By Sara Leal*
“Who is in charge of the negotiations needs to understand that participation of civil society is important, especially the participation of the peoples of the Amazon”, says Julio Xapuri from CNS (National Council of Extractive Populations), about the negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Mercosur.
The phrase was said during a series of consultations and interviews between July and August 2022 by IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute) in partnership with Fern and ISA (Social Environmental Institute).
Representatives of organizations, collectives, and indigenous and traditional communities from Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay were heard, totaling 22 people from 20 local organizations participating in the meetings.
As a result of these consultations, IPAM launched a series of four interviews, carried out within the scope of the Amazoniar project, with guests from different organizations in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The aim is to give voice to the populations directly – and indirectly – affected by the treaty and their concerns regarding the consequences if approved.
“It’s always an investment for soy, investment for mining, investment in I don’t know what, and nobody even asks who the people are in those places”, says Ana Paula Santos Souza from FVPP (Live, Produce and Preserve Foundation).
Watch the interview highlights with Julio Xapuri and Ana Paula Santos.
Read the full transcript of the interview with Julio Xapuri and Ana Paula Santos.
Read the policy brief, a document summarizing the main topics addressed during the consultations, by clicking here.
Check out all the interviews:
1. Sergio Rojas (CONAMI Chaco – National Council of Indigenous Women, Argentina) – published on 01/02 vídeo | transcription of the complete interview
2. Kátia Penha (CONAQ – National Coordination of Quilombos Articulation) and Erileide Guarani-Kaiowá (Guarani-Kaiowá People) – publication on 08/02 vídeo | transcription of the interview with Erileide Guarani and Kátia Penha
3. Ana Romero, Unión Juvenil Indígena del Paraguay – publication on 02/15 vídeo | transcrição completa da entrevista
4. Julio Xapuri – National Council of Extractive Populations (CNS) and Ana Paula Santos Souza – Live, Produce and Preserve Foundation (FVPP) – publication on 02/23 vídeo | transcription of the complete interview with Julio Xapuri and Ana Paula Santos
*Communication Coordinator at IPAM, sara.pereira@ipam.org.br
