Last Saturday was Earth Day, which U.S. Senator, Gaylord Nelson, founded on April 22, 1970. Earth Day was originally set up as an environmental teach-in hosted at many colleges, universities, primary and secondary schools, as well as hundreds of communities across the United States. More than 40 years later, Earth Day is still going strong, bringing millions of Americans together in peaceful demonstrations and celebrations in favor of environmental reform. Earth Day has many heroes and we think it truly celebrates the legacy of Chico Mendes.
Growing up in the jungle
Chico Mendes developed a love and respect for nature early in life. He was born in 1944, in a rubber reserve called Seringal Bom Futuro. He was the son of a second-generation rubber tapper and one of 17 children, only six of whom survived childhood. At age 9, Chico began work as a rubber tapper and grew up knowing how important the rainforests are. This love and respect ultimately lead to his life’s passion to save the Amazon rainforest.
A true conservation activist
Chico Mendes and the rubber workers union asked the government to set up reserves in order for people to use the forest without damaging it. Though his experience rubber tapping trees and due to his Amazon preservation effort, Chico became a true conservation activist who made a difference in the environmental world. Sadly his passion ultimately lead to his assassination in 1988, although his hard work and dedication to the environment did not go unrecognized.
“At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize I am fighting for humanity.” —Chico Mendes
The legacy of Chico Mendes
Among his recognitions, The Brazilian government declared Chico Mendes “Patron of the Brazilian Environment” and The Chico Mendes Institute for Conservation of Biodiversity is named in his honor. As a dedicated activist, Chico Mendes gave his life for his work, and we’re a proud to have Chico as part of our Genius Series.
Today for Truly Genius Tuesday we have a few sales* for you!
bumGenius Elemental2 are $2 off
Genius Series Baby T’s in Chico are 20% off
*while supplies last
Giveaway – Chico Freetime and Chico baby T
a Rafflecopter giveaway
References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hevea_brasiliensis
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chico_Mendes
About the Author
Libby is the marketing director for Cotton Babies. She's an obsessed auntie to three super fun kids. She loves coffee, chocolate, and singing Broadway show tunes.
Comments
78 Comments
I love apple trees! Pretty and delicious!!!!
The flowering cherry trees are my favorites!
My favorite tree is the Maple. We made lots of maple syrup this spring! 🙂
Favorite tree is the willow!
Mango!!! I grew up with one in my backyard and it was awesome!!
I love the pink Kousa Dogwood
Peach, cherry and Orange (love all fruits flowers!)
Oak trees are my favorite!
Weeping willows are pretty
Magnolia–when they flower=beautiful!
I like cedars because they smell so good.
When I was in high school, I took an interest in ecology and event did some stuff with the Envirothon competition. My favorite aspect was tree identification! Now, I think my favorite tree is either the Dogwood or the American Sweetgum, which reminds me of my granny (great-grandmother).
So hard to choose a favorite tree because I love them all, but I especially enjoy the giant sequoia!
My favorite tree is the Aspen tree. They’re so pretty!
I love apple trees! We have one and it is so pretty right now when it is in full bloom 🙂
my favorite tree is the maple tree!
My favorite tree is a sweet gum. They just look so happy, and I remember loving the name when I looked it up for my leaf collection when I was in middle school.
I love willow trees!
There are so many trees I love – picking one is hard. I’d have to say ultimately, I love sycamores. They’re just gorgeous and tall and sturdy and the bark is beautiful.
i love willows
Japanese maple
Japanese maple
Lilac.
Apple trees!
I love pine trees! They smell so good and remind me of Christmas!
Olive trees are probably my favorite.
Any tree that doesn’t make me sneeze! Ha!
My favorite tree is a mango tree. 🙂
I like cherry trees the best.
I love Redwood trees!
We’re supposed to have just one favorite tree? ;). For common trees, I love willows. But the dawn redwood is also a favorite because of its history–plus they look cool!
My favorite tree is an oak tree!
My favorite tree is in my yard. A pear tree that bears fruit even though we never have to care for it.
My favorite tree? It depends on the season! In winter, I love the evergreens. In the spring, I love the dogwoods that bloom first. In the summer I love shade trees. In the fall, I love the trees that turn to beautiful shades.
My kids call this he Jungle Book diaper. We love it!
It’s hard to pick a favorite tree. I will say my favorite tree on my street is a Ginko tree. It has a lovely fan shaped leaf. During the fall it turns a vivid yellow. Beautiful!
I like banyan tree.
I like apple trees. 🙂
Love the dogwood tree!
It’s a toss up between white birch and weeping willow. Both are beautiful to me but, to choose one I will love more on a weeping willow tree.
Apple trees are my favorite kind of trees!
Weeping Willow
My favorite tree is the willow tree! They’re beautiful!
My favorite tree is an avacado tree. Lovely trees that produce a delicious fruit!
The Crepe Myrtle is my favorite tree. Such pretty flowers and always reminds me of my grandmother’s house.
I’m a fan of magnolia trees. 🙂
The Cherry Blossom is my favorite tree
My favorite tree is the cherry trees. I love to pick the fruit.
Maple!
Japanese Maples are my favorite tree
I absolutely love all trees, it’s a challenge to pick just one… although I do love the huge buttressed Dipterocarp trees if the Central American tropical rainforest 🙂
It’s difficult to pick a favorite tree. I love the Gingko & Aspen in the fall with their bright yellow leaves. But they don’t grow where I live so I rarely get to see them. So, I will pick the Red Oak!
My favorite tree is a dogwood.
My favorite tree is a white pine. I’ve lived in Michigan my whole life and I love the simple beauty of a white pine.
I love maple trees!
I love oak trees. We have two giant ones in our back yard, they are so gorgeous ?
My favorite tree is the Southern Magnolia!
Hey my favorite tree is the sugar maple!
My favorite tree is the Dogwood.
Favorite tree is a Peach Tree… yummy
My favorite tree is the saucer magnolia. They have beautiful large pink flowers in the early spring. Before flowering they have big fuzzy buds that are easy to identify.
My favorite tree(s) are Sugar Maple and Weeping Cherry.
Dogwood in bloom ?
Weeping Willow
The weeping willow used to be my favourite tree. Now, I am not sure. I loved our giant holly tree before it got damaged by a storm. I love old trees in good condition.
I love Red Maple trees!
I love weeping willows. I just love the way they look.
crepe myrtles!!
I love magnolia trees
Lilac trees/bushes are my favorite.
What’s your favorite tree?
Cherry trees! I love the spring blossoms. A close second is the sugar maple because of the fall foliage.
I love the stories behind the prints ❤️ We have crabapple trees around here and I just love them!
This is a really cute print
I love hearing the stories behind the prints ❤️
My favorite tree is a palm tree. I grew up in south Florida so it always reminds me of the beach.
My favorite tree is a pine tree. We used to use them as play houses when I was little.
My favorite tree is the Birch Tree, second favorite is Weeping Willow.
Mozart