We lose 1.5 acres of Rainforest every second, that’s an enormous amount! And now the Brazilian Senate approved destructive changes to the laws governing forest protection. This is called the Forest code and with these new changes even more destruction is going to occur. Even though we don’t live near the Amazon Rainforest it is vital to our survival, without it we would endure a huge loss. It is home to 1 out of 10 species on the planet and is a huge carbon storage system. If deforestation of the Amazon doesn’t stop it will “transform the Amazon into part of the problem instead of part of the solution”. The emissions from the destruction would increase global temperatures (because there will be no trees to filter the air), and forest fires in the area would increase as well. This new Forest Code that the Brazilian Senate is trying to get approved reduces the size of the areas that are protected, weakens protection laws, and pardons people who deforested illegally. But there is some hope to save the beloved Rainforest, and that is through the President of Brazil- Dilma Rousseff. She has the power to veto this code, and the only way she will know that we care is if we send her a message. I already signed the petition, and you can too at: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/forests/amazon/Tell-President-Dilma-Rousseff-to-veto-the-new-Forest-Code-bill/?thingstodo

Have your voice heard and make a difference!