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By Rajesh Kumar, Senior Correspondent, NextMinuteNews
Manaus, Brazil – In a powerful display of dissent, Indigenous activists stormed the COP30 climate summit today, halting proceedings and demanding urgent action to protect their lands and global biodiversity. Hundreds of protesters, representing tribes from the Amazon, Congo, Indonesia, and beyond, flooded the plenary hall with chants and banners, putting Indigenous rights at the center of climate negotiations.
A Desperate Call for Survival
Activists from Brazil’s Kayapó, Yanomami, and Munduruku tribes joined global Indigenous delegations in condemning world leaders for failing to fulfill past climate pledges. Their demands included:
– An immediate halt to deforestation
– Expulsion of illegal miners and loggers
– Direct funding for Indigenous-led conservation efforts
“We are not just protestors—we are the Earth’s last defenders,” declared Txai Suruí, a prominent Indigenous leader who spoke at COP26. “Empty promises won’t save our forests or our future.”
Why Indigenous Leadership is Critical
Indigenous communities protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity yet receive less than 1% of climate funding. Studies show securing Indigenous land rights is one of the most effective climate solutions. While Brazil’s President Lula has pledged to curb deforestation, activists report ongoing violence and land invasions.
“Our rivers are poisoned, our forests burned—COP30 must deliver real change,” said Juma Xipaya of the Xipaya tribe.
Global Solidarity Against Exploitation
The protest highlighted the interconnected struggles of Indigenous peoples worldwide.
- Congo Basin activists accused the same corporations destroying the Amazon of exploiting their lands.
- Southeast Asian delegates linked palm oil expansion to Indigenous displacement.
Security initially tried to remove protesters before UN officials allowed Indigenous leaders to address the summit directly.
Will COP30 Deliver Results?
Brazil’s Environment Minister, Marina Silva, acknowledged the demands, but activists remain skeptical due to delayed land protections and weak enforcement. Meanwhile, fossil fuel lobbyists faced backlash for greenwashing while funding deforestation.
As negotiations continue, a proposed Indigenous Climate Guarantee—ensuring funding and legal protections—gains momentum.
The message is clear: Climate justice cannot happen without Indigenous justice.
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