PRESS ADVISORY
GREENPEACE LAYS FOUNDATIONS IN AMAZONIA
AMAZONIA July 7, 1992 (GP) Greenpeace lays foundations in
Amazonia, backed by denouncements made today by local leaders of
the rubber tappers and activists of the indian right movement in
a press conference on board the SV Rainbow Warrior. The
accusations dealt with illegal invasions of indigenous
territories in the southern part of State of Para, of which Belem
is capital, by loggers, gold miners (garimpeiros) and land
owners. These crimes have not been prosecuted.
The press conference, organized by GP BRazil, was one of the
activities of the RW since her arrival in Belem on July 2nd. The
aim of the ship's visit is to inform the public about GP's
activities in the region, where the organization is almost
unknown.
"Our most improtant aim in this visit to Belem is to introduce
Greenpeace to the local population, let them know what we think
an what we are doing to save the forest", explained Jose Augusto
Padua, coordinator of the Tropical FOrests campaign for Brazil
and Latin America. "People have been very receptive, including
those who had never heard of GP before, thus opening a big door
for us to make an effective work in a region so important within
the tropical forests campaign"
According to Padua, the activities of the campaign are initially
concentrated in fighting against predatory logging, fires that
destroy native forest to give place to agricultural actvities,
and the destruciton of rives through use of mercury by gold
miners.
THis is the first time a GP ship arrivces at Amazonia, and since
her arrival to Belem, she was visited by around five thousand
people. The SV Rainbow Warrior has also received permanent visits
by local media: TVs, radios and newspapers. On sunday night,
having the SV Rainbow Warrior as stage and a marvelous background
of crescent moon and the Bay of Guajara, Greenpeace organized a
music concert with some of the main artists of the Amazon region,
who played for free in this ocason. The show was attended by a
small multitude. Taking advantage of the music, there were
messages from the campaign to protect the forests that were said
between songs.
For GP BRasil, the presence of the ship in Amazonia has been an
important starting point for fundraising activities through sale
of products and membership, which will allow work in the region
with support of the local people.
--- TosScan 1.00
* Origin: pnsfido -- Gateway between NordNet and FidoNet (2:201/313)