Arson attacks increased last year in the Brazilian Amazon. The population was suffering the situation but now voices are being raised against the impunity of arsonists and the consequences of the fires on the economy, the environment and health. This is the case in Breves in the State of Para.
Giovanna Serrao's acai plantation was ravaged by flames. The farmer is angry because like many of her colleagues around Breves, in the state of Para in the Brazilian Amazon, she lives on the income from her production.
« It really affected my production for the meals I deliver to schools. We didn’t produce anything this month, so we had nothing to deliver”
Giovanna accuses her neighbor of not having controlled a fire that he allegedly started. The police reportedly only encountered the man without taking any further action.
Even feeling among Paulinho dos Santos whose farm like many others was also partially burned.
« We know it's a crime, but what can we do? We didn't see anyone. »
In fact, according to Greenpeace, the vast majority of arson attacks go unpunished. And only one in a hundred of the rare fines imposed is paid. We denounce an omerta for fear of reprisals and a lack of resources: « We lack the means to fight the fire and to arrest those responsible », explains Lieutenant Colonel Luciano Morais, of the Breves military police. This year, « we only made two arrests », because he is « very difficult to prove » which causes the fires. These would usually be lit at night.
But in Breves, citizens are revolting against this situation. And in particular against this impunity from which most arsonists seem to benefit. They demand sanctions for those responsible and created a collective “ Breves calls for help for the right to breathe ».
“We have arrived at something important: citizens have started talking about the environment, climate change and arson,” rejoices Zairo Gomes, teacher and social rights defender. Because fires do not only harm the environment and the economy.
Because fires also affect health
The health of residents is also threatened, as Maria Leao, midwife in Breves and member of the collective, recalls:
« Everyone was affected by the smoke. I have two daughters at home, both suffer from sinusitis. And not just my children, but also my neighbors, my friends and the elderly. »
« We have lived through unbearable weeks. It was impossible to go out because we couldn't see anything. Medical services were saturated with patients with respiratory diseases », adds Zairo Gomes.
The levels of fine particles in the atmosphere have reached peaks 30 times higher than the maximum thresholds, on a daily average, recommended by the World Health Organization.
Towards increased and expanded mobilization in the face of a possible worsening of the situation
In 2024, there will be 140,000 fires in the Brazilian Amazon. A number up 42% compared to the previous year. And the members of the collective are pessimistic for the future and therefore demanding, as expressed by Zairo Gomes :
« The situation will get worse in the future. So we need protocols, we need to be prepared, the health department needs to be prepared. City authorities must act on prevention. »
And the community leader hopes that the mobilization in Breves will spread abroad:
« We must come together, unite with neighboring towns which are also asking for help. We are fighting the same fight. The fires are enough ! »
The objective is to avoid another catastrophic dry season from July.
The fires certainly sometimes originate from the enormous landfill which burns in the open air and which the Breves authorities do not seem to manage. However, they are usually of human origin. For their perpetrators, it involves clearing fields in favor of crops or livestock or even burning forests to illegally appropriate land. And the fires are amplified by warming which dries out vegetation and makes it more flammable.
A file that could illustrate COP 30, the next climate conference which is due to be held next November in Belem, the capital of Para.
