Patricio Segura Ortiz, Respected Journalist and Environmental Advocate, Passes Away in Concepción
The passing of renowned journalist and environmental leader, Patricio Segura Ortiz, has been confirmed. He died at the Regional Hospital of Concepción after being hospitalized in critical condition due to a respiratory illness caused by the Hanta virus.
His family reported the news, sparking deep sorrow across communities, organizations, friends, and media outlets such as El Ciudadano, where Patricio worked for many years as a collaborator and columnist.
«He defended freedom of expression, decentralized information, ethics, and the protection of those engaging in environmental communication in remote areas, always advocating for a democratic and rigorous debate,» highlighted Radio 45 Sur of Aysén.
The radio team also remembered the rich legacy Patricio leaves behind: «Residing in Puerto Guadal, on the shores of Lake General Carrera, he was director of the Private Corporation for Development of Aysén (Codesa), coordinator at Chile Sustentable, and an emblematic spokesperson for the Patagonia Sin Represas campaign and the Patagonia Defense Council.»
They emphasized that he promoted the vision of «Aysén Reserva de Vida, creating a valuable documentary archive and uniting peasant, neighborhood, and scientific communities in the protection of watersheds and in an ecologically conscious development model.»
Meanwhile, the account Defendamos Patagonia also offered their condolences and recognition for Patricio Segura’s remarkable career: «Patagonia is silent today. One of its most steadfast guardians has departed,» they noted in an Instagram post that quickly garnered thousands of reactions and comments.
«Patricio was the voice of the free rivers, the shield of native forests, and the eternal defender of the Chilean Patagonia. His departure leaves an immense void in environmental activism, but his legacy is an indelible mark on the history of our land,» added the Defendamos Patagonia community.
As a team at El Ciudadano, we express our recognition for Patricio Segura’s tireless work, who wrote reports, articles, and opinion columns about virtually every important issue concerning southern territories on our pages.
His last publication with us addressed The Uncomfortable (and Silenced) Truths of Blumar Salmon Farms, where he tackled «the issue of betting on a development where a few actors control the economy and seek to weaken the role of the State for their benefit, inventing terms like permisología, which is nothing more than leeway for the extractivist model.»
«The problem is that citizen voices, as well as those of state representatives, are silenced, sometimes eager to highlight benefits while ignoring uncomfortable truths for, in this case, the owners of the sea,» he concluded at that time, our beloved friend and colleague, whom we will undoubtedly miss greatly.
You can review all of Patricio Segura’s work at El Ciudadano here.
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