Peace and harmony between Forest and Man. but the destruction is all around us and the rubbish pollutes what is left.
Note the Full "Lixo" Box. "Lixo" means rubbish and so now it is time to clean up out act. This is the message and theme for Lent 2007 in all of Brazil.
An interested young onlooker.
A baby is held up high. The baby represents the newness of life that our actions to protect the Forest and its creatures and its land and water, can bring to us all.
A full church that night. The "Matriz" / Mother Church of the parish is called after Santo Antonio / St. Anthony.~o~o~O~o~o~
What I take from all this is that it is good to see that the people here are concerned about their local Amazon Forest. Some of whom were responsible in the first place for its destruction. But a new will is prevailing. The Brazilian Government has banned most logging, even though I constantly meet lorry loads of wood leaving the area in the dead of night. Corrupt officials often issue false permits. But the locals tell me it is not as bad as it used to be. Of course if you and I continue to buy wooden products from the amazon and other Forests around the world we are as responsible for its destruction too, as if we took the chainsaw to the tree itself. [End of Sermon!!!]
