Remembering Some of the Earth Defenders Who Were Killed in 2019

Here are some of the brave souls who gave their lives in 2019 in defense of the environment. There have been an increasing number of environmental activists murdered in recent years. Many of the murders in 2019 took place in Brazil which is currently being ruled by far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. In Brazil a total of 56 defenders were assassinated in 2017 alone. At least eight land defenders were killed in 2018 in the Brazilian state of Para alone.

The Rising Toll of Murdered Environmental Activists

Each year environmental activists are killed for trying to defend the natural world. It is fitting that we start the year by remembering the brave souls who are on the front lines of efforts to protect their land, water or local wildlife. For every environmental activist killed hundreds more were assaulted. This includes the indigenous activists in Brazil who had their hands cut off with machetes by ranchers. To add insult to injury the perpetrators of these villainous acts are almost never caught.

Suspected Assassins of Berta Cáceres Arrested in Honduras

On May 11th the Honduran government arrested four men and charged them with the murder of indigenous environmental activist Berta Cáceres. She was killed because of her opposition to the Agua Zarca hydropower project in the Gulacarque river basin. Men affiliated with Desarrollos Energéticos S.A. (DESA), the Honduran company building the dam, are implicated in her murder.

The shots that killed Berta echoed around the globe. The world was outraged that the winner of the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize, was savagely gunned down for what can only be described as her noble efforts to defend the rights of her people and protect the land on which they live.

Drawing Inspiration from Environmentalists who have Gone Before Us

As we continue to hope for the birth of a new era of environmental responsibility, we can draw inspiration from those who have gone before us and done so much to move us forward. Here are the abbreviated biographies of six environmentalists who invested their lives into the noblest of noble causes.

Judy Bonds

The anti-mountaintop removal mining activist, Judy Bonds, died in 2011 at the age of 58. Judy was an engaging speaker who inspired many people to get involved with efforts to protect mountains from mining. She was a powerful public speaker who had an awe inspiring capacity to rally people around the cause. One of her greatest accomplishments involved a 2010 march in which thousands protested in front of the White House for “Appalachia Rising.”

Infographic - Modern US Environmental Movement

Video - Global Power Shift in the Summer of 2013

In June 2013, 500 people from around the world gathered in Istanbul Turkey to refine approaches to advocate for climate justice. The Global Power Shift is a 350.org initiative that seeks nothing less then an end to climate change. As pointed out by one of those in this video, "all of us are connected," to achieve climate justice we will need to sharpen and coordinate our global strategies. Learning about these approaches is phase one, now they have returned home for phase two. To protect our planet they seek to create a national power shift in every country.

Video - Greenpeace Direct Action Camp 2014

The 3rd Annual Greenpeace Direct Action Camp will be held in Arizona March 23-28, 2014. We will be accepting applications for the camp until January 31, 2014.

Is Celebrity Environmental Advocacy Counterproductive?

What harm can there be from celebrities who provide material support, raise environmental awareness and encourage ecological action? We live in a culture of celebrity worship, we are bombarded with their images in advertising, film, television and online. Whether we are consumers of pop culture or not, there is no denying that celebrities hold a lot of sway with the general public.  The fact is that television, movie and music personalities have vastly larger audiences than the most popular climate scientists.

Many of these stars do more than pay lip service to green lifestyles, they show their concern for the environment by driving hybrid cars, living in green homes or changing their dietary habits. A few have even become stalwart activists.

American Environmental Activism in 2013

The US environmental movement is represented by a wide range of NGOs of varying sizes. Some operate on the local level while others operate nationally and internationally. Some of the largest and most influential environmental organizations in the US are:

Environmental Defense Fund
National Audubon Society
National Wildlife Federation
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Friends of the Earth
Sierra Club
World Wide Fund for Nature
350.org
Greenpeace USA

These organizations and many others have championed a host of different causes including fisheries, wildlife, forests, wilderness and biodiversity. More recently they have focused on ozone depletion, acid rain, air pollution and water pollution. The overarching issue garnering the most activity is climate change, specifically efforts to reduce greenhouse gases. Part of this effort supports the broad spectrum of environmental actions known as sustainability.

Environmental Activism is Changing China

The Chinese are increasingly aware of environmental issues and support for action has been steadily growing. China's fledgling green movement is responding to a host of serious concerns from the abysmal air quality in Beijing to the 750 dead pigs pulled from the Huangpu River in Shanghai in March.

There is evidence of a growing environmental consciousness in cities across China. People are becoming concerned about air and water borne pollution particularly as it impacts their health. Led by young activists, groups like university environmental clubs are campaigning to raise awareness and combat pollution.

Turkish Environmentalists Spark National Protests

A brutal police crackdown against a peaceful environmental protest in Turkey has sparked the biggest anti-government demonstrations in years. The May 31st protest in Istanbul has spread to dozens of Turkish cities and involves a broad spectrum of support from students to professionals, trade unionists, Kurdish activists. The mass protests began with a demonstration to halt construction of a shopping center in a park in Istanbul's Taksim Square, a huge new Mosque planned for the banks of the Bosphorus river and a replica of an Ottoman-era barracks.

Visionary Women: The Profiles of Two Important Environmentalists

Angella Nazarian's new book, Pioneers of the Possible: Celebrating Visionary Women, includes profiles of two important environmentalists. Marina Silva, who ran for president of Brazil last year and is referred to as the Al Gore of Brazil. She's been working tirelessly to save the Amazon and was at the forefront of passing legislation for the environment. Illiterate and living in the Amazon jungle as a rubber tapper until age 16, she is also the winner of the prestigious Goldman prize.

Wangari Matthai of Kenya, the first environmentalist to win a Noble Prize. She founded the Green Belt Movement that has led to more than 13 million trees being planted in Africa. Her movement has spread to other African countries.

Earth Conscious Celebrities

Ed Begley Jr. is one of the biggest (and proudest) tree huggers in Hollywood. Begley was one of the first celebrities to speak up about his environmental views and eco-friendly lifestyle, which consists of veganism, driving an electric car, and using a bicycle-powered toaster oven. He is also involved in several different environmental organizations and even had his own reality TV show, called Living Like Ed.

Earth Conscious People in History

John Muir is considered the father of conservation because of his preservation efforts and activism that helped save several vital wilderness areas, like Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park. The 19th century naturalist founded the Sierra Club, a well-known grassroots conservation organization that practices and promotes environmental sustainability. Muir's contributions have helped America preserve its natural habitats and improve many environmental issues.