Earth Defender

Every 48 hours
an Earth Defender goes missing or is murdered
while protecting Earth's vanishing wilderness
- our life support system

Protect earth defenders

THE FACTS

Indigenous Peoples safeguard 80%
of the planet's biodiversity.

Deforestation is up to 11X
lower in Indigenous held areas.

The world must listen:

Protect Defenders!

The Indigenous People's Bill to protect Indigenous peoples from losing their ancestral lands to government and corporate projects must urgently be passed. Despite a 2012 court ruling, formal protections remain absent, leaving Indonesia's Indigenous Peoples vital forests vulnerable to intimidation, criminalization, and land loss.

Immediate action is needed to safeguard Indigenous rights to land, culture, and environment. Your voice makes a difference. Demand real action now!

Sign To Protect Earth Defenders

AMAN

This petition supports our campaign partner AMAN (Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara), one of the largest Indonesian Indigenous Peoples' human rights and advocacy organizations, with members from over 2,230 Indigenous communities across Indonesia.

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Their vital work provides a platform and a voice to the many Indigenous communities who are struggling to obtain their land rights, protect their land and way of life.

We must protect the rights of our Protectors

“Collaboration between cultures like this is so important. Studio Birthplace took into account the Indigenous voices, avoiding tokenism, which is what is happening in a lot of different spaces. That didn't happen here. It was a very real collaboration where everyone was able to equally contribute and shape the film into what they believed was right.

Kynan Tegar - Co-Director

We don't just need to preserve our forests, we need to learn and-listen to the Indigenous ways and learn how to live in harmony with the Earth's ecosystems.

“After months of research and conversations with representatives from over 15 Indigenous communities and local organizations, we realized that true understanding couldn’t be gained through online research alone. We needed to immerse ourselves in the culture firsthand. So, we spent a full month living with the Sungai Utik community, learning their ways, customs, and deep connection to the land and its stories. Adapting to a different rhythm and language was challenging, but filmmaking is all about people, and we wanted to truly listen and understand. Every evening, we gathered to learn from their work style and traditions, making our days to respectfully work with their schedule. It was a privilege to be welcomed by such a strong community.”

Alea Rahim & Sara Kong - EP & Producer

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Earth Defender - a haunting music film by Novo Amor and Studio Birthplace, exposes the life that is lost while defending nature.

Set against Novo Amor's haunting score, the film captures the Iban community’s commitment to preserving their lands. Through its story, Earth Defender underscores the need for global support and policy change to ensure these protectors’ safety.

Directors

Jorik Dozy, Sil van der Woerd, Kynan Tegar

Producer

Alea Rahim & Sara Kong

Music Artist

Novo Amor

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