Welcome to the Pyrocene
where the black rain falls
"I am very disappointed in humanity and what it has done to this planet. Honestly, I don't see how we can save this earth, how we can build a future here. I love the people of the world. I love nature, I love animals. I just... I feel like I have already lost it." (Ryuichi Sakamoto, 1990)
The Earth is currently facing an unprecedented wave of wildfires, leading experts to suggest that we may be entering a "Pyrocene" epoch marked by the significant impact of fire on global climate systems.
Brazilian theologian and philosopher Leonardo Boff* recently addressed the emergence of the Pyrocene - an era marked by widespread, devastating fires across the globe. In his article, Humanity's Responsibility to the Pyrocene Age, Boff argues that this crisis demands a fundamental reassessment of our relationship with the environment.
Boff emphasizes the importance of viewing our planet as the product of billions of years of evolution characterized by constant change and increasing complexity. This perspective challenges traditional notions of linear time and emphasizes our connection to the cosmic process through our capacities for rationality, communication, and love.
He advocates a shift from an anthropocentric worldview to a more cosmocentric and ecocentric perspective that recognizes our common origin with all beings. Boff emphasizes, however, that this shift doesn't absolve us of our responsibilities. Rather, our unique consciousness gives us an ethical obligation to act.
As we move from the Anthropocene to the Pyrocene, Boff argues that we face an unprecedented challenge to prevent the Earth from succumbing to fire. This requires protecting the planet's biocapacity and radically adapting to sustain life. He calls for serious reflection, overcoming fear, and decisive action to revitalize ecosystems and transform societal behavior.
Ultimately, Boff's message is clear: our actions will determine whether we have a future or succumb to a "hell of fire. This crisis demands profound changes in our civilization to protect the planet's biocapacity and ensure our survival.
You can read the article by Leonardo Boff here (Portuguese), here ( Spanish) or here (German).
*Leonardo Boff, born in Brazil in 1938, is a prominent theologian, philosopher, and writer. A former Franciscan priest, he is known for his support of liberation theology and his criticism of the Catholic Church hierarchy. Leonardo Boff is a lecturer in social justice, environmental protection and human rights at the State University of Rio de Janeiro.
Pantanal and Amazon wildfires worst in nearly two decades
Brazil is facing record wildfires, with over 50,000 active fires affecting regions like the Amazon, Cerrado, and Pantanal. So fat in 2024, fires have destroyed 11.39 million hectares, including 5.65 million in August. Persistent drought, deforestation, and climate change fuel the crisis, with a third of fires linked to land-clearing for agriculture. The Amazon is enduring its worst drought in 40 years, and the Pantanal has lost 1.22 million hectares, a 249% increase compared to the past five years. These fires threaten residents, ecosystems, and biodiversity, even in urban areas like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
The Copernicus** Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) has reported record-breaking fire emissions across South America in 2024, particularly in Brazil and Bolivia. In Brazil, cumulative carbon emissions have reached 183 megatons, matching the record set in 2007. September alone contributed 65 megatons, mostly from Amazonian fires in the states of Amazonas and Mato Grosso do Sul (where most of the Pantanal wetlands are located). These states set 22-year records for cumulative annual carbon emissions of more than 28 and 15 megatons, respectively.
By mid-September, Bolivia had surpassed its previous record by emitting 76 megatons of carbon, with 32 megatons released in September alone. This figure nearly doubles the previous record of 73 megatons set in 2010.
While Brazil's emissions were largely driven by fires in the Pantanal, Bolivia's emissions came primarily from the Santa Cruz region.
These unprecedented emissions, occurring during the typical July-September fire season, are likely exacerbated by extreme temperatures and prolonged drought across South America. The resulting wildfires have had a significant impact on air quality throughout the region.
Read this article for more information on the Pantanal and Amazon Wildfires.
Access the CAMS Global Fire Monitoring Page.
**Copernicus is the Earth observation component of the European Union's space program, implemented with EU funding and operating six thematic services: Atmosphere, Marine, Land, Climate Change, Security and Emergencies. It provides freely accessible operational data and services, providing users with reliable and timely information on our planet and its environment.
Black Rain
A striking weather phenomenon recently observed in southern Brazil and neighboring countries is known as Chuva Preta, or "black rain". This dark precipitation occurs when pollutants, primarily from forest fires in the Amazon and central-western regions, combine with water droplets in clouds. As a result, the rain takes on a black or brown appearance due to the presence of soot, ash, and other airborne pollutants.
While Chuva Preta can help purify the atmosphere, it also serves as a significant source of air pollution. The polluted rainwater poses risks to plant growth, water quality, and aquatic ecosystems. It is unsafe for human and animal consumption due to its harmful contaminants. Recent incidents have been reported in Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina and possibly São Paulo, as well as in Uruguay and Argentina.
This phenomenon underscores the environmental impact of large-scale forest fires and raises serious concerns about air quality and public health. If the fires continue, Chuva Preta may continue to affect these regions.
fOCUS Amazônia
Vidas encalhadas
Vidas varadas
Stranded lives
Photo credit © Raphael Alves
#manacapuru #riosolimoes #solimoesriver #amazonas
The musical newsletters of Ryuichi Sakamoto
The Japanese composer and pianist Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952-2023) was one of the most important artists of our time.
His successful career spanned almost half a century. Together with co-founders Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi, Ryuichi Sakamoto once explored the boundaries of technopop with the Yellow Magic Orchestra. Later, his classical compositions followed in the footsteps of Debussy and Ravel. As an actor, he starred in the same films for which he wrote the acclaimed and Oscar-winning music (The Last Emperor).
After the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, Sakamoto became an iconic figure in the Japanese social movement against nuclear power. Beginning in 2012, he organized the annual NO NUKES music event, which featured many famous artists, including Kraftwerk, to protest nuclear power. After being diagnosed with throat cancer and returning to music, his intense experience of life crises in 2017 led to a new masterpiece: async. In early 2023, his album 12 was released, twelve intimate "meditations" for synthesizer and piano, a sound diary recorded during his final battle with cancer.
Thirty-four years ago, in March 1990, I interviewed Ryuichi Sakamoto (1952-2023) for the Dutch music magazine OOR. Here is a reprint of that interview.
