Also by belinda

Come together

Posted by belinda - 24 May 2006 at 8:00am - Comments

A protestor marches through Santarem, complaining about Cargill's illegal port facility

If there has been one day out here that has reflected the spirit and passion of all the diverse groups fighting to get soya out of the Amazon, it was today. We joined a march of nearly 1000 people from indigenous and local communities throughout Santarem who are trying to stop Cargill destroying their livelihoods and way of life.

Article tagged as: agriculture, amazon, brazil, cargill, santarem, soya

Peaceful protest, Amazon style

Posted by belinda - 22 May 2006 at 8:00am - Comments

Greenpeace photographer injured by a fire work thrown by soya farmers

It's been a long day and its not yet 4pm. Worse still its been violent and the fear is things could get much worse.

Today, shortly after dawn, we launched three inflatables from the Arctic Sunrise, raised the anchor and steamed over to Cargill's illegal export facility. Our intention, to peacefully shut down the complex for as long as possible and prevent the unloading of rainforest soya from farms complicit in illegal land grabbing and slavery.

Article tagged as: agriculture, amazon, arctic sunrise, brazil, cargill, forests, santarem, soya

Finger lickin' good?

Posted by belinda - 19 May 2006 at 8:00am - Comments

Greenpeace protesters hold a banner saying Cargill Out in front of Cargills facility in Santarem

The view of the Amazon from the air is spectacular. A broad river winding its way through dense jungle back to source, giant lily pads sit like stepping stones across its tributaries and above, white egrets floating in the breeze. Dotted along the riverside, people can be seen fishing in canoes or transporting produce down river.

Article tagged as: agriculture, amazon, arctic sunrise, brazil, cargill, forests, KFC, santarem, soya

The trouble with beans

Posted by belinda - 17 May 2006 at 8:00am - Comments

Soya beans, the cause of huge amounts of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest

On Saturday we finally made it into Santarém port, having persuaded the authorities that they had no legal grounds on which they could legitimately keep the Arctic Sunrise out.

Despite rumours that the soy farmers were planning a march, the atmosphere in the port was quiet - except, that is, for the loading of a cargo ship, ironically preparing to transport Amazonian timber to France. It seemed criminal to stand by and watch it load but on this occasion it was not our remit to intervene.

Article tagged as: agriculture, amazon, arctic sunrise, brazil, cargill, forests, santarem, soya

Flying down to Santarém

Posted by belinda - 16 May 2006 at 8:00am - Comments

A Greenpeace activist parachutes into a soya field in cleared Amazon forest, near Santarem

I'm still expecting to wake up from this dream. A week ago I was standing in the rain and the cold at a bus stop in Hackney. Today, I'm looking over the bow of the Arctic Sunrise, the Greenpeace ship currently sailing along the Amazon River, stunned by the beauty of the rainforest that surrounds us.

Article tagged as: agriculture, amazon, arctic sunrise, brazil, forests, santarem, soya

Follow Greenpeace UK