Conference Agenda

Climate Change Crisis and Environmental Justice in the Amazon:

Voices from Indigenous Peoples and Activists

Conference in honor of Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira

Friday, May 10, 2024

Location: Yale School of the Environment, Kroon Hall

Para a agenda da conferência em português, clique aqui. 

For the full program in English, click here. 

This event is hybrid.

Register here to connect via Zoom and to access English/Portuguese interpretation. 

8:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.              Breakfast

9:00 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.              Welcome Remarks

  • Albert Ko, Yale University

9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.              Keynote

  • Marina Silva, Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (Brazil) (virtual)
    Introduction by Alessandra Sampãio, Founder of the Dom Phillips Institute

9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.                        Opening Comments

  • João Biehl, Princeton University
    Introduction by Claudia Valeggia, Yale University

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.          Environmental Crisis in the Amazon

A panel that focuses on the impact that climate change has had in the Amazon ecosystem and on public health. It will also discuss the possible actions that can be taken through environmental legislation.

  • Eliane Brum, Sumaúma
  • Caetano Scannavino, Health and Joy Project
  • Kristina Lyons, University of Pennsylvania

    Moderated by Paulo Brando, Yale University

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.            Lunch

1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.              Human Rights Violations and Political Conflicts in the Amazon

A panel that focuses on illegal logging, human rights violations, attacks on indigenous territory and other political conflicts in the Amazon. There will be a legal approach here as well.

  • David Cordero-Heredia, Cornell University and The Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador
  • Daniel Camargos, Repórter Brasil
  • Daniela Alarcon, Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (Brazil)
  • Ivo Cípio Aureliano, Indigenous Council of Roraima

    Moderated by Tom Phillips, The Guardian

2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.              Voices of the Activists in the Amazon

The fight against modern slavery, the goal of increasing awareness about indigenous issues, and in defense of indigenous health.

  • Olimpio Guajajara, Guardians of the Forest 
  • Joênia Wapichana, National Foundation of Indigenous People
  • Beto Marubo, Union of Indigenous Peoples of Vale do Javari

    Moderated by Glenn Shepard, Goeldi Museum

4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.              Synthesis and Next Steps

  • Tom Phillips, The Guardian
  • Eliane Brum, Sumaúma
  • Alessandra Sampãio, Founder of the Dom Phillips Institute

5:00 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.              Closing Remarks

  • Gerald Torres, Yale University 

5:15 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.              Reception and Photo Exhibit

  • Welcome by Steven Wilkinson, Yale University

7:00 p.m.                                 Dinner – Invitees Only

Dedicação e Reconhecimento: Bruno Pereira dedicou sua vida à proteção de povos indígenas e seus territórios enquanto Dom Phillips mergulhou na Amazônia para entender sua diversidade de contextos e saberes para divulgá-la. Pereira, um sertanista brasileiro - especialista em povos isolados - formou grupos de monitoramento indígenas no vale do Javari, equipando-os com tecnologia moderna para defender suas comunidades e modos de vida. Phillips, um jornalista britânico, amplificou as vozes de povos tradicionais, lançando luz sobre crises ambientais, sociais e econômicas na região. Tragicamente, ambos perderam suas vidas durante uma viagem de pesquisa, destacando a violência enfrentada pelos defensores do meio ambiente. Seus legados nos inspiram a continuar sua luta pela Amazônia e seus guardiões. Ao homenagearmos e celebrarmos Bruno Pereira e Dom Phillips, também reafirmamos a importância das causas pelas quais eles lutaram: o respeito e a proteção dos direitos de comunidades tradicionais amazônicas, da Amazônia e toda a vida nela contida. 

Dedication and Acknowledgement: Bruno Pereira dedicated his life to protecting indigenous peoples and their territories while Dom Phillips immersed himself in the Amazon to understand its diversity of contexts and knowledge in order to spread it. Pereira, a Brazilian sertanista - a specialist in isolated peoples - formed indigenous monitoring groups in the Javari valley, equipping them with modern technology to defend their communities and ways of life. Phillips, a British journalist, amplified the voices of traditional peoples, shedding light on environmental, social and economic crises in the region. Tragically, both lost their lives during a research trip, highlighting the violence faced by environmental defenders. Their legacies inspire us to continue their fight for the Amazon and its guardians. As we honor and celebrate Bruno Pereira and Dom Phillips, we also reaffirm the importance of the causes they fought for: the respect and protection of the rights of traditional Amazonian communities, the Amazon and all life within it.

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