March Days of Action in Solidarity with Threatened Water Defenders

Mark your calendars for action in March on behalf of unjustly imprisoned indigenous river defender Bernardo Caal Xol and other water defenders under attack.

WHEN 

International Day of Action for Rivers on March 14 is a celebrated around the world as a day for solidarity action with communities defending access to the water of clean, flowing rivers. World Water Day, which is celebrated each year on March 22, will focus this year on the value of water for all of us, especially amid the climate crisis. 

WHAT

On and around these key dates, we are organizing Days of Action in solidarity with unjustly imprisoned indigenous river defender Bernardo Caal Xol in Guatemala and other threatened water defenders.

WHY

Bernardo Caal Xol is a Maya Q’eqchi’ Indigenous community leader, trade unionist and teacher who was persecuted and unjustly jailed in order to silence his peaceful, legitimate efforts on behalf of communities confronting the destructive impacts of a big dam project on the Cahabón River. Bernardo Caal Xol is a prisoner of conscience. He is now at grave risk of contracting COVID-19, amid overcrowded prison conditions. Meanwhile, Bernardo’s people and other communities continue to be attacked for seeking to defend their right to clean water and decision making about projects that will cause irreparable harm.

TAKE ACTION

Bookmark this page and check back by the end of the month for details about the Days of Action.

We will be sharing: 

  • Water: The Blood of Mother Earth (Agua: La Sangre de la Madre Tierra), a moving 40-minute documentary about the struggle of Bernardo Caal Xol and Maya Q’eqchi’ indigenous communities to protect vital water and their rights 
  • Audio recordings of powerful words shared with us by Maya Q’echi’ defender Maria Josefina Caal Xol, sister of Bernardo Caal Xol
  • Letter writing action
  • Social media action
  • Creative solidarity action

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact campaigner Kathy Price >> kprice@amnesty.ca 

Thank you for supporting our March Days of Action to protect the right to water and courageous water defenders under attack!

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