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Dirty Energy
Award-winning Film “We Are Guardians” Brings the Fight of Indigenous Peoples for the Amazon Rainforest to the Bay Area
Weaving together politics, history, economics, and science, “We Are Guardians” provides an in-depth exploration of the incredibly complex and critical situation, and it is a story of hope and resilience amidst an unfolding crisis.
Strength in Unity: MarAmazonía Alliance Takes on Petroperú at Its Largest Refinery
A campaigner’s account of the groundbreaking MarAmazonía alliance meeting
“Welcome to the oil capital of Perú." It turns out that the city of Talara was where one of the first oil wells was drilled in all of South America, dating back to 1863. The toxic legacy of oil was evident.
Indigenous and Community Coalition Challenges Petroperú’s Financial Backing
Citi and JPMorgan Chase urged to protect Indigenous rights and Amazonian ecosystems
A burgeoning coalition of Peruvian Amazonian Indigenous peoples and fishing organizations are demanding to meet JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Citigroup to warn against any new financing for state-operated oil company Petroperú because of its history of oil contamination and flagrant disregard of Indigenous and human rights.
Following the Money Behind Amazon Oil Development
Santander and HSBC worked on Petroperú bond issuance despite its record of Amazon oil spills
Financial Times | Local opposition has hampered Petroperú’s plans to start producing crude from two large blocks in the Amazon. For many banks, support for Amazon oil development must look like much more trouble than it is worth.
Amazon Watch is building on more than 25 years of radical and effective solidarity with Indigenous peoples across the Amazon Basin.
Chevron’s Environmental Crimes: 13 Years of Evasion and Escalation
On the 13th anniversary of the historic $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron, Ecuador's current government could betray its own people in favor of big oil interests
Thirteen years ago today, Indigenous peoples and other Amazonian inhabitants made climate justice history in Ecuador when, after 18 years of legal battles, they won a $9.5 billion judgment against Chevron Corporation.
Standing with Indigenous Earth Defenders in the Amazon
In the heart of the Peruvian Amazon, Olivia Bisa, the first female president of the Chapra Nation, stands as a beacon of courage and resilience.
Despite Victory in a Historic Referendum, Yasuní National Park Is Again at Risk
Ecuador's president announces plans to ignore the popular vote and continue drilling for oil in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, home to Indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation
The government seeks to upend the will of voters and continue drilling in Yasuní under the pretense of funding the country’s escalating conflict with organized crime.
Petroperú Is Desperate for Cash, But We’re Going to End Amazon Crude!
The company is now in talks with Citi and JPMorgan Chase, and Indigenous nations tell them again: no new financing for Petroperú!
Joining forces with our partners, Amazon Watch is gearing up to launch a series of campaign actions in 2024. Our mission: to ensure financiers, including commercial banks, investors, and insurers, fully grasp the perils of financially supporting Petroperú.
Indigenous Rights Battle Resumes in Brazilian Supreme Court
The continuing struggle against “Marco Temporal” and escalating anti-Indigenous politics
The Supreme Court’s rejection of the Marco Temporal thesis was arguably the most significant victory of the Indigenous movement in the 21st century. It marked the culmination of years of grassroots organizing, legal struggles, and mobilization.
Investors Must Respect Indigenous Rights to Protect the Amazon
Respecting Indigenous Rights: An Actionable Toolkit for Institutional Investors provides investors with a starting point to educate themselves and others about Indigenous rights, as well as practical tools to develop policies, case studies, and data sources to identify and address Indigenous rights abuses.
2024 Could Be the Endgame for Indigenous Land Rights in Brazil
"I will not feel defeated. Defeated are those who are sitting on their hands. We will continue to fight for the demarcation of Indigenous lands. Because those who have territory have a place to go back to, and those who have a place to go back to, have a mother, a lap, and a cure."
Indigenous Women Leaders Took Center Stage at COP28
Hope for the path to COP30 as Indigenous women demonstrate effective advocacy, leadership, and solidarity
“There are reasons to be hopeful. Lula delivered what he promised as far as deforestation and has promised zero deforestation by 2030. And he is very focused on climate justice – bringing those most vulnerable to the table.”
Autonomous Indigenous Nations Fight to Stop the Flow of Money to Petroperú
As Petroperú ramps up efforts to exploit oil in Block 64, Indigenous nations, in partnership with Amazon Watch and the Sacred Headwaters Initiative, launch a public campaign to pressure commercial banks to commit to no new Petroperú financing
Their efforts effectively put the multimillion dollar deal at a stalemate, and prevented Petroperú from attaining new long-term financing for the Talara Refinery in the past six months.
