October 9, 2015

Indigenous leaders and activists dissuaded companies from acquiring fracking blocks in Brazil

 

Media contacts:

Hoda Baraka, 350.org Global Communications Manager, [email protected], +201001-840-990

Jenny Zapata, 350.org Global Communications Coordinator, [email protected], +521614-4277692

 

RIO DE JANEIRO — Yesterday, indigenous leaders and activists against fracking interrupted the auction of oil and gas exploration blocks organized by the Brazilian Agency of Oil and Gas (ANP) to talk about climate change, indigenous rights, divestment and climate justice.[1] Their intervention was followed by unionized oil workers who also spoke against the auction, which was described as a failure by local media, as only 37 out of the 266 blocks being auctioned were sold.

Later in the day, a press conference was organised where 9 indigenous chiefs and 9 indigenous leaders spoke against fracking and shared their experience with oil exploration in the Amazon and Paraná regions.

On October 4, COESUS – Coalizão Não Fracking Brasil (No-Fracking Brazil Coalition), supported by 350.org, called for a Day of Action in solidarity with the Brazilian fight against fracking. A total of 23 countries, with three cities in the UK, and 39 Brazilian cities joined in saying no to fracking.[2]

Since 2015, the work of the Coalition has taken significant steps to keep fracking from taking place in Brazil. Their lobby was key to get the law project for a five-year moratorium on fracking to pass at the Environment Commission of the Federal Parliament. Local ban law projects have also been submitted for voting in 25 municipalities and one state.

“The most important thing we have done is to be able to inform and mobilize communities in isolated areas against fracking”, pointed Nicole Figueiredo de Oliveira, 350.org Brazil Team Leader and part of the Coalizão Não Fracking Brasil. “Now there are eight indigenous groups taking part in this campaign with us. We will continue working to keep fracking away from their lands and from the precious forests and water resources of our country”, Oliveira concluded.

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NOTE TO EDITORS:

[1] Photographs of the action available here. Please credit to: Oriana Eliçabe & Paulo Lima/350.org

[2] PRESS RELEASE: People around the world take action in support of Brazil’s anti-fracking campaign

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