On September 5, 2025, on Amazon Day, the Interfaith Rainforest Initiative (IRI) Brazil turned the streets of Rio Branco (Acre) into a vivid scene of environmental awareness.
Dozens of youth volunteers, wearing gas masks, walked through key points of the city as part of the national campaign “The Right to Breathe Clean Air, Access Safe Water, and Climate Security.” The striking mobilization symbolized the growing health crisis caused by forest-fire smoke and urged immediate action to stop deforestation and illegal burning.
Launched in July, this year of the campaign focuses on raising awareness about the interconnected threats of toxic air, water scarcity, and climate extremes. Medical studies show that continuously inhaling Amazon smoke can equal smoking dozens of cigarettes a day, exposing millions to chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
“Breathing clean air is a fundamental human right. The gas masks we see in this action must not become part of our daily lives. We must act now to protect people’s health and the future of the Amazon,” said Carlos Vicente, IRI Brazil’s National Coordinator.
The campaign’s educational materials – available on iribrasil.org – promote preventative measures and community engagement while demanding stronger public policies to safeguard health and biodiversity. Materials are tailored to seven different faiths and nine Brazilian states.
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