DW Documentary

Battle for the Amazon

In the Amazon, the Yanomami staunchly oppose the destruction of their habitat. Since the 1970s, illegal gold mining in particular has posed a threat and destroyed the indigenous people's habitat. The situation was further exacerbated when former Brazilian President Bolsonaro declared his intention to legalize the extraction of resources in Yanomami territory. Their shaman and spokesperson, Davi Kopenawa, undertakes a world tour to give a face and a voice to their campaign of resistance. He’s certain that if the shamans stop dancing and life in the rainforest is thrown out of balance, the sky will fall and crush everything beneath it - not just the Yanomami. But can he convince those who are running the country?