Press Releases

Amazon Watch Condemns Murderous Invasion of Brazilian Indigenous Territory and Calls for Swift Action to Bring Invaders to Justice

On Saturday July 26, dozens of heavily armed wildcat gold miners invaded the remote Amazonian territory of the Waiãpi indigenous people in the Brazilian state of Amapá, driving out residents by threatening violence. This invasion followed the miners’ murder of local leader Emyra Waiãpi on Monday July 22nd, who was stabbed to death before his body was thrown in a river.

Amazon Watch Statement on GeoPark's Withdrawal of Its Request for a Drilling Permit in the Peruvian Amazon

Late on Thursday, June 20th, the Chile-based oil company GeoPark withdrew its request for an environmental permit to begin oil drilling in a concession area known as Block 64, located in the northern Peruvian Amazon. The company's about-face came after a concerted campaign of protests from indigenous Achuar and Wampi communities opposed to oil drilling on their territories, including detailed critiques of the environmental impact study originally submitted for consideration in early July of 2018.

Statement on Excessive Judicial Order Demanding That Steven Donziger Surrender His Passport

"Chevron, with Kaplan's help is trying to make an example of Donziger as part of its strategy to escape justice for the worst oil-related environmental crime in history. The human rights community stands together in defense of Mr. Donziger's right to travel and speak out and continue to advocate for his clients about the injustices of this case."

Chevron CEO Confronted by Human Rights and Environmental Movement and Shareholders at Annual Meeting

Five shareholder resolutions call on company to end its environmental destruction and rights abuses

"We will continue to denounce the crime that Chevron committed until it takes responsibility for the environmental damage for which Texaco – which merged with Chevron in 2001 – is wholly responsible. We want you to understand that we – the affected indigenous and campesino communities will not falter until we have achieved our goal that your company pay for its crime and remediates our Amazon rainforest."

Amazon Watch Statement Regarding the Decision to Delay Licensing of Ecuadorian Oil Blocks 86 and 87

"The decision to put a hold on auctioning blocks 86 and 87 shows that the advocacy made by Shiwiar, Sapara, and Kichwa indigenous peoples to protect their territories, that are part of the best preserved tropical forests in the country, has been successful. While we celebrate this victory, we know that the next step must not be further 'socializations.' It must instead be the permanent cancellation of these oil blocks, which communities have already roundly rejected."

Amazon Watch Statement Regarding Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

"This sobering report shows that the time for protecting biodiversity is running out. From the Amazon to the Arctic, dirty industrial development and human greed is destroying critical ecosystems and harming the communities that depend on the land. As indigenous peoples have reminded us for years: our own survival as human beings is fundamentally tied to the health of our environment."

New Report: European and North American Companies Support Soy, Cattle, and Timber Companies Responsible for Recent Surge in Amazon Deforestation

Mounting Environmental, Rights Rollbacks and Deforestation in Brazil Traced Back to Companies, Investors in the U.S., Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Denmark, and Canada

A new report from Amazon Watch shows for the first time how firms that fuel the destruction of the Brazilian Amazon under Brazil's new president openly trade with and receive financing from a range of companies and major investors in Europe and North America. Although these producers of soy, cattle, and timber for export have documented links to illegal deforestation, corruption, slave labor, and other crimes, they nonetheless do business with investors and companies based in countries that are Brazil's three largest trading partners: China, the European Union and the United States.

Amazon Watch Statement on the Suicide of Peruvian Ex-President Alan Garcia

As widely reported by international media, former Peru president Alan García died earlier today after shooting himself at home prior to his arrest for allegedly taking bribes from Brazilian company Odebrecht during his presidency.