December 22nd , 1998 marked the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Amazon rubber tapper, union leader and
environmentalist Chico Mendes. In honor of Chico Mendes life
and work, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his
death, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has launched the Chico Mendes Sustainable Forest Campaign, in partnership with the National Council of Rubber Tappers of Brazil. The campaign promotes the creation
of new "extractive reserves", Chico's concept of reserves
managed by forest peoples.
"If a messenger from the sky came down and guaranteed that my
death would strengthen our struggle, it would be worth it. But
experience teaches us the contrary. It's not with big funerals and
motions of support that we're going to save the Amazon. I want
to live."
— Chico Mendes
(From an interview December 9, 1988, published posthumously in O Jornal do Brasil.)
December 22nd , 1998 marked the tenth anniversary of the assassination of Amazon rubber tapper, union leader and
environmentalist Chico Mendes. In honor of Chico Mendes life
and work, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his
death, the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) has launched the Chico Mendes Sustainable Forest Campaign, in partnership with the National Council of Rubber Tappers of Brazil. The campaign promotes the creation
of new "extractive reserves", Chico's concept of reserves
managed by forest peoples.