International
‘We can’t live in a world without the Amazon’: scientist
AFP
Erika Berenguer, an Amazon ecologist at Oxford and Lancaster universities, is one of the most prominent scientists studying how the rainforest functions when humans throw it off balance.
AFP asked the 38-year-old Brazilian to break down the latest research on the Amazon and what it means for us all.
– There are lots of headlines on the destruction of the Amazon. What does the science say? –
“The results are truly horrifying. They are in line with discussions about the ‘tipping point’ (at which the rainforest would die off and turn from carbon absorber to carbon emitter).
“One study found that in the southeast of the Amazon in the dry season, the temperature has increased by 2.5 degrees Celsius (over the past 40 years). That is truly apocalyptic.
“I don’t think even academics were prepared for that. The Paris deal is trying to limit the world to 1.5 degrees; 2.5 in the Amazon is huge.
“And in the northeast Amazon, we’ve seen a decrease of 34 percent in precipitation in peak dry season (from August to October).
“The implication of all this is that if you have a hotter and dryer climate, fires are just going to escape more into the forest. So it gets into this feedback loop, this vicious cycle of horror.”
– Can we still save the Amazon? What happens if we don’t? –
“That’s the million-dollar question. We’ll never know the tipping point until we’re past it. That’s the definition of a tipping point. But different parts of the Amazon are speeding up toward it at different paces.
“If we pass the tipping point, it’s the end. And I don’t say that lightly. We’re talking about the most biodiverse place on the planet collapsing.
“Millions and millions of people becoming climate refugees. Rainfall patterns being disrupted across South America.
“Without rainfall, we don’t have hydroelectricity, so it means the collapse of industry in Brazil, and therefore the collapse of one of the largest economies in the world, of one of the biggest food suppliers in the world.
“We cannot live in a world without the Amazon.”
– Your WhatsApp profile picture has the word ‘hope’ written in big letters. What keeps you hopeful for the Amazon? –
“Chocolate (laughs).
“But really, there is definitely hope for change. Within my lifetime, I saw a decrease of more than 80 percent in deforestation, between 2004 and 2012. It wasn’t easy.
“You require coordination between several (government) agencies. But they did it. So why can’t we see it again?
“Globally, there are several levels of solutions for everyone in the world. Everybody has to reduce their carbon footprint. Nobody’s going to go back to living in a cave, but we all need to have a deep reflection on what we can do.
“We also need to pressure for transparency on commodities that come from Amazonia. Know where your gold is coming from, know where your beef is coming from.
“But most importantly, we need to insist on structural changes. We need to pressure our governments and corporations to cut emissions.”
International
Oil prices surge again as Middle East tensions persist
Oil prices climbed again on Friday for a second consecutive session, as markets remained concerned about a prolonged conflict in the Middle East with no tangible diplomatic progress.
North Sea Brent crude for May delivery rose 4.22% to close at $112.57 per barrel.
Meanwhile, U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) approached the $100 mark, settling at $99.64, up 5.46%.
The decision by U.S. President Donald Trump to delay by ten days his ultimatum for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz failed to reassure market participants.
“It means there will be ten additional days of disruptions in the Middle East for crude and refined product flows,” said Andy Lipow, of Lipow Oil Associates.
“For prices to come down, a resolution to the conflict is necessary,” Lipow added. “And even in the event of a ceasefire, it is not certain that Iran would allow oil shipments to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.”
International
Young Spanish Woman Receives Euthanasia After Legal Battle, Sparking Debate
A 25-year-old Spanish woman, Noelia Castillo, received euthanasia on Thursday following a prolonged legal dispute with her father.
She passed away at a care center in Sant Pere de Ribes, about 40 kilometers from Barcelona, where she had been living for some time, according to Spanish media reports.
In an interview broadcast a day earlier on Antena 3, Castillo expressed her exhaustion after enduring prolonged suffering. She indicated that her decision was influenced by a combination of personal circumstances and health-related challenges, including family conflicts and a condition of paraplegia following a previous incident that left her with lasting physical consequences.
Spain legalized euthanasia in 2021, becoming one of the few countries that allow patients under strict conditions to seek medical assistance to end their lives in order to avoid what the law defines as unbearable suffering.
The case has reignited debate in Spain over the ethical, legal, and family dimensions surrounding euthanasia, as well as the broader issue of support for individuals in vulnerable situations.
International
Over 300 U.S. Troops Wounded Since Start of Iran Conflict, CENTCOM Says
More than 300 U.S. service members have been injured since the start of the conflict with Iran on February 28, the United States Central Command confirmed on Friday.
“Since the beginning of Operation Epic Fury, approximately 303 U.S. service members have been wounded. The vast majority of these injuries are minor, and 273 troops have already returned to duty,” said U.S. Navy Captain Tim Hawkins.
A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity to AFP, indicated that 10 American troops remain seriously injured.
According to the latest figures, an additional 13 U.S. service members have been killed since the conflict began, including seven in the Gulf region and six in Iraq.
Meanwhile, Iran’s armed forces warned on Friday that hotels hosting U.S. troops in the region could be considered legitimate military targets.
“When U.S. forces enter a hotel, from our perspective that hotel becomes American,” said armed forces spokesperson Abolfazl Shekarchi in remarks broadcast on state television.
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