Another eco-activist murdered in Brazil

Spanish biologist killed in Brazil after reporting environmental crimes 

Tortured and thrown into park waterfall

en Castellano y Portugues abajo

Gonzalo Alonso Hernández

A Spanish biologist was shot dead in the state of Rio de Janeiro and police believe it was a revenge for his allegations of environmental crimes in the protected area of the unique threatened ‘Mata Atlantica’ ecosystem, where he lived, said Wednesday the newspaper O Globo.

The body of Gonzalo Alonso Hernandez, 49, was found Sunday floating near a waterfall in the park Cunhambebe, located near the town of Rio Claro.

“The biologist defending endangered species and fighting predatory hunting in the park (…) That bothered some people,” said Marco Antonio Alves, Civil Police.

The professional, who lived for 10 years in the area, also fighting the illegal extraction of aq native palm.

Police, who did not rule out other hypotheses in the crime, such as robbery, said the biologist’s computer was stolen, perhaps to erase any links with the murderers.

Police have confirmed that the killed Biologist home computer just disappeared, probably to remove the traces of their claims in the environmental field. Their murderers also cut the phone line and light in their home.

morada de  Cunhambebe
morada de
Cunhambebe

His widow said it seemed symbolic that Gonzalo was executed at his home and his body was thrown into a waterfall in the park whose protection he had been advocating for eight years. As reported by this newspaper, she has no doubt that the crime has been committed by those who were touched by their complaints.

Police were awaiting experts of the Legal Medical Institute of Angra de los Reyes, the region where is located the famous town of Paraty and where the study will be done on the corpse. Only then can they confirm whether this is an “environmental crime” or a simple robbery, which the police themselves say is unikely, given the background of the victim.

*****

Ambientalista espanhol pode ter sido torturado antes de ser morto no RJ

Ambientalista “incomodava” muita gente no Parque Cunhambebe, diz delegado

Étore Medeiros

 

Publicação: 08/08/2013 08:21 Atualização:

O ambientalista espanhol Gonzalo Alonso Hernández, de 48 anos, encontrado morto no Parque Estadual Cunhambebe (RJ), pode ter sido torturado antes de ser assassinado, segundo as primeiras informações divulgadas pela delegacia do município de Rio Claro, que investiga o caso. De acordo com o delegado Marco Antônio Alves, a morte do espanhol pode ter sido uma retaliação pelas frequentes denúncias que ele fazia contra extratores de palmito e caçadores e criadores de gado, que agiam dentro da área de proteção ambiental. “Isso estava incomodando muitas pessoas”, declarou Alves. O corpo do biólogo foi encontrado por um vizinho, na manhã de terça-feira (6/8), com marcas de tiros na cabeça, boiando próximo a uma cachoeira do parque. Hernández era casado com Maria de Lurdes Pena Campos, e morava na região há mais de 10 anos.morada-de-cunhambebe

A ONG ambiental WWF, por meio de nota, repudiou a morte do biólogo, e alertou que “ameaças, violência e assassinatos de ambientalistas (…) tornaram-se recorrentes e crescentes em todo o Brasil”. No último domingo, os catarinenses Wigold Schaffer e Miriam Prochnow foram agredidos e feitos reféns por um caçador, dentro da propriedade que possuem em Atalanta (SC). O homem teria ameaçado matar a ambos e efetuado um disparo contra Wigold, sem contudo acertá-lo. A morte do biológo espanhol ganhou repercussão internacional por meio do jornal El País, da Espanha, que definiu Hernández como um “destacado ativista ambiental (…), assassinado em casa, e jogado em uma cachoeira do parque que defendia”.

 

*****

:

Biólogo español asesinado en Brasil tras denunciar crímenes ambientales D

Un biólogo español fue asesinado a tiros en el estado de Río de Janeiro y la policía cree que se trató de una venganza por sus denuncias de crímenes ambientales en la zona protegida donde vivía, informó el miércoles el diario O Globo.

El cadáver de Gonzalo Alonso Hernández, de 49 años, fue hallado el domingo flotando cerca de una cascada en el parque Cunhambebe, ubicado en la población de Río Claro.

“El biólogo defendía las especies en extinción y combatía la caza depredadora en el parque (…) Esa lucha molestaba a algunas personas”, explicó Marco Antonio Alves, de la Policía Civil.

