As the sun rose over the vast Tapajós River in Brazil, 400 of us staged a powerful direct action. Along with Indigenous and riverside defenders, we halted commodity shipping for six hours to demand the cancellation of the Ferrogrão mega-railway project.

The railway project was initiated at the request of Cargill and other major agribusiness companies. Slicing through the Amazon rainforest, Ferrogrão would export commodities via the Tapajós River, threatening the waterway’s vital ecosystems and those who depend on them for their survival.

In response, dozens of canoes with signs denouncing Ferrogrão formed a barrier blocking agribusiness barges. Meanwhile, our mock soy barge called out notorious traders such as Cargill, Bunge, ADM, and Louis Dreyfus, which are vying to increase exports from the region.

Amazon Watch is committed to defending the Tapajós River and supporting the #NoFerrogrão Alliance. Together, we will collectively organize to ensure that the mega-railway is never built.