Statue of Chico Mendes

Francisco Alves Mendes Filho, better known as "Chico Mendes" (Xapuri, December 15, 1944 - Xapuri, December 22, 1988) was a rubber tapper, unionist and environmental activist in Brazil. He fought for the preservation of the Amazon and became known worldwide because of his death.

Biography

Chico Mendes, a child, he began learning the craft of rubber, accompanying his father on tours through the forest. Only learned to read at 19 and 20 years, since most of the rubber there were no schools, nor the landowners had no intention of creating them on their properties.

He began his career as a union leader in 1975 as general secretary of the newly formed Union of Rural Workers of Brasiléia. Since 1976 actively participated in the struggles of the rubber to prevent deforestation through the "ties" - peaceful demonstrations in which the rubber trees to protect their own bodies. Also organized several actions to defend the possession of land by native inhabitants.

In 1977 he participated in the founding of the Rural Workers Union of Xapuri, and was elected councilor for local MDB. Then comes the first death threats by farmers, and starts having problems with his own party, who did not identify with their struggles.

In 1979 Chico Mendes brings together union leaders, and celebrations at City Hall, turning it into a great forum debates. Accused of subversion, is subjected to harsh interrogation. Without support, can not register the complaint of torture he suffered in December that year.
Representatives of the peoples of the forest (rubber tappers, Indians, Maroons) present claims during the 2nd National Meeting, Brasilia

Chico Mendes was one of the founders of the Workers Party and one of its leaders in Acre, and participated in rallies with Lula in the region. In 1980 was framed within the National Security Law at the request of the local ranchers, who sought to involve him in the murder of a ranch foreman, possibly related to the assassination of the President and Workers' Union Brasiléia, Wilson Pinheiro Sousa.

In 1981 Chico Mendes became the director of the Union of Xapuri, where he was president until his death. Candidate for state representative for the PT in the 1982 elections, can not be elected.

Accused of inciting violence squatters, was tried by the Military Court of Manaus, and acquitted for lack of evidence in 1984.

Led # 1. National Meeting of Rubber Tappers, in October 1985, during which he created the National Council of Rubber Tappers (CNS), which became the main reference for the category. Under his leadership the rubber tappers' struggle to preserve their way of life became known nationally and internationally. The proposal of the "Union of Forest Peoples" in defense of the Amazon Forest seeks to unite the interests of indigenous peoples, rubber tappers, Brazil nut, small fishermen, babassu nut breakers and coastal communities through the creation of extractive reserves. These reserves preserve indigenous areas and forests, besides being an instrument of agrarian reform rubber tappers.

In 1986 participates in the elections that year for the PT-AC candidate for state representative alongside other candidates including Ms Marina Silva to federal, José Marques de Sousa (Mathias) to the Senate, and Helio Pepper for Governor, none of which are elected .

In 1987, Chico Mendes was visited by some members of the UN in Xapuri, they could see firsthand the devastation of the forest and the expulsion of the rubber caused by projects financed by international banks. Two months later he took his complaints to the U.S. Senate and the meeting of a financing bank, the IDB. Funding for these projects are immediately suspended. On occasion, Chico Mendes has been accused by farmers and local politicians for "obstructing progress", which apparently does not convince international public opinion. Some months later, Mendes received several international awards, highlighting the Global 500, offered by the UN for their struggle in defense of the environment.

Throughout 1988 he participated in the establishment of the first extractive reserve in Acre. Threatened and persecuted by organized after the installation of the UDR in the state, runs Mendes Brazil, participating in seminars, lectures and conferences where he denounced the predatory actions against the forest from farmers and violence against workers in the region.

After the expropriation of Cachoeira Rubber in Xapuri property Darly Alves da Silva, are compounded by the death threats against Chico Mendes, who has repeatedly denounced publicly the names of likely responsible. Makes it clear to the police and government are at risk of losing life and that he needed protection. In the 3rd National Congress of the CUT, returns to denounce their situation, similar to several other leaders of rural workers across the country. Assign responsibility for the violence to the UDR. The thesis presents on behalf of the Union of Xapuri, In Defense of Forest Peoples, adopted by acclamation by the nearly six thousand delegates. At the end of the Congress, Mendes was elected deputy of the national leadership of the CUT. Also assume the chairmanship of the National Council of Rubber Tappers from the 2nd National Meeting of the category, scheduled for March 1989 but did not survive until that date.

