John,

For more than a decade, a small group of forest defenders has done something extraordinary. Again and again, they’ve stopped one of the world's biggest mining companies from tearing into the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

Then, earlier this year, authorities reinstated Belo Sun's license to build one of the largest open-pit gold mines in the Amazon, right at the center of one of the most biologically rich stretches of river anywhere on Earth.

These forest defenders are fighting back in court, but now, at the most critical moment in the entire fight, their funding disappeared. Without urgent support, they may not have the resources to keep traveling to impacted communities, preparing evidence, and representing the people standing between the Amazon and this destructive mine.

Too often, movements like this only lose because they run out of money. We can make sure that doesn't happen. Can you rush a donation today to help keep this legal fight alive and save the Amazon from being ripped open?

I'll donate $3I'll donate $4 I'll donate $5I'll donate $9I'll donate another amount

The Xingu River is home to countless species, from giant river otters to the adorable capybara. And it’s this Amazon wildlife haven that Belo Sun is looking to destroy for gold.

This region has already been turned into one of the most damaged in the Amazon thanks to the notorious Belo Monte dam — one of the world's largest hydroelectric projects. The dam diverted the Xingu River, collapsed fish populations, and devastated the communities that depend on it for food and survival.

Since 2017, Belo Sun has tried to forge ahead with its gold mine. But Movimento Xingu Vivo has brought land defenders, riverine, traditional, and Indigenous Xikrin, Juruna, Kayapó, Akroá Gamella, and Xipaya communities together to fight back — documenting violations, challenging permits in court, and helping win the legal victories that have kept Canadian mining giant Belo Sun from breaking ground.

Their resistance has worked, but now, right in the middle of an active court case to stop the mining licence, they lost their funding.

If we don’t do something, ten years of resistance could be wiped out — which is why they’ve urgently come to us for help. If we can quickly raise enough, we could keep the case going by wiring the funds they need to cover the costs of the legal team challenging the licence.

Will you rush a donation to protect the Amazon from this gold rush and protect our natural world wherever it’s needed?

I'll donate $3I'll donate $4 I'll donate $5I'll donate $9I'll donate another amount

Your donation will help power Ekō and our campaigns worldwide fighting for people and the planet.