Travel to the Amazon in January with Rainforest Action Network
Thursday, November 13th, 2008, 2:08 PM
I wanted to share this note from my colleague Leila Salazar-Lopez from Rainforest Action Network:
I’m writing to extend the invitation to join Rainforest Action Network on a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the Brazilian Amazon and bear witness to the impacts of U.S. Agribusiness’ impacts on Indigenous and local communities and the Amazon rainforest. The delegation of RAN supporters and close allies will take place from January 16–28, 2009. The journey begins in the heart of the Amazon –Manaus-, travels through the soy plantations of Santarem, and ends where the Amazon meets the Atlantic Ocean –Belem. Space is limited, so please RSVP by November 15. See below for more detailed information on the journey or go to www.ran.org/amazon09.
As you know, RAN’s Rainforest Agribusiness Campaign is challenging one of the fastest growing threats to the Amazon: the rapid expansion of soy plantations by U.S. agribusiness giants ADM, Bunge and Cargill. The spread of soy plantations is fueling the destruction of the world’s largest tropical rainforest, which is one of the planet’s most biologically and culturally diverse ecosystems.
We’ll travel by riverboat on the Amazon River from Manaus to Santarém; stay at a comfortable eco-lodge in the heart of the Amazon; commune with Indigenous and local leaders, allies, activists, soy workers and frontline communities; and witness the impacts of U.S. agribusiness in and around Santarém. We’ll go on exciting excursions and participate in informative presentations led by the Rainforest Agribusiness team and our allies. For those of you who have a little extra time, we encourage you to join RAN staff, our allies and 80,000 people from around the world at the World Social Forum –the alternative to the World Economic Forum- which will take place in Belém, Brazil, from Jan 27 to Feb 1, 2009. For more information, visit www.forumsocialmundial.org.br
Please join us for this once-in-a-lifetime experience to join RAN staff and committed activists on a journey to one of the most magical and threatened places on earth. Become a deeper part of the solution to the protect the Amazon and the Indigenous and local communities working to protect this global treasure.
If you have any questions about the trip please do not hesitate to contact me at Leila@ran.org or 415-659-0532. You can also contact Branden Barber, RAN’s Development Director, at branden@ran.org or 415-659-0539.
I look forward to hearing from you and hope that you can join us on what will be a journey of a lifetime.
For the forests and the future,
Leila Salazar-Lopez
Rainforest Agribusiness Campaign Director
