natural reserve
Brazil: Thousands of indigenous people demonstrate against gold mining
“Mining kills” is written on the back of this demonstrator. Photo: Eraldo Peres/AP/dpa
© dpa-infocom GmbH
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro is not known for his environmentally friendly policies – a new law is now intended to allow gold mining in indigenous areas, which has hitherto been illegal.
Around 6,000 indigenous people have demonstrated in Brasília against gold prospecting in indigenous areas.
As part of the “Blood Gold: March against gold mining that kills and cuts down forests” campaign, they marched in front of the Brazilian capital’s Ministry of Mines and Energy and threw mud against its windows, as reported by the “G1” news portal.
The mud was supposed to represent the pollution and death caused by prospecting for gold. Some also used it to write slogans against President Jair Bolsonaro on the panes.
Since Monday last week, the indigenous people have been in Brazil for a large, around ten-day protest camp. They defend the establishment of protected areas and protest against the “anti-indigenous agenda” of the government of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro.
This includes the “Marco Temporal”, which large landowners interpret in such a way that indigenous peoples can only claim land where they lived before the 1988 constitution. According to environmentalists, the rights of the indigenous people are curtailed. In addition, there are legislative projects that are intended to allow gold mining in indigenous areas, which has hitherto been illegal.