The government of Ecuador wants to rip open the Amazon for oil drilling.

8 million acres of rainforest are in immediate danger. Oil giants would tear down the trees, bulldoze the rivers, and smother the forest in black poison. We've seen it all before -- where they drill, death follows.

But I believe we can stop them. That's why I'm writing to you.

My name is Nemonte Nenquimo, from the Waorani people. I've dedicated my life to protecting the Amazon -- because we don't just live in the forest, it lives in us, and we are part of it. When they drill for oil, we feel it in our bones.

Now, we're uniting with other Indigenous Nations to defend this sacred rainforest.

With your help, we'll take the government to court, fight the sale of our territories, and raise a powerful resistance, from deep in the forest to the steps of power. We’re counting on your support -- this battle needs resources that we simply don't have on our own. Your donation will also fuel Avaaz's global campaign for Indigenous rights.

I promise you this: I won't stop pushing. And if enough of us stand together, from right across the planet, I know we can stop the drilling before a single tree falls. Please donate what you can now.

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Note: Nemonte Nenquimo is an Indigenous Waorani leader, activist, and defender of the Amazon rainforest. She co-founded Amazon Frontlines and the Ceibo Alliance. In 2019, she led a historic legal victory, protecting half a million acres of Indigenous land from oil extraction. She has received multiple international awards for her work on Indigenous rights and environmental justice.