Direct Talk

Today's guest is Alessandra Korap Munduruku.

Born in 1984,

she's a native of the Munduruku group
nestled in the Brazilian Amazon.

Advancement in mining there
is resulting in widespread deforestation.

Depletion of rainforests assaults ecosystems.

It's threatening the survival
of indigenous communities

and exacerbating global climate change.

"I just want to protect
my village and its people."

Alessandra says.

She has been active on social media,
both at home and overseas,

and has been advocating for the protection
of the rights of indigenous Amazonian people

and the environment for a decade.

In 2023, she received the
Goldman Environmental Prize,

also known as the Green Nobel Prize,
in recognition for her activities.

What fuels her passion?

And what's unfolding in the Amazon
at the very moment.

We talk with Alessandra,

a figure getting global attention for her
efforts in protecting tropical rainforests.

Guardian of the Amazon

Protecting the environment
is a way of life for us.

There are rivers, forests,
animals, and humans.

Nature has life.

It's where I live.
Me and my people.

Life there depends on
the river and the forest.

Right now, the earth is in trouble.

The earth, the water,
the forests, and the air we breathe,

the mother that gives us everything is sick.

The pollution of the earth
by smoke, oil, coal and gold mines

and forest fires mean that our mother

is becoming sick.

The Brazilian Amazon is rich in nature,

harboring a vast ecosystem
that thrived for centuries.

Indigenous people call this region home.

The rights and territories of these people
are safeguarded by the Brazilian Constitution.

Land development should not occur
without permission.

Nevertheless, the Amazon forest has
diminished by 15% between 1985 and 2022.

Key contributors include
the development of large farms

and illicit extraction of natural resources.

Extensive use of mercury in gold mining
is a significant concern.

Recent studies reveal direct dumping
of mercury into rivers,

is leading to severe health issues

among indigenous communities
consuming contaminated fish.

My biggest shock came in 2022.

That's when all the patients
who were tested got the results.

They showed very high
mercury levels in the children.

Fish are poisoned by mercury!

Mercury!

Children, unfortunately,
absorb the metal through the placenta.

It's taken into the baby's body
through the uterus.

It's just astonishing.

All the villagers are talking about it.

We decided to stand-up saying,
"Something must be done."

Who's buying the gold?

Who's selling the mercury?

Who is manufacturing
the mercury and killing us?

We felt that we had to let the world know!

Former Brazilian President
Jair Bolsonaro took office in 2019.

He advocated for the development
of the Amazon as an economic priority.

The Amazon has many resources for mining,
Agriculture, as well as diverse animals.

He ignored the wishes
of the indigenous people

and moved to legalize
the exploitation of natural resources.

That led to the initiation
of development schemes

by major corporations and foreign entities
as well as illegal mining.

In 2020, Alessandra and other indigenous groups
organized a substantial rally,

campaigning against projects
in various locations,

and calling for their immediate cessation.

The government supports projects that will kill us.
But we are not going to allow it! We are not going to allow it!

The media extensively covered
the movement, drawing global attention,

Subsequently, one project after another
was canceled as a direct result.

When we heard that the projects
had been stopped, we jumped for joy.

We were all very happy that we were
able to stop that huge mining company.

We were able to stop the plans of the big
corporation because we all fought together.

In present day Brazil, there are
over 300 indigenous groups

like the one Alessandra belongs to.

The Munduruku people
primarily live in northern Brazil,

along tributaries of the
Amazon River in small villages,

comprising about 18,000 individuals.

Rivers and forests hold
profound spiritual significance.

These natural elements serve as
essential resources for fishing,

water, and serving as
playgrounds for their children.

I had a very fun childhood.

I played a lot with my cousins.

As a child, I had the freedom
to go wherever I wanted.

I am the oldest of seven siblings.

So, I often took care of
my younger brothers and sisters.

We went to the riverside and
the woods behind our house to hunt.

We also cooked meals
in the garden of our home.

We made small houses out of straw and dug
in the ground to build them with mud walls.

I had such a happy childhood.

It was a hometown full of freedom
together with my siblings and mother.

From 2013 onwards, Alessandra dedicated
two years to teaching in her hometown,

overseeing children aged three to five.

She asserts that this experience played a
pivotal role in strengthening her character.

I taught them everything
about songs and fruits

to insights about the surrounding wilderness.

We ventured into the forest,

gathering fruits and seeds while crafting
skirts from materials found in the woods.

