AMERICA/BRAZIL - Nation wide Palm Sunday church collections in aid of projects to defend Amazon peoples and region

Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) - Next Sunday April 1, Palm Sunday, special collections in churches all over Brazil are part of the annual Lenten Fraternity Campaign devoted this year to a project to help the peoples and the region of the Amazon. "Fraternity and Amazon" (see Fides 20/2/2007). The campaign promoted by the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference aims to call attention to the tragic situation of the peoples of the Amazon and the value of the Amazon forest which must be protected. The theme of the campaign “Life and mission in this Land” "Vita e missão neste chão", calls for policies and initiatives to counter economic interest in the Amazon region.
The offerings collected with be divided: 40 per cent for the Bishops, National Solidarity Fund and 60 per cent among the dioceses for the respective diocesan solidarity fund to support local Amazon projects including programmes for formation, solutions to social problems; activity to provide basic education to indigenous communities, fishing and farming communities, emigrants; support for local plantation projects and to re-populate the Amazon area; promote small industries ; activity to prevent sexual abuse of children and young people; formation of pastoral leaders and workers. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 28/3/2007; righe 16, parole 210)