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The World Is Burning: Murder in the Rain Forest
Retracing the events that led to the murder of environmental activist Chico Mendes, the author describes the crime that brought home the environmental tragedy of Brazil's shrinking rain forests
- GenresNonfiction
Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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July 12, 2024
THE STORY OF THE MURDER OF CHICO MENDES AND ITS AFTERMATH
Francisco Alves "Chico" Mendes Filho (1944-1988) was a Brazilian rubber tapper, trade union leader and environmentalist, who fought to preserve the Amazon rainforest, and was assassinated by a rancher on December 22, 1988. Biographer Alex Shoumatoff (born 1946) is an American writer known for his literary journalism, nature and environmental writing, and is the author of many books such as Russian Blood, The Rivers Amazon, etc.
Shoumatoff wrote in the "Caveat Emptor" introduction to this 1990 book, "In many ways this is a book of opinion, because the 'facts' of this story, which I have diligently and impartially endeavored to set forth, sometimes don't add up. Part of the problem is the general difficulty of obtaining reliable information in the Amazon... Part of it arises from the passionate and conflicting responses that Chico Mendes's work and his murder elicited... As with everything in history, no one will ever know exactly what happened."
Mendes, as President of the Xapuri Rubber Tappers Union, "came up with the solution for saving the Amazon, the model everyone was looking for... Why couldn't the tappers have reserves, too, extractive reserves, where they could do what they had always been doing, which was completely rational and sustainable, and save the forest at the same time?" (Pg. 88)
Mendes stated in an interview,"If an angel from heaven were to descend and guarantee that my death would strengthen our struggle, it would even be worth it, but experience teaches the opposite. Thus I want to live." (Pg. 109)
Shoumatoff notes that "in Chico's case the interests of environmental protection and social justice coincided... In this age of darkness and emptiness and cynicism there was a hunger for real heroes... and Chico's murder had pushed it over the edge." (Pg. 141) After the film Gorillas in the Mist about Dian Fossey, there was "a great hunger in the industry for new ecomartyrs, and the Chico Mendes story became the hottest property in Hollywood that people could remember." (Pg. 221)
This fascinating book (as well as the film, 'The Burning Season - The Chico Mendes Story') will be of considerable interest to those interested in environmentalism.
Francisco Alves "Chico" Mendes Filho (1944-1988) was a Brazilian rubber tapper, trade union leader and environmentalist, who fought to preserve the Amazon rainforest, and was assassinated by a rancher on December 22, 1988. Biographer Alex Shoumatoff (born 1946) is an American writer known for his literary journalism, nature and environmental writing, and is the author of many books such as Russian Blood, The Rivers Amazon, etc.
Shoumatoff wrote in the "Caveat Emptor" introduction to this 1990 book, "In many ways this is a book of opinion, because the 'facts' of this story, which I have diligently and impartially endeavored to set forth, sometimes don't add up. Part of the problem is the general difficulty of obtaining reliable information in the Amazon... Part of it arises from the passionate and conflicting responses that Chico Mendes's work and his murder elicited... As with everything in history, no one will ever know exactly what happened."
Mendes, as President of the Xapuri Rubber Tappers Union, "came up with the solution for saving the Amazon, the model everyone was looking for... Why couldn't the tappers have reserves, too, extractive reserves, where they could do what they had always been doing, which was completely rational and sustainable, and save the forest at the same time?" (Pg. 88)
Mendes stated in an interview,"If an angel from heaven were to descend and guarantee that my death would strengthen our struggle, it would even be worth it, but experience teaches the opposite. Thus I want to live." (Pg. 109)
Shoumatoff notes that "in Chico's case the interests of environmental protection and social justice coincided... In this age of darkness and emptiness and cynicism there was a hunger for real heroes... and Chico's murder had pushed it over the edge." (Pg. 141) After the film Gorillas in the Mist about Dian Fossey, there was "a great hunger in the industry for new ecomartyrs, and the Chico Mendes story became the hottest property in Hollywood that people could remember." (Pg. 221)
This fascinating book (as well as the film, 'The Burning Season - The Chico Mendes Story') will be of considerable interest to those interested in environmentalism.
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