Gold rush in the Amazon: human rights in danger!

Gold rush in the Amazon: human rights in danger!

In a dramatic race against time, the “Christians in Need” (CiN) in the Peruvian Amazon region are fighting against the catastrophic consequences of illegal gold mining. As the organization reported in Vienna, human rights and the environment are being endangered there by the actions of gold miners, who are often supported by organized crime gangs from Colombia and Venezuela. With the price of gold at a record high, mining is being carried out on an almost industrial scale and is causing irreversible environmental damage. Mercury used in this illegal mining contaminates water and threatens the health of indigenous communities. Children are particularly affected, as they suffer severely from the consequences of the poisoning. CiN is increasing its support for attacks on these human rights violations by working with local activists like Marcelina Angulo and initiating clear local aid projects to ensure the existence of these communities. In his report, Elmar Kuhn mentioned that indigenous peoples have had to flee the dangers of gold mining for generations.

Catastrophic consequences of gold mining

The destruction of the rainforest and the associated endangerment of flora and fauna are also a central concern of the environmental organization Greenpeace. In its latest report on the devastating effects of gold mining, Greenpeace found that up to four football fields of land are being lost every day in indigenous areas of Amazonia. This particularly affects the territories of the indigenous peoples of Kayapó, Munduruku and Yanomami. According to Jorge Eduardo Dantas of Greenpeace Brazil, every hour that illegal gold prospectors are active in these areas is an hour of danger for people and the environment.

These alarming developments underline the urgency of projects like those of CiN, which aim to decisively address the threats to indigenous peoples and the environment. It is a race against destruction that must be prevented while there is still hope. The voices of those living in the heart of the Amazon must be heard and supported in their fight for justice to ensure survival in this unique and protected region. Greenpeace's reporting powerfully highlights the connection between economic interests and the destruction of irreplaceable habitats and calls for decisive action to protect the Amazon.