Journalism from the center of the world

Abandonment and structural problems of Indigenous education in states of the Brazilian Amazon have worsened since the covid-19 pandemic. Photo: Aldira Akai

RIGHTS UNDER THREAT

  • Indigenous education shows signs of neglect after the pandemic
    The pandemic exacerbated problems in Indigenous schools. The teaching of reading and writing skills has been weakened and the mental health of the professionals has been negatively affected. (Amazônia Real)
  • Lack of water affects families in the world’s wettest forest
    In southeast Pará state, the population is suffering harsh consequences from mining, which makes water increasingly scarce, according to the podcast “Amazônia Sem Lei” (the Lawless Amazon). (Agência Pública)

DEGRADED FOREST

  • Banks fail to monitor loans to deforesters
    Public and private financial institutions often provide credit to companies at risk of causing deforestation. A study proposes closer monitoring on behalf of the environment. (Repórter Brasil)
  • Brazil’s largest bauxite producer neglects locals
    Residents of the state of Pará were not consulted about mining activity and say they only discovered the forest near their homes would be excavated when they heard machines removing vegetation. (Mongabay)
  • Land grabber tactics
    Using modern technology, they target areas of the Amazon that are not located in Indigenous or conservation areas (which would be illegal). Environmental fines are accepted as “proof” of ownership. (((o))eco)
  • Pará to invite private firms to exploit threatened areas
    The state government plans to use the carbon market to encourage companies to reforest areas at risk. (Folha de S.Paulo)

Biologists from the state of Pará rescue and try to save manatees in drought-stricken parts of the Amazon by putting them in plastic pools. Photo: Bárbara Vale/InfoAmazonia

MORE-THAN-HUMAN

  • Amazonian manatees struggle to survive the climate crisis
    Biologists in the state of Pará are using plastic children’s pools and their own backyards to try to save and restore to health animals rescued from drought-affected areas. (InfoAmazonia)

INSPIRATION

  • How dreams play a key role for the Yanomami
    Author of a book on the subject, the anthropologist Hana Limulja states in an interview that for the Yanomami dreams are related to everyday life, as well as to other worlds and beings. (Amazônia Latitude)
  • The sight and sound of endangered languages
    A special report shows how ten Brazilian Indigenous languages are spoken, from Ikolen, which makes use of whistles, to Ka’apor, the first sign language recognized in Brazil. (BBC Brasil)

Fact-checker: Plínio Lopes
Proofreader (Portuguese): Valquíria Della Pozza
Spanish translation: Julieta Sueldo Boedo
English translation: Mark Murray
Photo Editor: Lela Beltrão
Layout and finishing: Érica Saboya
Editors: Malu Delgado (news and content), Viviane Zandonadi (editorial workflow and copy editing), and Talita Bedinelli (editor-in-chief)
Director: Eliane Brum

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