What is the legacy you will leave behind?

The legacy that I want to leave behind is this: I did my best. Despite the fear, anxiety, doubt, pushback, and failure—despite it all—I did my best. For a while now, I’ve known that I am an activist. It took me some time to learn how to use my voice, but here I am, doing it. I may not reach many individuals, but for the few I do reach, I hope to have a long-term impact. You see, other activists have left a similar legacy, and because of this legacy, others have continued the fight.

In this post, I want to honor the legacy of Homero Gomez Gonzalez. He was an activist who stood against deforestation in his community in Michoacan, Mexico. Homero realized that deforestation had a negative impact on the Monarch butterflies that migrate south during winter. The Monarchs use the density of the forest to cluster together to stay warm during the cold months. Homero, a former logger himself, left his job behind and stepped forward to create El Rosario Sanctuary in 2017 in an effort to preserve the Monarchs’ safe haven. In 2020, he was found deceased after being reported missing for several days. Authorities in Mexico reported his death as accidental drowning, but his family stated that photos of the body showed clear signs of trauma. His death came after he met with local politicians in an effort to garner their support for the sanctuary. Three days after Homero Gomez Gonzalez’s body was found, another body was discovered—this time it was Raul Hernandez Romero, a tourist guide who worked alongside Homero. Raul’s body also showed signs of violence.

Recently, Netflix released a documentary about the illegal logging and avocado plantation in Michoacan, Mexico. Due to the demand for avocados and lumber in the United States, cartels joined this lucrative business. Homero and his team often patrolled the sanctuary forest at night, catching groups engaged in illegal logging and plantation. When he caught the responsible individuals, he would turn them over to the authorities. However, the culprits were often released early or not charged at all. Throughout Homero’s management of El Rosario Sanctuary, he received numerous death threats from cartel groups and corrupt politicians. To this day, no arrests have been made in connection with the deaths of Homero and Raul.

After their deaths, activists in Mexico and around the world were outraged. On the day Homero disappeared, he shared a video on social media showing thousands of monarchs searching for water in El Rosario Sanctuary. This was in an effort to speak up about water being diverted from the mountaintop to illegal avocado plantations, instead of letting it run its natural course through the sanctuary. Two years after his death, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) listed the monarch as endangered. However, in October 2023, due to a researcher’s challenge to the ruling, the IUCN reversed its decision. Monarchs are now on the “vulnerable” list, although many scientists believe their current population is not sustainable, given the widespread deforestation in Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Many believe that Monarchs should be listed as endangered.

Apart from deforestation, there are other issues threatening our ecosystem. Overconsumption is a problem that many activists are working hard to raise awareness about. Mass production of produce has led to the use of pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals kill off plants like milkweed, which Monarchs need. Government corruption, like that in Mexico, also exists in the United States, where some politicians prioritize personal gain over what’s best for the environment. Take the Keystone XL pipeline, for instance. It might have created jobs, but at what cost?

I invite you to watch the documentary on Netflix, “The Guardian of the Monarchs”. I will tell you the same thing I told a young girl: we must continue to support all activists fighting for our ecosystem.. Sometimes one cause gains more momentum than others, but it doesn’t make the others any less important. Somewhere in the chain, a link must be broken. Please do your research and stay informed. As for me, I will continue working on my legacy, hoping that one day I will inspire others to speak out.