Photo: Indigenous leaders form giant human banner to protest Amazon destruction
mongabay.comJanuary 28, 2009
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More than 1000 forum participants formed a human banner that spelled out the message "SALVE A AMAZONIA" ("Save the Amazon" in Portuguese) around a silhouette of an indigenous warrior taking aim with a bow and arrow.
"We are the guardians of the forest," said Marco Apurina, Vice-Coordinator of COIAB, an indigenous umbrella organization. "This is a critical moment for Indigenous peoples to unite with non-Indigenous, activists, teachers, environmentalists, unions, government—the Amazon rainforest needs everyone to work together now to defend it before it’s too late."
 The human banner. Image courtesy of the Rainforest Action Network (RAN). |
Participants kicked off the ninth World Social Forum with a walk through the streets of Belem, a city near the mouth of the Amazon river. More than 100,000 joined the parade.
The World Social Forum is the environmental and social justice community's response to the World Economic Forum in Davos, which caters to bankers. Last year's event was held in over 80 countries. Related articles
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