Why We Care - Hope and resistance in the Amazon rainforest with Nemonte Nenquimo, Waorani leader, and Mitch Anderson, Authors and Co-founders of Amazon Frontlines

Hope and resistance in the Amazon rainforest with Nemonte Nenquimo, Waorani leader, and Mitch Anderson, Authors and Co-founders of Amazon Frontlines

11/27/24 • 43 min

In today’s episode I’m incredibly honoured to be speaking with Nemonte Nenquimo and Mitch Anderson. Nemonte is a Waorani leader, mother, and forest defender. She grew up in a little village in the heart of the Amazon rainforest and has now become one of the leading voices of her community. Together with her partner Mitch they created the nonprofit organisation Amazon Frontlines, bringing together Indigenous peoples to defend their rights to land, life and cultural survival in the Amazon. They have now also written a book to share her story with the world, called We Will Be Jaguars.

I couldn’t have hoped for a more important conversation to kick off this new season with. Indigenous people represent just 5% of the world’s population, and yet they look after over 80% of our planet’s biodiversity. In other words - they are the experts. So in this episode, Nemonte shares what it was like for her to grow up in the heart of the Amazon, the teachings she received from her ancestors, and what she hopes the world will understand about the forest. We also spoke about how together with Mitch and their team, they made history by bringing together an alliance of Indigenous nations to defend their territories, and ultimately winning a legal battle against the oil industry, resulting in the protection of half a million acres of rainforest in her region.

As you’ll notice part of this episode is in Spanish - I didn’t want to cover Nemonte’s words with a translation. So instead, Mitch helps translate her answers after she’s spoken. If you understand Spanish, wonderful - and if not, no worries. I think you’ll still very much enjoy this episode and I invite you to close your eyes if you can, if it’s safe for you to do so, and try feel the power of her words.

Want to dive deeper?

BUY THE BOOK!!! :) https://amazonfrontlines.org/book/
Support Amazon Frontlines — https://amazonfrontlines.org/donate/
Follow Amazon Frontlines on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/amazonfrontlines/
Follow Nemonte on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/Nemonte.Nenquimo/
Follow Mitch on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/mitchandersonaf/

Come say hi!

Why We Care on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/whywecarepodcast/
Tiphaine on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/tiphainemarie_/

If you enjoyed the episode and want to help the podcast, I would be super grateful if you could leave a little review or share it with a friend who might like it. Thank you so much for caring and sending you lots of love!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to dive deeper?

BUY THE BOOK!!! :) https://amazonfrontlines.org/book/
Support Amazon Frontlines — https://amazonfrontlines.org/donate/
Follow Amazon Frontlines on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/amazonfrontlines/
Follow Nemonte on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/Nemonte.Nenquimo/
Follow Mitch on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/mitchandersonaf/

Come say hi!

Why We Care on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/whywecarepodcast/
Tiphaine on Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/tiphainemarie_/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

SEASON 3 trailer - the podcast helping you reconnect with nature

We're back for a third season! Thanks so much for being here and for caring, and see you tomorrow with the first episode of Why We Care, season 3. Until then, sending you lots of love!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Patagonia’s approach to activism with Gina Lovett from Patagonia and Jón Kaldal from the Icelandic Wildlife Fund

In today’s episode I’m speaking with not just one but two wonderful guests: Gina Lovett, Environmental Initiatives Manager at Patagonia and Jón Kaldal, of the Icelandic Wildlife Fund – a Patagonia Grantee.

I was really excited to record this conversation. Like many people in the industry, for many years I’ve looked at Patagonia as a sort of North star of responsible business, and it was super interesting to hear more about how they approach activism as a global organisation. Earlier this year they released a film called A Salmon Nation, exposing the ugly truth behind open net salmon farming in Iceland. Jón from the Icelandic Wildlife Fund is a fountain of knowledge on the issue and it was great to hear from him on how the local communities in Iceland are coming together to try to stop this harmful industry before it completely destroys their beautiful ecosystems.

Gina and Jón are seasoned campaigners who have managed to bring a movement together, gathering public support on social media and in real life - so this episode really is a lesson in how to get your message heard by the world. I’m really happy about it, it is full of very practical tips that I’m sure will be mega helpful whether you’re an individual or working as part of a business or organisation. I also loved Gina’s reminder that there’s not just one type of activist – she said often the people they work with are mothers, or grandmothers who are fighting to protect their families and communities.

Want to dive deeper?