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Press Release Video

Playing For Change Brings Together Manu Chao and Alexandre Carlo in a Song for the Amazon


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For more information, contact:

Daleth Oliveira at doliveira@amazonwatch.org or +55.91.982474410 (Portuguese)
Ernesto Ramirez at ernesto@playingforchange.com or +52.33.2375.7867 (English)

Los Angeles, CA – Today, Playing For Change, a global project known for bringing together musicians from different countries in collaborative videos, released the song “Acontecer,” an international call to protect the Amazon, Indigenous peoples, and the planet. The track features Dani Lança, Manu Chao, and Alexandre Carlo, the lead singer of Natiruts, alongside artists from around the world.

The initiative is part of the Song Around The World series, in which musicians record performances in their own territories and combine them into a single production. The video is part of a series that highlights socio-environmental threats, rights violations, and projects that impact Indigenous territories and traditional communities.

In Brazil, Amazon Watch supports the mobilization and highlights the risks of Belo Sun’s project. The Canadian mining company plans to build a large open-pit gold mine in Volta Grande do Xingu, in Pará, a region already heavily impacted by the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam and home to Indigenous peoples and riverine communities.

Written by Dani Lança and Manu Chao, “Acontecer” evokes the image of “Mamazonia” as a poetic representation of the forest and repeats the question “Que vai passar?” – “What will happen?” – to underscore uncertainty about the planet’s future amid the climate crisis and the threats facing the peoples who protect rivers, forests, and territories.

The song continues the partnership between Playing For Change and Manu Chao, which has already produced global collaborations including “Clandestino,” “Seeds of Freedom,” “Soul Rebel,” and “Tantas Tierras.”

“Your reports helped our foundation divest from companies whose practices destroy the Amazon rainforest. We're honored to support your work. Thank you for showing us a better way.”