Illegal gold mining: A disaster for the Yanomami people of Brazil's Amazon rainforest

PERSPECTIVE © FRANCE 24

Thousands of illegal gold miners are accused of destroying the lives of the indigenous Yanomami people, who have lived for centuries in the Amazon rainforest on the border between Venezuela and Brazil. Miners have flooded into the area, poisoning rivers, attacking people and even raping women and girls. Under Brazil's new government, the issue is now coming under the spotlight, as federal police have opened an investigation into possible genocide. In Perspective, we spoke to Fiona Watson, Director of Research and Advocacy at Survival International.