T-Shirt Women Environmentalism Without Class Struggle (Chico Mendes)

On December 22, 1988, Chico Mendes was murdered by the son of a local rancher in his home in Xapuri, in the Brazilian state of Acre. Chico was not only a champion of indigenous rights and a brilliant labour and environmental activist, but he also played a key role in promoting the alternative model of "extractive reserves." This model represents sustainable management of the rainforests, in which the numerous riches such as nuts and rubber are only extracted moderately and no deforestation is carried out.

In order to protect the Amazon rainforest, rubber workers and trade unionist Mendes had called on the government to establish protected areas to prevent further deforestation. A conflict developed with the rancher Darly Alves Da Silva in particular, which escalated. Rubber workers in Cachoeira set up roadblocks to keep Da Silva away from an area in which he had bought a piece of land. Later, Mendes launched a campaign to stop Da Silva from logging in another area. In addition, he managed to obtain an arrest warrant against Da Silva for a murder he committed elsewhere. Mendes handed the warrant over to the police, who did nothing.

On the evening of Thursday, December 22, 1988, Mendes was murdered in his home by Da Silva's son. He was the 19th environmental activist murdered in Brazil that year. Da Silva, his son, and one of their associates were sentenced to 19 years in prison for the murder. After a worldwide outpouring of support, the Chico Mendes "Extractive Reserve" was established, which, along with other reserves established later, now covers over 33 million hectares. On the evolution of his activism, Mendes once noted:

"First I thought I was fighting to save the rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize that I am fighting for humanity."

The design for December 2024 comes from the Brazilian artist Caetano Calomino. In his childhood, the story of Chico Mendes was a “big thing”, Caetano remembers. To realise the design, Caetano chose what is probably the best-known and most influential quote from Mendes:

“Environmentalism without class struggle is just gardening" (English)

"Ecologia sem luta de classes é jardinagem" (Portuguese original)

For the font, Caetano was inspired by a style typical of the region in which Chico Mendes was active.

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Brand: Stanley & Stella

Material: 100 percent organic cotton

Printing & Finishing: High quality skin and ecofriendly direct-to-garment prints

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