On December 22, 1988, exactly a week after his 44th birthday, Chico Mendes was killed by shots from a shotgun in the chest at the back door of his house, when I went out to bathe. Chico announced that he would be killed because of their intense struggle to preserve the Amazon, and sought protection, but authorities and the press did not investigate. Married Ilzamar Mendes (2nd wife), left two sons, and Elenira Sandino, who was then two and four years old, respectively. In 1992 he was identified through DNA testing a third daughter.

After the murder of Chico Mendes over thirty union, religious, political, human rights and environmental groups have joined to form the "Committee Chico Mendes." They demanded that measures and through national coordination and international pressure on official bodies for the crime to be punished. In December 1990, the Brazilian court ordered the farmers Darly Alves da Silva and Darcy Alves Ferreira, responsible for his death, 19 years in prison. Darly escaped in February 1993 and hid in the INCRA settlement in the interior of Pará, and even received public funding from the Bank of Amazonia under false identity. He was recaptured in June 1996. The misrepresentation earned him a second sentence: two years and eight months in prison.

Review of sentence

In December 2007, a judge's decision Maha Kouzi Manasfi Manasfi and granted the farmer Darly Alves da Silva house arrest until March 2008. Darly had been taken to prison in Rio Branco in August 2006 after having been convicted in jury and famous as the instigator of the crime.

Reis Magos Fort

The Fortaleza da Barra do Rio Grande, popularly known as the Forte dos Reis Magos, or Reis Magos Fort, located in Natal in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte.

The fortress was the landmark for the city - founded in December 25, 1599 - in the right-hand side of the river Potengi (today near the Ponte Newton Navarro). It was named because of the date of commencement of its construction, January 6, 1598, Three Kings Day

History

Background

In the context of Philippine Dynasty, when the conquest of the coast of northeastern Brazil, then threatened by French privateers that there trafficked Brazil wood (Caesalpinia echinata), the mouth of the Rio Grande (North) was reached by Portuguese troops under the command of Captain General of Pernambuco, Manuel de Mascarenhas Homem, with orders to start a fortification.

To defend the camp by the beach, started a stockade fence and mud, with plants in circular shape, stylish indigenous, January 6, 1598 (Three Kings Day), while they proceeded to the final site selection the fortifications ordered by the Crown: a reef at the entrance of the bar, isolated at high tide and in the tide, allowing communication with the mainland
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The strong seiscentista

Detail map of Rio Grande do Norte in the book that gives reason to the State of Brazil (c. 1616) with the sole of Forte dos Reis Magos.

The plan of the new fort, drawn on United in 1597, attributed to the Jesuit priest Gaspar de Samperes (or Samperes Gonçalves) and disciple of the Italian military architect Giovanni Battista Antonelli, presented the classical form of the strong maritime seventeenth century: a star polygon, with concave angle toward the North, built in "taypa, and staked area littered loose." His works were entrusted to its first commander, Jeronimo de Albuquerque Maranhão (1548-1618).

Its second commander was John Roberts Colaço and the fortification was able to defend in early 1602, artillery and garrisoned by a detachment of two hundred men. Is represented by John Teixeira Albernaz, the old, in the work assigned to Diogo de Campos Moreno, in the upper left corner of the map of the Rio Grande as "Tears of the fort that defends the bar of the Rio Grande" (Petipa fathoms in class) , strapped with 10 pieces on their trucks, throwing the barbette. This iconography already reflects the reconstruction works carried out from 1614, with the plant manager and chief engineer of the works of fortification of Brazil, Francisco de Frias Mosque (1603-1634), when it acquired the current conformation. On occasion, its walls were improved, receiving the counter and counters reinforcement from the sea, as well as internal works of housing in buildings of two floors, which were completed in 1628.

The domain Netherlands

After a first attempt of robbery by Vandenbourg, frustrated in December 1631, December 1633 starts new invasion Netherlands, coming from Recife in fifteen ships, a troop of 800 soldiers landed at Ponta Negra under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Byma , surrounding the fort in a combined land and naval operations. Garrisoned by 85 men under the command of Captain Pedro Gouveia, and strapped for nine pieces of bronze and iron 22, after a week of harassment, wounded the commander of the square, by default this is the surrender negotiated by some occupants, including Domingos Fernandes Calabar (1609-1635). Occupied 12 December 1633 to February 1654, with the name Ceulen Castle (Kasteel Keulen), tribute to van Natthijs Ceulen, one of the leaders of collegiate WOC in Brazil from 1633 to 1634. Captain Joris Garstman was the first Dutchman to command it and Count Maurice of Nassau (1604-1679) had to repair it (1638).

