A7
THE ASTORIAN • SATuRdAy, AuguST 24, 2019
Brazil may send army to contain Amazon fires
France accuses
president of lying, threatens
economic retaliation
By VICTOR CAIVANO
Associated Press
PORTO VELHO, Brazil — Under
increasing international pressure to contain
fires sweeping parts of the Amazon, Brazil-
ian President Jair Bolsonaro said Friday he
might send the military to battle the mas-
sive blazes.
“That’s the plan,” said Bolsonaro. He did
not say when the armed forces would get
involved but suggested that action could be
imminent.
Bolsonaro has previously described rain-
forest protections as an obstacle to eco-
nomic development, sparring with critics
who note that the Amazon produces vast
amounts of oxygen and is considered cru-
cial in efforts to contain global warming.
An Associated Press journalist who trav-
eled to the Amazon region on Friday saw
many already deforested areas that had
been burned.
Charred trees and fallen branches were
seen around Porto Velho, the capital of Ron-
donia state, which borders Bolivia. In some
instances, the burned fields were adjacent
to intact livestock ranches and other farms,
suggesting the fires had been managed as
part of a land-clearing policy.
A large column of smoke billowed from
one fire, and smoke rose from a couple of
nearby wooded areas. Life appeared normal
in Porto Velho. However, visibility from the
windows of an arriving airplane was poor
because of smog enveloping the region.
Small numbers of demonstrators gath-
ered outside Brazilian diplomatic missions
in Paris, London and Geneva to urge Brazil
to do more to fight the fires.
Neighboring Bolivia and Paraguay have
also struggled to contain fires that swept
through woods and fields and, in many
cases, were set to clear land for farming.
About 2,900 square miles of land has been
AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano
Fire consumes the jungle Friday near Porto Velho, Brazil.
affected in Bolivia, according to Defense
Minister Javier Zavaleta.
On Friday, a B747-400 SuperTanker
arrived in Bolivia to help with the firefight-
ing effort. The U.S.-based aircraft can carry
nearly 20,000 gallons of retardant, a sub-
stance used to stop fires.
Some 140 square miles have burned in
northern Paraguay, near the borders with
Brazil and Bolivia, said Joaquín Roa, a Par-
aguayan state emergency official. He said
the situation has stabilized.
Close to 20% of the Amazon has already
been deforested, according to Thomas
Lovejoy, a George Mason University envi-
ronmental scientist.
“I worry that the current deforestation
will push past the tipping point leading to
massive loss of forest and biodiversity,”
Lovejoy said.
Brazil is “turning its back” on past envi-
ronmental achievements, including the
1992 Earth Summit, and has proposed
infrastructure projects that will accelerate
the challenge of climate change, he said.
“Fires are directly burning into the Ama-
zon rainforest and that releases the carbon
stored in those trees,” said Doug Morton,
a NASA scientist. “The carbon then enters
the atmosphere as carbon dioxide or meth-
ane, where it contributes to the greenhouse
gases that are causing climate change,
bringing us a warmer and a drier planet.”
Morton said there is now “an uptick in
the pressure against the remaining Amazon
forest, to expand agriculture production in
areas that are the leading edge in the defor-
estation frontier.”
Fires are common in Brazil in the annual
dry season, but they are much more wide-
spread this year. Brazilian state experts
reported nearly 77,000 wildfires across the
country so far this year, up 85% over the
same period in 2018.
Just over half of those fires have occurred
in the Amazon region. Brazil contains about
60% of the Amazon rainforest.
In escalating tension over the fires,
France accused Bolsonaro of having lied
to French leader Emmanuel Macron and
threatened to block a European Union trade
deal with several South American states,
including Brazil. Ireland joined in the
threat.
The specter of possible economic reper-
cussions for Brazil and its South American
neighbors show how the Amazon is becom-
ing a battleground between Bolsonaro and
Western governments alarmed that vast
swathes of the region are going up in smoke
on his watch.
Ahead of a Group of Seven summit in
France this weekend, Macron’s office ques-
tioned Bolsonaro’s trustworthiness.
Brazilian statements and decisions indi-
cate Bolsonaro “has decided to not respect
his commitments on the climate, nor to
involve himself on the issue of biodiver-
sity,” Macron’s office said.
It added that France now opposes an
EU trade deal “in its current state” with the
Mercosur bloc of South American nations
that includes Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay
and Uruguay.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel
views the fires as “shocking and threaten-
ing,” according to government spokesman
Steffen Seibert.
Argentina, which is struggling with ris-
ing poverty and austerity measures, has
offered to send emergency workers to Bra-
zil and Bolivia to help put out the fires.
The White House said in a statement that
it is deeply concerned about the impact of
the Amazon fires on communities, biodiver-
sity and natural resources in the region.
