Imperatriz Leopoldinense probably had no idea where it would lead them when they chose to speak out about the Xingu, but they chose the right path. Because today, to defend the Brazilian Indian is to defend the future of our country.
All: 2017
Berito’s Vision
If UNESCO designated people as World Heritage sites, Berito Kuwaru'wa would be a leading candidate. On one hand, he personifies the beautiful and poetic U'wa view of the world, deeply connected to the original laws of nature. On the other, he is a unique and visionary human being, with an innate charisma through which he has bridged cultures and...
Counterintuitive: Global Hydropower Boom Will Add To Climate Change
"The new study confirms that reservoirs are major emitters of methane, a particularly aggressive greenhouse gas," said Kate Horner, Executive Director of International Rivers, adding that hydropower dams "can no longer be considered a clean and green source of electricity."
Indigenous Rights and Territories Under Attack in Brazil
Make no mistake about it, indigenous rights and territories are under attack in Brazil. We recently reported on attempts by the administration of President Michel Temer to roll back indigenous rights and environmental protections, moves that fundamentally undermine land demarcation norms while portending dire consequences for the Amazon and its...
Siemens, the Pope and the Law of the Jungle
At Belo Monte, the writing is on the wall because, all over the Amazon, new dams are planned or being built. A key role in the protection of the forests, rivers and animals will now be played by the indigenous person.
Amazon Watch is building on more than 25 years of radical and effective solidarity with Indigenous peoples across the Amazon Basin.
Brazil Changes Land Demarcation Procedure in Blow To Indigenous Groups
"We feared the government would take this brazen step to deeply undermine indigenous land rights," said Christian Poirier of Amazon Watch. "The ruralistas are the clear winners of this move."
Brazil Alters Indigenous Land Demarcation Process, Sparking Conflict
With the issuance of a federal decree in mid-January, Brazil's government announced major changes to the procedure by which it formally demarcates indigenous lands – a move applauded by the ruralistas industrial agriculture lobby and large landowners, but greeted with alarm by indigenous land rights activists.
Over 700,000 People Demand Banks Stop Financing The Dakota Access Pipeline
"Indigenous peoples across the Americas, from Standing Rock to the Amazon, have for years been standing up against the destructive, racist practices of the fossil fuel industry."
Colombia’s U’wa Still Teaching Us How To Resist
The U'wa consider themselves the guardians of their sacred ancestral homeland. In accordance with their natural laws, for centuries they have successfully defended their territory high in the Andean cloud forests.
CONFENIAE on the Raid on Radio Voz de Arutam, Attacks on Freedom of Expression and Militarization in #MoronaSantiago
CONFENIAE'S Governing Council rejects the raid on the community radio Voz de Arutam this morning by more than 100 policemen, who removed equipment from and ransacked the offices of the Interprovincial Federation of Shuar Communities (FICSH).
Brazil’s Hydroelectric Plans Threaten Its Paris Climate Commitments
Brazil's government wants to build dams in Amazonia with "big reservoirs." That is quite a point of departure compared to the run-of-river dams that have dominated the country's planning and construction activity over the last two decades.
“Buen Vivir” for Whom?
Despite its professed commitment to protection of Mother Earth and to placing sustainable living over profits, Ecuador under Correa has pursued a resource extraction strategy that prioritizes short-term revenue generation over environmental protection and indigenous territorial rights.
Step Towards Justice in Chevron Ecuador Contamination Case
Communities in Ecuador moved another important step closer to justice last week when an Ontario court ruled that they have the right to go to trial in Canada against Chevron, the oil company responsible for deliberately dumping - and then refusing to clean up - 18 billion gallons of toxic waste in their Amazon rainforest homeland.
Women for Climate Justice To Raise Their Voices at the Women’s March on Washington
On January 21st, a coalition of diverse women's groups, climate justice leaders and individuals will unite and march as 'Women for Climate Justice', sending a clear message to the new U.S. Administration that women are gravely concerned about the accelerating impacts of climate change, and the implications of a U.S. Administration that promotes...
NGO Targeted by Ecuadorian Government for Shutdown To Remain Open
"We believe that justice has been done, and we will continue to work with the same courage and strength to defend the rights of nature and the rights of the people as we have been doing for 30 years," said Alexandra Almeida, the group's president.
Breaking Precious Ground
Just this past spring, in a move that shocked the international conservation community, Ecuador began trucking the first barrels of crude out of Yasuní. Is this the beginning of the end for one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems?
Brazil Stops Demarcating Land for Indigenous People: Ex-Government Agency Official
Facing pressure from agricultural interests, Brazil has stopped formally demarcating land for indigenous communities in a threat to rainforest conservation efforts.
Letter from the Shuar Arutam People to the Country and the World
As many of you know, recent days have been very dangerous for our people. These days have not yet ended and are, indeed, probably only the beginning of a great territorial dispute initiated by the National Government against the Shuar Arutam People.
Chevron’s Massive Pollution in Ecuador Frames Death of Legendary Nurse Rosa Moreno
Rosa Moreno, the legendary nurse in Ecuador who spent three decades treating children and others afflicted with cancer in the area of Chevron's oil pollution in the Amazon rainforest, has now herself succumbed to cancer. One might reasonably question whether Chevron's refusal to clean up its pollution in Ecuador played a role in this tragic event.
Battle for the Amazon: Tapajós Basin Threatened by Massive Development
Carlos Fávaro's dream of turning the Tapajós River into "Brazil's Mississippi" is now within the grasp of Brazil's agribusinessmen – with only indigenous people, traditional riverine communities, environmentalists and the ever-increasing concern of climate scientists about the damage that will be done to the forest, and thus indirectly...
Shuar Tribe Face Government in Amazon Mining Protests
With a 30-day state of exception imposed across the entire Amazonian province of Morona Santiago, the government has reportedly mobilised up to 1,000 military and police personnel to protect the mining camp and hunt down what top officials have called an "illegally armed group" that they say does not represent the Shuar nation.
