Our futures are burning with the Amazon

Our readers have their say about the Amazon forest, Arun Jaitley, redistribution of wealth and health

Handout aerial picture released by Greenpeace showing smoke billowing from a forest fire in the municipality of Candeias do Jamari, close to Porto Velho in Rondonia State, in the Amazon basin in northwestern Brazil, on August 24, 2019. Brazil on August 25 deployed two Hercules C-130 aircraft to douse fires devouring parts of the Amazon rainforest. The latest official figures show 79,513 forest fires have been recorded in the country this year, the highest number of any year since 2013. More than half of those are in the massive Amazon basin. Experts say increased land clearing during the months-long dry season to make way for crops or grazing has aggravated the problem this year. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GREENPEACE / VICTOR MORIYAMA" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - NO RESALE - NO ARCHIVE - IMAGE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION AND DOWNLOAD UNTIL 09.09.2019 - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
 / AFP / GREENPEACE / GREENPEACE / GREENPEACE / GREENPEACE / GREENPEACE / GREENPEACE / Victor MORIYAMA / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / GREENPEACE / VICTOR MORIYAMA" - NO MARKETING - NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - NO RESALE - NO ARCHIVE - IMAGE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLICATION AND DOWNLOAD UNTIL 09.09.2019 - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
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In response to your online story Macron says Amazon wildfires an 'international crisis' as Jair Bolsonaro blames NGOs (August 25), I hope everyone understands how dangerous this is and how critical this issue is to our survival.

Abdullah Husamo, Dubai 

Condolences to Arun Jaitley's family, he was a great man

I write to you in reference to your article Arun Jaitley, former Indian finance minister, dies at 66 (August 24).

The death of India's Finance minister is a great loss to the country's politics and to the BJP. He was a soft spoken, knowledgeable individual and a well versed politician who worked on varying portfolios with talent.

He was one of the strong figures of the BJP and a guiding force for the party. In addition to his passion for politics, he also loved cricket.

His legacy will continue forever. I pray for the departed leader and my heart goes out to his grieving family.

K Ragavan, Bengaluru

World's richest should give something back

Regarding your story Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar named as one of the world's highest-paid actors here's what he earned (August 23), these people earn so much money, yet the world is still suffering, which I don't get. I'd like to know about the billionaires who build schools and homes instead.

Name withheld by request

It takes a healthy mind and body to succeed

With reference to the story about the Free three-day yoga festival set to take place in Dubai this November (August 23), this is a great awareness drive. Wealth is of no use without health. In this day and age, it takes a nation that is both educated and fit to dominate on the global stage.

Mumtaz Ahmad, India