1. Educate yourself and others
You can learn more about the crisis from official sources, and educate friends and family on all the details. The more people know about how serious the crisis is, the more that can be done.
For those who can read Portuguese, there's Brazil's National Institute for Space Research, which uses satelite imagery and records the number of wildfires. Otherwise, InfoAmazonia has a map showing fires that are currently burning in Brazil. Another feature it offers is a map that lets you compare your location with the Amazon deforestation.
You can also read up on the issue from major news outlets covering developments with the fires, including, of course, Business Insider.
2. Reduce, reuse, recycle
It's also worth learning what can be done in your day-to-day life, which can have lasting effects on the rainforest — like reducing the amount of paper and wood you use.
A lot of paper comes from trees chopped down in the Amazon. Less demand, in theory, means less deforestation.
3. Donate to a charity
Six charities that work to help the Amazon rainforest have received at least three out of four stars from Charity Navigator, a nonprofit that rates charities on their accountability and financial management.
Here are links to their websites, listed in alphabetical order:
4. Volunteer
While it's probably not a good idea to volunteer to actually fight the fires, unless you're a trained firefighter, there are other ways to make a difference. Contact any of the charities listed in the previous slide and ask them what you can do.
These charities can, and do, make a difference.
In the late 1980s, Rainforest Action Network launched a campaign demanding that Burger King stop importing cheap beef from tropical rainforest areas, and the fast-food chain actually stopped — it canceled $35 million worth of beef contracts. More recently, the organization has targeted Halloween candy made from palm oil.
5. Make your voice heard
You can call, email, or write to your elected officials or the US State Department, and encourage them to act the way you would like them to, to raise this issue in their official roles.
The burning and deforestation of the Amazon rainforest will have lasting effects for the global climate. It might be in a different country, but members of Congress can still take action.
And while you wait to see their response, you can be vocal online. #PrayforAmazonia and #AmazonRainforest are trending hashtags on the issue.
