Amazon Fires Cause Smoke Crisis in Argentina and Uruguay

In 2024, the Amazon rainforest is experiencing unprecedented fires, the worst in over a decade, under the leadership of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reported that the number of fires in the first eight months of the year is the highest since 2010. The fires have spread into Bolivia, burning nearly 4 million hectares, prompting Bolivian authorities to declare a national emergency and issue health warnings due to smoke affecting air quality. Argentina's National Weather Service issued a warning regarding the arrival of smoke from the Amazon fires, affecting Buenos Aires and 13 other provinces. Citizens were advised to avoid outdoor activities and take protective measures for respiratory health. The smoke was expected to arrive on a Monday, with potential dissipation due to incoming Patagonian winds by midweek. In Uruguay, meteorologist Mario Bidegain indicated that the smoke cloud could cover nearly the entire country, including the capital, Montevideo. Previous weather conditions had temporarily cleared the smoke, but the return of certain wind patterns raised concerns about its re-emergence. The situation was expected to worsen before a new cold front could sweep the smoke away. Despite the severity of the current fires, notable celebrities who previously condemned the actions of former President Jair Bolsonaro have remained silent regarding Lula's administration. This silence contrasts sharply with the vocal campaigns against Bolsonaro, raising questions about the consistency of celebrity activism in response to environmental crises.