With the
support of the team, we have decided not to continue the Atlantic crossing on
the Paraguaçú rowing boat (due to October) unless there is a firm compromise with a
sponsor (before the 15th of September) that allow us to fulfill the
gaps on the initial plan (TV coverage of Paraguaçú's departure is assured by the program "nha terra, nha cretcheu", of RTP África-Cabo Verde).
It is the
third year invested on this project and the resources requiered were way above what we could
afford. Unfortunately we have no more resources available at the moment.
Not that the environment, and the forests in particular, don’t deserve the sacrifice (or even a martyr!). It is the other way around. Environment has provoked lots of victims: just remember some numbers about ‘climate refuges’ — the Environment Defense Fund estimated (in 2009) in 200 million the number of people that will be dislocated in 2080 because of climate changes (they were 50 million in 2011); or, 600.000 ha of the world’s land do burn down each year (sources: journal i, 30.11.11; TVE2, 15.06.14).
Not that the environment, and the forests in particular, don’t deserve the sacrifice (or even a martyr!). It is the other way around. Environment has provoked lots of victims: just remember some numbers about ‘climate refuges’ — the Environment Defense Fund estimated (in 2009) in 200 million the number of people that will be dislocated in 2080 because of climate changes (they were 50 million in 2011); or, 600.000 ha of the world’s land do burn down each year (sources: journal i, 30.11.11; TVE2, 15.06.14).
On the
Paraguaçú’s case, the ‘sacrifice’ (personal use of resources and physical wise) aims to reach people's harts and help accelerate
changes in behaviour.
The second
main idea expressed on the official communication of May is also still valid:
Paraguaçú project will finish before the end of 2014. This means that, in case we
are not able to continue the rowing trip, we will still try to arrive in the
Amazon, in a low pollutant way, and do some voluntary work together with a
local NGO dedicated to preserve the Amazon forest and protect its people. We
also intend to offer a symbolic donation to the same NGO to help continue their
good work. Contacts have already been established…
By the way, it is worthwhile to think about some of the new buzzwords like: 'Climate refuges' or 'Less Ego, more Eco'!
