Eye on the Amazon

October 20, 2020 – This election in the United States could well be the most consequential of our lifetimes. Racial justice issues are on the ballot. Climate change is on the ballot. The future of the American democratic experiment – as flawed as it has been – is on the ballot. And yes, the Amazon rainforest is also on the ballot.

October 1, 2020 – Our planet is on fire and we cannot breathe. From the criminal arson ravaging the Amazon rainforest for profit to the wildfires raging on the West Coast of the United States due to escalating climate chaos, our planet and communities are under attack. These are not isolated incidents. They are symptoms of broken systems that perpetuate the destruction of the environment, place profit over people, and enable systemic racism. We must unite our calls and movements to protect the Amazon, defend Indigenous rights, and demand racial and climate justice.

The company has led a divisive public relations campaign in attempts to manufacture consent for the Warintza mining project

September 25, 2020 – "This 'Strategic Alliance' is not an 'innovative relationship' as Solaris portrays it. It is the same strategy that many mining and oil companies have used to advance their projects, while side-stepping and disrespecting the legitimate and traditional Indigenous organizational structures."

The Kichwa of Ecuador vow to appeal lawsuit over worst oil spill in the last fifteen years

September 5, 2020 – "Today's ruling shows that the Ecuadorian justice system has once again put the interests of oil companies above the rights of Indigenous peoples and nature. The evidence of contamination and the impact on the lives of the Kichwa populations of the Coca and Napo rivers was overwhelming during the hearing. However, the judge, without law or logic on his side, denied justice for those affected by the spill who have been waiting for months for meaningful action to remediate and repair the damage. Meanwhile, the river and the lives along it, have changed, perhaps forever."

September 4, 2020 – Despite positioning itself earlier this year as a financial firm that leads on climate, BlackRock continues to be a major financial investor in the deforestation commodity companies currently fueling the fires in the Amazon. BlackRock is a top investor in deforestation-risk commodities around the world, and despite vague commitments to prioritize "sustainability," the company lacks clearly defined policies to prevent deforestation or safeguard the rights of Indigenous peoples in its investments. The depth of BlackRock's greenwashing is astounding.

August 27, 2020 – In response to this worsening crisis, Amazon Watch is calling for an #AmazonCeasefire by mounting a communications, advocacy, and direct relief campaign alongside a coalition of Brazilian and global allies. We are shining a spotlight on the true drivers of today's crisis – from political delinquency to market complicity – while also targeting those responsible through effective activism. One such actor is BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, which plays a pivotal role in financially enabling the industries behind the Amazon burning season.