Over 1,700 environment activists killed in decade - report

Image source, Getty Images

A new study shows that an environmental activist has been killed every two days over the last decade.

According to a report from Global Witness, more than 1,700 people have died trying to stop mining, oil drilling or logging.

The countries with the highest number of deaths over the last decade are Brazil and Colombia.

The true scale of violence is underestimated by researchers.

The murders of a British journalist and an indigenous expert brought attention to the lawless conditions in the Amazon.

Latin America is the front line when it comes to attacks on activists and environmentalists. Brazil, Mexico, and Honduras have the highest murder totals, according to the study.

Many of the people who died were involved in trying to stop the exploitation of their lands.

Image source, Getty Images

Researchers think that as the world tries to increase the exploitation of fossil fuels in the wake of the war in Ukraine, they will face more threats. The year with the most recent data, 200 people were killed at a rate of 4 per week.

According to Global Witness, 85% of the killings in Brazil have occurred in the Amazon.

In this race to get more land to acquire and exploit resources, the victims are indigenous communities, whose voices are being suppressed.

Image source, Global Witness

Three of Sampayo's friends were killed for protesting.

The anti-fracking campaigner has been documenting the impact of oil and mining developments in the area.

The war in Ukraine is having a negative impact on the environment in the country.

"As coal, oil and gas are not bought from Russia, extraction in the global south is deeper, especially in countries likeColombia, regardless of the human rights violations that are generated," he said.

There has been an increase in violence against green activists in the country. He is not ready to quit despite the attacks on him.

He said that the assassinations, displacements, exiles and attacks against comrades who defend nature demotivates him, but he has not considered leaving the country.

According to Global Witness, the situation for environmentalists has not improved in recent years.

The activists say that there has been a rise in killings since the beginning of the year.

Criminal and drug related gangs are involved in the murders of environmental activists.

Image source, Getty Images

54 killings were recorded in Mexico in 2021. There have been killings related to illegal mines operated by the drug gang.

• Nearly four people involved in environmental activism were killed every week across the world
• Brazil and India both saw lethal attacks increase, while Colombia and the Philippines saw declines.
• There were 10 documented killings in Africa, with most taking place in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Eight of these deaths took place in the Virunga national park, mostly park rangers.
• Global Witness recorded 12 mass killings in 2021 with three in India and four in Mexico
• In Nicaragua, criminal groups murdered 15 activists as part of a systematic campaign against the Miskitu and Mayangna peoples

Despite the grim statistics and the rise in the number of deaths in recent years, there is hope that progress is being made.

A former energy executive in Honduras was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the murder of a human rights activist in the country.

The Escaz agreement came into force in 2021.

The treaty is the first of its kind in Latin America. It commits countries to protect environmental defenders. Some nations, like Mexico, have approved it, but others, like Brazil, haven't.

Image source, Getty Images

The European Union is considering making companies responsible for human rights abuses in their supply chains.

Shruti Suresh said that the decisions could make a positive impact on the environment.

There are certain signs of hope and we should be hopeful. It is going to be a challenge.

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