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Bryan
Welcome to the Amazon rainforest as seen through my eyes.
I'm Bryan, I'm 33 years of age, and I'm from Seattle.
How did I get here? I graduated from the United States
Merchant Marine Academy in 1990 and, two months later, I
was working in Alaska on a fishing processor. Wonderfully
challenging work for an engineer, which I am, and also my
introduction to Greenpeace. Greenpeace's presence was always
felt up there, my curiosity was aroused, I became interested
in the Greenpeace perspective, and in 1999 I introduced
myself to my first Greenpeace ship, the MV Greenpeace.
That introduction took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It was my first time below the equator and, honestly, the
combination of the stars and the sea down here made my first
departure a reluctant one. I came back to South America
via Peru in 2000. I was called to work on the ship Amazon
Guardian for the initial trip of Greenpeace's Amazon Campaign
in March 2000, until July 2000. That's when I began learning
Portuguese and loving the food, the climate, the people
and the Brazilian way.
Now I'm back, hoping to share another experience deep inside
the heart of the Amazon. I want to see, learn, spread the
news of an untouched place. I'm curious beyond a simple
visit. I am hoping to see what has made this area stay the
same for so many days, months, years, decades, centuries
and millennia. I'm privileged to take part in this project
that hopes to keep the Deni's destiny in the Deni's hands.
I am helping because I would love to see one of the last
ancient lands left in one of the last rainforests left,
preserved and cared for by the people who have cared for
it forever, the Deni. We're helping to keep the land in
the right hands, the original owners' hands, the Deni.
I'm sharing this voyage with Spanish, Dutch, Greek, Chilean,
Chinese, English and Canadian friends. As the only US citizen
here, I hope I can relate more than a glimpse of a project
that is making history, the demarcation of indigenous lands
by indigenous people. Our US history produced different
results than we are expecting here. Together, we can see
what happens, maybe we can learn from each other, me, the
Deni, and all who read these diaries.
Current residence: Sammamish, Washington, USA
Date of birth: 16 October 1967
US citizen
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