Latin America is a region with numerous environmental initiatives. Although the subcontinent is considered one of the most dangerous areas in the world to defend rights associated with the environment, land ownership, and vital resources, local communities have found multiple ways to organize themselves and advocate for their rights.
This map has been created in collaboration with students from Professor Rosas Buendia’s course on environmental humanities (Spring 2023 & Spring 2024). The information compiled by students about this selection of relevant activists has been mapped out according to the countries in which they staged their efforts. Most of these activists are part of larger social movements that are still active in their fight for environmental justice, but some are unfortunately included on the list of deceased climate fighters. Written by the students as part of a class assignment, you will find a general description of each case. Two links have been added to explore more. In addition, the impressions and opinions of the students about the activists they researched are displayed below the map.
As someone who has been studying civil engineering for some years, I was interested in exploring projects that are environmentally problematic and why they cause negative effects on indigenous communities. I have looked at ten different civil engineering projects in various countries in Central and South America. The combination of the ten projects has taught me to reexamine the benefit-cost analysis ("BCA") that is routinely conducted when making decisions within the civil engineering field. There are two main approaches to benefit-cost analysis: one only examines economic impacts and the other considers social, environmental, and economic effects. When using the second approach, most engineers must find ways to quantify the social and environmental impacts to compare them with the economic costs and benefits.
This research project has shown me some of the major shortcomings of the cost-benefit analysis approach that considers social and economic impacts. The social impacts expressed in the cases of Nemonte Nenquimo, Alberto Pizango, Ruth Buendia, and the other activists show that the economic benefits rarely outweigh the horrendous social and environmental costs associated with some of these civil engineering projects.
Adair Garrett, GT Grad Student
Berta Cáceres (Honduras)
“From my perspective, Berta Cáceres is an ambitious and dedicated activist that has worked tirelessly for her cause, and, thus, is a leader I look up to. During her time as a climate activist, indigenous activist, and feminist activist, she has inspired many and provided the framework necessary for movements and legal reforms going forward. She did so even in a time when threats were very common for her, and her life was put on the line at every moment. In fact, she was so committed to her cause that she sent her children away to neighboring countries for school to ensure that they wouldn't come in contact with any fallout from her work. When she passed, she wasn't respected by the law and her assassinators were let off with a minimum sentence. Nevertheless, her impact is global, and she remains an icon of inspiration for global protests today.”
Ariana Karim, GT Undergrad
“Berta Cáceres demonstrated that persistence in protesting is key to stop injustices from continuing. Cáceres did not limit herself to one act of protest, she did many: she appealed multiple times to international courts, she helped organize blockades (this being held for a year). This persistence is admirable. These acts of protest turned out to bring with them great effect, seeing that they were able to force private companies and their investors to step back from their environmentally harmful projects. Though Cáceres was assassinated, the organization she helped create continues with her legacy, sharing that persistence that characterized her.”
Bryan Rocha, Grad Student
Ana Rutilia (Guatemala)
“The case of the Ana Rutilia movement against the hydroelectric dam in Guatemala is inspiring and exciting. It teaches me that even in situations of power inequality, resistance and determination can lead to change. I admire the courage and commitment of Ana Rutilia, who led the fight in defense of the rights of her community. It is impressive how she and other community leaders faced threats and violence to protect their lands and their way of life. It is also amazing to see how international solidarity and support can make a difference in the fight against multinational companies and corrupt governments. This movement is an example of the collective strength and capacity for social transformation.”
Nicole Woods, GT Undergrad
“I learned about the still existing oppression against people trying to protect natural resources. It is surprising how violence got out of control and the amount of people killed around this situation. It is surprising: the old school thoughts that make women a second class citizen, being oppressed. Women being treated as second class citizens against the opposition. The activist’s life is always in the front line being threatened.”
Paula Sanhueza, Grad Student
Bettina Cruz (Mexico)
“Bettina Cruz is a very brave and inspiring activist. Despite the many threats and attempts on her life she continues to stand up for her people and lead the fight against private companies and the Mexican government. The movement led by Bettina is very interesting because it shows you the negative effects of green energy, specifically wind farms. Wind farms and other forms of green energy are usually presented to the public as a sure solution to climate change. However, in reality, the wind farms negatively affect the ecosystem where they are constructed and disproportionately negatively affect and displace indigenous communities.”
Aislinn Abbott, GT Undergrad
“The work of activists such as Bettina Cruz are inspirational due to the level of perseverance shown by the activists. Bettina Cruz identified the issue wind turbines brought to her community, and took action to help form the Assembly of Indigenous Peoples of the Isthmus. This group received violent resistance from the government. Cruz herself was arrested without proper justification by the police, assaulted by the police, and given multiple death threats. It’s truly inspirational to see that despite this, she fights for what is right and ultimately was able to help prevent the construction of multiple wind turbines despite strong resistance and danger.”
Marvin Tian, GT Undergrad
Nina Gualinga (Ecuador)
“For me, it is unimaginable to only be 18 years old and give report in front of an international court about a military invasion of my home. She did this and one important rights for indigenous peoples in many Latin American countries. I also found it really inspiring that she had her best work when she was 18 and for years has still been fighting without the same success. However. that not stopped her, and she has continued to fight in various battles in both a local scale in her community and a global scale with climate change.”
Trent Johnson, GT Undergrad
Movimiento Ríos Vivos (Colombia)
“The Rios Vivos movement in Colombia has taught me the importance of fighting for human rights and environmental justice. I admire their courage in defending the rights of communities affected by mega hydroelectric projects that threaten their livelihoods and biodiversity. I am also surprised by the organizational capacity and resistance of these communities, which have managed to raise awareness about the negative impacts of these projects and have built sustainable and fair alternatives. This movement is an example of the fight for social and environmental justice that should inspire everyone to continue working for a more just and fair world.”
