Amig@s del M.A.R. es una organización sin fines de lucro establecida en Puerto Rico en el 1995 por el Sr. Alberto De Jesus (Tito Kayak). Esta con la idea de promover “conciencia ambiental” a todos los sectores puertorriqueños y del mundo! -Concepto “Manatiburón”. En la organización Amig@s del MAR no todas nuestras manifestaciones son de forma revolucionaria. El concepto manatiburón (manatí - tiburón) se creó con el proposito de establecer una manera sencilla y pacifica de cumplir con nuestros ideales ambientalistas (este viene siendo el concepto manati), donde damos charlas a instituciones educativas de cualquier nivel y hacemos recogidos de playas, rios entre otras cosas.

El concepto tiburón es la forma “revolucionaria”, la utilizamos cuando medios no nos permiten fomentar nuestros objetivos de mejorar el ambiente. El concepto tiburon es voluntario, aqui ni se obliga ni se le paga a nadie para que haga actos de desobediencia civil u otros…

Amig@s del M.A.R. is a nonprofit organization established in 1995 in Puerto Rico by Mr. Alberto
De Jesus (a.k.a. Tito Kayak), with the purpose of promoting environmental consciousness throughout
Puerto Rico and the world. While Amig@s has a reputation for radicalism, the organization’s approach is varied based on the issue. As their mission statement says,

"The organization utilizes a dual approach, what we call manatiburón (manatee/shark). On the one hand, we look for peaceful and simple ways to fulfill our environmental ideals (like the manatee), such as when we talk to educational institutions of all levels or collect samples from beaches and rivers, among other things. The flip side is the shark, the more “revolutionary” approach, and is only used when we are prohibited from working peacefully towards our goals of improving the environment. Participation in this organization (or the tiburón concept) is voluntary. We do not force nor pay anyone to participate in civil disobedience or anything else to that effect.

The government of Puerto Rico, acting on behalf of corporate interests, has encouraged development on the historical beachfront grounds of El Paseo Del Caribe in Puerto Rico. Building on these lands is illegal, and environmentalists have warned the developments will cause serious damage to public beaches.

Also, it is in violation of the civil rights of the people of Puerto Rico. In response, Amig@s held radical demonstrations; earlier in 2007, Tito climbed a construction crane, then narrowly escaped capture by the authorities in his kayak; hence, his “new” name.Amig@s has gotten the attention of activists and supporters around the world. Raquelle Seda, a Wayne State University student and native Detroiter, understood he could silently participate by donating money to the cause, but instead opted to become more actively involved. She organized the first Amig@s del M.A.R. fundraiser at the Puerto Rican Club in Detroit on December 14, 2007.

This was one of many activities organized by Latinos around the country in response to the struggle in Puerto Rico. Raquelle says although she’s not a member of Amig@s or a stanch environmentalist, she does recycle and believes
government should play a bigger role in regulating the environmental actions of big corporations and businesses. She believes in the work Amig@s is doing: “They are action orientated. Besides conducting lectures, developing recycling programs, and coordinating beach cleanings, they also act on their revolutionary principles: they protest against the illegal environmental actions of big corporations, and battle government for the right to keep their land.”Government abuse of power is of course not limited to Puerto Rico; powerful interests influence and manipulate governments to dominate people and control the environment for their benefit and profit on a global scale.

Thus in addition to taking on policymakers and big corporations in Puerto Rico, Amig@s protests in solidarity with people all over the world, against oppression in general. According to Global Voices Online, in 2000, Tito “climbed the Statue of Liberty and hung a Puerto Rican flag from her crown to protest the colonization of the Puerto Rican nation.” Also, in 2005 during discussions at the United Nations on the political situation in Puerto Rico, he attempted to exchange the UN flag in front of the UN building with the Puerto Rican flag.

Two years later he hung the Palestinian flag from an Israeli military tower in the West Bank. In this, he affirmed his solidarity with Palestinians against the Israeli border wall and in support of their independence. As Tito Kayak says, “We have to unite despite the politics forced on us. They are robbing us of our land, the land of the people, and we won’t let it happen! This is a call for morality – we have to do the work the government won’t!

The system uses its power to abuse our land. We must demonstrate for justice – La Lucha! Amig@s doesn’t have an official chapter in Detroit, as there is not a large Puerto Rican population. But since the fundraiser, they are considering bringing a chapter to Michigan, similar to affiliate chapters in Florida and New York, in order to bring awareness about environmental issues and continue the fight for a revolutionary movement.

If you would like to get more involved or help establish the Amig@s del M.A.R. Michigan Chapter, please send an e-mail to the Critical Moment Editors: editors@criticalmoment.org and we’ll put you in touch with Raquelle. For more direct information about Amig@s del MAR, write to: amigos-del-mar@hotmail.com. Para más información sobre Amig@s del MAR puedes escribir a cualquiera de los siguientes correos: amigos-del-mar@hotmail.com