Environmentalism AND Class Struggle - Fair Wear - Unisex Organic T-Shirt - FREE DELIVERY

On December 22, 1988, Chico Mendes was murdered by the son of a local rancher in his home in Xapuri, in the Brazilian state of Acre. Chico was not only a champion of indigenous rights and a brilliant labour and environmental activist, but he also played a key role in promoting the alternative model of "extractive reserves." This model represents sustainable management of the rainforests, in which the numerous riches such as nuts and rubber are only extracted moderately and no deforestation is carried out.

In order to protect the Amazon rainforest, rubber workers and trade unionist Mendes had called on the government to establish protected areas to prevent further deforestation. A conflict developed with the rancher Darly Alves Da Silva in particular, which escalated. Rubber workers in Cachoeira set up roadblocks to keep Da Silva away from an area in which he had bought a piece of land. Later, Mendes launched a campaign to stop Da Silva from logging in another area. In addition, he managed to obtain an arrest warrant against Da Silva for a murder he committed elsewhere. Mendes handed the warrant over to the police, who did nothing.

On the evening of Thursday, December 22, 1988, Mendes was murdered in his home by Da Silva's son. He was the 19th environmental activist murdered in Brazil that year. Da Silva, his son, and one of their associates were sentenced to 19 years in prison for the murder. After a worldwide outpouring of support, the Chico Mendes "Extractive Reserve" was established, which, along with other reserves established later, now covers over 33 million hectares. On the evolution of his activism, Mendes once noted:

"First I thought I was fighting to save the rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize that I am fighting for humanity."

This design comes from the Brazilian artist Caetano Calomino. In his childhood, the story of Chico Mendes was a “big thing”, Caetano remembers. To realise the design, Caetano chose what is probably the best-known and most influential quote from Mendes:

“Environmentalism without class struggle is just gardening" (English)

"Ecologia sem luta de classes é jardinagem" (Portuguese original)

For the font, Caetano was inspired by a style typical of the region in which Chico Mendes was active.

***
Made from 100% organic ring-spun cotton, this unisex t-shirt is a total must-have. It's high-quality, super comfy, and best of all—eco-friendly.

• 100% organic ring-spun cotton
• Fabric weight: 5.3 oz./yd.² (180 g/m²)
• Single jersey
• Medium fit
• Set-in sleeves
• 1 × 1 rib at collar
• Wide double-needle topstitch on the sleeves and bottom hems
• Self-fabric neck tape (inside, back of the neck)
• The fabric of this product holds certifications for its organic cotton content under GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) and OCS (Organic Content Standard)
• The fabric of this product is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified and PETA-Approved Vegan
• Blank product sourced from Bangladesh

The sizes correspond to a smaller size in the US market, so US customers should order a size up.

This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!

Size guide