El profesional, que vivía hace 10 años en la zona, también combatía la extracción ilegal de palmito.

La policía, que no descarta otras hipótesis en el crimen, como un robo, indicó que el computador del biólogo fue robado, quizás para borrar cualquier vínculo con los asesinos.

La policía ha confirmado que de la casa del biólogo asesinado solo despareció el ordenador, probablemente para eliminar las huellas de sus denuncias en el campo ambiental. Sus asesinos cortaron también la línea telefónica y la luz de su casa.

A la viuda le ha parecido simbólico que Gonzalo fuese ejecutado en su casa y que su cuerpo fuese arrojado a una cascada de agua del parque cuya protección llevaba defendiendo desde hacía ocho años. Según ha informado a este diario, ella no tiene la menor duda de que el crimen ha sido cometido por los que se sintieron tocados por sus denuncias.

sagui-de-tufo-branco em Cunhambebe
sagui-de-tufo-branco em Cunhambebe

La policía espera, no obstante, los informes periciales del Instituto Médico Legal de Angra de los Reyes, región donde está ubicada la famosa ciudad de Paraty y donde ha sido realizado el estudio necrológico del cadáver. Solo entonces podrán confirmar si se trata de un “crimen ambiental” o de un simple robo a mano armada, que según la misma policía parece la hipótesis menos probable, dados los antecedentes de la victima.

Fuente: http://www.contrainjerencia.com/?p=72462

*****

 

 

Lessons from Brazil: Building Popular Power

Lessons from Brazil: Building Popular Power

Popular Protest in Brazil

Popular Protest in Brazil

Members of the Organização Anarquista Socialismo Libertário (Libertarian Socialism Anarchist Organization, OASL) have participated in the recent struggles in Brazil against the rising transportation tariffs, in Sao Paulo, in Brasilia and in cities like Mogi das Cruzes, Marilia and Franca. Members of other organizations linked to the Coordenação Anarquista Brasileira (Brazilian Anarchist Coordination, CAB) have, in other states, also contributed to the struggle.

Below, two militants of OASL, Pablo Pamplona and Thiago Calixto, who have been participating in the struggles, respond to a few questions from Jonathan Bane of Anarkismo about the recent process of popular street mobilizations in the country. They emphasize the need to create ongoing grassroots organizations through which people can take control of their daily lives. For the full interview, click here. Continue reading “Lessons from Brazil: Building Popular Power”

Brazil: If I can´t dance, it is not my #BRevolution

#BRevolution, Brazilian remixed shout for Global Spring

BNAWnQsCIAAmIdHThe sleeping giant is waking up. Brazil is awakening from the Fake Progress Dream of the 1%. Brazilians are taking the streets, but the media only talks about macro politics. Brazilian youth-and-not-so are demanding other economic, civic and social ways. But the media hides the facts:

political assemblies in public, occupations of municipal assemblies (as Belo Horizontes´s occupation),

new networked collectives fighting for the right to the city, for political participation… Continue reading “Brazil: If I can´t dance, it is not my #BRevolution”

What is happening in Brazil #ChangeBrazil

Whatishappeninginbrazil

Some insight on why there are so many people in the streets_h0_w628_m6_otrue_lfalse

by reblogged with thanks

This isn’t your ordinary protest – this is a revolution.

Over one million people have taken the streets of Brasil in all the major cities of Sao Paulo, Brasilia, Rio, Belem, Salvador, and Belo Horizonte. Protests have been a common occurrence in Brasil, but for the past two weeks, the number of protests and people in the streets has been increasing phenomenally. Last time the streets of Brasil were this full for a political cause was for the impeachment of president Collor in 1992. That was twenty years ago. This isn’t your ordinary protest – this is a revolution.

So what is it about? The international media understands the gist of it, but they don’t see it as game changing as brazilians all over the world have come to recognise.

CNN reports “they complain that corruption is driving up the World Cup expenses at the cost of the poor.”

The New York Times reports they are “venting their anger over political corruption.”

Aljazeera reports they want ‘hospitals not stadiums’, and questions this is beyond the fare hikes.

BBC reports “the unrest was sparked by transport price hikes in Sao Paulo but it has now grown into broader discontent over poor public services and corruption.”

