Because I dedicate my life to protecting the forest, these men see me as their enemy – but they don't realize that I'm actually fighting for them too.
Home to my people for over 6,000 years, the Amazon is on the verge of its ecological tipping point, and if that threshold is crossed, the rainforest could become a wasteland.
If we do not prevent this collapse, the atmosphere will be filled with carbon dioxide, the lands will be scorched by drought and 10,000 species will disappear. And all of us – indigenous peoples, ranchers, people in Brazil and around the world – will struggle to survive.
But we still have an opportunity. Amazon leaders gather at a historic summit to defend their rainforest, and this summit could be the key to real change. But to do that, we need to speak out louder than the ranchers and persuade them to protect eighty percent of the rainforest and recognize the full rights of indigenous peoples over their land.
Support me to defend this forest that connects us to each other and to life, and I will convey our voices directly to the leaders during the summit. Add your name now!
JOIN THE CITIZENS STATEMENT TO SAVE AMAZON
The Paiter Suruí tribe, my people, have been fighting to protect the forests for hundreds of years, and we have been disappointed many times along the way. But this summit gave us hope. After years of deforestation, mining and violence that have ravaged the Amazon, governments finally seem intent on taking real action to help people live in harmony with the forest!
Brazil's new government reduced deforestation by more than 60 percent in July compared to the previous year, but that's not enough: other countries must join the effort to defend the Amazon to prevent disaster. That's why Avaaz is running the largest Amazon campaign in its history to persuade leaders to take action: Thanks to donations from Avaaz members, indigenous communities across the Amazon basin are negotiating to protect our home, and we know we have the support of 9.1 million Avaaz signers worldwide behind us!
This summit could be the start of a major regional initiative to protect the rainforest and allow us to save the Amazon before the critical threshold is crossed. But we need the support of citizens around the world to beat the ranchers and lumber traders and save the ecosystem from collapse. Add your name to the Citizens' Declaration now and I will forward our call directly to the Amazon leaders during the summit.
JOIN THE CITIZENS STATEMENT TO SAVE AMAZON
I've witnessed this community take action over and over to protect the rainforest. Avaaz, together with its allies, ensured the protection of forest areas and stood up to wrong policies. The upcoming Amazon Summit may be an opportunity to quickly achieve the rainforest's urgently needed protection, empowering my people and all communities in the Amazon. Let's get this done by joining hands.
