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The life and legacy of Chico Mendes The life and legacy of Chico Mendes
(40 minutes later)
Deforestation of the Amazon is as much an issue now as in the late 1980sDeforestation of the Amazon is as much an issue now as in the late 1980s
Twenty years ago Amazon environmentalist Chico Mendes was shot dead in front of his home in the remote Brazilian state of Acre. He had campaigned for years to stop the slashing and burning of the rainforest.Twenty years ago Amazon environmentalist Chico Mendes was shot dead in front of his home in the remote Brazilian state of Acre. He had campaigned for years to stop the slashing and burning of the rainforest.
Brazil specialist Sue Branford, who met him, reflects on his life and legacy:Brazil specialist Sue Branford, who met him, reflects on his life and legacy:
I will never forget the death of Chico Mendes. A friend in Brazil phoned early in the morning to tell me that he had been shot dead outside his home.I will never forget the death of Chico Mendes. A friend in Brazil phoned early in the morning to tell me that he had been shot dead outside his home.
I felt not surprise but anger and sadness that the Amazon forest, already in 1988 under serious threat from loggers and farmers, had lost such a powerful ally.I felt not surprise but anger and sadness that the Amazon forest, already in 1988 under serious threat from loggers and farmers, had lost such a powerful ally.
I had met Chico some two years earlier, on a visit to his home town of Xapuri in the state of Acre in the west of the Amazon basin.I had met Chico some two years earlier, on a visit to his home town of Xapuri in the state of Acre in the west of the Amazon basin.
Sitting on a bench in the town's square, he told me that his parents, like hundreds of others, had been brought from the dry, impoverished north-east of Brazil to Acre so they could collect rubber for the Allies during the World War II.Sitting on a bench in the town's square, he told me that his parents, like hundreds of others, had been brought from the dry, impoverished north-east of Brazil to Acre so they could collect rubber for the Allies during the World War II.
Social justiceSocial justice
When the war ended, demand for natural rubber plummeted but few of the families could afford the journey back home of some 2,000 miles (3,200 km). In 1990 a local rancher was convicted of ordering his murderWhen the war ended, demand for natural rubber plummeted but few of the families could afford the journey back home of some 2,000 miles (3,200 km). In 1990 a local rancher was convicted of ordering his murder
Most had stayed in Acre, scratching out a living in the forest. Chico himself had been collecting rubber since he was 11 years old and he had only learned to read and write when he was 20.Most had stayed in Acre, scratching out a living in the forest. Chico himself had been collecting rubber since he was 11 years old and he had only learned to read and write when he was 20.
When I met him Chico was already a legend, at least in the Amazon basin.When I met him Chico was already a legend, at least in the Amazon basin.
In the 1970s, cattle ranchers had begun to move in from southern Brazil and were slashing and burning the forest.In the 1970s, cattle ranchers had begun to move in from southern Brazil and were slashing and burning the forest.
Faced with eviction and loss of livelihood, the rubber-tappers had organised themselves.Faced with eviction and loss of livelihood, the rubber-tappers had organised themselves.
Gathering in large groups, they had confronted the teams of men sent in to fell the forest and had persuaded them to lay down their chain-saws.Gathering in large groups, they had confronted the teams of men sent in to fell the forest and had persuaded them to lay down their chain-saws.
As mad about football as other Brazilians, the rubber-tappers had dubbed this tactic the "empate", the equaliser.As mad about football as other Brazilians, the rubber-tappers had dubbed this tactic the "empate", the equaliser.
By the time I met Chico, they had already used empates to prevent hundreds of acres of land from being cut down.By the time I met Chico, they had already used empates to prevent hundreds of acres of land from being cut down.
I had expected someone tough and militant but Chico was surprisingly modest and unpretentious. Yet it was also clear that he was passionate in his political beliefs, driven by a burning sense of social justice.I had expected someone tough and militant but Chico was surprisingly modest and unpretentious. Yet it was also clear that he was passionate in his political beliefs, driven by a burning sense of social justice.
Indeed, he was an active trade unionist and had helped set up the Amazon branch of the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT), the left-wing political party created in the early 1980s by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (now the country's president) and other urban trade unionists.Indeed, he was an active trade unionist and had helped set up the Amazon branch of the Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT), the left-wing political party created in the early 1980s by Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (now the country's president) and other urban trade unionists.
Chico had a profound love of the tropical forest. As we walked at a fast pace through the trees t to visit a community of rubber-tappers, he was constantly pointing out with delight parrots and other birds, though generally all I managed to see was a flash of colour. Chico had a profound love of the tropical forest. As we walked at a fast pace through the trees to visit a community of rubber-tappers, he was constantly pointing out with delight parrots and other birds, though generally all I managed to see was a flash of colour.
Powerful alliancePowerful alliance
Politically astute, he had realised that he could form a potentially powerful alliance with environmental activists throughout the world. My dream is to see this entire forest conserved because we know it can guarantee the future of all the people who live in it Chico MendesPolitically astute, he had realised that he could form a potentially powerful alliance with environmental activists throughout the world. My dream is to see this entire forest conserved because we know it can guarantee the future of all the people who live in it Chico Mendes
When I met him, Chico was already receiving death threats from cattle ranchers.When I met him, Chico was already receiving death threats from cattle ranchers.
Whenever we were in a bar, he sat with his back to the wall so he could keep a constant eye on people coming in.Whenever we were in a bar, he sat with his back to the wall so he could keep a constant eye on people coming in.
He complained of stomach ulcers and said that his wife wanted him to pull out of the struggle because of his responsibility to her and their two small children.He complained of stomach ulcers and said that his wife wanted him to pull out of the struggle because of his responsibility to her and their two small children.
Yet this was one sacrifice that Chico could not make. He carried on with his work and the threats increased.Yet this was one sacrifice that Chico could not make. He carried on with his work and the threats increased.
Chico realised that he was going to be killed. Shortly before his assassination, he wrote a letter in which he said:Chico realised that he was going to be killed. Shortly before his assassination, he wrote a letter in which he said:
"My dream is to see this entire forest conserved because we know it can guarantee the future of all the people who live in it...If a messenger from heaven came down and guaranteed that my death would help to strengthen the struggle, it could even be worth it. But experience teaches us the opposite... I want to live.""My dream is to see this entire forest conserved because we know it can guarantee the future of all the people who live in it...If a messenger from heaven came down and guaranteed that my death would help to strengthen the struggle, it could even be worth it. But experience teaches us the opposite... I want to live."
But it was not to be. In the event, Chico's murder caused a furore at home and abroad.But it was not to be. In the event, Chico's murder caused a furore at home and abroad.
Partly as a result, 20 reserves were eventually created for rubber-tappers and other local communities.Partly as a result, 20 reserves were eventually created for rubber-tappers and other local communities.
Yet the relentless destruction of virgin Amazon forest has continued.Yet the relentless destruction of virgin Amazon forest has continued.
One cannot help but share Chico's belief that perhaps he would have achieved more alive than dead.One cannot help but share Chico's belief that perhaps he would have achieved more alive than dead.