AS THE AMAZON BURNS - Brazil's President Bolsonaro

"As Brazilians struggle to breathe through Amazon’s smoke, Bolsonaro rejects foreign aid" PBS NewsHour 8/27/2019

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SUMMARY:  The Amazon's raging fires are leaving some Brazilian children unable to breathe.  Heavy levels of smoke in the air are harmful to anyone but especially dangerous for babies and those with underlying respiratory issues like asthma.  Despite the health risks, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rejected $22 million in foreign aid to fight the fires.  Emma Murphy of Independent Television News reports.

"What Bolsonaro’s presidency means for Brazil and the Amazon" PBS NewsHour 8/27/2019

Bolsonaro, the Trump of the tropics.

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SUMMARY:  In the Amazon rainforest, historic levels of deforestation and fire have prompted global outcry.  But what’s driving the devastation?  Amna Nawaz and producer Mike Fritz traveled to Brazil to better understand both the physical and political dynamics at play.  The series' first report focuses on the influence of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, an advocate for logging and developing the Amazon.

WORLD'S OCEANS - Plastic Pollution

"Plastic lasts more than a lifetime, and that’s the problem" PBS NewsHour 9/25/2018

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SUMMARY:  Around the world, waves of plastic are washing ashore and clogging landfills.  Even though plastic pollution is now one of the largest environmental threats facing humans and animals, our appetite for the virtually indestructible material keeps growing.  Amna Nawaz and producer Lorna Baldwin begin our series.