SeedsDream Project

=== www.seedsdream.org ===

                            February 20, 2007

Dear Tommy, Leona, and members of Fuck For the Forest –

Our project started in an instant – the moment he looked me in the eyes and asked, ‘Well, what can we do about it?”

We had been talking for hours about the jungle that existed only 30 years ago – massive trees, monkeys and birds, hundreds of plants used for medicine, the festival of the chonta palm and the life spirit that is called ‘arutum’ in their language. There was excitement in the memories, and a wave of sadness when they explained that this forest had never grown back since it was cut down. Why did this happen? The forest had always recovered before when small clearings were made for gardens or houses.

And so we talked again about the animals; about the ones that bring the seeds to new areas. In a land now patchworked by fields and roads, the monkeys had too far to travel, and the birds were without food. In the past the animals kept the forest alive. Now if we were going to see these trees again, we would have to do it ourselves – we would become the birds and the monkeys for this forest. Without another word, he nodded.

From that moment on, another power took over. Search parties were organized to find the seeds, greenhouses and planting beds were constructed, word spread to other indigenous communities, and the first trees were planted. The vision was clear; our responsibilities defined.

And just at this moment, in literally an answer to prayers, you came into our project offering the gift of your support. Your timing was incredible, and has transformed a dream into a reality. Since that time tens of thousands of trees have been planted, and more people are joining the work every day.

Without the generous, audacious, visionary support from Fuck For the Forest, none of this would be happening. The forest edge would only be retreating, with no one working on behalf of the jungle itself. Now, less than a year later, you’ve seen this jungle. We’ve laughed and suffered together, and you understand so much more what we are fighting for.

I believe we, as humans, have a spiritual responsibility to heal the damage that has been created by our actions. We are living in a chaotic time and true leadership is rare. You have found how to translate your visions into actions, and world is changing because of it. On behalf of myself and all the species of the jungle, I thank you.

Love,

Erica

Erica Van Etten SeedsDream Project Founder Ecuadorian Amazon