From spongo@io.com Thu Mar 9 19:45:17 2000 Received: from mxu3.u.washington.edu (mxu3.u.washington.edu [140.142.33.7]) by lists.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW99.09/8.9.3+UW99.09) with ESMTP id TAA22212 for ; Thu, 9 Mar 2000 19:45:17 -0800 Received: from discordia.io.com (discordia.io.com [199.170.88.100]) by mxu3.u.washington.edu (8.9.3+UW00.02/8.9.3+UW99.09) with ESMTP id TAA10021 for ; Thu, 9 Mar 2000 19:45:16 -0800 Received: from ifmp306 (aus-as4-067.io.com [208.2.105.67]) by discordia.io.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with SMTP id VAA21423 for ; Thu, 9 Mar 2000 21:45:13 -0600 Message-Id: <3.0.5.32.20000309214844.008769f0@mail.io.com> X-Sender: spongo@mail.io.com X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0.5 (32) Date: Thu, 09 Mar 2000 21:48:44 -0600 To: indknow@u.washington.edu From: "Jordan E. Erdos" Subject: Marina Silva Visit Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii" For Immediate Release Contacts: Michelle Zweede, (512) 232-2416 Jordan E. Erdos, (512) 420-0821, (spongo@io.com) "Amazon Legend" to Visit Austin Renowned environmental activist Senator Marina Silva of Brazil will usher in a week-long commemoration of 500 years of Brazil during the first week of April 2000. Her visit is co-sponsored by the Institute of Latin American Studies Student Association (ILASSA) and the Brazil Center of the University of Texas at Austin. On April 3, Senator Silva will present the keynote address for the University of Texas's commemoration and, for the following three days, will participate in a series of discussions both on and off campus addressing issues related to the future of the Amazon, the role of women in politics, income inequalities and grassroots activism. Born in 1958, Senator Silva hails from the Amazon state of Acre, bordering Bolivia and Peru. A child of rubbertappers, Marina was illiterate until age 14, working in the fields and extracting rubber until age 16, when illness forced her to move to the city for treatment. In Rio Branco, the state capital, the future senator rapidly learned to read and write, eventually graduating from the Federal University of Acre with a degree in History. In Rio Branco, Marina began a lifelong activism, joining with Chico Mendes to found the state affiliate of the United Worker's Federation (CUT). Together, the two fought to improve conditions for the seringueiro (rubber- tapper) and other traditional rainforest populations. Tragically, Mendes was assassinated in 1988, but Senator Silva has continued the fight against corruption and social injustice. In 1995, running as candidate for the Workers' Party (PT), Marina Silva was overwhelmingly elected to represent Acre in the Federal Senate, surprising her contenders with a campaign focused on the sustainable use of the forest. Her election at age 36 made her one of the youngest senators in the history of Brazil and one of only six women among 81 senators. During her tenure as senator, Marina has garnered national and international acclaim as a champion of environmental and social causes, fighting for poverty alleviation, sustainable development, biodiversity protection and indigenous rights. Rising steadily through the ranks of the PT, Senator Silva has emerged as a leader for the twenty-first century. In recognition of her tireless efforts, she has been honored by the Goldman Environmental Foundation and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). By sponsoring Senator Silva's visit to Austin, ILASSA and the Brazil Center demonstrate their continuing dedication to bringing the vanguard of Latin American leadership to the University of Texas.
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