Defending Our Rivers, Defending Our Future: The Story of Cristopher Castillo and the Fight for Environmental Justice in Honduras

In the heart of Central America, where rivers run deep and communities have long coexisted with nature, a young defender is standing at the crossroads of environmental justice and human rights. His name is Cristopher Joshua Castillo Sánchez. He is not a politician, nor a corporate leader. He is a youth activist—an environmental guardian—whose only crime has been to speak out against pollution and to demand a better future for his community.

Cristopher is a member of ARCAH (Alternativa de Reivindicación Comunitaria y Ambientalista de Honduras), an environmental and community advocacy organization in Honduras. For over seven years, alongside the organized community of Aldea Loarque in Tegucigalpa, he has been denouncing the severe contamination of the Choluteca River. The source of this pollution? The poultry processing operations of the company “Avícola El Cortijo”, which, according to community testimonies, have caused massive environmental degradation: the death of animal species, the contamination of local waters, and serious health problems among residents—including nausea, allergies, skin diseases, and vomiting.

Instead of receiving support from public institutions, Cristopher and his community have been met with silence, impunity, and now persecution. In early 2024, Cristopher was summoned to court under case file number 403-2024, overseen by Judge Belinda. The charges against him are widely seen as a form of judicial harassment—a reprisal for his activism and an attempt to intimidate those who dare to defend their territory.

This is not an isolated case. Honduras has consistently ranked as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for environmental defenders. The persecution Cristopher faces is part of a broader pattern of criminalization against those who resist an extractivist, colonial, patriarchal, and violent model of development—one that prioritizes profit over people, and industrial growth over ecological sustainability.

In response, RADAR (Red de Incidencia Regional de Juventudes)—an international youth advocacy network led by Asuntos del Sur, with over 40 member organizations and 100+ grassroots leaders across Mexico and Central America—has issued a powerful public statement in support of Cristopher. The declaration condemns the judicial, media, and institutional harassment faced by him, ARCAH, and the community of Aldea Loarque. It calls for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all charges against Cristopher, and urges the Honduran State to uphold its international commitments to human rights and environmental protection.

RADAR’s statement resonates beyond Honduras. It speaks to the increasing risks faced by youth across the Global South who dare to defend their territories from ecological harm. From the Amazon to the Congo, from Southeast Asia to Mesoamerica, young people are rising as the frontline protectors of the planet. They are not just resisting pollution and injustice—they are reimagining futures rooted in dignity, sustainability, and community.

What is happening in Tegucigalpa today echoes a global truth: defending the environment is not a crime. It is a moral duty and a legal right. When States fail to protect their citizens from environmental harm, and instead prosecute those who speak out, they erode the very foundations of democracy and justice.

Stories like Cristopher’s challenge us to deepen our understanding of environmental justice—not as an abstract concept, but as a lived experience marked by courage, resistance, and often, sacrifice.

Solidarity is not just a word; it is action. It is raising our voices when others are silenced. It is sharing these stories, amplifying demands for justice, and connecting local struggles to global movements. In doing so, we not only support individual defenders like Cristopher—we help safeguard the rivers, forests, and territories they strive to protect.

We echo RADAR’s urgent call to the international community: remain vigilant. Speak up. Act in solidarity with Cristopher Castillo and all environmental defenders in Honduras and beyond.