Why Brazil?
Some less obvious reasons for why I find myself here, in the Amazon, of all places, and what possible role I may be able to play. By: Matthew Pike (United Kingdom), YIP I would like to welcome you into my thoughts and walk you through some less obvious reasons for why I find myself here, in the Amazon of all places and what possible role I may be able to play in places in such need. This Brazil trip has taken me to many places. We have encountered fascinating individuals doing some of the most important work the Amazon can offer, we have experienced wonderful and heart warming scenery, as well as the stark and complex reminders of destruction, deforestation and political bias. We have visited indigenous NGO’s, rubber tapping organizations, WWF branches, Agroforestry initiatives and family farms. We have met local environmentalists, lecturers, young people, teachers, communities, indigenous tribe members and local Acreano’s, but for me it kept begging the question: So What? I am truly gaining a valuable experience: a more comprehensive understanding, but where is the benefit or the long term positive impact that I always dreamed my internship could possess. As I read and hear of my YIP friends building sustainable schools, or going through the first steps in envisioning a much needed community centre, these questions come to the surface, so I would like to share with you my exploration of some possible answers that are beginning to touch on satisfaction. What I see in this region is a State of much polarity. There is the one side that is striving for progress and economic development as fast as possible and another one living with the values of prevention, conservation and protection. But where can I and my positive impact align with such a place? […]