{"id":13503,"date":"2017-10-02T19:30:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-02T19:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/usa\/?p=13503"},"modified":"2025-02-26T19:44:03","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T19:44:03","slug":"a-congo-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/usa\/a-congo-journey\/","title":{"rendered":"A Congo journey"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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The Congo Basin provides food, fresh water and shelter to millions of people. A mosaic of rivers, forests, savannas, swamps and flooded forests, the forests of the Congo Basin are teeming with life.<\/p>\n\n

Gorillas, forest elephants, forest buffaloes and hippos all live in this region. It has been inhabited by humans for thousands of years.<\/p>\n\n

Approximately 30 million people, representing more than 150 indigenous groups, live in the Congo Basin. Nearly 250 distinct ethnic groups exist; their lives and well-being linked intimately with the forest. The majority depend on forest resources for food, shelter, medicine and sustenance.<\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace Africa and partner organizations have been defending the Congo Basin forest because of what it means to Africa and the Indigenous communities it houses and feeds, including its vital significance to the entire planet. But the Congo Basin has not been given the due attention and protection it deserves. To change that, we\u2019re bringing the Greenpeace ship Esperanza<\/em> to the Congo Basin.<\/p>\n\n

Over the next several weeks, we will travel through Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo and we\u2019re excited to invite you along with us.<\/p>\n\n

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Thembi Buthelezi<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My name is Thembi Buthelezi and I\u2019m from South Africa, based full-time in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October I\u2019ll be embarking on a fun but very important journey to preserve the Congo Basin forest. This is sure to be a kaleidoscope of activity and colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you\u2019ll enjoy being a part of exploring the world\u2019s second-largest rainforest with us.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

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Charlotte Fletcher<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hi from cold and windy Amsterdam! My name is Charlotte, I am from the UK, I live in Amsterdam and I work for Greenpeace USA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, I\u2019m also confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greenpeace\u2019s work to protect the world\u2019s forests has been close to my heart ever since I joined Greenpeace and now I have the privilege of setting off on an adventure to the Congo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We will be seeing firsthand how your support and the support of others have enabled such progress in our work to protect the Congo Basin forests.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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What are peatlands?<\/h2>\n\n

Peatlands are areas with partially decayed plant material in the soil that have existed in ancient forest landscapes for a very long time. Peatlands lock away vast amounts of carbon and play an important role in our fight to prevent the worst impacts of climate change.<\/p>\n\n

Earlier this year, scientists discovered that the Congo Basin contains the most extensive peatland complex in the world. And so, Greenpeace is bringing scientists and journalists on board the Esperanza<\/em> for an expedition to find out just how far these important areas stretch and how we can continue to preserve it.<\/p>\n\n

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Meet the Esperanza<\/em><\/h2>\n\n
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Launched in February 2002, the Esperanza<\/em> is the largest vessel in the Greenpeace fleet. And Esperanza<\/em> \u2013 Spanish for \u201chope\u201d \u2013 is the first Greenpeace ship to be named by our supporters.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n

The ship was the fourth of 14 fire-fighting vessels ordered by the Russian government between 1983 and 1987. Lack of funds saw the ship laid up for some years in the late 80s, then sold a couple of times, finally working in Norway as a supply vessel before being purchased and refit by Greenpeace.<\/p>\n\n

At 72 meters in length and a top speed of 16 knots, the ship is ideal for fast and long range work.<\/p>\n\n

We are Greenpeace<\/h2>\n\n

From Your Faithful Editor:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0The number of creative, talented people who come together to bring the stories of all Greenpeace is doing around the world is simply amazing. It seemed a good time to pause and introduce you to the individual responsible for several of the photos of the Congo that have already appeared on this page, photographer Daniel Beltr\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n

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Daniel is an award-winning Spanish-born photographer whose work has appeared in\u00a0The New York Times<\/em>,\u00a0The New Yorker<\/em>,\u00a0El Pais<\/em>\u00a0and many, many others. Over the last two decades he has worked on all seven continents, including Africa, where he captured some of the beautiful images you\u2019ll see throughout this story.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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#DanceForTheCongo<\/h2>\n\n

And, Another From Your Faithful Editor:<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0I can\u2019t tell you the number of times that someone has said to me, \u201cI would love to help Greenpeace do something but I don\u2019t climb buildings and I don\u2019t really sail on ships.\u201d Well, do you dance?<\/p>\n\n

Greenpeace Africa is inviting people all over the world to show their love and support for the Congo Basin Forest by sharing their own \u201cDance for the Congo\u201d videos and images. So, grab some friends, shake it for the Congo and share your moves on social media with the hashtag #danceforthecongo.<\/p>\n\n

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