Chico Mendes National Council of Rubber Tappers Union (1) Mr. Chico Mendes was born in 1944 in Xapuri, Brazil. Brazil is in South America.

(2) Mr. Mendes grew up in a small village. His father was a rubber tapper. Rubber tappers make small cuts in trees. They get sap from the trees. The sap makes rubber.

(3) In 1953, Mr. Mendes worked as a rubber tapper. He was 9 (nine) years old. He did not go to school. When he was 20 years old, he learned to read. In 1964, a man, Tavora, moved to his village. Tavora taught Mr. Mendes how to read. He taught him about rights for workers.  

(4) In the 1970s, cattle ranchers moved to Mr. Mendes’ town. The cattle ranchers burned down the forests. This is deforestation. The forests and trees provided jobs for the rubber tappers. The forest was the home for many plants and animals. Without the forests, the rubber tappers lost their jobs and homes.

(5) Mr. Mendes became a teacher. He taught in the Brazilian (6) In 1975, the rubber tappers formed a union – the Rural

Literacy Movement. He worked with rubber tappers and their families.

 

Workers Union. Mr. Mendes was a leader of the union. They wanted workers rights. They wanted land reform. They wanted land for the workers. The rich ranchers had to share the land.

(7) In 1977, Mr. Mendes and the Workers Union organized demonstrations. He helped organize the Worker’s Party. The Brazilian government did not like Mr. Mendes. He was beaten and arrested.

(8) By 1980, Mr. Mendes helped organize the National Council fo Rubber Tappers. Brazilian Indians, environmental activists and rubber tappers worked together. They wanted to help the rubber tappers.

Union building

(9) The government helped the ranchers. Rubbert tapeprs were attacked and killed. They lost their jobs. More than 1000 (one thousand) people were killed to save their jobs and the forest.

R.I.P. = Rest In Peace

(10) Mr. Medes did not give up. In 1987, he went to Washington, D.C., the U.S. capital. He asked governments and groups to help save the forest. Mr. Mendes won the Global 500 Award. The award is for helping the environment.

(11) When Mr. Mendes went back to Brazil, his home was gone. A rancher took over the forest. A rancher said:” I will kill Chico Mendes.”    

home family

(12) In 1998, Mr. Mendes was killed at his home. A rancher and his son killed Mr. Mendes. To honor Mr. Mendes, 1 (one) million hectares of the forest was saved for the rubber tappers. It is the Chico Mendes Reserve. Today, Brazil has 15 (fifteen) million hectors of forest reserves.

funeral

1 hectare = 100 acres