The Brazilian government has said Euro-
pean countries are exaggerating Brazil’s
environmental problems in order to disrupt
its commercial interests. Bolsonaro, who
has said he wants to convert land for cattle
pastures and soybean farms, said it was dif-
ficult to curb increasing deforestation with
limited resources.
“It’s not easy to fight deforestation, our
Amazon area is bigger than all of Europe,”
he said. “We’ll do what we can to fight this
crime.”
OBITUARIES
Billionaire conservative
donor David Koch dies at 79
Knappa
March 26, 1951 — Aug. 16, 2019
corporate money in American politics.
“I was taught from a young age that
involvement in the public discourse is a civic
duty,” David Koch wrote in a 2012 op-ed in
NEW YORK — Billionaire industri- the New York Post. “Each of us has a right
alist David H. Koch, who with his older — indeed, a responsibility, at times — to
brother Charles poured a fortune into make his or her views known to the larger
right-wing causes, transforming the community in order to better form it as a
American political landscape and shap- whole. While we may not always get what
ing U.S. policies on such issues as climate we want, the exchange of ideas betters the
change and government regulation, died Fri- nation in the process.”
day at 79.
Some prominent Republicans praised
The cause of death was not disclosed, his legacy upon his death, with libertari-
but Koch Industries said Koch, who
an-leaning Sen. Rand Paul of Ken-
tucky saying “his many contribu-
lived in New York City, had con-
tended for years with various ill-
tions will have lasting impact on our
nesses, including prostate cancer.
country.”
A chemical engineer by training,
On the other side of the politi-
Koch was an executive in the fam-
cal divide over Koch, Beth Rotman
ily-run conglomerate, the Libertar-
of the government watchdog group
ian Party’s vice-presidential candi-
Common Cause said the Kochs
date in 1980 and a major benefactor
David
and their network of like-minded
Koch
wealthy donors “undermined so
of educational, medical and cultural
many important American val-
organizations.
But he and his brother became best known ues over the past several decades as part of
for building a political network dubbed the the Kochs’ attempted corporate takeover of
“Kochtopus” for its many-tentacled support American politics.”
of conservative and libertarian causes, can-
Among other things, the Kochs and their
didates and think tanks, including the Cato company bankrolled a decades-long move-
ment to cast doubt on man-made climate
Institute.
The brothers in 2004 founded the anti- change and to hinder efforts to fight global
tax, small-government group Americans for warming through reducing greenhouse gas
Prosperity, which remains one of the most emissions.
powerful conservative organizations in U.S.
“David Koch will likely be remembered
politics, and they were an important influ- as one of a small handful of individuals
who singlehandedly thwarted efforts to act
ence on the tea party movement.
While celebrated on the right, the Koch on climate change and other pressing envi-
brothers have been vilified by Democrats ronmental threats aimed at preserving our
and others who see them as a dark and con- planet for future generations,” said Penn-
spiratorial force, the embodiment of fat-cat sylvania State University climate scientist
capitalism and the corrupting influence of Michael Mann.
Donna Lee (Olsen) Geisler passed away She and Rocky also enjoyed many camping
very peacefully, with family by her side, on trips with their grandchildren every summer.
Friday, Aug. 16, 2019, at Oregon Health & She always looked forward to spending time
with her family and friends.
Science University Hospital in
When her grandchildren, Ali-
Portland, Oregon.
sha and Mitchell, were born she
She was born in Seaside, Ore-
gon, to Jean Marie (Mole) Welch
was very involved with their
and Robert Alan Olsen on March
lives. Donna very rarely missed
26, 1951. At a young age, the fam-
a Knappa sports game, even after
ily moved to Willows, Califor-
her grandchildren graduated from
high school. She was a wonder-
nia. Her mother remarried, and
ful cook, and loved putting a meal
Donna and her two brothers, Rob-
bie and Chuck, moved to Orland,
together. Her favorite was mak-
ing her Christmas Eve clam chow-
California.
Donna Geisler
der and Christmas Day prime rib.
She attended school in Orland
Donna dedicated her life to her
until her junior year of high
school, when she moved to Knappa, Ore- husband, children and grandchildren.
Donna was preceded in death by her
gon, in 1967. She then attended Knappa
High School, where she and her future hus- mother, Jean Marie (Mole) Welch; her
band, Rocky, graduated in 1969.
brother, Robbie Welch; and her father, Rob-
Donna and Rocky were married on April ert Olsen.
