Vilmar Berna: tribute by Axel GraelDisclosure/Ascom
Published 04/24/2024 16:19
Niterói – The mayor of Niterói, Axel Grael, paid tribute to the journalist and environmentalist Vilmar Berna, former director of the Union of Professional Journalists of the State of Rio de Janeiro, placing his name in the UMEI that was created in the Jurujuba neighborhood, which will serve the child demand in the neighborhood.
In decree no. 15.370/2024, the mayor states that Berna was a defender of sustainability and the environmental heritage of Niterói and the world. “He sought to produce powerful journalism in the fight against the predatory development of natural resources”, he highlighted.
Journalist, writer and environmentalist Vilmar Sidnei Demamam Berna died at the age of 64, in Rio de Janeiro. Born in October 1956, in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Vilmar lived in Jurujuba, in Niterói. Vilmar participated in the founding of several civil society organizations dedicated to environmental struggles, including Univerde, in 1980, in São Gonçalo; the Defenders of the Earth, in 1984, in the city of Rio de Janeiro; and the Brazilian Environmental Information Network (REBIA), in Niterói. Widely recognized for his work as an environmentalist, Vilmar became, in 1999, one of the Brazilians to receive the UN Global 500 Award.
The award was presented in Japan by then Emperor Akihito. At the time, the ceremony’s protocol prevented the winners from speaking to the Japanese emperor. However, diplomats present at the event say that, after receiving the award, Vilmar gave a speech about Japanese whaling policy.
The organizers of the event tried to interrupt Vilmar’s speech, but the emperor himself asked him to continue and called his interpreter. In the end, the emperor said he would find out about the data and talk to his prime minister.
Berna was director of the Union of Professional Journalists of the State of Rio de Janeiro for two terms, and a member of the Union’s Ethics Committee, always making the Environment a priority. Inspired by his ideas, and with his active participation, the Union launched the National Environmental Journalism Award, with support from Niterói City Hall.
The Union of Professional Journalists of the State of Rio de Janeiro thanks and highlights the decree of Mayor Axel Grael for this tribute to journalist and environmentalist Vilmar Berna.
