More About Indigenous Rights

The Amazon at a Tipping Point: Can We Turn It Around?

Keynote address by Leila Salazar-López, Amazon Watch Executive Director, at the 2019 Bioneers Conference

For thousands of years, indigenous peoples have protected their sacred ancestral territories. We all must stand with them to protect and restore the bio-cultural integrity of the Amazon, because our collective future depends on it.

Brazil's Amazon – and Its Defenders – Are Under Attack from Illegal Loggers

The killing of an indigenous forest guardian is only the latest incident in a pattern of impunity with consequences far beyond Brazil's borders

Since January, when Bolsonaro took office, the situation has only worsened, forest guardians say. "Loggers are not afraid now," Tainaky told me in April. "The government encourages them to enter the indigenous territory."

In Paris, Brazilian Indigenous Leaders Denounce the Role of French Financiers in Amazon Destruction

Eight Brazilian indigenous leaders led a spirited protest along with 100 supporters in a Parisian financial center today, targeting the key role of French investors behind mounting human rights and environmental destruction in the Amazon.

A Canadian Company Wants to Build Brazil's Largest Open-pit Gold Mine: Now That Bolsonaro Is in Power, It Just Might Succeed

"We can't accept Belo Sun in our region, not in Brazil," indigenous leader Bel Juruna told the thousands of carnival-goers in attendance that day. "We demand that this company leave us alone on our lands, that the government respects us and respects our nature."

Victoria histórica en la lucha por los derechos indígenas contra la expansión de la frontera petrolera

La resistencia indígena a la extracción de petróleo en Ecuador obtuvo otra gran victoria esta semana. El éxito se alcanzó luego de un esfuerzo de varios años para detener los planes de perforación de Andes Petroleum en una concesión en el bosque tropical denominado como Bloque 79, que se superpone al territorio titulado de las nacionalidades indígenas Sapara y Kichwa.

Historic Victory in the Fight for Indigenous Rights and to End Amazon Crude

The decision from Ecuador's Energy Ministry comes on the heels of new momentum by the indigenous movement against extraction, attacks against indigenous earth defenders, and a global outcry over the destruction of the Amazon.

Indigenous Opposition Forces Andes Petroleum Out of Controversial Rainforest Oil Block

Oil company's departure latest in wave of indigenous resistance that has shelved new Ecuador drilling plans

"The declaration by the government of force majeure in Block 79 is a result of our fight, and it was forced to recognize that these territories are ours, we live there. We are asking the government to remove all oil concessions from our territories. We will remain vigilant," said Yanda Montahuano, a Sapara leader.

Indigenous Forest Guardian Murdered by Illegal Loggers in Brazilian Amazon

Another indigenous leader was gravely wounded in the ambush and a logger is reportedly missing

Earlier today, members of the Guajajara people's Forest Guardians, a volunteer land and environmental monitoring force, were ambushed by a group of illegal loggers in the Araribóia indigenous territory, leaving one Guardian dead and another gravely wounded. Forest defender Paulo Paulino Guajajara was killed by a shot to the face, while the attack gravely wounded the Guardian leader Laércio Guajajara.