Michael Brune: A Message from the Heart of the Amazon

This year, for the first time ever, the World Social Forum is being held in the Amazon, featuring the largest indigenous delegation in the history of the Forum. In an extraordinary and inspirational demonstration, more than one thousand indigenous leaders from throughout the Amazon and around the world gathered yeseterday to form a giant "human banner," using their bodies to spell out the words, "SALVE AMAZONIA" ("Save the Amazon" in Portuguese). Here are some photos. The demonstration was coordinated with COIAB (the Federation of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon), COICA (Indigenous Organization of the Amazon Basin), Amazon Alliance, Amazon Watch and Rainforest Action Network, among others. Before the event, Marcos Apurina, the vice coordinator of COIAB issued a formal statement urging others to join in protecting our planet: With the permission of our ancestors' spirits, we indigenous peoples are here with our friends from all corners of the earth. With our bodies we build ... (link)