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.

History

Mendes grew up in a family of rubber tappers in Acre State, Brazil, and when he was of age, continued on in the family tradition. However, rubber prices had collapsed in the 1960s, and many landowners were selling their properties to the highest bidder - which in most cases, meant cattle ranchers. Rubber tappers were finding themselves pushed out of their lands.

Related Topics:
Acre State - 1960s

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In the 1970s, he joined a band of nonviolent activists attempting to stop the logging of the forest. They would march down logging trails, overrun forest clearance parties, disarming guards and attempting to convince the ranchers' workers not to continue. In many cases, they were successful at doing so, despite resistance from the ranchers - in 1980, Mendes' ally Wilson Pinheiro was assassinated.

Related Topics:
1970s - 1980 - Wilson Pinheiro

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