Advisory: Indigenous leaders, allies call for emergency support of Amazon Sacred Headwaters at UN Climate Week

Panel to present on mounting threats to Amazon rainforest and Indigenous peoples posed by oil and mining interests

Traditional lands of the Lenape people (New York, NY) – Indigenous leaders and allies from the international coalition Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative will carry the message from their communities in the Upper Amazon Sunday, September 22, at a panel discussion in New York City during UN Climate Week.

The Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative is drawing attention to the immediate threats to one of the most biodiverse regions of the Amazon. They are urging governments and investors to act now to halt approvals and financing of new projects.

Sunday’s panel will include numerous Indigenous leaders as well as members of the Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative. These leaders will also be attending an event marking the 5 year anniversary of the New York Declaration on Forests, whose signatories include countries and companies directly implicated in rainforest destruction.

WHAT: The Amazon Sacred Headwaters: Territories for Life – Panel Discussion (register here)

WHEN: Sunday, September 22, 2019, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM EDT

WHERE: Helen Mills, 137-139 West 26th St, New York, New York 10001

SPEAKERS:
Domingo Peas Nampichkai, Achuar Leader from CONFENIAE (indigenous organization of the Ecuadorian Amazon) and other indigenous delegates
Atossa Soltani, Director of Global Strategy, Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative
Tzeporah Berman, International Program Director, Stand.earth
Carlos Larrea, Economist, Universidad de Andina
Kevin Koenig, Climate and Energy Director, Amazon Watch
Lizardo Cauper, President, AIDESEP (Peruvian national indigenous rights organization)

The Amazon Sacred Headwaters Initiative is led by Amazonian indigenous federations CONFENIAE (Ecuador) and AIDESEP (Peru) in partnership with Pachamama Alliance, Amazon Watch, Fundación Pachamama, and Stand.earth.

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Media contacts: 
Atossa Soltani: Sacred Headwaters Initiative, 202-256-9795 / atossa@sacredheadwaters.org
Leila Salazar-Lopez: Amazon Watch,  415-341-5509 / leila@amazonwatch.org
Tzeporah Berman, Stand.earth, 604-313-4713 / tzeporah@stand.earth