Fridays for Future - SOS Amazon

The health system in Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas and the main reference health center for most of the Amazon Rainforest's traditional peoples, has collapsed. As a consequence, millions of peoples' lives were put at risk. The city's press officers have announced over 100 deaths per day due to Covid-19, and this number can be higher with the addition of non-confirmed cases. We need to help both the rural and urban populations to contain the spread of the virus and therefore avoid the destruction of the heart of the Amazon.

Our idea is to donate basic hygiene items and food, and invest in health equipment. For this, we chose one institution to receive the money and forward it to different places. The benefited communities were chosen according to criteria such as number of cases, distance, impact of actions and replicability

As the resources are forwarded, we will inform the public about everything that is being bought and for which communities, to keep it all transparent. It is important to highlight that everything that is bought will be determined by Fridays for Future, not by the institution forwarding the resources.

The Sustainable Development Goals are a set of proposals drawn by the United Nations in2015 which aim to eradicate poverty and promote dignified life for all, within the limits ofthe planet's resources.

Cooperation is the main pillar of the 2030 Agenda, of which the SDGs are part, because theissues dealt with must be worked on in all aspects of society and this consequently generatesa support for integration, not only of people, companies and governments, but also ofenvironmental, economic and social spheres since the struggles must be recognized asinterdependent. Another important point on this agenda is the concern for everyone. This canbe seen in the agenda’s main motto “Leave no one behind”, which recognizes the necessityfor us to work together so that everyone can have what we, who are privileged already have.

In the SOS Amazônia campaign we defend the SDGs as structuring points for our plans andactions, and base our project on the ultimate goal of transforming the world into a betterODS SOS Amazôniaplace, recognizing that indigenous peoples are a key point in the construction of this new,more equal, inclusive and ecologically correct world.

There are 17 SDGs and 169 goals in all of them and through a study we were able to map thatSOS Amazônia contributes with 9 out of 17 which are:

17, a climate activist from southern Brazil, is part of Fridays for Future movement, acting locally, nationally and internationally. Amália focuses on fighting for climate and social justice, networking and connecting different groups to strengthen the climate cause. She wishes to encourage people of all ages to take action to avoid the climate crisis and raise awareness to other social issues related to the environment. Locally, she is involved in opposition to coal mining and fracking – having protested and publicly spoken against a coal mine that would be built near her city of Porto Alegre. Amália is also interested in planetary health and finding new ways for planet Earth to remain full of life. Overall, she is only hoping to do as much as possible to ensure a good future for humanity and for the planet.

19, is a Swedish climate activist and striker in the Fridays For Future movement. Isabelle focuses her activism and studies mainly on the climate justice aspect of the climate crisis; a transition to a climate friendly society that ensures equity and acceptable living standards for all, especially the people most vulnerable to the consequences the climate crisis brings. She means that Sweden and more countries in the Global North must take responsibility for their current and historical emissions before demanding others do the same.

21, is a climate activist in Fridays For Future Brazil and Fridays For Future Amazônia, facilitator in Greenpeace Manaus and member of the environmental creative council chaired by the environment and sustainable development commission of the legislative assembly of the state of Amazonas. The council is focused on mobilization and social engagement, political advocacy in terms of decision-making, fighting in defense of the environment and peace. All of this whilst inspiring people to change attitudes and behaviors and be responsible for the planet, with a goal towards an environmentally safe and socially fair world that offers hope for his generation as well as future ones.

21, is a Brazilian climate and animal activist with Fridays For Future and Anonymous for the Voiceless São Paulo. He fights for net-zero carbon emissions and the end of animal exploitation towards the peaceful coexistence of human beings and nature. He also seeks a society based on equality, where people are accepted for who they are without being judged. João runs “@7ourworld”, an Instagram page where he tries to raise awareness about the negative impacts of human actions on climate change and the animal industry by studying scientific data, books, articles and reports.