InfoAmazonia visited location where illegal mercury is sold along the border between Bolivia and Brazil, for illegal use by wildcat gold mining operations in Amazonia. After the Minamata Convention, Bolivia became the world’s largest mercury importer and it is estimated that half of the metal is sold as contraband to neighboring countries including Brazil, which has eliminated its legal mercury imports.
Category: Mining
A legacy of broken promises
Lindaura Cariajano Chuje scrambled up the riverbank and strode into the forest, following a path only she could see. A step ahead of her, a young man with a machete cleared the way as she gave instructions: A little to the left, a bit to the right, now straight ahead. It was a muggy morning […]
From mining to fish: how mercury contaminates the Munduruku Indigenous community
Carnivorous fish are among the most consumed by the Munduruku and the most contaminated by mercury. Scientists suspect the toxic metal, found in the bodies of the members of this indigenous community is seriously affecting the health of adults and children who are born with malformations and developmental delays. Munduruku women already avoid getting pregnant.
Mining firm accused of coercing indigenous groups to exploit potash in Amazon
Public Prosecutor’s Office investigates Canadian-controlled Potássio do Brasil for manipulating consultations and land transactions with indigenous people
Invented Amazon: 70 million views on YouTube, clicks and money from videos that spread disinformation about the forest and Indigenous peoples
Planalto spreads the most lies about the Amazon on YouTube
Illegal mining has been growing for 3 years inside an ecological station deep in the Amazon Rainforest
Official report identifies dredges and boats supporting the crimes at the Juami-Japurá Ecological Station, in the state of Amazonas. Impacts on the integral protection area have been growing since 2019.
Gold, not potassium: the real interest of mining on indigenous lands
Forty three percent of all mining requests on the indigenous lands in the Brazilian Amazon lands are for gold extraction, an InfoAmazonia data analysis reveals. In several of these targeted areas, satellite images show that there is gold mining already taking place without authorization.
New study suggests that mercury contamination is widespread among residents of the Amazon
Although living 186 miles away from the area along the Tapajós River where illegal mining is concentrated, Santarém’s inhabitants are at high risk of mercury poisoning.
A Brazilian congressman created an armed militia in the Legislative Assembly that spied on and kidnapped opponents
Confidential documents obtained by InfoAmazonia detail how a Brazilian politician commanded an armed militia that spied on and kidnapped opponents in the Amazon.
Indigenous Leaders in Amazonas and Land Demarcation are under Attack in WhatsApp Groups
Monitoring of groups on the messaging app WhatsApp shows that disinformation and lies are a strategy to weaken the Indigenous fight.