March 5, 2016

Berta Cáceres - an Environmentalist murdered in Honduras

Berta
Berta Cáceres, age 45, died on March 3, 2016, at her home in La Esperanza, Honduras.

In the early morning hours, several gunmen entered her home. She was shot at least four times. Her brother, who was in the house at the time, was also wounded. 

Tragically, Berta died of her injuries.

Berta was an environmentalist who had campaigned against the construction of a mega hydro-electric dam project on land populated by the indigenous Lenca people. The proposed project would flood large areas of native land and would cut off water supplies to many people living in the area.

Several mining and hydro-electric companies have a great financial interest in getting this mega project established. Several international engineering and finance companies are also involved behind the scenes.

Because of their activism against this project, Berta and others had received repeated death threats in the past six months. She had received written and verbal threats and shots were fired at her car.

Berta's family and supporters, as well as numerous human rights groups are calling for an independent and impartial investigation into Berta's death.

Berta had previously stated: “We must undertake the struggle in all parts of the world, wherever we may be, because we have no other spare or replacement planet. We have only this one, and we have to take action."

Between 2010 and 2014, 101 campaigners against large development projects,
extreme logging or mega-plantations in Honduras were murdered.

In 2015, Berta was awarded the Goldman Environmental Prize for grassroots environmental activism.

Friends describe Berta as a prominent and courageous defender of the natural world.

Angels of God, pray for Berta and for all who stand up
for the health of the Earth.
Berta's loved ones are devastated over her tragic death. She will be forever mourned.

Oceans of tears have been shed for Berta.

Berta is survived by many loving friends, supporters and family members including her mother and her four children.

Pray for justice for Berta. 

God save us from the international corporations and corrupt governments. Their greed is killing us, Father. Amen.

Pray that Berta is in heaven. Pray that she is at peace and is with God. Amen.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

We are weeping for her.