Feature story - August 31, 2004
Our team of "Jaguars," Greenpeace activists costumed as jaguars, protecting the ancient forests of Argentina from the expansion of genetically engineered soy, have been arrested while documenting the deforestation in northern Argentina some 1800 km north of Buenos Aires in the city of Tartagal, north of Salta province.
Greenpeace JAGUARS activists on motorbikes patrol the clearcut area in the native forest region of North Argentina and stop bulldozers from destroying the forest to expand genetic engineered soya monoculture. Greenpeace is demanding the Argentinean government to stop further destruction of the remaining forests.
Among the nine is Martin Prieto the Executive Director of Greenpeace Argentina. The Jaguars' lawyer was also thrown into jail, thus depriving them of legal representation. Our team in Argentina has spoken with the Jaguars and for now they remain in good spirit.
We believe that they were arrested for the misdemeanor of trespassing, so far the judge has decided not to release them and could keep them in jail for days. For now they are being held under custody in the Intelligence Brigade of the State Police of Salta in a local police station.
The Jaguars have been prowling Argentina's native forests for over a month now, tracking down its destruction and trying to halt the onslaught of GE Soya monoculture.
TAKE ACTION NOW!
Write to the President of Argentina asking him to ensure the activists are promptly released from jail and the problem of genetically engineered soy expansion is tackled instead.