Brazilian Indigenous Minister Snia Guajajara on Fossil Fuel Phaseout, Bolsonaro's Conviction & More

In a wide-ranging conversation, Brazil's first minister of Indigenous peoples, Sônia Guajajara, spoke with Democracy Now! at the COP30 climate summit in Belém. She addressed criticisms of the Lula government in Brazil, which has championed climate action even while boosting some oil and gas exploration in the country; celebrated the strong presence of Indigenous representatives at this year's climate talks; and stressed the need to phase out fossil fuels. Guajajara also criticized the Trump administration for pressuring Brazil to release former President Jair Bolsonaro after he was convicted of involvement in a coup attempt. Bolsonaro was an opponent of Indigenous rights, and if he is sent to prison, "we expect he will be paying for all his crimes," including "everything he has done against us," says Guajajara.