Who was Wilson Pinheiro?

Answer 1

Wilson Pinheiro [d. July 21, 1980] was president of the Brasileia Rural Workers Union in Acre State, Brazil. Acre is a rubber-producing region in the Amazon River Basin. Wilson Pinheiro was active in fighting against ranchers who were destroying the Amazon Rainforest. He devised the system of 'empate' ['blockade'] involving large groups of rubber-tree tappers occupying forest areas scheduled to be cut down. The empates wrecked the shacks of the cutting crews and forced them out of the area.

Wilson Pinheiro was shot to death on July 21, 1980 as he watched a television program in the offices of the Brasileia Rural Workers Union. His murderers were hired by ranchers who opposed his efforts to save the Amazon Rainforest.

Wilson Pinheiro was a mentor of Chico Mendes [December 15, 1944-December 22, 1988], president of the Xapuri Rural Workers Union, who joined him in trying to save the Amazon Rainforest and to stop the displacement or rubber workers by ranchers. Pinheiro's assassination didn't make headlines. But Chico Mendes used his martyrdom effectively to switch the focus from the plight of rubber workers to the preservation of the rainforest environment.