Amazon Activist Paulo Paulino Guajajara Killed at 26
He dedicated his life to protecting his native forest from illegal logging. At 26, Paulo Paulino Guajajara was murdered by wood traffickers in the Amazon.
‘We don’t want war. We just want to resist’
Paulo Paulino devoted his life to protecting the forest that he called home — despite severe risks and death threats. He was born in the early 1990s in Brazil. A member of the Guajajara tribe, an indigenous group of 20,000 in the Amazon region, Paulino grew up aware of the importance of the environment. As an adult, he joined the Guardians of the Forest, a group founded in 2012 to fight the growing menace of illegal logging. This practice is damaging the ecosystem of the Araribóia indigenous reserve and endangering those who live there, such as the Awá, an uncontacted tribe.
He and the other guardians organized forest patrols to alert firefighters of any fires, share the GPS coordinates of deforested areas, and destroy the loggers’ illegal camps. Because of this, they often receive death threats. The loggers hire hitmen to murder certain guardians in Araribóia. On several occasions, members of Guardians of the Forest have been killed. Fearing for their lives, they contacted the government, asking for protection. “We’re very worried about these threats, some of the guardians’ homes have been shot at. We don’t want war. We just want to resist,” says Olimpio Guajajara, Coordinator of Guardians of the Forest.
In spite of the risks, Paulino kept up the fight. On November 1, 2019, he was traveling far from his village, accompanied by another member of the Guardians of the Forest, when at least 5 armed men suddenly appeared. Shots broke the silence of the forest. His friend was hit but managed to escape — but Paulino did not. After dedicating his life to protecting nature, Paulino died protecting his land. According to local media, he was 26. It is the latest incident in a wave of violence targeting Indigenous Land Protectors since the election of Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro the year before.
Brut.
229 comments
Ana O.
11/30/2019 23:22Q.E.P.D. gracias por proteger la madre tierra con la vida. Eres un heroe.
Mike O.
11/30/2019 03:38https://youtu.be/1-nb6DuU6mY
Tyrone F.
11/29/2019 20:38Believe in something even if it means sacrificing everything
Leonora M.
11/29/2019 16:45Paulo Paulino: Guardian of 🌎 Earth : Bless his soul & every Guardian going forward!
Steven M.
11/29/2019 02:47That affects us all
Typ A.
11/28/2019 03:47I’m also 26 and livin in the city where 95% of the ppl don’t even think outside of their jobs, home etc. and here was a brave guy doin what most wouldn’t even bother to. Protect tha last of what’s really Mother Earth...
William O.
11/26/2019 17:47Paulino thanks for sacrifice your life People like you Never dies lives for ever!
Zeke B.
11/26/2019 16:46😡
LS S.
11/26/2019 14:14amor naturaleza
Jose L.
11/26/2019 07:45Shanice Marie
Denise M.
11/25/2019 18:43Praying for the family
Edgar A.
11/25/2019 17:38😠
Miguel F.
11/25/2019 08:38otro chico Mendez...
Negro G.
11/25/2019 07:25RIP
Rey A.
11/24/2019 23:30Asi me siento yo en mi propia tierra... Chico Mendez...
Errol R.
11/24/2019 02:40WHY THE GOVERMENT OR OTHER COUNTRY DID NOT HELP YOU CAN SEE WHY I SAY CLIMATE CHANGE IS MAN MADE THIS IS MADNESS WE ARE BURNING IN HELL N THESE PEOPLE IS ALL ABOUT MONEY NO ONE WITH THE GALL TO GATHER UP N ORGANIZATION N SAY THE BUCK STOP HERE WE RE E ALL THE MEN FEMINIZE N THERE TETHASTHRUM SEDATED...WORLD Wake up were heading to a dead end....
Jay J.
11/23/2019 23:43Died a hero
Mandy R.
11/23/2019 11:00Jewel of the great Amazon Forest
Frank W.
11/22/2019 15:55Real dude that’s was bout that life
Dawn L.
11/22/2019 12:34God Bless and protect them