One picture from that Greenpeace link in particular says it all: a region of tropical Sumatran forest cleared with as much wide-scale devastation as if a tsunami had taken out every last tree.

FORBES: Japan's Unknown Ecological Tragedy

In the face of yearly devastation only this week, fire damaged a third of the forest cover on the two largest Canary Islands, forcing the evacuation of 14, 000 people the Canadairs offer impressive proof to voters that the authorities are taking the disasters in hand.

ECONOMIST: Charlemagne