Chico Mendes was born in Brazil. His father was a rubber tapper, and at nine years old, Chico began work as a rubber tapper as well. Rubber tapping is the process of obtaining latex from trees. Rubber tappers were denied education by the owners of the rubber plantations. Chico did not learn to read until he was 18.
Chico became aware of political and social issues as his reading comprehension improved. He became active in bringing what he had learned to his community by serving as a literacy volunteer.
As the rubber industry was on the decline in Brazil, vast tracks of the Amazon forest were being destroyed to enable cattle farming. Chico and others joined to protest the logging. They would block entrance into the forest to prevent the logging.
As the anti-logging movement captured the attention of the international environmental movement, the concept of extractive reserves came into being. Basically, this involved a set aside of land where forests could be used for the production of fruits, nuts, oils, and fibers without destroying the forests. International financing was arranged to support the creation of the reserves.
In 1988, a man of questionable character purchased part of a rubber reserve home to Chico’s family. The sale was disputed, but that didn’t stop the man from driving the inhabitants off of the reserve. Chico and others were able to stop deforestation and have the man arrested for a murder he had committed in another location. The police never followed up on the arrest.
Later that year, the man’s son assassinated Chico. Chico was the 90th activist murdered by those who opposed the work to protect the Amazon.
Chico’s death increased worldwide attention to protect the Amazon. The fight continues, with many of Chico’s compatriots now holding elected positions.
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“At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize I am fighting for humanity.”—Chico Mendes