Marina Silva & Chico Mende Activists Against Deforestation in Amazonia

Marina Siva and Chico Mendes ( murdered in 1988) are/were activists against the deforestation of the trees in the Amazon forest - Amazonia - the largest remaining rainforest in the world.

Amazonia is often called the lungs of the planet- the trees absorb much of the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere -without them climate change would be much more severe.

Through her friendship with Chico she saw how her development of region was damaging her beloved rainforest. After university she got a job working with Chico. They set up a rubber tapper’s union. They tried to create protected areas of forest for people made their living by extracting rubber, nuts and medicinal plants from the forest.it would allow development of the rainforest in a sustainable way.

Marina and Chico would hold empates (stand offs) to prevent the building of ranches and to protect thousands of acres of rainforests.

In 1988 she decided to stand as a local politician and was elected as a a city councilor in Rio Branco. In the same year Chico, aged 44, was murdered by the son of a cattle rancher,

In 1991 first extractive reserve was created in the state of Acre.

In 1994 elected as a senator to represent her state in the national government

In 1996 won the Goldman award - the world’s top environment award.

In 2003 she became Environment Minister for Brazil. Between 2004-7 she worked to crack down on illegal logging. She made powerful enemies but deforestation of the Amazon reduced to 60%.

In 2007 she was chosen as a ’ Champion of the Earth’ by the United Nations Environment Programme.

2008 resigned post - felt her powers were gradually being taken away.
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Since then she has been the most successful Green politician. Stood unsuccessfully to be president 3 times.

‘This courageous and principled woman has no intention of ever giving up.’
Lily Dyu & Amt Blackwell
Sources
Wikipedia
Earth Heroes Lily Dyu & Amy Blackwell