The Amazon is under attack. As many pointed out recently, President Jair Bolsonaro is adding to the deforestation that has taken place for years. In 2019, there have been a record number of wildfires throughout the Amazon, which is why the work of Chief Raoni Metuktire – an Indigenous man from the Kayapó tribe – is increasingly important. It’s why Brazilian anthropologists and environmentalists have nominated him for the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize.
The nomination was led by the Darcy Ribeiro Foundation, which put forth his name but still need to complete the process so that he can be considered a nominee. “Chief Raoni is a living symbol of the fight to protect nature and the rights of Indigenous people in the Amazon,” said Toni Lotar, a spokesman for the foundation.
Raoni, 89, has accused Bolsonaro of being behind the fires and has called for everyone’s help to protect the rainforest. “We need the support of everybody,” he told France 24. “Financial aid should be consistent. Amazonia is the only solution to guarantee the air we’re breathing.”