In 1989, an 8.2 earthquake almost flattened America, killing over 30, 000 people in less than four minutes. In the midst of utter destruction and chaos, a father left his wife safely at home and rushed to the school where his son was supposed to be, only to discover that the building was as flat as a pancake.

After the unforgettably initial shock, he remembered the promise he had made to his son: “No matter what, I'll always be there for you!” And tears began to fill his eyes. As he looked at the pile of ruins that once was the school, it looked hopeless, but he kept remembering his commitment to his son.

He began to direct his attention towards where he walked his son to class at school each morning. Remembering his son's classroom would be in the back right corner of the building, he rushed there and started digging through the ruins.

As he was digging, other helpless parents arrived, crying: “My son!” “My daughter!” Other well-meaning parents tried to pull him off what was left of the school, saying, “It's too late! They're all dead! You can't help! Go home! Come on! Face reality; there's nothing you can do!”

To each parent he responded with one line, “Are you going to help me now?” And then he continued to dig for his son, stone by stone. The fire chief showed up and tried to pull him off the school's ruins saying, “Fires are breaking out ; explosions are happening everywhere. You're in danger. We'll take care of it. Go home.” To which he replied, “Are you going to help me now?” Then came the police, but the father repealed the same line, “Are you going to help me now?” No one helped.

Courageously he went on alone because he needed to know for himself: “Is my boy alive or is he dead?” He dug for eight hours....12 hours...24 hours...36 hours...Then in the 38^th hour, he pulled back a large stone and heard his son's voice. He screamed his son's name, “ARMAND!” He heard back, “Dad! It's me, Dad! I told the other kids not to worry. I told them that if you were alive, you'd save me and when you saved me, they'd be saved. You promised that no matter what happens, you'll always be there for me! You did it, Dad!”

Record fires sweeping across the Amazon this month have been grabbing global headlines as scientists and environmental groups are worried that they will make climate change crisis worse and threaten biodiversity (生物多样性).

As the largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon is often called “the lungs of the world.” It is also home to about 3 million species of plants and animals and 1 million local people. The vast swaths (大片土地) of rainforest play an important role in the world’s ecosystem because they absorb heat instead of it   being reflected back into the atmosphere. They also store carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, ensuring that less carbon is released, easing the effects of climate change.

“Any rainforest destroyed by fire is a threat to biodiversity and the people who use that biodiversity,” Thomas Lovejoy, an ecologist at George Mason University told National Geographic. “The most serious threat is that a lot of carbon goes into the atmosphere.” he stressed. “In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected.” UN                    Secretary General Antonio Guterres said.

Data from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE) show that the number of forest fires in Brazil increased by 82 percent from January to August this year compared to the same period the year before. “A total of 71,497 forest fires were registered in the country in the first eight months of 2019, up from 39,194 in the same period in 2018,” INPE said. “We estimate that the forest areas in the Brazilian Amazon have decreased between 20 and 30 percent compared to the last 12 months.” Carlos Nobre, a researcher at the University of Sao Paulo, told German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

Brazil owns about 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest, whose degradation could have severe consequences for global climate and rainfall The extent of the area ruined by fires has yet to be determined, but the emergency has transcended (超出) Brazil’s borders, reaching Peruvian, Paraguayan and Bolivian regions.

A disease called “Panama” is threatening supplies of the world's most popular fruit—banana.Two years ago,the United Nations warned that the "Panama disease" could destroy "much of the world's banana crop."Since then,things have not gotten better.A new outbreak was discovered last year in Australia.The disease started in Asia in the 1990s, and later spread to Africa and the Middle East.

World health officials worry the disease could travel to Latin America,one of the top banana producers in the world.All this is a big concern because bananas are an important source of income and nutrients for millions of people.They are grown in 135 tropical nations.The United Nations lists bananas as one of the most important foods, along with rice,wheat and corn.

Randy Ploetz is a professor at the Tropical Research & Educational Center at the University of Florida.Many consider him as America's top banana expert.As he explained,Panama disease affects the Cavendish banana.The Cavendish is one of more than 500 kinds of bananas.But it is the most popular.

“The industry is waking up to the problem,”Ploetz said.“They are pretty scared.”He was speaking Thursday by telephone from Miami,Florida,where he is among 1,000 people attending the International Banana Congress.The meeting was supposed to take place in Costa Rica,but was moved at the last minute.There were concerns banana growers could spread Panama disease from dirt collected on their shoes,Ploetz said.

Ploetz said reports that Cavendish banana production could end are not correct.But if the disease spreads to Latin America,it could hurt the world’s economy along with food supplies for millions of people.Still,he said there is reason for hope.Scientists in Australia are working on a genetically engineered banana that might not be at risk of getting Panama disease.