Amazon's Guardian Speaks Out Against Threats to His Home

Chief Raoni, a 93-year-old Indigenous leader, is sounding the alarm about Brazil's infrastructure plans. He believes these projects could harm the Amazon rainforest and the people who call it home. Raoni is in Brazil for the U. N. climate summit, COP30. He wants Indigenous peoples to have more say in how forests are managed. Raoni is concerned about highways, rail projects, and oil wells. He thinks these projects will destroy rivers and lands. He said, "These projects destroy rivers and lands and they are continuing to do it. I don't like it. " He also warned that these projects will have bad consequences for everyone, not just the Indigenous people. Raoni criticized several Brazilian projects. One is a plan to pave a highway through the forest. Another is a license given to Petrobras to explore for offshore oil near the Amazon River. Raoni said these projects will not benefit the local populations. Raoni is known for his distinctive lip plate and yellow feather headdress. He is one of the world's most recognized Indigenous leaders. He urged the Brazilian government to give legal protections to tribal lands. He said, "It is very important for the protection of the lands. " Raoni has been fighting for the Amazon for a long time. He attended the 1992 Earth Rio Summit. He said he has seen no positive changes since then. He urged non-Indigenous people to think about their children and grandchildren. He said, "You non-Indigenous people, perhaps you should have listened and thought about your children, thought about your grandchildren, so that the forest can live and contribute to the lives of new generations, of your grandchildren. "