Gold rush in the Amazon: Native of life in mortal danger through pollution!

Gold rush in the Amazon: Native of life in mortal danger through pollution!

Iquitos, Peru - Wien/Lima, 07.01.2025 (Cape)-Violent allegations are loud against illegal gold mining in the Amazon area, which brings serious dangers for the environment and the indigenous communities in Peruvian Iquitos. The aid organization "Christians in Need" (CIN) criticizes the use of uncontrolled mercury that gets into the waters of the Amazon and thus poisoned the fish and the sensitive ecosystem of the rainforest. These health damage caused by mercury poisoning are often irreversible consequences and particularly affect children who are often exposed to the greatest risks. "Due to the international conflicts, the gold price increased from 1,800 to 2,500 euros per ounce last year alone," said CIN general secretary Elmar Kuhn, which makes gold mining extremely profitable in the region. The existence of entire indigenous communities would be threatened, according to the aid organization, which sees itself as a "mouthpiece for the speechless" and maintains tight contacts with the Catholic diocese of Iquitos.

threat from illegal activities

For several years, a dissident branch of the Colombian Farc is financed by illegal gold mining in the untouched regions of the Amazon. This dangerous trend not only brings massive pollution with it, but also endangers the survival of the indigenous peoples on site, which have hardly any access to survival -important drinking water. Bishop Miguel Ángel Cadenas, who was appointed Bishop of the Amazon Diocese of Iquitos in 2021 and is actively committed to protecting the indigenous communities, is increasingly confronted with murder threats, which also tightens the explosive situation, as Cin emphasizes.

In addition to these challenges, there are reports on the need for indigenous peoples, such as the Achuar tribe in Ecuador. This trunk lives in one of the last untouched areas of the Amazon and fights the threats caused by oil and gold conveyor companies. In a personal conversation with a leader of the Achuar strain, the central role of the rainforest for its culture and identity was emphasized. At the same time, the importance of tourism is emphasized for the preservation of your way of life, which further complicates your situation. The Kapawi Lodge, operated by the Achuar community, offers a unique opportunity to secure the survival and protection of 700,000 square kilometers of rainforest, which focuses on sustainable development and the preservation of the local cultures, as is evident from the interview

The serious threats, both through illegal activities and through environmental degradation, illustrate the urgent needs and challenges that indigenous peoples are facing in the Amazon area. The events in the Amazon, such as from Kathpress and podtail report a bright light on the connection between global raw material prices and the local living conditions that are at risk.