"Report points out "accomplices of the destruction" of the Amazon", 22 February 2022

...The report, made in partnership between the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (Apib) and the NGO Amazon Watch, also addresses the role of the mining industry in climate change and the devastation of biodiversity in Brazil. In addition, the material exposes the social and environmental impacts of the activity on indigenous peoples and their lands, especially in the Amazon.

Apib and Amazon Watch named the companies that lead and finance "the race for the theft of mineral resources, with the endorsement of the current Brazilian government", and make recommendations to put an end to the "chain of destruction" in Indigenous Lands...

... Rosana Miranda, campaign advisor of Amazon Watch, explained that the information in the publication intends to guide new regulatory frameworks that curb the advance of mining and mining on indigenous lands. "One of the expectations is to bring the discussion to the central and urgent character it needs to have about mining on indigenous lands at a time when Congress is trying to pass this destruction package, the case of PL 191 [which opens indigenous territories to mining and other extractive activities]."

...The report denounces the excess of requests for mineral research filed at ANM with impact on Indigenous Lands from an analysis made in partnership with the project Amazonia Minada, of Infoamazonia...

...the report intends to pressure companies that make formal commitments to respect indigenous peoples, to respect sustainability, to turn these commitments into concrete actions - "placing themselves against this type of legislation", he explains.

...After publication of the report, Vale and Anglo Gold Ashanti sent the following note:

Vale

"As already widely reported, Vale has no claims on indigenous land in Brazil. Last year, the company announced the desistance of all its mining processes in Indigenous Lands in the country (which includes requests for research and mining). The desistence requests were filed with the National Mining Agency (ANM) throughout 2021. This decision is based on the understanding that mining on Indigenous Lands can only be carried out with the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the indigenous people themselves and legislation that allows and adequately regulates the activity. See more details here: http://www.vale.com/esg/pt/Paginas/Controversias.aspx. Vale also reiterates that it is available to clarify all points with Apib and Amazon Watch".

Anglo Gold Ashanti

"AngloGold Ashanti informs that it does not operate and has no interest in operating on Indigenous Lands (TIs). In the 1990s, the gold producer requested mineral research requirements in several regions in the country. Three of these areas were later demarcated as Indigenous Lands (TIs), which led the company to give up on them. The decision was filed with the National Mining Agency (ANM) at the end of the 1990s. However, since the process was not updated in the ANM system, AngloGold Ashanti ratified the withdrawal of the request for exploration on June 21, 2021. Currently, the company's investments in Brazil are basically concentrated on expanding its mines located in Minas Gerais and Goiás...

(Source in Portuguese translated by the BHRRC)