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The Burning Season: The Murder of Chico Mendes and the Fight for the Amazon Rain Forest
In the rain forests of the western Amazon, writes author Andrew Revkin, the threat of violent death hangs in the air like mist after a tropical rain. It is simply a part of the ecosystem, just like the scorpions and snakes living in the leafy canopy that floats over the forest floor like a seamless green circus tent. Violent death came to Chico Mendes in the Amazon rain forest on December 22, 1988. A labor and environmental activist, Mendes was targetted by powerful ranchers for organizing resistance to the wholesale burning of the forest. He was a target because he had convinced the government to take back land ranchers had stolen at gunpoint or through graft and then to transform it into extractive reserves, set aside for the sustainable production of rubber, nuts, and other goods harvested from the living forest. This was not just a local land battle on a remote frontier. Mendes had invented a kind of reverse globalization, creating alliances between his grassroots campaign and the global environmental movement. Some 500 similar killings had gone unprosecuted, but this case would be different. Under international pressure, for the first time Brazilian officials were forced to seek, capture, and try not only an Amazon gunman but the person who ordered the killing.
In this reissue of the environmental classic The Burning Season, with a new introduction by the author, Andrew Revkin artfully interweaves the moving story of Mendes's struggle with the broader natural and human history of the world's largest tropical rain forest. "It became clear," writes Revkin, acclaimed science reporter for The New York Times, "that the murder was a microcosm of the larger crime: the unbridled destruction of the last great reservoir of biological diversity on Earth." In his life and untimely death, Mendes forever altered the course of development in the Amazon, and he has since become a model for environmental campaigners everywhere.
In this reissue of the environmental classic The Burning Season, with a new introduction by the author, Andrew Revkin artfully interweaves the moving story of Mendes's struggle with the broader natural and human history of the world's largest tropical rain forest. "It became clear," writes Revkin, acclaimed science reporter for The New York Times, "that the murder was a microcosm of the larger crime: the unbridled destruction of the last great reservoir of biological diversity on Earth." In his life and untimely death, Mendes forever altered the course of development in the Amazon, and he has since become a model for environmental campaigners everywhere.
344 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 1990
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 8, 2015
Surprisingly fresh, 25 years later...
Revkin has masterfully assembled a huge multitude of people, economic and political forces which culminated on Chico Mendes and the rubber tapper movement in Acre Brazil during the 1980s.
Much of Brazilian history is overly academic and discordant, but this read comes life with almost deceptive simplicity at times. While it is clear the book is written in memory of Chico and the movement to preserve the rainforest the facts often speak for themselves.
Revkin has masterfully assembled a huge multitude of people, economic and political forces which culminated on Chico Mendes and the rubber tapper movement in Acre Brazil during the 1980s.
Much of Brazilian history is overly academic and discordant, but this read comes life with almost deceptive simplicity at times. While it is clear the book is written in memory of Chico and the movement to preserve the rainforest the facts often speak for themselves.
September 9, 2020
Still fresh in the Bolsonaro era.
October 26, 2022
I don't think I would have appreciated this book as much had I not been taking a Latin American history class, but MAN was this fascinating to me. Not only do I feel like I could hold my own in a Portuguese conversation about the history of the Amazon rainforest, but I have a more honest understanding of how we've arrived here, where on average, 10,000 acres of this lush, biodiverse forest are destroyed per day.
Analyzing this book and the work and murder of Chico Mendes, particularly in comparison to the work and murder of Sister Dorothy is both mind boggling and not surprising. This contrast reflects the reality that being an environmentalist requires some sort of privilege. Chico Mendes, indigenous to the Amazon, exploited the forest of its resources to survive and support his family and advocated for land and workers' rights for the poor. He was only allied with the environmentalists for their cash and did not necessarily identify as one himself. Through the lens of the commodification of resources in Latin American countries, like rubber and bananas, paired with the commercial imperialism of "developed" nations, we see the plight of this system as well as the shrewd decisions of indigenous folks in their engagement with moneyed peoples and places.
Analyzing this book and the work and murder of Chico Mendes, particularly in comparison to the work and murder of Sister Dorothy is both mind boggling and not surprising. This contrast reflects the reality that being an environmentalist requires some sort of privilege. Chico Mendes, indigenous to the Amazon, exploited the forest of its resources to survive and support his family and advocated for land and workers' rights for the poor. He was only allied with the environmentalists for their cash and did not necessarily identify as one himself. Through the lens of the commodification of resources in Latin American countries, like rubber and bananas, paired with the commercial imperialism of "developed" nations, we see the plight of this system as well as the shrewd decisions of indigenous folks in their engagement with moneyed peoples and places.
September 3, 2017
Ugh. This was tough. The history is fascinating but the writing made the telling of Chico's work so boring. I had a really tough time getting though this book despite being interested in the history of the rubber tappers and Chico himself.
July 30, 2017
Murder Of An Activist
This is about the murder of activist Chico Mendes. A man who devoted his life to protect the rain forest of the Amazon. Before going into the murder case the author gives you history and background to understand the circumstances of the murder.
This is about the murder of activist Chico Mendes. A man who devoted his life to protect the rain forest of the Amazon. Before going into the murder case the author gives you history and background to understand the circumstances of the murder.
