Music stars are among those taking to social media to shine a light on the devastating fires that have been burning in the Amazon rainforest for weeks.
Unfortunately, they are posting photos that are years old – or taken in other parts of the world.
On Instagram, Madonna posted a photo taken in 1989 and captioned it: “The Fires Are Raging and The Amazonia continues to burn … We need to WAKE UP!! The future of the rainforest affects the future of the world!”
Jaden Smith shared the same 30-year-old image and wrote: “THIS IS TERRIBLE.”
Camila Cabello reposted a stock photo from Leonardo DiCaprio’s account. It’s not clear exactly when the photograph was taken but photographer Loren McIntyre died in 2003. (DiCaprio also shared a 2016 photo of a fire in Puerto Maldonado, Peru.)
“This is heartbreaking and terrifying,” she wrote on Instagram. “This makes me want to cry with frustration. What are we DOING? We’re literally destroying our miracle of a home. I’m so sorry, Earth.”
Ricky Martin shared the same image (“THIS IS A REAL GLOBAL ISSUE,” he wrote), as did singer Miguel (“This is a WORLD emergency and affects all of our security”).
The Amazon is often referred to as the “lungs” of the planet because it produces about 20 per cent of the oxygen in its atmosphere. It is also home to millions of species of plants and animals as well as some indigenous people.
There are thousands of fires in the Amazon every year but there are a record number this year.
“The Amazon may be burning in Brazil but the consequences affect all of us,” tweeted singer Cody Simpson. “President Bolsonaro’s shameful lack of action means the world must step in. Urge your leaders to stand up for the planet and force action to save the precious resource that is The Amazon.”
Ariana Grande and Demi Lovato took to Instagram Stories to complain about a lack of media coverage of the fires.
The news media isn’t covering the wildfires in the Amazon, say people who choose not to consume the news media covering wildfires in the Amazon.
— Steve Faguy (@fagstein) August 22, 2019