Ariel Watson, GT Undergrad
Francisco Pineda (El Salvador)
"I was inspired when learning about the case of Francisco Pineda, because the whole story starts with a man concerned for his crops. It was inspiring how he fought to understand and educate others about the situation. It was inspiring how they were willing to wait for the change and when they were actually able to make a difference. I was honestly surprised to find that their actions were retaliated with violence. It made me sad that people will have to risk their lives to maintain their quality of life. However, it filled me with hope, that people are willing to take that risk for their communities."
Jazmine Ramirez, GT Undergrad
Francia Márquez (Colombia)
“Francia Márquez’s trajectory is very impressive to me, from her town of Yolombó in the department of the Valley of Cauca, child of a single mother, grandchild of miners, to the vice-presidency, breaking gender and racial boundaries aside from political ones. Like she says, Afro-descendants have a great heritage of resistance, so it felt natural to her when she began to organize for the protection of nature and the human rights of Afro-Colombians in Cauca when she was just 14 years old. Against racism, misogyny, and death threats, Marquez has triumphed, so that everyone can “vivir sabroso” (live to their fullest).”
Charles Key, Grad Student
“I think the work of Francia Márquez is very inspirational, as she started at only age 14. Her work included not only efforts against illegal gold mining, but also against dams, which can be destructive to the environment. I learned that her results were a combination of legal action and protests. For this reason, I think she was very capable of being successful in comparison to other environmental activists. I admire how she was able to stay strong while she had a time of assassination and death threats in her work. I think her position of being vice president matches her efforts.”
Daniel Kim, GT Undergrad
Alexandra Narvaez & Alex Lucitante (Ecuador)
“It is very easy in a world that disrespects your people to ignore the government. But in the case of Alexandra Narváez and Alex Lucitante, they did exactly the opposite. The fact that the two activists used the hand they were given and were able to get answers with the laws and the legal system is very different from many other indigenous activists in Latin American history. It also defeats the idea that indigenous ways are primitive with their use of knowledge and drones.You can't put a big portion of Latin America in a box without a voice, or they're going to fight back.”
Liza Young, GT Undergrad
"Alexandra Narvaez and Alex Lucitante created an impressive case for their community with the mobilization of their people and the legal action they presented. Reading about their story brought me a lot of admiration for the lengths they were willing to go to protect the rights of their communities. The point that stood out the most was the use of so much technology in the collection of evidence. There is a lot of stigma surrounding Indigenous communities keeping to their own ways but Narvaez and Lucitante’s movement was able to prove that they can adjust to anything.”
Citlaly Chávez, GT Undergrad
Movimiento Patagonia sin Represas (Chile)
“Patagonia sin Represas stands out to me because it involved a variety of voices, from local indigenous activists to international nonprofit organizations, that came together to stop a large corporation’s energy plan. The movement exemplifies an environmental movement that was successful, but it also shows the large amount of force and organization that is required to fight back against harmful developments. The dams were not built, but this goal was only reached after seven years of large protests and international attention. Patagonia sin Represas now serves as an example that inspires other activists to mobilize and persist long term.”
Sarah Burchfield, GT Undergrad
Sônia Guajajara (Brazil)
"Sônia Guajajara has done many progressive things for her community and country. She worked and fought every day to realize her dreams of equality and sustainability. Her story has taught me that change is real and possible, but without determination and strength, it won't happen. I admire her dedication to her work and how she is using the traditions and customs of her people to promote human and environmental rights. It amazes me that she still works with the Brazilian government after the pain and plight of the Bolsonaro government. I can't understand how she can work with the government after all her actions, but I do understand that she did it for her people and her dreams."
Brandon Moncada, GT Undergrad
Francisca Ramírez (Nicaragua)
“Something that I find very interesting about the movement of Francisca Ramirez is that her personal background is not like other leaders. She was not involved in activism and politics from a young age. In contrast, she only wanted to live a peaceful and simple life as a farmer with her family. The only reason she began her activism was because she saw that the peasants were being displaced by the government on behalf of the company. Something that I think has been a significant part in the success of her movement is that her activism is completely non-political. As a result, she could unite all the factions of peasant society, and she did not allow the government to connect her with the opposition. This shows her only goal is to advance the rights of the peasants and the indigenous, something which I admire.”
Akshay Satish, Grad Student
Sergio Rojas (Costa Rica)
“For me, the most impactful case was the Costa Rican assassination because it reminded me of a case that I once presented in an organization about the killing of an Ecuadorian farmer who spoke out against a large wood producer. It angers me that neither of these cases reached large media networks and that I have to look for them or hear about them by chance. In general, I admire environmental activists based in Latin America more than those in the U.S. because they risk much more (though both are important). In the case of Sergio Rojas Ortiz, it impacted me a lot that he had to live far away from his family so that no one would hurt them. It seems he was correct.”
Ricardo Martínez, Grad Student
"Sergio Rojas Ortiz represents many of the values I admire in any leader, he stepped up to represent his community when needed. Despite the dangers, barriers, and opposition he continued to fight for the rights and protections of his people even when there were those who rejected him. He is especially admirable for the ways in which he went about securing equality and protections for indigenous lands across Costa Rica. In a country with a golden track record, the lack of protections for indigenous communities is wild, which is what made Roja’s work all the more important and it showed."
Kara Kanter, Grad Student