I also instructed them
in creating various accessories,

including feather earrings.

Every Friday, we would go on
village walks to collect garbage.

Understanding the risks of disease
and harm to animals posed by litter,

I encouraged everyone to actively
participate in cleaning up discarded trash.

Our village developed a strong sense
of environmental consciousness.

Children are profound teachers,
imparting numerous lessons.

They played a pivotal role
in teaching me strength,

empowering me to initiate the fight
to protect ourselves.

In 2014, at the age of 30,
Alessandra had a turning point.

At the time, she attended a community meeting
while she was raising her children.

She learned that there were plans
to build hydroelectric dams,

a railroad to transport grain,
and a port near her village.

Alessandra found herself voicing concerns
that their rights were being violated.

It was when her fight
for environmental protection began.

I am continuing to fight
for the sake of my sons.

I wanted my sons to engage in the environment
of our village where I was born and raised—

fishing, hunting, and
absorbing the richness of our heritage.

I used to explore
countless places with my children,

riding bicycles and
experiencing various adventures.

However, due to ongoing land developments,
many areas have become inaccessible.

Although I wasn't always at home

and couldn't be there for my sons
in the traditional sense,

they grew up to be remarkable individuals.

They proudly tell others,
"My mother is an amazing warrior."

So, mothers worldwide should teach
their children and grandchildren

the importance of preserving themselves.

It goes beyond just focusing on
what's directly in front of them;

it extends to fostering consideration
for those around them

and refraining from disrupting
what doesn't belong to them.

Alessandra's struggle began with
challenging traditional barriers.

In the Munduruku tradition,
village chiefs are exclusively men,

holding decision-making authority
during meetings.

However, Alessandra successfully persuaded
community elders to align with the opposition.

Despite societal norms, as a woman,

she actively participated in patrols

and continued to raise
global awareness about deforestation.

Diligently reaching out to other women,
Alessandra's persistent endeavors

led to the landmark indigenous
female demonstration in 2019.

Acknowledging her leadership,
Alessandra, at the age of 37 in 2021,

was the first woman elected president
of the Pariri Indigenous Association-

a community representing
the Munduruku people.

I never aspired to be a leader;

I simply wanted to be Alessandra,
safeguarding my home and family.

Leadership is entrusted to men,

not only among the Munduruku

but also in other ethnic communities.

Men are the decision-makers.

When we sought to organize the
first women's gathering, we faced obstacles.

The chief resisted allowing the meeting.

The chief believed that

"Women are born to care for
their husbands and raise their children.

They should watch over their husbands
as they go to the fields,

and when women go out, they should be
accompanied by their husbands."

Those were his words to me.

But I could not imagine myself
simply obeying my husband.

I looked at him and thought,
"I want to do what I want to do."

Now, the chief acknowledges
the courage of women

and emphasizes the need for their respect.

Recently, there's a notable shift toward
"green energy" in response to climate change.

The generation of wind and solar power
demands substantial quantities of metals.

It's prompting increased focus on
Brazilian mineral resources.

Meanwhile, even though Amazonian villages are

switching from generators
to cleaner solar power,

ironically, the panels themselves
need minerals.

This creates a challenge
for the indigenous communities

as they try to find the right balance

between convenience and
taking care of the environment.

How can we avoid using materials
that pose a threat to our well-being?

We wanted to produce energy
within our own land

and solar panels emerged as the only option.

They were installed in several places,

including the school,
and the internet was connected.

We have internet in our village!

On the other hand, we have had to
use things that harm our homeland.

I always wonder how we humans
can reduce the use of minerals.

Can we reduce the extraction
of minerals from our territory?

There must be a better way.

It was a bigger challenge
than I initially envisioned.

At first, I thought it was a struggle
for our own benefit.

But I realized along the way that,
in fact, we were fighting for human life

and for the Earth.

We ask Alessandra what her favorite word is.

Resistance

It's "resistance."

To resist is a testament
to our will to survive,

and it unfolds within the confines
of our land and our world.

If we bring together this collective belief,

we can evolve into a bigger force.

Much like ants transporting leaves,

the power of individuals
may seem insignificant,

but when unified globally it can unsettle
those in positions of authority.

Your homeland faces invasion,
and I implore families to stand firm.

Don't yield! Maintain your beliefs
as things will improve.

I urge you to join our resistance,
have faith in our cause and all will be well.