Deforestation of Rainforests
Rainforests ecosystems are critically important to the well-being of humans. They are known as the lungs of the world due to their role of absorbing carbon (IV)oxide and producing oxygen. It helps with the survival of all animal species since they require oxygen to exist. The rainforests also play a role in stabilizing the climate, they are home to an immense amount of flora and fauna, and they play a role in rainmaking that is used to nourish the planet. They are also a source of food, water, and medicine to many people, especially the tribal people living near the forest. Rainforests produce a lot of resources and products that are useful. The products that can be used in the industry sector are rubber, oils, gum, waxes, flavorings, and dyes. Some of the trees and plants in the rainforests produces medicine that can be used to cure diseases. They can also be used in research to produce cures for some illnesses. Also, the rainforests produce food like grains and fruits that are used to feed the surrounding population.
Several factors have led to the deforestation of the rainforests in the past years. The growth of the palm oil industry has led to many trees being chopped contributing to a significant level of deforestation. The fires that have occurred in the previous years either through human error or due to climate change have seen a significant portion of the rainforest being destroyed. The growing population in the world has led to the forest being cleared to pave way for agriculture to be able to feed the growing population. Urbanization has led to the growth of many industries which in turn look for raw materials in the rainforests leading to deforestation.
The indigenous tribes that form a part of the ecosystem of the rainforests have been affected when people encroach the rainforest. They affect their way of life since they destroy their source of water, food, and medicine. Some of them have been displaced completely from their habitat and they resolve to violence leading to their extinction. An example of these tribes is the Iban Dayak in West Kalimantan in Indonesia. In Indonesia the rainforests have been deforested due to palm oil trees and the planting of more of these trees. These tribes now have limited access to water and they go hungry for lengthy period since they can’t eat the forest’s fruits and go hunting for lizards. They now have to scavenge the palm nuts so that they sell to be able to buy food.
Several corporations are responsible for the deforestation of the rainforests since the products that they make contain a major ingredient sourced from the forest. JBS, the world’s largest meat company clears the Amazon rainforest to get land for rearing the cattle. Cargill produces soy that is used as a feed for livestock. They also clear land for the soy plantation. Some retail companies also contribute to the deforestation since they are the major buyers of the products produced from the rainforests. Examples are PepsiCo who require palm oil to make Doritos, McDonald are storefronts for Cargill, and Sysco who are the world’s largest distributor of food products and they are in bed with JBS, among other companies. One of the organizations that work with the indigenous people to fight and create awareness of deforestation is the Amazon Watch. It is non-profit organization that engages in activities like campaigning for the rights of indigenous peoples, and strengthening the capacity of indigenous communities in the Amazon to advocate for their own rights. They achieve this by using media coverage, websites, publications and documentary films.
When watching “A Cheesy Love Story – The Ad Doritos Don′t Want You to See,” there are some elements that are missing from it. It doesn’t showcase the affected people and how they have been affected, the people who are benefiting from this action, and the people fighting their actions. The beginning of the ad should show the major companies who are profiting from the sale of Doritos and how hey are milking the rainforest in South East Asia for palm oil. When the two Doritos lovers go to the forest and find it deforested, the ad should have shown how it has affected the flora, fauna, and the indigenous people. It should also finish with the major companies profiting with the business called out for their actions.
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