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From YouTube: NOVEMBER 23 2021 Statements Mable Elmore
Description
The Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
2nd Session
42nd Parliament
A
Member
from
vancouver
kensington,
thank
you,
honorable
speaker,
as
we
grapple
with
the
impacts
of
climate
change,
and
many
in
british
columbia
continue
to
struggle
embrace
with
the
devastation
it
has
wrought.
I
recall
the
life
of
chico
mendez
chico
mendes
was
an
inspirational
leader
whose
courage
created
systemic
changes
in
the
amazon
rainforest
and
around
the
world.
He
was
a
brazilian
rubber
tapper
who
was
able
to
organize
and
move
the
government
into
setting
aside
large
tracks
of
the
rainforest
as
reserves
to
protect
it
from
destruction.
A
He
was
one
of
18
children
who
only
learned
to
read
and
write
when
he
was
18
years
old
because
he
was
determined
to
learn
more
about
why
his
and
other
families
were
kept
poor
and
exploited
through
newspaper
articles
that
spoke
about
social
and
political
issues.
He
came
to
understand
issues
around
unionization
and
human
rights
and
learned
lessons
that
helped
shape
his
understanding
of
the
struggles
before
his
people
through
his
dedication
and
commitment
to
what
is
just.
A
He
was
able
to
organize
his
fellow
rubber,
tappers
and
others
into
fighting
back
against
the
destructive
uses
of
the
rainforest.
They
formed
the
rural
workers
union
in
their
area
and
later
expanded
to
other
regions,
they
united
with
other
unions
and
organizations
and
in
1977
at
the
age
of
33
years
old,
he
was
elected
as
city
councilor.
He
used
his
position
to
organize
popular
debates,
peaceful
protests
and
political
participation.
A
He
was
able
to
unite
previously
opposed
groups
like
his
fellow
rubber,
toppers,
amazonian,
indians
and
international
environmental
activists
under
common
goals.
Chico
mendes
lived
a
remarkable
life
and
left
us
with
a
lasting
legacy
and
lessons
that
surely
serve
as
well
to
this
day.
Importantly,
he
also
recognized
that
protecting
the
workers
and
the
environment
was
more
than
just
about
that.