She is survived by her husband of 49
4, 1970. While Rocky was in the Army serv-
ing during the Vietnam War, she attended years, Rocky Geisler; her two sons, Jeff
Clatsop Community College and worked at (Susan) Geisler and Chris (Jennifer) Geisler;
Oregon Laundry while caring for their first granddaughter, Alisha (Taylor) Falls; grand-
son, Jeff. She did this with the help of her son, Mitchell Geisler; brother, Chuck Welch;
in-laws, Frank and Elsie Geisler. Their sec- aunt, Lillian Mole; brother-in-law, Monty
ond son, Chris, was born three years later, (Cheri) Geisler; and numerous beloved
and the family moved into the Geisler fam- cousins, nieces and nephews.
ily home in Knappa, Oregon.
There will be a funeral service at the
After their two boys started school, she Crossroads Community Church in Svensen,
went back to work as a teller at Benjamin Oregon, on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, at
Franklin Bank in Astoria, Oregon, until 11 a.m., with a potluck to follow.
At 2 p.m., there will be a graveside ser-
the early 1990s. Donna was very involved
in her local community. She helped for vice at Knappa Prairie Cemetery in Knappa.
Caldwell’s Luce-Layton Mortuary is in
many years with the original Knappa Days,
Knappa Summer Recreation, Lower Colum- charge of the arrangements. Please sign the
bia Four-Wheelers and Clatskanie Cruisers. online guest book at caldwellsmortuary.com
In lieu of flowers, please make dona-
She loved traveling with Rocky, and
they enjoyed many cruises, trips to Hawaii, tions to the Knappa High School Athletic
drives across the U.S. and car club events. program.
Donna Lee (Olsen) Geisler
By STEVE PEOPLES
and JENNIFER PELTZ
Associated Press
SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
70 54
69 53
72 57
Nice with
sunshine
Partial sunshine Partly sunny
76 58
78 58
74 57
Mostly sunny;
Mostly cloudy
pleasant
Sunny
73 57
Mostly cloudy
Aberdeen
Olympia
70/54
74/57
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
75/53
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Thursday
Tonight’s Sky: Moon at last
quarter (7:57 a.m. PDT).
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 68/53
Normal high/low .................. 69/53
Record high .................. 94 in 1942
Record low .................... 41 in 1987
Precipitation
Thursday ................................. 0.00”
Month to date ........................ 0.89”
Normal month to date ......... 0.70”
Year to date .......................... 25.60”
Normal year to date ........... 37.64”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019
Time
8:50 a.m.
7:59 p.m.
5.0 2:25 a.m.
7.2 1:56 p.m.
Cape Disappointment
8:19 a.m.
7:53 p.m.
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 6:25 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 8:10 p.m.
Moonrise today ........... 12:15 a.m.
Moonset today .............. 3:39 p.m.
Last
New
First
Full
8:37 a.m.
8:00 p.m.
Warrenton
8:45 a.m.
7:54 p.m.
Knappa
9:27 a.m.
8:36 p.m.
Depoe Bay
Aug 23 Aug 30 Sep 5 Sep 13
7:44 a.m.
7:03 p.m.
1.0
2.8
4.6 1:43 a.m.
6.7 1:11 p.m.
0.8
2.8
5.1 2:03 a.m.
7.2 1:36 p.m.
0.8
3.0
5.4 2:09 a.m.
7.6 1:40 p.m.
1.1
3.0
5.3 3:26 a.m.
7.5 2:57 p.m.
0.8
2.5
5.2 1:16 a.m. 1.2
7.4 12:38 p.m. 3.4
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Today
Hi/Lo/W
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
88/70/t
74/61/s
75/58/s
93/75/pc
89/60/pc
90/79/pc
90/77/t
85/64/pc
91/78/t
78/65/s
102/83/s
80/62/pc
81/65/s
82/70/c
70/59/pc
78/65/pc
97/79/s
96/59/s
89/77/pc
92/78/t
87/65/pc
91/78/t
73/63/pc
105/86/s
80/59/pc
80/67/pc
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
89/59
Hermiston
The Dalles 88/59
Enterprise
Pendleton 83/44
85/56
81/57
La Grande
85/49
80/52
NATIONAL CITIES
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
80/50
Kennewick Walla Walla
86/60 Lewiston
90/59
74/54
Salem
Pullman
84/51
Longview
70/54 Portland
77/57
82/54
Yakima 87/57
74/48
Astoria
Spokane
81/59
Corvallis
81/51
Albany
81/53
John Day
Eugene
Bend
83/51
85/46
87/52
Ontario
97/59
Caldwell
Burns
90/43
95/57
Medford
94/57
Klamath Falls
88/45
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
89/45/pc
71/53/s
68/57/pc
78/52/pc
69/52/pc
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
81/40/s
73/58/s
67/55/pc
77/52/s
68/51/pc
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
71/55/s
86/57/s
69/55/pc
83/53/s
75/55/pc
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
71/55/s
86/55/s
69/54/pc
81/50/s
75/53/pc