On October 6 and 7, the II Brazilian Forum for the Rights of Nature took place in Ilhéus, Bahia. On October 8, the First Artistic and Cultural Festival for the Rights of Nature took place. GARN’s Latin American Hub communications coordinator, Henny Freitas, attended the event.
In tune with Nature, the event was divided into three parts. The official inauguration, held in Aldeia Tukum, was represented by the hosts, the Tupinambá people of Olivença, who, along with other Indigenous communities such as Tukano, HuniKuin, Pataxó-hã-hã-hãe, and with a strong presence of quilombolas, were able to formally submit complaints and requests for land demarcation to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, which attentively listened to their demands.
Organizations linked to the Rights of Nature were presented and, on the occasion, Henny Freitas had the honor to speak about GARN’s Latin American Hub and to present the Global Parliamentary Front for the Rights of Nature.
The second part took place at the State University of Santa Cruz – UESC. Indigenous leaders, such as Chief Ramón Tupinambá, lawyer Vanessa Hasson, the representative from the UN Harmony with Nature program, María Mercedes Sánchez, and others participated in the dialogue.
In the afternoon, they gathered in simultaneous sessions to, among other activities, “listen to the voice of Nature” with the help of technology and discuss research and legislation regarding the Rights of Nature. The highlight of the afternoon was the law that recognizes the rights of a river for the first time in Brazil: the Laje River in Rondônia.
The hub was able to present the Global Parliamentary Front for the Rights of Nature and invite the authorities present to strengthen the initiative. Once again we were able to present the Global Parliamentary Front for the Rights of Nature and invite the authorities present to strengthen the initiative. The last day was marked by the first Art and Culture Festival for the Rights of Nature held in a public square in Brazil, with the participation of local artists and guests, such as Projeto Somos do Mar.