The international media doesn’t realise yet the gravity of this upheaval. Let me explain, Brazilians have always had too many reasons the people have for being in the streets but it was unlikely they would go.changebrazil

CULTURAL CONTEXT

The truth is, Brasil is a self-centered country. The only portuguese speaking country in Latin America, yet you will be hard pressed to someone who speaks spanish. And even with only a year left for the World Cup, foreigners will be sure to struggle. The Brazilians who went go through private schools, learned English all throughout the school and still have a poor grasp of the basics.

Comedy within a nation say a lot about how a nation sees itself: Americans enjoy one-liners portraying the comedian as someone smart, in a heroic position; the British celebrate their failures, portraying the comedian as someone who wants to be taken seriously, but their dignity is continuously compromised; Australians joke of their acceptance in who they are – they have no dignity and are not trying for it; whereas Brazilians make jokes of their misery, they take the edge of their hard lives by changing the title from ‘news’ to ‘joke’. They don’t even have to try hard for comedy.19jun2013---manifestantes-levam-faixa-com-a-inscricao-o-gigante-acordou-para-protesto-em-frente-ao-estadio-castelao-em-fortaleza-1371646544882_956x500

It is a country where corruption is so common that when it enrages one person it is met with indifference from others who experience the same injustice. People are desensitized. And this is the most surprising element of these protests – over half of the people in the streets are in their 20s. This is the generation that grew up with entertainment at their finger tips, the most distracted generation, so much that they are telling each other to ‘leave Facebook’ and ‘leave Candy Crush’ to join the cause.

This is why they are hashtagging ‘the giant has awoken’; for years they have experienced the same misery and not given a second thought. The country has awoken from its apathy and is asking to #ChangeBrasil.Military-police-try-to-di-006

Brasil: The Giant Woke Up! #ogiganteacordou

1013801_509724942416077_866029008_n

 and what did the politicians reply??

how I heard Dilma`s speech.. Bla Bla.....
how I heard Dilma`s speech.. Bla Bla…..

m

The Giant Awoke – O Gigante Acordou – Brazilian protests with English subtitles – June 2013  

Videos from the Brazilian protests, week ending 21/June/2013

All footage in this video was shot and edited by eyewitnesses on the ground in Brazil, I only added (bad) translations.

Songs from the video:

O rappa – Vem Pra Rua
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5kmggb9k1o

Gabriel O Pensador – Ate quando
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=673zYtoWM_Y

Legiao Urbana – Geracao Coca-cola
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-qYu-zRiGM

Sett Blatter getting booed, the view from the crowd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gH6ivD-uKU

Huge thanks to Amy from Anonymous Brazil for help translating chants and finding songs.

gigante

Brasil: Se extiende la Rebelión Masiva/Giant Rebellion!

busfaredemo 17june santos Brasil: Cientos de miles de personas salen a las calles contra la subida de los transportes publicos y los gastos del Mundial

por Kaos. América Latina

Los sectores que vienen promoviendo protestas contra un fuerte aumento en las tarifas del transporte amenazaron el lunes con hacer movilizaciones más grandes todavía, lo que aliment temores de que se repita la brutal represión policial de los últimos días. Continue reading “Brasil: Se extiende la Rebelión Masiva/Giant Rebellion!”

7 tribes re-Occupy Belo Monte Dam site

Xingu rising

Indigenous Peoples Launch New Occupation on Belo Monte Dam Site

 

By: International Rivers, Amazon Watch and CIMI   Friday, May 3, 2013

Seven tribes from the Xingu and Tapajós rivers protest violations of right to prior consultation in construction of Amazonian dams

Altamira, Pará, Brazil: Approximately 200 indigenous people affected by the construction of large hydroelectric dams in the Amazon launched an occupation yesterday at one of the main construction sites of the Belo Monte Dam complex in the municipality of Victoria de Xingu.

They demand that the Brazilian government adopt effective legislation on prior consultations with indigenous peoples regarding projects that affect their lands and livelihoods. Until then, they are demanding the immediate suspension of all construction, technical studies and police operations related to dams along the Xingu, Tapajós and Teles Pires rivers. Shock troops of the Military Police were awaiting the indigenous protestors when they arrived at the Belo Monte Dam site, but they were unable to impede the occupation. Continue reading “7 tribes re-Occupy Belo Monte Dam site”