The first day of the pre-forum exercises started with a prayer service on the theme "promotion of Life” The song “This morning I take life from my God” summed up the aspiration of the gathered people. 

Then Senator Marina Silva enlightened us the meaning of faith in the struggle for the protection of environment. Her experience as the Minister for the Environment in Mr.Lula’s government for six years was a struggle for the humanity. She started her address with the affirmation that social movements are faith imperatives. Political actions are necessary for the implementation of your Christian values.  She emphasized the link between Jesus’ commandment “GO” and the social movements. She was shaped by liberation theology. Often we are not sufficiently equipped to fulfill the faith imperatives.

Her major theme was the protection of Amazon by the poor in and through socio-political action. People are enveloped by emotions at the mention of Amazon. What happens to the amazon will affect the planet because of the enormity of the biodiversity and the dependence of ocean for the pure water provided by Amazon. There are 200 communities living in Amazon area; 20% of the species of the world live in this eco system. So protection of it is to protect the communities and the planet. She emphasized the fact that forest should be considered as inter –dependent diverse eco- existence. For 60 million people identity is tied with forest and their economy is based on the living biodiversity. The greedy industry is at the forefront of Amazon’s destruction. She gave the following advise to all of us: