Unconditional Solidarity in Action
- by Gail Koelln
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
If you follow One Earth Conservation on social media and/or via email, no doubt you are aware of our current Unconditional Solidarity Campaign in La Moskitia, Honduras that began in early March, which is the beginning of the parrot breeding season there. So much has already happened since then (and is continuing to happen)!
Participants on the ground who are camping in the forest to protect wild parrots include some of our partnering parrot conservationists and rehabilitators from two local Indigenous villages, Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner, Dr. Dayana Serrano, four members of the Honduran military who are there to protect all participants, and occasional guests and visitors, including one journalist.
Initially, and despite the presence of this large contingent, 18 parrot nests have been illegally poached and there has been word that a boat that contained about 500 poached parrots and parakeets was stopped as it was leaving Honduras. All of this loss has been devastating to everyone involved. At the same time, 10 new active nests were found, which has brought all of us some needed hope as well.
The people on the ground have been working very hard to protect and monitor the parrot nests despite rainstorms, heat, cold, broken bridges (which they have since repaired), and other challenges.
LoraKim and various parrot rangers have been livestreaming and recording videos and taking photos. They have talked about the challenges they are facing, but even more importantly, they have spoken about what solidarity means to them. Here are some examples:
“I’m so grateful for everybody and we’ll be doing this work until our death. That’s how we feel about this work here.” – Santiago, Mabita Field Coordinator
“To be in solidarity you need to be present and you need to be here so you can understand and learn. To be in solidarity you need to show up.” – Dayana, Avian Veterinarian
“Here we are fighting every day to protect the nests. We’re here camping in Rus Rus. We’re with military patrols. We’ve had six nests climbed, which means six nests poached...I ask you not to buy or sell parrots or eggs and don’t trap them. Let’s together be in solidarity to help them fly free.” – Mario, Rus Rus Field Coordinator
“So people might ask why is the military part of solidarity?...Well, solidarity includes protective use of force...to be in solidarity with all life we have to care for life, we have to protect life...so we are partnering here with the military to protect the national bird of Honduras...we are so very grateful for them. They’re working 24 hours a day, they don’t get enough sleep, water, or food...we are all in solidarity together.” – LoraKim, Project Director
We hope you have been following the US/SI Campaign so far and will continue to do so throughout April 2026. Your participation allows all involved to feel the solidarity of the world behind their efforts. To learn more about the campaign, please visit https://www.oneearthconservation.org/us-si2026, where you can join our WhatsApp Group Chats, access updates and other resources, and join our livestreams on Facebook and YouTube. All information is provided in English and in Spanish. You can also view the video playlist directly on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLT3f4GhFgYKjnPYBjXdhUI0zqD8BOvSRa. If you’d like to be in solidarity by donating to these efforts, please visit our GoFundMe campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-our-urgent-unconditional-solidarity-campaign.
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