Climate change.
It's once again the top issue for many people in America,
partly because of the devastation of Hurricane Dorian,
which is such a crazy storm that it somehow hit the Bahamas,
the Carolinas and then,
thanks to President Trump's Sharpie pen,
also Alabama.
Yeah. Trump basically thinks his Sharpie can bend reality
to be whatever he wants it to be,
which I guess is why all his family photos look like this.
But the conversation about climate change
is happening all over the world
more than ever, right now.
And the focus is on another major disaster
unfolding in Brazil.
Brazil's Amazon rainforest, the world's largest,
is burning at a record rate.
There have been more than 74,000 fires this year,
up 84% from last year.
WOMAN: For weeks now, the Amazon rainforest,
one of earth's most valuable resources,
has been ravaged by fires.
MAN: The collection of tens of thousands of blazes
engulfing an area two-thirds the size
of the continental United States.
The fire is burning from the equivalent
of Detroit to Los Angeles.
MAN 2: Brazil has deployed 44,000 troops, but
most fires go unfought here.
WOMAN 2: On the front lines at one fire
twice the size of New Jersey,
only 30 men are fighting the flames with no hoses,
sometimes just kicking the fire.
Just kicking the fire?
They're dealing with a forest fire
the same way I deal with an ice cube that fell on the floor?
Just like, "Aah! Go away! Go under the fridge! Aah!"
(laughter)
I mean, I guess it sort of makes sense
because Brazil is the soccer capital of the world,
so they probably try to solve everything
through kicking, you know?
I bet instead of CPR, they just kick the person
in the chest until he breathes again.
Just like, "Granddad, stay with me!
Come on, Granddad! Come on!"
So this is a big problem for Brazil,
but their real problem,
the real problem is that it's the world's issue,
right, because the Amazon isn't just some random forest
nobody cares about, like Forest Whitaker.
No, the rainforest is critical
to keeping carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
It mitigates climate change,
and it's the world's most diverse ecosystem,
which is why, all around the world,
people are demanding something be done.
-MAN: The political heat... -(people chanting)
getting hotter at home and around the world.
Protests in Canada, France, Germany, England.
I'm just really scared that when I'm older,
the world I'm living in isn't gonna be
as nice as it is now.
MAN 2: The outcry on social media has been huge,
with the hashtag #prayfortheamazon trending.
Oscar winner and environmental activist
Leonardo DiCaprio speaking out
in a series of posts on Instagram.
"The lungs of the earth are in flames."
Yes, from young people in Europe
all the way to Hollywood stars like Leonardo DiCaprio,
everyone has come together to raise awareness for the Amazon.
And can I just say how impressed I am
that Leonardo DiCaprio is so dedicated
to fighting climate change?
I mean, the guy raised, like, five million dollars for this.
He's out there every day.
And don't forget, he died because of an iceberg, right?
(laughter)
But he's still out there fighting to protect them.
That is dedication, my friends.
(laughter)
Now, look, as part of nature's cycle,
the Amazon rainforest experiences fires
every single year, but the reason
these fires have gotten so much attention is
because it looks like Brazil's new president,
Jair Bolsonaro, is quite literally fanning the flames.
WOMAN: Brazil's president didn't strike the match
that lit these flames, but many say,
given his policies and his response to the crisis,
he might as well have.
MAN: It is believed that many of the fires were started
by farmers trying to clear land.
MAN 2: Bolsonaro's seeming support for the development
of the Amazon may have emboldened farmers
to burn land.
WOMAN 2: He campaigned on the idea
that economic development was being stifled
because of unnecessary affection for the Amazon.
MAN 3: He's delighted his supporters by saying
too much of the forest is protected.
Since he's come into power, he's been stripping protections
from the Amazon and other forests in Brazil
and encouraging farmers
to set fire to land and clear it.
Okay, that is insane, man.
Running for president on a promise
of destroying the Amazon forest?
It doesn't sound like real life.
It sounds like something the Joker would say.
And then even when he gets to office, he'd be like,
"Burn down the Amazon? Come on, that was just something I said.
"I was joking. I'm the Joker.
"It's not funny when you have to explain the joke.
Come on, guys."
But yes, it turns out Brazil's president is more interested
in the commercial potential of the Amazon rainforest
than the life it protects.
Which might explain why he's so resistant
to accepting help from the rest of the world.
NEWSMAN: Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro is refusing
$20 million in emergency aid from G7 countries
to fight those fires,
calling it part of a "colonial mentality."
Bolsonaro adding he didn't trust the motivation
behind the money, telling reporters early this week...
"What do they want there?"
They want the Amazon to not burn down.
Just because you want to exploit the Amazon rainforest
doesn't mean everyone else does.
Can you imagine living next-door to this guy?
His house would be on fire, and then when you come
with a bucket of water to help, he'd be like, "Whoa, whoa, whoa.
"Why are you trying to save my house?
Are you trying to sleep with my wife?"
And you'd be like, "No, uh, it's just your house is on fire,
so it might come to me." "Like my wife?"
-"No! Hey!" -(laughter)
Now, many leaders, many leaders of the world's biggest nations
have criticized the Brazilian president for his inaction,
but no one has been more vocal
than French president Emmanuel Macron.
Which is why Bolsonaro and his government have decided
to light his ass up.
NEWSWOMAN: The rhetoric between France and Brazil
really heating up as these fires continue to burn.
Bolsonaro's chief of staff
brought the recent Notre Dame fire into the fight,
saying, "Macron cannot even avoid a predictable fire
"in a church that is part of world heritage,
and wants to give lessons to our country."
NEWSMAN: On Monday, Bolsonaro endorsed a Facebook post
mocking the appearance of Macron's wife.
Bolsonaro joined in on a meme on Facebook
about the French first lady Brigitte Macron's appearance
compared to his own wife, and he said,
"Don't humiliate the guy."
-(audience groans) -Goddamn.
That's one of the most petty things I've ever seen.
Macron said the world needs to save the Amazon,
and in response, Bolsonaro came for Notre Dame
and Macron's wife.
Yeah. This is gonna make the next U.N. meeting so awkward.
Yeah. They're gonna have to put Israel and Palestine
between Brazil and France just to ease the tension.
They'll be like, "All right, you guys just calm them down."
So as it stands, the situation seems pretty bad.
The world's most precious forest is on fire,
Brazil's leaders aren't doing enough to stop it,
and its president might even want this to happen.
So I'm gonna be honest, folks.
It seems like there's only one man who can stop this.
-Donald J. Trump. -(laughter)
You see, what we need to do is,
we need to get the president to pull out that Magic Mark...
that magic sharpie of his,
and we need to get him to send that hurricane down from Alabama
all the way to Brazil
to fan out the flames.
Come on, Mr. Trump, use your power for good!
Do it now, Donald!
Do it now!