Today I arrived in the heart of the Amazon. Sawre Muybu on the Tapajos River. It was a early start because we flew from Manaus to Itaituba at 6am. The flight took us over extensive networks of rivers and forests. The deeper we travelled into the Amazon the more the clouds cleared and the lusher green the forests became. Then as we neared Itaituba, the areas of bare ground logged (often illegally) for export and to make way for farms and gold mines became more and more. The contrast of breathtaking and heart breaking was shocking.
From Itaituba we travelled in a bus over red dusty roads along the river's edge to Port Bubure, a simple dock, where we piled into small aluminium boats.
After 45 minutes dodging rocks and rapids we arrived at Sawre Muybu.
Just as we arrived a swarm of big bright red butterflies, like I've never seen before, welcomed us.
We are here because this place is important and this story needs to be told. The indigenous people, the Munduruku, have been fighting the Brazilian government's plan to build a huge hydrodam on the Tapajos river for 30 years. The hyrodam would flood Munduruku villages and drastically change how they have lived for millenia. Along with destroying the habitat of thousands of unique species. They have invited us to work with them and to ask our supporters around the world to also stand with them. Over 800,000 already have - you can add your name now.
Brazil does not need this hydrodam. There is plenty of other ways to generate power - especially in this place where the blazing hot sun beats down all day!
As a lot of people arrived today (including our own Bunny McDiarmid) we had a big 'family' meeting tonight where we went around the circle and introduced ourselves to the Munduruku cacique (chiefs). We are people from all over the world, journalists, activists, campaigners - people who understand we need the Amazon and right now the Amazon needs us.
Tomorrow will be a big day, starting at five with the warriors from the village dancing in preparation for the arrival of more Munduruku cacique. So I leave you here as I go to sleep in my hammock with the roar of the jungle and all her inhabitants competing with the snore of one of my many new friends.
Ate logo (until next time)
Ruby
