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Katharine Hayhoe, Professor, Texas Tech: Why is the Amazon burning?

Scientists point to three main causes - each the result of human choices.

1. Deforestation, much of it illegal (currently encouraged by a political administration that turns a blind eye)

2. Farming - more than 3/4 of deforestation in the Amazon is the result of cattle ranching or soy production. Brazil is one of the world's largest exporter of beef and this is where many fast food restaurants get their beef from! Read More

3. Droughts, which are being made more severe by both climate change and deforestation (which in turn produces heat-trapping gas emissions that help drive climate change).

It's a vicious, self-reinforcing cycle that puts us all at risk.

Read more at the Washington Post