Berta Cáceres won the 2015 Goldman Environmental Prize for defending the environment–she led her Central American indigenous community in protesting a hydro-electric dam project. After numerous threats of kidnapping and death, she was shot dead in her Honduras home in March.
∼ Fatal gunshots rang out in Honduras, echoing across media channels, a tragic event, an activist shot, a senseless death for all to mourn. Berta Cáceres: honored activist took aim against a hydro dam, championed indigenous rights, Defended her home, a spirit river. Berta Cáceres: fearless, strong, led the Lenca people's protest, hearing threats to life and freedom, Bold defender, they shot her down. May her death become symbolic of heinous crimes across the world, killing stewards of nature spaces, silencing those who care. True heroes, friends of the earth: those who challenge industry are not intimidated by guns, bulldozers nor political clout. People refusing to move away from native soil, birthplace and roots,for centuries have tended their homes, Preserving the planet for us all. ∼
For an excellent video honoring Berta Cáceres after she won the Goldman Environmental Prize last year, please visit here.
∼
Global Witness, a London non-profit organization, reports:
- in 2014, there were 116 documented killings of environmental activists worldwide;
- 3/4 of the murders were in Central and South America
- 40% of the victims were indigenous people.
∼
This post emerged after I pondered the Secretkeeper Weekly Writing Prompt #32 words: | SPACE | FRIEND | EVENT | MOVE | AIM.
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Ontheland 
Thanks for sharing such an important story and quite frightening statistics. Sad to say I hadn’t heard of Berta Cáceres and yet I can name at least 3 Kardashian sisters, even though I have never watched their shows.
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I’m not sure how aware of it I would be if I hadn’t first read about it in a blog. Important news hits the media but often only in a tiny burst (unless of course it’s the Kardashians 😉
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The truth and un-sexy topics can shine on non-profit publications. I guess I too wouldn’t have been aware of it without a blog! 🙂
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p.s. I had been thinking of you, as I am making a slightly modified version of the IYP post I wrote, for my LinkedIn audience. Much the same, but moving the focus to discussion of the Water, Food, Energy nexus. Gotta repackage for the corporate types 🙂
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Have you finished your changes? If yes, I ‘ll take a look 🙂
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Almost! Just want to create an illustration of a systems diagram. I could easily faff around with that for days but hoping to finish soon to maximise LinkedIn activity while I’m searching for a job. I’ll probably post it on WP too, but otherwise, I can email you a copy 😊
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Sounds great 🙂 Good luck in your search.
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Thank you! 😊
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Thanks for taking an interest! 😊
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I did’nt know about this. I’m sorry she lost her life. Her murder was senseless, yet it might be the nail in the coffin for the profiteers themselves. I hope.
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I hope so, but there are many disputes in that area…
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Janice, What a wonderful tribute to one brave lady. I’m ashamed to say I’d never heard of her nor aware of the horrific number of murders of campaigners. One reads about deaths of journalists but never of environmentalists. Thank you for bringing this topic the attention it so deserves.
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Thank you. It’s a topic that I have just become aware of too…we hear of standoffs and conflicts over resources in our own countries, but not as much farther away. It’s a hidden war.
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Thank you for sharing her story in a beautiful and moving tribute. I join the others here who were ignorant of her story and the topic.
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Thank you for your enthusiasm 🙂 A new style of writing for me but I pushed forward with it as the story about her and all the others who fight to preserve waterways, forests and land is so powerful…so worth talking about.
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