"Squeaky Wheel" Syndrome

I wanted to transform this blog just a bit, yet it is still focused on the same theme of the "Squeaky Wheel" Syndrome.

I wanted to move away from the framework of an environmental crises leading to policy, instead I wanted to briefly share his instance of the syndrome that falls within the scale level of the individual and the community and region.  However, that is not to say that this story is innately intertwined with an on-going environmental crises of enormous proportions in the Amazon.

Earlier this year in May in the Brazilian state of Para, Jose Claudio Ribeiro da Silva, and leading environmental activist in the region, and his wife, Maria, were robbed of their lives by gunmen outside of their home near a sustainable reserve on government-ceded land where they served as the leaders for 300 other families working the rain forest as rubber-tappers.

Authorities have stated that they were targeted for their repeated reporting of illegal loggers to the police and federal prosecutors. The couple had previously received numerous death threats.

Police examining the body of Jose Claudio Ribeiro da Silva

Nothing was stolen from their bodies or their property, further indicating that Jose and Maria were killed for their continued activism against the illegal loggers and farmers who would see large swaths of the forest cut down to raise cattle or soybeans.  The only thing that was taken off the bodies was an ear of Jose Silva's, cut off likely to be shown as proof that he was dead.

Over 1,150 rural activists have been murdered over the past 20 years in Brazil due to land conflicts, with most of these murders being carried out by gunmen hired by loggers, ranchers, or farmers to quash individuals who rally against those illegally cutting in the Amazon. Most notable was the 2005 murder of 73 year-old Dorothy Stang, an American nun living in Brazil, who was shot six times and left to die on a muddy road in the Amazon for her continued protest against illegal logging and land-grabbing by loggers.  Unfortunately, the Silvas are now added to this list.

This example sharply illustrates the power and danger that comes with being the "squeaky wheel".  When one believes something is wrong and will not stop sounding the alarm against this wrong, his or her opponents, out of their fear, lash out in violence and destruction.  Lacking protection from police and the government, these activists are being systematically murdered by highly entrenched interests in an effort to silence their voices.





Sources:

1.http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/29/adelino-ramos-killed-murdered_n_868606.html
2. http://news.mongabay.com/2011/0528-amazon_murders.html
3. http://www.permacultureusa.org/2009/03/20/in-memory-of-dorothy-stang/

Dr. Stan Meiburg Presentation

In listening to Dr. Stan Meiburg from the EPA a few weeks ago, it was interesting to learn about the separate paths that the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act to become legislation.

In addition, it was great to have such a significant player in the realm of U.S. environmental policy to outline the importance and effectiveness of these aforementioned bodies of legislation. It was striking to see the rate in which pollution levels have steadily decreased around the nation.  Yet, I am glad he brought up the very substantial point that there is MUCH work still needed to be done on the issue of air and water pollution.

Smog in Los Angeles

Overall, Dr. Meiburg presented a very concise, informative lecture on the topic of air and water quality in the U.S.  However,  my only qualm would be that he perhaps did not connect with the audience as effectively as he could have in that a substantial portion of his lecture was somewhat technical (which may be above the level of conservancy of some of the students in the audience).

Lastly, perhaps the ENP lecture series could be enhanced by bringing in speakers from national environmental NGOs such as the Sierra Club, and international NGOs such as Greenpeace.