After 34 years of the death of Chico Mendes, an international reference in the socio-environmental fight in defense of the protection of the Amazon and its peoples, his legacy continues to be reflected in the lives of many people. For this reason, every year, the Chico Mendes Committee holds a meeting in his memory, in the city of Xapuri, in the State of Acre, where he lived. This year, Chico Mendes Week 2022 brought the theme “Amazon and Climate Emergency: reforestation of thought from the voices of the forest.” And the key point was the active participation of young people. In the workshops, these young people demonstrated that the spirit of Chico Mendes is still alive in their trajectories and paths of struggle in favor of keeping life and the forest standing.

Raiara is 18 years old and lives on the Chico Mendes Reserve. She is the daughter of Raimundão (a friend and fellow fighter of Chico Mendes). “They say they want to give us a voice, but without giving us. That is why it is important for us to strengthen our communication network within the Reserve, so that we ourselves can tell our stories. We have to guarantee that voice because we are the ones who know the reality, who face everything for the defense of the territory. Deforestation and climatic problems affected the reserve. Many people, for example, ran out of water. We had to regulate the water. Before we thought that it would not affect us, because we do our part, we preserve and where our water is is surrounded by trees, but it affected us. This is very worrying, so not only do we have to preserve our site, but the entire Amazon”, says the young woman.

Rayele is 16 years old and lives in Brasileia. “I think we have to preserve nature, the memory of Chico, and fight together. Our health and well-being depends on it,” she muses.

After the meeting, the young people wrote a collective letter that was read in public. It says: “Letter from the Youth of the Future of Chico Mendes: We, the youth of the future of Chico Mendes, want to assume our role as protagonists. We are aware of our role in facing the climate crisis, and of the importance of our active participation in the decision-making space. We are a diverse youth and we want recognition of our ethnic, racial and gender identities. We are talking about a present of pain and death, and we no longer want our territory to be bathed in indigenous blood, nor of the defenders of human rights and nature. Let no one else be overthrown for defending the planet, because, like Chico, we believe that we live and will strengthen the fight.”

After 34 years of the death of Chico Mendes, an international reference in the socio-environmental fight in defense of the protection of the Amazon and its peoples, his legacy continues to be reflected in the lives of many people. By count, every year, the Chico Mendes Committee holds a meeting in his memory, in the city of Xapuri, in the State of Acre, the place where he lives. This year, Chico Mendes Week 2022 will have the theme “Amazônia and Climatic Emergence: reflorestando o pensamento de partir das voces da floresta”. And the key point was the active participation of youth. In the offices, these young people demonstrate that the spirit of Chico Mendes is still alive in his trajectories and paths of mourning for the maintenance of life and the forest in pée.

Raiara is 18 years old and lives in the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve. Ela is the daughter of Raimundão (a friend and fighting partner of Chico Mendes). “They say they want to give us a voice, not giving. For this reason, it is important for people to strengthen our communication network within the Resex, for ourselves to tell our stories. People fear that they have that voice because we know that we know the reality, we that face everything for the defense of the territory. The removal of climatic changes will affect people in Resex. Muitas pessoas, for example, ficaram without water. People have to return to water. Before, we thought that it would not affect people, because people make or use paper, preserve it, and where our water is, it is all surrounded by trees, but no, people were not affected. This is very worrying, because of this people don’t have only to preserve our local, but the whole of Amazonia”, expresses to young people.

Rayele is 16 years old and lives in Brazil. “I am sorry that people fear that they have to preserve nature, Chico’s memory, and fight together. Nossa saúde e o nosso bem-estar dependem disso ”, she reflected.

At the end of the meeting, the young people wrote a collective letter that was published in public. It says: “Letter to the Youth of the Future of Chico Mendes: We, youth of the future of Chico Mendes, want to assume our place of prominence. We are aware of our role, in the face of the climate crisis, and we know the importance of our active participation in decision-making spaces. We are a diverse youth and we want to have recognition of our identities, ethnic, racial and gender. We talk about a present of dor and death, and nothing that

We are more or our territory bathed in indigenous blood and blood of the people who defend human rights and the rights of nature. Let no one else be taken down for defending the planet, as well as Chico, we believe that we live and we will strengthen the fight.”

For inquiries on this topic, contact:
Natalia Maia (Avina Foundation): natalia.maia@avexternos.org

Source: inncontext.net

By RG

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *