the Gulf stream… but I’m really proud of everyone here, Greta is holding on really well,” he said.

Thunberg refuses to fly due to the CO2 emissions caused by aviation, so she is travelling on the Malizia, which is captained by Monaco’s Casiraghi (youngest son of Princess Caroline) and Boris Herrmann of Germany.

Her activism inspired other young people across Europe to demand action on climate change. Her father, Svante Thunberg, and film-maker Nathan Grossman were also on board the 18-metre yacht, which set sail on August 14. The journey is expected to take around two weeks. |