Above photo: Indigenous protester restrained by security staff as protesters storm the compound. France 24.
They Are Demanding Climate Justice And Protection Of Forests.
On Tuesday, Brazilian Indigenous leaders and activists clashed with security guards as they tried to enter the site where the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) is being held in Belem.
The protesters demanded access to the hall hosting the climate summit and several of them carried banners and flags with demands for land rights, such as “Our land is not for sale.” In response, security forces at the venue attempted to block them, using tables to obstruct their entry.
However, the protesters bypassed the security checkpoints and entered the lobby of the UN-run tent where the negotiations take place. At that moment, members of the national delegations were preparing to leave the venue.
A spokesperson stated that the group of protesters “breached security barriers at the main entrance, causing minor injuries to two security personnel and minor damage to the venue.” Brazilian and UN security personnel took protective measures to secure the site.
Previously, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva had highlighted Indigenous communities as key players in the COP30 negotiations. Earlier this week, Indigenous leaders arrived by boat to participate in the talks and demand greater involvement in forest management.
Raoni Metuktire, known as Chief Raoni, urged to empower Indigenous peoples for the preservation of the Amazon, stating that communities are upset about industrial and development projects in the rainforest.
In recent years, the impacts of climate change have been noticeable in Amazonian populations. In Brazil, for example, authorities have recorded an increase in dengue cases as climate change facilitates the reproduction of the mosquitoes that transmit the virus.
