Chico Mendes

Francisco Alves Mendes Filho (December 15, 1944-December 22, 1988), also known as Chico Mendes, was a Brazilian rubber tapper, unionist and environmental activist. He fought to stop the logging of the Amazon Rainforest for the purposes of cattle ranching, and founded a national union of rubber tappers in an attempt to preserve their profession and the rainforest that it relied upon. He was murdered in 1988 by ranchers opposed to his activism.

Assassination

On December 22, 1988, Mendes was assassinated at his Xapuri home. In December, 1990 rancher Darcy Pereira and his father Darly Alves da Silva were sentenced to 19 years in prison for their part in Mendes' assassination. In February, 1992, they won a retrial, but remained in prison. In 1993, they staged an escape, but Darly was recaptured and as of 2004, is still in prison.

Related Topics:
December 22 - Assassin - 1990 - 1992 - 1993 - As of 2004

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The death of Chico Mendes made international headlines, including being on the front page of the New York Times. After his death, and the international media attention caused by it, the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve was created in the area around where he lived. There are more than 20 such reserves now, along the same lines as Mendes had proposed, covering more than 8 million acres (32,000 km²). Paul McCartney released a song in his honor entitled "How Many People" on his 1989 album Flowers in the Dirt. A memorial garden in his honor was constructed in New York City, but was controversially demolished in 1997. He was also the focus of the song Cuando los Angeles Lloran by Mexican rock band Maná, The Tallest Tree by English singer-songwriter Roy Harper and was mentioned in the anthem Amazon by Australian singer-songwriter Bruce Watson.

Related Topics:
New York Times - Paul McCartney - 1989 - Flowers in the Dirt - New York City - 1997 - Mexican - Maná - Singer-songwriter - Roy Harper - Australia - Bruce Watson

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