The War Against Nature in Brazil
Eight days ago, the remains of British journalist Dom Phillips and his Brazilian guide Bruno Pereira, an expert on Indigenous communities, were found in the remote Javari Valley in Brazil. They were last seen on June 5. Today, their remains were given to their respective families, and memorials will be hosted for both men this weekend. Why were they targeted and murdered? And, what can we do to protect journalists and environmental activists?
The Javari Valley is a battleground.
The Javari Valley is an expansive and isolated region in western Brazil. It is a lush area marked by extreme contradictions. While it serves as one of the world's last refuges for Indigenous communities who want to preserve their traditional culture, it also hosts criminal syndicates who want to use the land for illegal activities, including cocaine trafficking. This creates conflicts between the criminal enterprises and Indigenous communities who feel a responsibility to protect the land. Scott Wallace, author of The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon’s Last Uncontacted Tribes, observed that “the Javari is one of the last true bastions of primal wilderness in the Amazon – and in the world." But, despite its beauty, it is far from Eden. Wallace told The Guardian that it is a "lawless zone where criminals act with impunity."
The murders may have been ordered.
When Phillips and Pereira went missing, some assumed it may have been the result of an unintentional attack or a random accident. After both men were found, and it was confirmed that they had been shot, questions grew about the attackers' motivations. Three men are now in custody and the police are pursuing a theory that the murders were part of an ordered killing. Phillips was in the process of writing a book called "How to Save the Amazon" which has been described as "part travelogue, part guidebook out of environmental despair." The officer in charge of the investigation told The Guardian, “It’s possible that there is an intellectual author behind this. The investigation is ongoing. We are looking at everything and we won’t leave any stone unturned. We’ll find out what happened, and what didn’t happen.”
This is not a solo incident.
Global Witness tracks the murders of environmental activists. Some murders go unreported, but in 2021 they released 2020 data on 227 known murders, including 20 people killed in Brazil. In that report, Global Witness noted the connection between environmental advocates and Indigenous activists. Often one and the same, Global Witness found that Indigenous people were "particularly impacted" by those who target land and water defenders. Sometimes, politicians even promote these tensions. When Brazilian President Bolsonaro was told that Phillips and Pereira's remains had been recovered, his blunt comment, “that Englishman was disliked in the region," was met with swift backlash in Brazil.
Amplify Global Witness's work and tell their stories. Last September, The Friday Brief covered murders of Colombian environmentalists. If you follow Dear Girl Friday on Instagram, you may recall coverage of similar murders in South Africa and Mexico. This is a global problem that requires global solutions. Unfortunately, these stories are often underreported and only appear briefly in the local news. They deserve global attention. By following Global Witness and sharing reports about murdered and jailed environmentalists, we can collectively build the political will to solve this problem. On social media, you can also follow the hashtag #DefendTheDefenders. Looking for somewhere to start? You can share this 3-minute tribute video by The Guardian about Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips.