Youth activism: Luciano Antelo fights for a future without forest fires

Luciano Antelo, a 15-year-old young activist, symbolizes the ecological tragedy that Bolivia faces with the loss of 11 million hectares due to forest fires. Since Wednesday of last week, Antelo has been installed in the main plaza 24 de Septiembre, in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, to carry out a peaceful protest that will last 11 days. Every day, the young man completes 11 hours of sit-in, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the middle of a pair of pillars of the Parliamentary Brigade building.

“I am here (in the main plaza 24 de Septiembre), in a peaceful protest for 11 days, each day 11 hours, symbolizing the 11 million hectares that we lost in 2024,” commented Antelo, visibly committed to his cause.

Throughout each day, Luciano not only seeks to raise awareness about the magnitude of the fires, but also shares ecological practices with visitors to the square. Offers tips on how to grow seedlings and seeds at home, and highlights the importance of adopting trees as part of a sustainable ecological habit. “We are part of the Re-Generation,” reads a cardboard sign hanging on a wooden plank stool.

Luciano is not alone in this mission. He is accompanied by his 11-year-old brother, Adriano, who, as he himself states, is his “partner and accomplice in this work.” “We are a team, and we have the message that together we can achieve our goals,” added the young activist.

Luciano He began his activism at the age of 10, and has already accumulated five years of experience in the fight for environmental protection. Their concern arose in 2019, when forest fires devastated more than 5.3 million hectares in Bolivia. This devastating event motivated him to create his environmental program “Eco Hábitos”, with the aim of compensating for the damage caused by the fires.

“Five years later, this catastrophe has doubled in its impact on our forests. It burned twice as much as in 2019. It is impossible for this to happen again,” said Luciano, who also pointed out that his fight seeks to prevent the normalization of forest fires in Bolivian society. “We want this situation not to happen again. normalize,” he added.

Despite his young age, Luciano has written three books focused on the importance of acting immediately to protect the environment. His works are inspired by his own experience, by his brother Adriano and by all the children who dream of a healthier planet. The Antelo brothers are students at the Marist school.

Adriano is the illustrator of his books, his inspiration, he says, comes from listening to his brother’s stories.

In his books, Luciano addresses a different message linked to the environment: “Each one transmits a message to act in the time and situation in which we find ourselves,” explained the young writer.

Currently, Luciano is working on his fourth book, which will be published in the coming months. In addition, several activities are planned for 2025. with environmental themes, such as ecological races and participation in book fairs, in order to continue promoting its message of environmental awareness and action.