Defensores ambientales y sus luchas en tiempos de pandemia en América Latina
Environmental defenders almost always face risks while fighting to safeguard our planet. But increased isolation and harsh quarantine measures decreed by different governments in Latin America have made their work riskier. In this Spanish-language webinar, we discuss the implications of some of these policies, how the lack of protection for certain territories has increased threats to biodiversity and lives of environmental leaders. And we learn more about how COVID-19 has impacted rural and remote territories, such as the Amazon rainforest, where it has spread rapidly.
This webinar is part of the #DefendersWithoutFear series, which portrays the realities faced by 15 environmental activists and caregivers in 10 Latin American countries during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is organized by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network and Agenda Propia and supported by the global non-profit Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA).
Guest speakers
- Tagüide Picanerai – Paraguay: Indigenous leader of the Ayoreo Totobiegosode people in Paraguay, the only people in voluntary isolation in the Americas outside of the Amazon.
- Rosa Aranda Cuji – Ecuador: Indigenous leader of the Kichwa nationality, Rosa lives in the town of Piwiri and works on the governing council of her commune, Moretecocha, as a secretary.
- Suchit Chávez - El Salvador: A Salvadoran journalist with 15 years of experience, Suchit has covered environmental issues, security, violence, organized crime and culture.
- Edilma Prada – Colombia: A Colombian journalist, Edilma is the founder and director of the independent media Agenda Propia and a journalist and editorial coordinator for the series #DefendersWithoutFear series.
Moderated by Lucy Calderón, EJN’s guest journalist from Guatemala with 22 years of experience covering science, health and environmental issues.
Banner image: A woman on the Tupana River, Brasil / Credit: Stephanie Morcinek via Unsplash