Possible Good News for the Amazon

Sônia Guajajara first female indigenous federal deputy of Brazil.

The full results of Brazil’s elections will not be known until after the presidential run-off on October 30, but one bit of news from this past weekend’s Congressional vote seems encouraging: Sônia Guajajara was elected as São Paulo’s first female indigenous federal deputy.

Born in a rainforest village of the Guajajara people, the Brazilian activist has become a powerful force in the cause of indigenous and environmental rights, strongly opposing disastrous policies of previous governments that have contributed to rapid destruction of the Amazon.

Sônia Guajajara has also done so at incredible risk. More than 300 people have been killed in Brazil in the past decade in conflicts over the use of land and resources in Amazonian states. Yet, she has continued to speak out, even against the criminal networks behind such murders.

But let’s not celebrate just yet. Many remain nervous about the potential for political violence in these elections (see Daily Brief, September 29), and the presidential run-off is going to make this a very tense month for Brazil. – Human Rights Watch