I am horrified by the burning of the Amazon rainforest. People clear land by fire to make a living on cattle and palm oil. The fire gets out of control and destroys trees and ecosystems resulting in loss of soil by erosion, loss of habitat for people and wildlife and increase in CO2 across the planet.
I am horrified, but is this any different from what we did and are doing to our land, water and air here in Iowa and U.S. with industrial agriculture and livestock confinements?
It is different in that the Amazon fire is fast — three to four months — while the destruction of our land, lakes, rivers and the Gulf of Mexico is slow — over 100 years through use of chemicals, no rotation of crops, and loss of filter strips.
The reason for both is that people are trying to make a living. The end result for both is the same: destruction of the land, water, and air.
We are all horrified. We are all guilty. We all need to change. The first step is learning. Watch the movie “Right to Harm.” Support local farmers and your local CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture). Support the Moratorium on CAFOs to not build more confinements in Iowa.
Start changing to save ourselves and our precious resources.
Charlene Lange, Iowa City
[Source: Press Citizen, 19 Sep 2019]