Protest action by indigenous peoples of Brazil at COP-30. COP-30: Conference organizers consider protests by indigenous peoples “legitimate” Felipe de Carvalho, Belem Climate and Environment
Members of the Manduruku people of the Amazon blocked the main entrance to the Blue Zone, an area reserved for negotiators at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. Among their demands is to stop projects in territories inhabited by indigenous peoples. The conference’s director-general called the protests “legitimate” and said the government was listening to demonstrators.
On Friday morning, about 90 members of the Manduruku First Nation held a peaceful protest, blocking the main entrance to the conference’s Blue Zone. The “Blue Zone” is an area open only to negotiators and other accredited meeting participants.
Access to the forum through the main entrance was blocked for about an hour and army patrols were called in to tighten security. The Manduruku people live in the Amazon, mainly in three Brazilian states: Amazonas, Mato Grosso and Para.
“Legitimate” protests
According to news agencies, the demonstrators were protesting against Brazilian government projects that could affect communities living in the Tapajós and Xingu river basins. They also demanded an end to mining in indigenous areas.
Speaking to reporters, KS-30 executive director Ana Toni said the demonstrators’ demands were linked to national politics. They were sent to meet with the Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Sonia Guajajara, and the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva.
Ana Toni called the demonstrations “legitimate” and stressed that the government was ready to listen to protesters. She noted that more than 900 indigenous representatives were accredited to COP30, a significant increase from the 300 participants at last year’s conference in Baku, Azerbaijan. UN News Amanda, a young participant from the Pancarara people in Pernambuco, said COP30 was an opportunity to highlight indigenous issues. However, Amanda believes that more representatives of indigenous peoples could be invited to the conference.
“We could make a much greater contribution if more Indigenous people were involved in these discussions,” she said. – The demands [put forward by the protest participants] are certainly justified. We demand that our right to land, our right to life be respected. We create this protective barrier and we want to be heard. To be here today, representing those who did not have the opportunity to come, gives us a responsibility.” of all they have ever participated in.
A representative of the indigenous population of Chile, young activist Emiliano Medina said that indigenous representatives discussed a declaration highlighting their commitment to combating the climate crisis.
He noted that such protests are a form of activism that allows them to make demands and point out shortcomings in policies. Medina added that similar actions are taking place around the world in communities affected by climate change. and outside the conference.
She noted that the decision to hold the conference in the Amazon was made precisely to ensure broad participation of indigenous peoples – something that would be difficult to achieve if the event were held in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo or Brasilia.