Singing for Peace in the Forest

There are days that test my faith in the human race, and then there are days so inspiring, so full of hope and determination that I truly believe if we work together we can make this world a better place. Today was one of those good days.

By the time I woke up this morning on the riverboat on the Acaraí river, we were surrounded by small river boats. People from communities in the region began arriving last night for the community meeting, mass and celebration today.

Since the loggers’ protest last weekend, there have been more rumours and threats of violence towards the community leaders. The communities want to show the loggers that there is strong support for the extractive reserve and that they cannot be bullied into keeping quiet.

After several inflatable boats arrived from the Arctic Sunrise anchored at the mouth of the river, we headed further up river to a Forest Management Plan with the community people. The communities want to go there to tell the loggers this is their land, their forest and they want them out.

The Forest Management Plan was recently investigated by Ibama and was found operating illegally. Ibama seized 8000 cubic metres of logs and the plan will likely be suspended once Ibama finishes the paperwork.

The loggers were tipped off by a relative in one of the communities we visited and the loggers were waiting for us when we arrived.

I jumped on shore early with one of the videographers to take images of the boats arriving. A man who works on site for the logging company came up to us, he was not friendly but not overly aggressive. We did not see any weapons, but later we were told that some of the loggers were concealing guns.

He told us only Ibama and the federal police were allowed on the premises, we were not welcome.

The riverboats began arriving and community people began coming on shore. Some of the leaders went to talk to the loggers to try to calm the situation down. They simply wanted to hold a meeting and a mass service in the logging yard.

But before long the Porto de Moz police arrived. They had been called by the loggers because they believed we were coming to destroy things and cause trouble.

There were more than a 100 community people, half of them children and several pregnant women. These people did not want any trouble, they just want their land back.

Some of the loggers became aggressive grabbing banners from the community people’s hands, even children’s, pushing cameras out of the way and shouting at the people. Luckily the police were there to keep the situation under control.

The community members decided they had made their point, they didn’t want a confrontation. They didn’t choose to become activists like us, they are fighting for their homes, and it is a fight that has already endangered several of their lives. They did not want the situation to escalate and put anyone else at risk, especially their children.

They left the logging yard singing about the forest and God.

We returned to the community and after a feast the priest for the entire Porto de Moz region offered mass at the edge of the community under some tall trees overlooking the river.

I’m not Catholic, and not even very religious, but it was such a moving moment. All of the people singing together, standing together to fight for the forest and their homes. Meanwhile one of the loggers from the management plan had followed us back and lurked on the edges. The police had also returned with us for the safety of the community members.

After mass, one of the community leaders, Claudio, stood up to say a few words. He recognised that people have some doubts about what a reserve is, especially with all of the propaganda being spread by the loggers. But he reminded people that they didn’t need to take his word for it, they had a meeting with the federal prosecutor just over a week ago and he told them they could still raise buffalo and manioc, they will still be able to fish and hunt and take wood from the forest.

Claudio told them that they need to tell the government how they want to live on their reserve. He said “you must tell them, this is your only chance. Because after the forest is all gone, you will not be able to live here.”

Greenpeace campaigner Paulo Adario also said a few words to reassure people that we are not here to steal their resources as the loggers are saying on the radio. He told them we are environmentalists and we want to protect the forest. He told them we know that the best people to take care of the forest are the people that live from the forest. This is a fight that the communities started, we are here to support their fight.

There was more singing and a quick swim with the children before the small riverboats began to leave for other communities along the river and we has to say good bye to some new friends who have been with us for the last few days for the community visits.

I am in awe of their courage and determination. These people are the real heroes of the Amazon.

I was just looking forward to settling into my hammock for the night when I was told there are rumours the loggers are going after the ship in the middle of the night.

Our presence in the region along with Ibama has stopped all illegal logging, the transport of illegal logs and has brought to a halt the local economy that is dependant on illegal logging. There are a lot of unhappy loggers right now and our ship at the mouth of the river is an obvious target. Several of us get in the Anaconda and head to the ship for the night.

During last Sunday’s logger protest they told us they were peaceful this time, but next time would be different. It will be a long night as we wait to see what happens, but I have the warm memories of the day to keep me company through the night.

Tracy

Posted by Amazon Team at November 30, 2003 01:20 PM