Driven by witnessing the connection between injustice and environmental degradation, Jess Grady-Benson co-founded the Claremont Colleges Fossil Fuel Divestment Campaign in 2012. She led the campaign to a victory at Pitzer College in 2014, securing fossil fuel divestment.

Post-graduation, Grady-Benson continues building the youth climate justice movement through the national Fossil Fuel Divestment Student Network. As a coordinating committee member and Director of Training, she plans strategic direction, designs leadership programs, and trains young organizers nationwide to advance divestment and a just transition.

Celeste received a prestigious Brower Youth Award.

She was recognized for making impactful and lasting changes by greening her high school campus.

Dyanna was honored with a prestigious Brower Youth Award.

This recognition celebrated her dedicated work in mobilizing a civically engaged environmental youth coalition.

Her impactful efforts extended throughout Virginia and beyond.

On July 9, 2008, Brigid Glanville examined the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF).

This new initiative provides boarding school scholarships, supporting Indigenous education.

Angela Bates and Karla Grant explored the initial years of the Indigenous boarding program at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill.

They met the young men who were excelling, making the most of the educational and personal growth opportunities provided by the program.

The U'wa people of Colombia's cloud forests are once again requesting international support. For over two decades, they have fought to keep oil projects and their inevitable environmental destruction out of their ancestral territories. Recent threats include expanded oil exploration (the Magallanes project) near their sacred Cubogón river and the bombing of an oil pipeline on their lands.

In response, the U'wa are organizing an international advocacy delegation to the United Nations. They are using video images, taken on Earth Day (April 22nd), to explain why their urgent case requires global attention and support.

Metallica recently made a young girl's dream come true, creating an unforgettable experience for her.

This heartwarming gesture highlights the iconic band's commitment to their fans and their ability to create lasting memories.

It was a truly special moment, fulfilling a lifelong wish for the young fan.

Amazon Watch recently spearheaded a delegation that brought together indigenous youth from the Klamath and Xingu rivers.

This collaborative effort aimed to foster hope and unity among the Xingu people, strengthening their vital struggle against destructive dam projects.

The U'wa people continue their decades-long, nonviolent struggle to protect their sacred ancestral lands from environmental destruction. While Occidental Petroleum departed in 2002, Colombia's national oil company Ecopetrol now intensifies oil exploration activities, particularly around the Magallanes platform.

This exploration encroaches on U'wa ancestral territory and the spiritually significant Cubogón River. U'wa spiritual leader Berito Cobaría emphasizes their ancient wisdom: oil, or "Ruiria," is the Earth's blood, and its extraction causes a slow environmental death. This perspective aligns closely with modern climate change warnings.

Read more: http://amazonwatch.org/news/2014/0417-colombias-uwa-two-decades-later-fighting-on

Amazon Watch and Yasunidos have released a new PSA featuring celebrity supporters. The campaign defends Ecuador's controversial Yasuní National Park from oil drilling.

The PSA showcases prominent stars, including Oscar winner Jared Leto, Michelle Rodriguez, Michelle Monaghan, Benjamin Bratt, and Daryl Hannah, among other actors and activists.

Sign the international petition to support the cause: http://amazonwatch.org/take-action/save-yasuni. Join the global conversation using #YasuniDependeDeTi.

The Voices of the Xingu project shares stories of those impacted by the Belo Monte Dam, under construction in the Brazilian Amazon.

This feature highlights Antônia Melo da Silva, the driving force behind the local Movement Xingu Alive Forever.

Learn more about Antônia and the Belo Monte Dam at www.amazonwatch.org.

Alberto Acosta, former energy minister of Ecuador, passionately advocated for the protection of Yasuni National Park.

He spoke during the inaugural session of the Ethics Tribunal on the Rights of Nature and Mother Earth in Quito, Ecuador.

Photo Credit: Robin Milam

Film by Todd Southgate.

Large hydropower projects are widely promoted as "clean and green" electricity sources by international financial institutions and governments. These projects significantly benefit from instruments designed to address climate change, such as carbon credits, World Bank funds, and green bonds.

The dam industry actively seeks funding from the Green Climate Fund, and many governments advocate for hydropower expansion as a national climate change response. For example, at least twelve governments have included increased hydropower generation in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions.

Amazon Watch released "The Chevron Tapes," internal videos showing company technicians mocking contamination in Amazon areas Chevron claimed to have cleaned. The tapes also feature residents denouncing pollution and Chevron's practice of merely covering waste pits. One resident, José, tragically lost three daughters due to this oil contamination.

Chevron dismisses these damning videos as "out of context." However, José's home, once pristine, became a toxic waste dump due to Chevron's actions, including spilling millions of gallons of crude and dumping billions of gallons of toxic wastewater. A former worker corroborates being ordered to dump waste daily. José has waited approximately 30 years for help, underscoring Chevron's responsibility for this environmental crime.

Donny Rico's series, including Episode 4 "T'anks Judge," highlights Chevron's attempts to evade accountability for massive Amazon pollution. Facing a major loss in Ecuador, Chevron sought favorable courts, finding U.S. Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan. Kaplan initiated a RICO case, assigned it to his courtroom, and ruled for Chevron, despite his decision being legally and factually flawed, lacking jurisdiction, and demonstrating clear bias.

Kaplan's ruling defied appellate courts, refused a jury, and denied crucial evidence to Ecuadorian villagers. This "mockery of justice" is under appeal and widely expected to be overturned. Watch the full Donny Rico series: http://amwt.ch/3627. Learn more: http://chevrontoxico.com/news-and-multimedia/2014/0325-chevrons-mockery-of-justice.

Actor and activist Jared Leto supports protecting Ecuador's Yasuni National Park, the Amazon's most biodiverse region, from oil drilling. Partnering with Yasunidos and Amazon Watch, he urges global support to safeguard this natural wonder. Leto recorded his message while on tour with "Thirty Seconds to Mars" in Ecuador.

A video featuring Jared and other celebrities advocating for Yasuni can be found here.

Take action to keep Amazon oil in the ground today.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio recently joined indigenous leaders in New York City for a significant march advocating for climate justice. His participation underscored the urgent need for global environmental action.

The demonstration highlighted the critical role of indigenous communities in addressing climate change and emphasized their calls for equitable solutions and protection of ancestral lands.

New York City is hosting the world's largest climate rally. As part of this significant event, Mark Ruffalo joined Amazon Watch for a sunrise ceremony in Central Park.

During the ceremony, indigenous leaders from around the globe, who are on the front lines of climate change, offered blessings. The public is encouraged to watch and join this important gathering.

Esperanza Martinez, a speaker at "This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate," discussed efforts to save Ecuador's Yasuní National Park. This event, part of Climate Action Week with Naomi Klein, featured a panel including Bill McKibben, Clayton Thomas-Muller, Estela Vasquez, and Michael Leon Guerrero, exploring climate, capitalism, justice, and ecological debt.

Watch the full discussion here: http://new.livestream.com/TheNewSchool/This-Changes-Everything

In 2014, indigenous communities in the Xikrin Territory of the Brazilian Amazon utilized the Soccket. This innovative soccer ball harnesses and stores energy from play, providing a portable power source for local use.

This initiative highlights the potential of clean energy. Support clean energy efforts by taking action here: Amazon Watch.