Abandoned Oil Mess Still Plagues Communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Mongabay | “For us, oil has been a curse because we haven’t seen any [benefits from] oil. The plans are always made in Quito and Guayaquil, in the big cities, but they seem to be unaware of the real damage; by producing a barrel of oil, they’re killing people or animals that should be able to subsist in the Amazon.”
Seven Challenges for the New Ecuadorian Government
Ecuador’s powerful business class is in power yet again following the election of Daniel Noboa
We question whether he will prioritize the protection of nature and the rights of Indigenous peoples as he promised during his campaign or – more likely – carry on with the extractivist agenda of prior administrations and continue to disregard Indigenous rights.
Uniting for Climate Justice: Amazon Watch at New York Climate Week
The urgency of this year's Climate Week cannot be overstated. The Amazon is at a tipping point, and the effects of climate change are not some distant future threat – they are here, and they are now.
Unmasking Canada: Rights Violations Across Latin America
Amazon Watch was joined by more than 50 civil society organizations to compile three critical reports - covering Regional, Amazonian, and Oil and Gas - under the campaign Unmasking Canada: Rights Violations Across Latin America.
Ecuadorians Reject Oil Drilling in the Amazon, Ending Operations in a Protected Area
Associated Press | “Ecuadorians have come together for this cause to provide a life opportunity for our Indigenous brothers and sisters and also to show the entire world, amidst these challenging times of climate change, that we stand in support of the rainforest.”
Victory for Yasuní and the Amazon! Ecuadorians Choose a Future Without Fossil Fuels
“Ecuadorians have sent a definitive message to the world: the Amazon, Indigenous rights, biodiversity, and our climate are more important than oil."
Amazon’s Yasuní Referendum: A “Yes” for Life and a Future Without Fossil Fuels
"As Ecuadorians, we have the historic opportunity to redefine Yasuní as a territory of life and give a clear transforming mandate to governments and the world."
Peruvian Indigenous Organizations Denounce Italy’s Export Credit Agency for Seeking Loan Partnership with Notorious Polluter Petroperú
Wampís and Achuar Nations request meeting with SACE to discuss lack of due diligence on Petroperú's failure to secure consent for new oil blocks
“SACE must understand why we consider that support for a company like Petroperú includes risks to the lives of our sons and daughters, our people, and the climate crisis in ways that will affect us all, which we simply cannot accept.”
Perupetro Selects Peruvian Amazon Oil Block Operator Implicated in Alleged Conflict of Interest Scandal
“We consider that, despite the response from PetroTal and Isabel Tafur, the fact that the President of Perupetro has worked with PetroTal before winning the bid, tarnishes the bidding process and diminishes the transparency of the selection and award results."
Peruvian Indigenous Movement Achieves a Victory, Though Threats Remain
The oil industry, illegal miners, and land traffickers continue their attacks in lockstep with the Peruvian Congress through a dangerous set of bills
It is essential that we recognize this pattern and be ready to mobilize in solidarity with the Peruvian Indigenous movement in the struggles to come over the next few months.
Amazonian and Coastal Communities Target Potential Petroperú Financier Italian Agency SACE
In the face of mounting environmental and rights concerns, the Peruvian Federation of the Achuar Nationality, the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation, and the Cabo Blanco Fishing Association are targeting the potential financial investment by the Italian export credit agency in Petroperú.
Munduruku Village of Sawré Muybu in the Brazilian Amazon Installs Solar Power
“We are showing the Brazilian government and companies that we don’t need a dam to generate energy. We are showing the Brazilian government and companies that we are capable of anything.”
Peruvian Congress Places Isolated Indigenous Peoples Under Threat
The Governors’ Climate and Forests Task Force founding member state, California, could use its influence to protect them and defend the “PIACI” law
Peru’s regional governments, as well as extractive companies trying to greenwash their image in front of the world, must know that we will not allow them to continue. The GCF Task Force must denounce this contradiction.
The Achuar and Wampis Peoples of the Peruvian Amazon Continue Their Fight Against Oil Exploration in Block 64
Watch this video update from David Peas, the Vice President of the National Federation of the Achuar of Peru, as he asks for continued support to keep Petroperú out of Block 64
David Peas, the Vice President of the National Federation of the Achuar of Peru, just sent us this personal message of gratitude and continued resistance.
Ecuador Makes History: Vote to Keep the Oil in the Ground in Yasuní Underway
Watch this video update from our Ecuador legal advisor, Nathaly Yepez, about the exciting referendum
The protection of Yasuní is crucial: It is one of the most biodiverse places on earth, and any invasions by oil and extractive activity could further destabilize our global climate and destroy the territory of the Tagaeri and Taromenane peoples.
