GLOBAL CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT HISTORIC INJUSTICE AGAINST BRAZIL’S INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

In an urgent call to action, during the peak of the summer, the global community united to address a critical threat facing Brazil’s indigenous peoples. The Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB) sounded the alarm on Bill 490/2007, legislation that will bring severe consequences to the rights and well-being of Brazil’s indigenous communities. It poses a risk of permitting the exploitation of natural resources in Indigenous territories and stipulates the recognition of Indigenous land rights solely for those residing there or actively defending those rights at the time of the Federal Constitution’s enactment on October 5, 1988. Benki Piyãko, supported by the Yorenka Tasorentsi Institute and indigenous leader Txai Surui, led a collaborative effort. Partnering with organizations like Amazon Watch, Grounded.org, Earthrise Studios, Re: Wild, and more, they launched international petitions on Change.org and Avaaz.org, garnering global support. The campaign saw an outpouring of support, with notable figures such as Billie Eilish, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jada Pinkett Smith, her children Willow and Jaden Smith, Mark Ruffalo, and many others lending their voices. Their participation elevated the campaign’s visibility, drawing attention to the impending threat to indigenous rights and the potential environmental consequences. The success of this campaign was not merely measured in celebrity endorsements but in the broad coalition of concerned individuals who signed the petition, adding their voices to the call for justice. The international community’s response demonstrated a shared commitment to protecting indigenous rights and recognizing their global significance amidst climate change and deforestation concerns. The campaign’s conclusion marked the continuation of a legal battle. In September, the Supreme Court deemed the law unconstitutional, prompting Congress to approve the bill. President Lula’s partial veto on October 20th was overturned by Congress on December 14th, favoring the agribusiness lobby and connected farmers. APIB and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples aim to challenge this through an appeal at the Supreme Court, amplifying voices advocating for the protection of indigenous rights in Brazil. The image is showing Txai Surui.