Officials say the Amazon rainforest is burning at a record rate. Earlier this month, Brazil declared a state of emergency over the rising number of fires in the region. So far this year, almost 73,000 fires have been detected by Brazil's space research center INPE. That marks an 83% increase from 2018 and the highest number on record since 2013, Reuters reported.

With this petition we hope to have our voices heard. We demand that our leaders acknowledge that we want change, we want action, we want the Amazon, our planets lungs, protected.

The Amazon is crucial to the stability of the world’s climate. Brazil’s president recently opened the rainforest to ranching, farming and mining. Indigenous populations and our global environment are potentially at risk.