This letter features reporting from "Snack Giant PepsiCo Sourced Palm Oil From Razed Indigenous Land" Elisângela Mendonça, Andrew Wasley, and Aramís Castro

Dear Congress President Salhuana,

In the news article titled “Snack Giant PepsiCo Sourced Palm Oil From Razed Indigenous Land,” authors Elisângela Mendonça, Andrew Wasley, and Aramís Castro denounce how big corporations such as PepsiCo use controversial third-party suppliers to illegally deforest land, converting it into palm oil plantations for the production of consumer goods.

As a result, palm oil production in Peru has nearly doubled in the last decade, driving the highest deforestation rates since 2000. Among the many affected is the Shipibo-Konibo tribe, an Indigenous community of about 30,000 people engaged in a grueling legal battle to protect 200 square kilometers of land the community claims they depend on “to feed ourselves or to hunt.” Meanwhile, as Indigenous tribes struggle for survival, companies in Lima continue operating with little accountability, sheltered by the recently passed law 31973, which pardons historical illegal deforestation and reduces environmental evaluations for agricultural zones. This uphill battle for ecological causes and social justice underscores the systemic lack of attention given to these pressing issues, as congress, through laws like 31973, show a disturbing preference for economic development over the survival of the citizens they represent.

As a Peruvian citizen, I feel that the plight of the Shipibo-Konibo tribe and the destruction of our Amazon rainforest is a profound injustice. Their story echoes Peru’s painful past, in which Indigenous communities were oppressed and considered second-class citizens for centuries. Today, the continued disregard for Indigenous land rights reveals the socio-cultural divides still present in our country, a systemic issue that is genuinely disheartening for me, as so many years of economic development have done nothing to change the structural neglect that plagues Peru’s local and national policies.

Furthermore, as the world warms at an alarming rate, further destruction of the Amazon is a crisis our country simply cannot afford. With over 50% of our nation covered by natural forests, every inch lost to deforestation deeply affects our country and our people. For this reason, I urge you and your colleagues to enact bold, comprehensive measures against deforestation—steps that are essential for the survival of our Indigenous communities and our planet.

As Peru’s President of Congress, you have both the power and responsibility to protect one of the world’s greatest ecological strongholds. A promising model can be found in other countries, such as Guyana, where the government has granted Indigenous people 13% of the country’s land, deterring deforestation and empowering local communities to fend off illegal deforestation practices. In addition, the Guyanese Government has established strong verification systems for logging, fomenting sustainable forestry, and reducing illegal wood-selling markets. As a result, Guyana aims to maintain 99.5% of its native forests in order to protect their ecosystems and their native communities.

Given our shared challenges as developing nations, I hope Guyana’s community-centered approach can inspire a new path forward for Peru. By implementing such successful policy ideas, we can reach a dual-purpose solution, honoring the rights of Indigenous communities in our country and safeguarding the Amazon for future generations.

Sincerely,
Vicente Moreyra


Vicente Moreyra is a Peruvian student at Colegio Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He is passionate about politics, history, and economics.

As a member of his school's Model United Nations cabinet, Vicente has developed a strong interest in addressing global issues, particularly climate change and environmental protection—issues he views as essential for humanity's future.

Through this letter, Vicente hopes to raise awareness about the destruction of the Amazon Rainforest and the danger this represents to Indigenous people.

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