“We defend our lands not just for our people but for all of humanity. Your company is harming our collective future. We have lived here in the heart of the Amazon for over 4,000 years. But now our world hangs by a thread.”
– Beka Saw Munduruku

Last week, Amazon Watch had the honor of accompanying young Indigenous leader Beka Saw Munduruku to the United States to confront Cargill, a corporate giant responsible for the destruction of her people’s lands and violations of their rights.

As the largest agribusiness company in the world, with sprawling operations in the Brazilian Amazon and the neighboring Cerrado biome, Cargill’s reckless practices drive an ever-expanding wave of deforestation, pollution, and violence against local communities.

Beka was chosen by her people to appeal to the Cargill-MacMillan family, about 20 people who own 88% of the company, rather than to its executives who have repeatedly failed to honor their promises. The family is the fourth richest in America, with more billionaires than any other family on Earth.

On Thursday, Beka hand delivered her letter to security outside of Cargill’s Minneapolis headquarters, after being denied access to the building. It is appalling that an emissary who traveled 4,000 miles to deliver an urgent message from her people would be treated with such dismissal and disrespect.