This is subject to strong high dunes which are a musket shot, and are as high as you can see them by the gunboats embankment, and then take the bullet of the shoe to the foot of the castle. When we surround him, sat our artillery on the dunes, and made a fire so that no one could stay on the wall. But this defect was remedied by lifting up on the front wall, against the stone parapet, another land-proof cannon, and with it all the stronger from the top is covered and guarded.

And because of this strong tide is surrounded by water and have to endure the brunt of the sea, is a little damaged at the bottom, which will repair, building stone and lime a new base.

The castle is well provided with artillery, besides the parts that were taken there, they set him two size 4, which were on the sailing ships that found in the river when we were surrounded. "

It was in the dungeons of this square that the former governor of Para and Maranhao, Bento Maciel Parente, ended his days, trapped against the laws of war, after the capitulation of São Luís (February 1, 1642). In 1654, after the capitulation of the WOC in Recife, when Colonel Francisco de Figueroa, by order of General Baker comes to occupy this fortress, it had been abandoned by the forces of Holland.

The fortification in the nineteenth century

The strong dependencies served as a political prison for those involved in the Pernambuco Revolution of 1817. Stood out among them their leader in Rio Grande do Norte, André de Albuquerque, who died in one of its cells, a victim of injury, that same year.

During the First World War (1914 - 1918) the fort was garrisoned by an Independent Battery Coast Artillery.

Was listed by Heritage since 1949 and integrated into the Foundation's assets in 1965 José Augusto.

Restored with the Church of St. Anthony's Cathedral, the Museum of Sobradinho and the Government Palace, the Forte dos Reis Magos integrates a number of large urban expression in terms of art and historical-cultural Christmas. Currently located in Praia do Forte, the Fortress houses a history museum, and is considered one of the attractions preferred by tourists in Natal.

Features

The current shows strong irregular polygonal shape, built in stone masonry and lime. Around the embankment under the walls, are willing to Home Command, the Headquarters and Deposits, center, stands a building of square plan, two floors:

* On the lower floor, lies the Chapel, with arched openings on;
* At the top, externally accessible by a staircase in two flights and through a door lintel line, offers to the Powder House, capped by a pyramidal summit. The vertices of this pyramid, corners, cornice and pinnacle complete the set.

In embankment opens also the Cistern.

Access to the fort is via a walkway, the walkway to the beach and, thereafter, through an archway on the right, going out into the hallway. Another staircase leads to the embankment and to the gate to the square.

The Docks

Inaugurated on May 13, 2000, at the Docks is one of the areas that most reflect the Amazon region. National reference, the resort embraces cultural and gastronomy, culture, fashion and events in the 500 meters in the river shores of the ancient port of Belem are 32 thousand square meters divided into three warehouses and a passenger terminal.
The boulevards were the result of careful restoration work of the warehouses of the port capital of Pará. The three English iron sheds are a characteristic example of architecture of the second half of the nineteenth century. Cranes external trademarks Station, were manufactured in the United States in the early 20th century. Already the steam engine in mid-1800, supplying power to the equipment of the port. The ruins of Fort San Pedro Nolasco, where an amphitheater was built, were originally built to defend the border in 1665. The space was destroyed after the Cabanagem Movement in 1825, and revitalized for the inauguration of the station.
Drama, music and dancing are fun options daily. Onstage sliders, pop and rock music are some of Para rhythms that pack the afternoons and evenings for visitors. Para musical groups also have space on the edge with the project Sunset Sound. Theatrical productions for all ages are known through the projects Put sunsets and Stage Free. In addition, holidays are always special programming.

Bethlehem

Bethlehem is a Brazilian city, capital of Pará State with an area of approximately a 064,918 sq km, is located in northern Brazil.
With a population of 1,392,031 inhabitants, is known as "Metropolis of the Amazon, " and the second largest tourist destinations in the Amazon. The city is headquarters of the Metropolitan Region of Bethlehem the second largest in the region.
In its nearly 400 years of history, Bethlehem experienced moments of fulfillment, including the heyday of the rubber in the early twentieth century, when the county received a number of European families, which came to greatly influence the architecture of its buildings being then known as Paris n'América. Today, despite being cosmopolitan and modern in many respects, Bethlehem has not lost the air of the traditional facades of mansions, churches and chapels throughout the colonial period. The city is known worldwide and has significant influence national and even international. Has important monuments, parks and museums such as the Theatre of Peace, Emilio Goeldi Museum, the Mercado Ver-o-Peso, and high profile events such as the Amazon Fashion Week, the Cirio deNazare and more.