Actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio has rejected the allegations of Brazil's ultra-right-wing leader Jair Bolsonaro, claiming responsibility for some of the recent forest fires in the Amazon region.
Bolsonaro had made heavy charges on Friday. DiCaprio has financially supported environmental groups that have set fire to the Amazon rainforest. "Although they deserved to be supported, we did not sponsor the attacked organizations," DiCaprio said on Instagram.
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A post shared by Leonardo DiCaprio (@leonardodicaprio) on Nov 30, 2019 at 7:48 PST
Bolsonaro had accused the actor of being "behind the Amazon fires". For example, DiCaprio donated half a million dollars (about 450,000 euros) to an environmental organization, which itself caused fires in the Amazon rainforest to raise funds, Bolsonaro said. The head of state did not provide any evidence for the claim.
DiCaprio rejected the allegations, stating that the future of "irreplaceable ecosystems" in the Amazon rainforest was at stake. "I'm proud to be on the side of those groups that protect them," he added.
The dispute focused on the volunteer fire brigade Alter do Chão, which has been supporting the fire service in the Brazilian state of Para since last year in the fight against frequent forest fires. Recently, the regional police accused some members of the organization of setting fire to forest areas in order to attract international attention to their concerns. On Tuesday, four alter-do-chao activists were arrested in connection with the allegations, and two days later they were released.
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Bolsonaro has often accused environmental organizations of being behind the forest fires in the Amazon region. In contrast, experts blame the Brazilian President's controversial environmental policy for increasing fires and reducing forest cover. The Bolsonaro, which has been in office since the beginning of the year, is closely associated with the agricultural lobby and has relaxed environmental regulations. He wants to tap into more land for agriculture, mining and energy. Critics accuse him of encouraging loggers and farmers to deforestation and slash-and-burn.