With the support of the Union of Mercosul Parliamentarians (UPM) and the Permanent Forum for the Conservation and Rational Use of the Uruguay River, the book “Peregrinos do Rio” was launched this Tuesday (28), in the Committee Room.
Organized by Argentine environmentalist José Antonio Persigo, president of the Forum, the work brings together articles by more than 50 authors from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, written in their original language. “It is with great joy and emotion that I return to this same room where we created the Forum more than 12 years ago. A great collective effort to conserve the Uruguay River. The book brings together reports of the different situations in each region of the river.”
Rubens Vargas
AGÊNCIA AL
PHOTO: Vicente Schmitt/Agência AL
Persigo stated that, even during the pandemic, virtual contacts addressed the urgency of preserving the river, drawing attention to citizens’ conduct. “There were many awareness-raising days. I cite, as an example, the musical cavalcades, with performances in the three countries to highlight the importance of the Uruguay River.”
Responsible for chapter 2 of the work, he remembers his youth in the city of Concordia, Argentina. “40 years ago I entered the river with water up to my waist and saw my feet. Today this is impossible. There we know it as Lower Uruguay.”
He announced that the Forum will meet this year in Colonia, Uruguay, at the mouth of the river, and in Chapecó, in Alto Uruguay.
Tourism and Environment Commission As newly elected president of the House’s Tourism and Environment Committee, deputy Marquito (Psol) was the first to receive a copy of the book from Persigo.
“The Uruguay River is part of the Rio de la Plata Basin, important for the conservation of natural resources in Latin America. Let’s follow the Forum to guarantee biodiversity and everyone’s right to clean water.
We are behind in this aspect. The original people had a greater connection with nature and saw the river as a living being.” Representative Luciane Carminatti (PT) also followed the explanation by the president of the Permanent Forum for the Conservation and Rational Use of the Uruguay River.