April 12, 2018
The real-life tragedies of the country of Brazil and the man Chico Mendes
4 stars because I became bogged down in exposition. This book tells, not only the story of the fight to save the Amazon, but shed's light on current politics in Brazil.
4 stars because I became bogged down in exposition. This book tells, not only the story of the fight to save the Amazon, but shed's light on current politics in Brazil.
May 14, 2023
Although the topic is interesting and sad, I thought that the writing style was boring, and it didn't help that this book was published in 1990, so a lot of the information is outdated now.
November 2, 2014
Revkin's examination of Chico Mendes is far more than the story of his murder, or even his legacy on the workers in the Amazon rain forests. By taking a broadview look at Mendes' life and work, Revkin also tells the story of a debt slavery system and its slow undermining, and how the story of the rubber tappers and workers in the Amazon began as a human rights story which only later became a question of environmental or global concern.
Chico Mendes began his fight out of his love for the people in the rain forests; when informal education led him to encourage unions, organize workers, and fight for conservation, his eventual legacy was always rooted in his straight-forward desire for sustaining a way of life he'd always known, ideally in more livable conditions than imposed by the debt slavery which forced so many of the workers he knew to live without any options and all but starving.
Revkin's work examined every aspect of this story--the humans involved, the science involved, the history involved, and, of course, the money involved. Any reader who wants a look into the Amazon rainforests, or into struggles for human rights (moving out of debt slavery and poverty), will find a great deal to admire in this work.
Whether you come to the book for a look at the history, the conservation, or the story of Mendes and his legacy...it's worth your while.
Recommended.
Chico Mendes began his fight out of his love for the people in the rain forests; when informal education led him to encourage unions, organize workers, and fight for conservation, his eventual legacy was always rooted in his straight-forward desire for sustaining a way of life he'd always known, ideally in more livable conditions than imposed by the debt slavery which forced so many of the workers he knew to live without any options and all but starving.
Revkin's work examined every aspect of this story--the humans involved, the science involved, the history involved, and, of course, the money involved. Any reader who wants a look into the Amazon rainforests, or into struggles for human rights (moving out of debt slavery and poverty), will find a great deal to admire in this work.
Whether you come to the book for a look at the history, the conservation, or the story of Mendes and his legacy...it's worth your while.
Recommended.
August 18, 2009
The story of Chico Mendes has probably one of the most inspiring and positive morals I've come across: by sticking to non-violence and finding common cause even with historically opposing interests, his goal of creating an official mechanism for sustaining the rubber tappers' lifestyle was more or less achieved. Of course, he was assassinated before it was fully carried out. But despite the positivity in the story, Revkin maintains a neutral tone throughout this book that sucks a lot of the drama and excitement out. Although he has many strengths as a writer (such as a sharp eye for details), they seem more suited to his day job as a NY Times journalist than a biographical format. I'm not looking for Chico Mendes! The Graphic Novel here, but he could at least throw in some cliffhangers here, or make some subplots out of his cast of supporting characters. I feel like it was a mistake to start the book with the murder of Mendes, thus guaranteeing little or no suspense for the rest of the book. I enjoyed this book due to my interest in environmentalism and politics, but I can't recommend it for the general public.
March 19, 2011
Very well written book that took on the challenge of trying to convey in writing on how valuable the Amazon Forest is to humanity and it did a FANTASTIC job.
The book also talks about how huge the destruction of the forest was in the 1980s and how the local population (notably the Rubber Tappers) organized to reduce the destruction of their home: the Amazon Forest.
The book focuses on the life and struggle of Chico Mendes, a rubber tapper leader who organized a series of well orchestrated non-violent sit-ins throughout more than 20 years. The book also talks about Chico Mendes interesting links with international conservation movements as well as his murder.
Interested in international development and conservation --> to read!
The book also talks about how huge the destruction of the forest was in the 1980s and how the local population (notably the Rubber Tappers) organized to reduce the destruction of their home: the Amazon Forest.
The book focuses on the life and struggle of Chico Mendes, a rubber tapper leader who organized a series of well orchestrated non-violent sit-ins throughout more than 20 years. The book also talks about Chico Mendes interesting links with international conservation movements as well as his murder.
Interested in international development and conservation --> to read!
January 13, 2016
Revkin, one of the best science journalists in the world, produced an incredible book. More than a mere biography of an interesting character like Chico Mendes, the book is a very thorough, well-reported and well-written exploration of why the Amazon matters, on the links between conservation and society and a wonderful explanation of the effect of climate change in such a sensitive and rich ecosystem and region (written at a time when climate change wasn't even an issue of public discussion).
February 23, 2012
I'd initially wanted to read this book because Blake spent so much time in the Amazon translating for another rancher murder case. The topic is really interesting, but this book is SO boring. After letting it gather dust on the shelf for over a year since starting it, I finally finished it. It's unfortunate that such an interesting and compelling story can be made so boring.
January 31, 2012
The story of a champion of the Amazon rainforest.
Read
June 12, 2013Andrew Revkin, lead environmental writer for the NEW YORK TIMES (and friend), tells the tragic story of Chico Mendes, who organized rubber-tappers in the Amazon and was murdered for it.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews