#SAVETHEAMAZON

This is a hashtag that has been around for many years now, people have been trying to spread awareness to preserve and protect the Amazons. In this presentation there are different pictures and videos portraying the amazon rainforest. The amazon is the largest rainforest in the world and runs across multiple countries, it offers biodiversity in animals and plants and if we do not find a way to save it, then the Earth’s lungs will be gone and effect the world immensely.

 

History

This has not been the first-time people are fighting for the amazons. Trying to save the rainforest has been prevalent since the 1990’s and that was before social media made an impact on the world. Back then people created shirts, posters, concerts to get people to leave the rainforest in peace.

 

Amazon Watch

Amazon Watch is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 1996, to protect the rainforest and advance the rights of indigenous peoples in the Amazon. They were one of the first groups to start a movement for the Amazons. They are looking for the best within the communities, but they also want a world in which governments, corporations, and civil society respect the rights of indigenous peoples.

Social Media

Since the 2000's, social media has influenced the way messages are spread. People are now able to share their thoughts and ideas online, and since 2007 when hashtags were created social groups have begun using it to spread awareness. This is something that has allowed the Amazon to get the attention it needs. Organizations such as the Amazon Conservation Team and Amazon Conservation Association have been formed throughout these years and they are helping this environment stay safe. 

 

This is a video providing insight on the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT). They are promoting a change and are asking people to help because we only have one Amazon and when its gone, it will then be too late to do something.

Earth Alliance

As a result of the most recent fire in the Amazon, the organization Earth Alliance was launched in July 2019. It was formed to help gather resources for local communities and groups working to protect the Amazon. Earth Alliance is a project founded by actor Leonardo DiCaprio, philanthropist Laurene Powell, and investor Brian Sheth. The organization also formed a Amazon Forest Fund to collect money, and DiCaprio has already pledged to donate $5 million.

 

Targets

Organizations are targeting governments and politicians who support deforestation, deregulation, and extraction of minerals. People have become aware of the situation that is going on in our world, not only Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia are the ones getting affected. This is a global impact that will end up harming everybody if it continues. People need to realize that the Amazon contributes oxygen, water, food, minerals, and a variety of natural resources that the world needs. Recently more than 80,000 fires have been reported in the Amazon this year. Humans are the cause of most of these fires and according to CNN, “99% percent of the fires result from human action.” 

This video relates to the article "Why Telling Our Own Story Is So Powerful for Black Americans," “If I had to sum up all the stories in one sentence, it would be, ‘We’ve all been through some things.’ And we have” (Collier par. 7). In this world, things happen, and it is up to people to speak up about it. Finding help within people and communities is how a change is made. The same way Collier stands up for the person she is, the Amazon communities are making a movement to protect the Amazon.

 Why protect the Amazon?

The Earth’s largest rainforest is in great danger and not much is being done. The amazons are known for their biodiversity and abundant natural resources. The amount of deforestation that has been going on will affect the home to many people, animal, and plants. “Our words are not without meaning, they are an action, a resistance” (Hooks 16). This is a quote that should be kept in mind because nothing could be accomplished if one doesn’t step out of there comfort zone and speak up. Forest deforestation has been going on for a long time and it is time for people to stand up for our planet.

 

What does the Amazons provide?

Based on the Amazon Aid Foundation, the amazon provides minerals, fresh water, oxygen, medicinal plants, and food. The amazon has the purest fresh water out of the whole world. The amazon river is home to over 2,500 water species and provides 20% of the world’s fresh water. The amazon produces 20% of the oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere. When it comes to plants, 70% of the amazon’s plants contain anticancer properties. For food, 80% originally come from rainforests; some of the foods include: potatoes, bananas, chocolate, tomatoes, rice, coffee, and black pepper.

In this video an indigenous group from the Waorani tribe speak up for their environment. They want the government to stop harming their surrounding and environment. It relates to Lorde statement about guilt and how it is useless and serves no purpose, “I have no creative use for guilt, yours or my own. Guilt is only another way of avoiding informed action, of buying time out of the pressing need to make clear choices” (283). The Waorani tribe is not staying quiet, they are speaking for what they believe in and protesting to make a change in their community. 

Importance of Telling This Story

This is a story that I believe should be shared around the world. I have been impacted by this disaster, that is the reason for which I support this movement. I chose this hashtag because it has affected my home town of Peru, the amazon is a vital source to the country, and I found it devastating that the forest was getting destroyed. This has been an ongoing dilemma that the government has refused to support. I have been following the community ever since the most recent fire. My story should be used to continue spreading awareness and supporting the different organizations that help the Amazons.

Helping the Amazons

This story could be seen as taken action because it shares the problems going on with the Amazon. With the amount of fires that have occurred this year, it should open people's eyes and make them see that the Amazon needs to be helped. "The belief that there is one set of dominant language rules that stem from a single dominant discourse (like standard English) that all writers and speakers of English must conform to in order to communicate effectively” (Young 111). The same way that there are different languages, there are different cultures. It is important for people to realize about the disasters that happen around the world and assist these countries that are in need of support.

Conclusion

#Savetheamazon is an ongoing topic that is still relevant today. People and organizations are doing their best to support the amazons. People have gathered up money and donated it towards the reconstruction of the amazons. Organizations such as Amazon Watch, Amazon Conservation Team, Earth Alliance as well as many others are still making tweets and posts as they try to encourage people to help the amazons. People are protesting towards the government and hoping that the Amazons are protected and in peace.