ENDANGERED AMAZON – WHY THE EARTH’S LUNGS ARE DYING
The Amazon is burning and on the brink of collapse, as science shows. This investigative documentary examines the political structures behind the crisis and the role we consumers play in it.
Every year, at the end of the dry season, the Amazon burns. And the main reason for this is clear: money. The Amazon has become a pawn in political power games and global greed. For decades, arson, illegal logging and organised environmental crimes have been tolerated – even encouraged. The trade in soy, gold and beef generates billions, enriching mayors, members of Congress and European banks. Filmmaker Albert Knechtel and his team travel to the heart of the fire zones in Porto Velho and along the Rio Madeira, into the parched core of the rainforest. They meet people who have lost everything – and those who profit from the destruction. The film features Indigenous communities defending their homeland, courageous scientists under police protection and politicians who prefer silence to action. The documentary makes it clear that the fires are no accident – they are politically orchestrated. It exposes how the world’s largest retailer sold emissions certificates to companies like Nestlé, Boeing and Spotify, defrauding Brazil of hundreds of millions of dollars. It also examines why even hopeful figures like President Lula struggle against the agricultural lobby’s interests, and how banks play a pivotal role in this crisis.