Mike Gatehouse

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Articles

El Salvador: 'No to Life, Yes to Mining'

Jan 15, 2025 | lab.org.uk | Mike Gatehouse

President Nayib Bukele has overturned El Salvador’s seven-year-old ban on metal mining (the first such ban in the world) and renewed the assault on communities which campaign against mining. The five water defenders from Santa Marta, Cabañas, now face a new trial because of their opposition to gold mining. This article draws on research by Pedro Cabezas, John Cavanagh and colleagues at the Institute for Policy Studies and on reports by Mongabay and MiningWatch Canada.
'Open Fire' exhibition in UK

Oct 4, 2024 | lab.org.uk | Mike Gatehouse

In September 2022, LAB described a new photo exhibition, created by the Brazilian photographer and film-maker Marilene Cardoso Ribeiro. Now that exhibition has come to the UK and is on display until 16 November at the West Downs Gallery, on the campus of the University of Winchester. At the opening in Winchester on 2 October, Marilene spoke about the scale of fires now breaking out across both the Amazon and the Pantanal in Brazil.
Mexico's Wixárika community vs the miners

Jul 9, 2024 | lab.org.uk | Mike Gatehouse

Wirikuta is the most important sacred place for the Indigenous Wixárika people in the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. In 2010, the communities discovered that mining companies were threatening this place, which is of great importance for biodiversity and culture. Since then, they have been fighting a legal battle to annul the 78 contracts threatening the site’s existence.
Appeal for leading Brazilian environmental defender

May 13, 2024 | lab.org.uk | Mike Gatehouse

Marcos Colón writes: Maybe you don’t know Antonia Melo? But she spent her life saving all of our lives. Melo is one of the greatest warriors for nature in the Middle Xingu. All forest protection actions in recent decades in the Altamira region bear Melo’s fingerprints. Her house was – for decades – also the home of anyone who stopped by for a cupuaçu juice or with a request for help. Melo welcomed everyone. She was a woman-home.
Brazil: Kawahiva at mercy of loggers and gangs

May 10, 2024 | lab.org.uk | Mike Gatehouse

Indigenous rights campaigners have criticized Brazil’s authorities for leaving surviving members of an uncontacted tribe open to attack, in one of the most violent areas of the country. The existence of the Kawahiva (who have no interaction with outsiders) was officially confirmed 25 years ago; thirteen years ago they were caught on camera in a chance encounter; and eight years ago this week Brazil’s Justice Minister signed into law a decree declaring the area an Indigenous territory.
Eliane Brum: contemplating the Amazon, the centre of the world, through writing

Apr 5, 2024 | lab.org.uk | Marcos Colon |Mike Gatehouse

This interview was first published (in Portuguese) on Amazônia Latitude, as a podcast and a text. It has been translated and reproduced with kind permission of Marcos Colón and Eliane Brum. The Amazon is the centre of the world, it is one of the most important regions on the planet and must be preserved and protected. This idea has been championed by the most awarded journalist in Brazil, Eliane Brum, also a documentary filmmaker and writer.
The Amazon: 'Territory Languages'

Mar 18, 2024 | lab.org.uk | Marcos Colon |Mike Gatehouse

This interview was first published (in Portuguese) on Amazônia Latitude, as both text and podcast. It is reproduced with kind permission of Marcos Colón and Eliane Brum. The Amazon is the center of the world, it is one of the most important regions on the planet and must be preserved and protected. This idea was created by the most awarded journalist in Brazil, who is also a documentary filmmaker and writer, Eliane Brum.
Ecuador: a haven no longer?

Mar 9, 2024 | lab.org.uk | Mike Gatehouse

Once regarded as an ‘island of peace’ in a troubled region, Ecuador sits at the heart of the complex migratory flows that dissect Latin America’s Andes. But the eruption of violence that has upended Ecuador since 2016 may have spun the country onto a path towards an exodus of its own. Main image: Deilys fled Venezuela to Ecuador with her family.
Ailton Krenak: Samba to portray our vision

Feb 27, 2024 | lab.org.uk | Marcos Colon |Mike Gatehouse

On April 5th, the Academia Brasileira de Letras (ABL – Brazilian Academy of Letters) will welcome its first Indigenous member in its over 150 years of existence. Ailton Krenak, a highly respected Indigenous leader, environmentalist, philosopher, poet, and writer, will make his mark as a newly inducted member of the Academy. His induction signifies a departure from the literary norms that have excluded Indigenous voices from actively shaping the Brazil´s narratives, cultures, and stories.
Carnival: Afro-Brazil meets indigenous Amazon

Feb 1, 2024 | lab.org.uk | Mike Gatehouse

This article is reproduced by kind permission of Sumaúma. You can see the original here. It complements an earlier Sumauma article LAB republished on 12 January. Sumaúma, journalism from the centre of the world, is based in Altamira, Pará, in the Brazilian Amazon. It was established one year ago by Eliane Brum, Jonathan Watts, Verônica Goyzueta, Talita Bedinelli and Carla Jiménez.