Would the world be justified in intervening in the Brazilian rainforest situation?

[Calculating]

By that I mean strong sanctions and ultimately direct military action if they don't stop the destruction of the Amazon. The Amazon is an important resource to the whole world and all of humanity. I've heard it produces something like 20% of the Oxygen we breath, and the idiots in Brazil are burning it to the ground at an unprecedented pace to raise freaking cattle. The burning of the forest and subsequent cattle farming then creates even more CO2 and methane to further climate change.

IMO the world can't simply stand by and allow a bunch of ignorant cattle farmers to cripple the habitability of our planet by burning down one of its most precious resources.

[DBoon]

1. Of course

Wars have been fought over oil

[TreasonousBastard]

2. Legally, probably not. Ethically, Brazil has no right to hold the entire...

planet hostage for short term gain.

Not only is clearing the Amazon dangerous, it is foolhardy. Cleared land there is nothing like clearing a deciduous forest or grassland. The land they are opening has no layers of fertility. Rain forest life and regeneration is in the canopy, not the forest floor, so the newly uncovered land must be fertilized and worked at great expense and maybe even more damage.

[Calculating]

3. Yeah that's one of the worst parts

When you clear land in the rain forest it's only viable for agriculture for a few years and then it loses all the nutrients and fertility. As a result they constantly need to clear more and more of the Amazon for short lived farm land.

[True Dough]

5. Haiti demonstrated how devastating the effects of deforestation can be

and it was nowhere near the scale of the Amazon.

I don't know about military intervention but perhaps a persuasive compensation package to ensure the rain forests are preserved?

[G_j]

4. YES!!!!!

[theophilus]

6. Yes. But I don't think any with the ability are going to step up. Not now, anyway. Why, we

are steaming (coal fired) in the opposite direction and encouraging such suicidal behavior. Republican Planet Killers must be stooped first.

[Marengo]

7. Brazil has formidable military capability, would be a hell of a fight. Would you join up to...

Participate?

[Calculating]

8. We're talking about something with existential implications for the world here

If Brazil completely/mostly destroys the Amazon that will be EXTREMELY BAD for the world. Just as bad as if some country decided to start dumping all the Ozone destroying chemicals they could into the atmosphere to destroy the Ozone layer for fun.

[Duppers]

9. Wow, I just posted the same thought...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1127&pid=131083