WHY DO "HUMOR FOR THE AMAZON FOREST?" 
Certainly, the situation is not one to laugh at: areas of the Amazon Forest as big as the state of Sergipe have been deforested. The rhythm of the deforestation, which follows the rhythm of the economic development, has reached 30 thousand square kilometers a year (numbers of 1994) and nowadays it is about 23,7 thousand square kilometers according to INPE- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espacias (National Institute of Space Research). If this rhythm keeps steady, there will be nothing left of the Largest Rain Forest in the world. 
 

In an area of the Forest as big as an urban block, is possible to find from 100 to 300 different species of trees (in the forests of the south of Brazil is possible to find an average of 10 species). The rivers of the Amazon have more than 1700 species of fish and there are plenty of alternatives for the sustainable development of the Forest. However, up to now, what has been bigger than the biodiversity of the Amazon ecosystems is the need for profits of the farmers, soy growers and illegal dealers of wood. 

The 1st Saloon of Humor for the Amazon Forest comes as an energetic protest against this state of things, as a loud scream before the cutting down of trees that may bring tragic effects for the whole population of the planet. 

We will draw the world’s attention to what is happening before our eyes. It is through humor – this universal language – that we can be understood. Against the blindness of our leaders and their dull preservation policies, we will show the revealing power of the cartoons. The devil can be worse than we think, but it is through laughter that we will exorcize him. 

LEITE

Creator and Organizer 
 
Nowadays, Brazilcartoon is a great website and an advertiser of the Brazilian Graphic Humor. In this moment, it is vital for the surviving of many professional, amateurs and admirers of this art. Cheers for such a great initiative, which “was born” in Montes Claros, in the interior of Minas Gerais. Let’s cheer  Montes Claros!  

A land of man who, through a creative management, overcame the financial problems and could pin down the directions of the cartoon and of the laughter in the world. Today, I, as a graphic artist and as a member of the selecting committee of the 1st International Humor Exhibition for the Amazon Forest, must state the success of the event, because of the number of participants and the quality of their works.  

I also state here the necessity of continuing the valuable idea. It is necessary that we take advantage of the attention of the people interested and of the cooperation of authorities. I understand that this is the only way we have to realize another activities linked to humor, and with the effective participation of society we may increase the reach of the website.  

This will mean more leisure, culture, and certainly more jobs. Ultimately, we cannot forget the factors connected to education, since we communicate through images and through them is possible to admire differently the many stimulus and impacts of our everyday, creating the way for development of a citizen more updated and critical. 
 
Cau Gomez.
Brazilcartoon’s Honorable Embassador of Humor.