2019 has an been an eventful year to say the least. We marked an incredible 50 years of Survival, launched our new campaign to stop #FactorySchools and supported our indigenous partners through some of the most devastating fires the Amazon has ever seen.
As always, none of this work would have been possible without your help. Your donations, online activism and fundraising efforts all make a huge difference and inspire us every day.
Below, you’ll find just a few of our biggest successes and stories from the past year that you might have missed. Scroll to the end for our plans for 2020!
In 2019, we...
Marked 50 years of Survival!
In 1969, Survival was founded by a group of volunteers, horrified by the genocide of indigenous peoples in Brazil. In 2019, we launched an ambitious fundraising target in honor of our 50th birthday, and we smashed it! To everyone who donated, thank you!
Made global history
At the beginning of the year, Survival helped organize the biggest global protest for indigenous rights, ever! Alongside our indigenous allies, we took to the streets in cities around the world to protest the Brazilian president's genocidal policies.
Stood up for victims of conservation
In March, BuzzFeed News exposed shocking cases of human rights abuses in conservation zones, which Survival has been campaigning against for years. We're seeing our hard work start to pay off: Multiple investigations into the abuse were opened in 2019, and more are recognizing indigenous peoples as conservation's natural allies, not enemies!
Launched a new campaign!
After years of investigation, we launched our campaign to stop #FactorySchools in May! These schools teach indigenous kids to be ashamed of their identity and often subject children to appalling abuse, racism and discrimination. They’re one of the biggest threats facing indigenous peoples around the world. Read the
damning report here →
Took our cause to the Pope
In October, Survival staff from our Italian and Spanish offices traveled to Rome to bring indigenous voices to the Pope at the Amazon Synod. It was a truly historic occasion that we used to amplify indigenous voices on the global stage as we fight against the destruction of the Amazon.
Grew our Tribal Voice project
This year, we released more video messages from indigenous people than ever before! This pioneering project allows us to broadcast indigenous voices to the world so they can speak out about what matters to them.
Congratulated our friend Davi Kopenawa Yanomami
2019 was also the 30th anniversary of Survival winning the alternative Nobel Prize and asking Davi Kopenawa to receive it on our behalf. It was a great year for Davi to win the Right Livelihood Award in his own right. He's stood in the forefront of the struggle for Amazonia for over a generation. All congratulations to him and Hutukara, the Yanomami organization he founded.
Celebrated a success in India (but lots still to be done)
After national and international outcry, including the thousands of Survival supporters who protested, the Indian government said it would scrap changes to a law that would militarize its forests and open them up for commercial exploitation in 2019. However, many threats remain, including mass evictions of India’s tribal peoples. Read Survival’s
new report about illegal evictions to find out more.
These cases represent just a tiny selection of our work from the past 12 months, and the next decade promises to be busier than ever.
The Amazon is under threat like never before and the importance of protecting indigenous peoples’ lands and rights cannot be overstated.It's essential not just for their future, but for the future of our planet.
With that in mind, as we enter a new decade we commit to:
Defend the rainforest by supporting indigenous-led initiatives. We’ll continue to support and work alongside the Guardians of the Amazon, who have been facing increasing threats and deadly attacks.
Decolonize education through our campaign to stop Factory Schools! We’re championing indigenous education that works for children and their families.
Stop land-theft in the Congo Basin and India. Conservation organizations should be working with indigenous people, not against them – we’ve helped expose the problem, but our work isn’t over.
Amplify the voices that matter. Our pioneering Tribal Voice project highlights indigenous voices around the globe and in 2020 we’re aiming to release more videos than ever before.
As always, thank you for supporting Survival during one of the most challenging years in our organization's history.
P.S. Unlike many NGOs, we reject government funding so our integrity is never compromised. We rely entirely on your donations to keep fighting for tribal peoples worldwide. Please donate today. Without you, there can be no Survival.
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