Salgado warns of indigenous genocide in Amazon amid COVID-19
Sebastião Salgado, the renowned Brazilian photographer, has issued a video appeal alongside his wife Lélia Wanick to the Brazilian government, congress, and supreme court to urgently protect indigenous Amazon tribes from COVID-19. The tribes are already weakened by fires and river pollution, and their legally protected territories are being illegally invaded by miners, loggers, and cattle ranchers who risk bringing the virus to vulnerable populations with no immunity. Salgado, whose photographic project on Amazon tribes will premiere at the MAXXI museum in Rome in 2021, will discuss the appeal on May 9, 2020, at 3 PM across MAXXI's social media channels with Giovanna Melandri.
Key facts
- Sebastião Salgado and Lélia Wanick launched a video appeal to the Brazilian government, congress, and supreme court.
- The appeal urges action to prevent COVID-19 from infecting indigenous Amazon populations.
- Indigenous territories are illegally invaded by miners, loggers, and cattle ranchers who can transmit the virus.
- Indigenous people are not equipped to handle the pandemic and risk decimation.
- Salgado's photographic project on Amazon tribes will premiere at MAXXI in Rome in 2021.
- Salgado will discuss the appeal on May 9, 2020, at 3 PM on MAXXI's social media channels.
- The conversation will be with Giovanna Melandri.
- The appeal was released in early May 2020.
Entities
Artists
- Sebastião Salgado
- Lélia Wanick
Institutions
- MAXXI
- Artribune
Locations
- Brazil
- Amazon
- Rome
- Italy