Frontline Season 9 Episode 5 Decade of Destruction Part 4: Chico Mendes

Frontline season 9 episode 5, named "Decade of Destruction Part 4: Chico Mendes," highlights the life and legacy of Brazilian environmental activist and labor leader, Chico Mendes. Throughout the episode, the viewer learns about Mendes' upbringing and how he became passionate about protecting the Amazon rainforest and the indigenous communities that inhabit it.

The episode begins by chronicling Mendes' early life as a rubber tapper in the state of Acre, Brazil. The viewer learns that rubber tapping, the process of extracting sap from rubber trees, was once a major industry in the region. However, over the years, the industry declined due to competition from synthetic rubber production and the destruction of the rainforest where the rubber trees grew. As the industry declined, many rubber tappers, including Mendes, began to organize and advocate for the protection of the Amazon rainforest, which they depended on for their livelihoods.

As Mendes' reputation as an activist grew, so did his influence. He formed a union for rubber tappers and began working with other environmental and social justice organizations to advocate for the protection of the rainforest and the rights of indigenous people. He also became involved in electoral politics, running for local office and using his platform to push for greater protections for the Amazon rainforest and its residents. However, his activism also made him a target and he faced threats and violence from those who were threatened by his organizing efforts.

Throughout the episode, the viewer sees footage and interviews with Mendes from throughout his career, including his famous appearance on the television program "Globo Rural" where he argued for the preservation of the rainforest. Additionally, the episode features interviews with other activists and experts who worked with Mendes and were inspired by his leadership.

Overall, "Decade of Destruction Part 4: Chico Mendes" is a moving portrait of one of Brazil's most influential environmental and social justice activists. From his humble beginnings as a rubber tapper to his martyrdom at the hands of those who sought to silence him, Mendes' life serves as a poignant reminder of the vital importance of protecting the Amazon rainforest and the communities that depend on it.