Journalist Dom Phillips and indigenous expert Bruno Pereira were murdered last year in Brazilian Amazonia while researching a book Dom was writing called ‘How to Save the Amazon’.

Researchers from the Lancaster Environment Centre (LEC) helped to produce the exhibition, which introduces us to the life and work of Dom and Bruno and highlights the hundreds of people - many indigenous - who have also lost their lives defending the rainforest.

The exhibition, which is open daily from 16-27 January in the LEC atrium, exposes the dangers that the rainforest is facing from deforestation, and from illegal mining and fishing. It also showcases some hopeful solutions which Dom was researching and reminds us that there are many actions that we ourselves in the global North can take to help to protect the Amazon.

Dr Fiona Frank, who organised a month of activities about Dom & Bruno last year, and Dr Juliana Silveira, who contributed to the exhibition, will be on hand in the LEC atrium on Monday 23 January from 1 to 2 pm. They will be available to talk about how the exhibition connects with the work of the Environment Centre and how people in Lancaster can keep in touch with what’s happening in Amazonia and support positive change.

Juliana said: “The Lancaster Environment Centre has been researching the Amazon for over 15 years focussing not only on the impact of forest degradation on biodiversity, ecosystem function and carbon emissions but also on the people who live there. Recently, we’ve been part of a group of researchers from many universities around the world producing ecological, legislative and economic recommendations on how to mitigate deforestation.

“The recent election of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva as president of Brazil gives hope to Brazilians, to the world, and to environmental researchers who have the possibility to see their recommendations put in place. He is already acting on his strong commitments to protect the Amazon and has appointed an indigenous woman, Sônia Guajajara, as Minister for Indigenous peoples."

A copy of the exhibition is being shown at the headquarters of the National Union of Journalists’ head office in London from 19-21 January, with a free launch event and talks at 6pm on Thursday 19 January (booking required). Other locations include Preston Climate Emergency Centre (13-17 Jan, Tuesdays Fridays and Saturdays 10am-6pm) and the Lumen Centre in Bloomsbury, London on 30 March, to coincide with the launch of the book ‘The Heart of Our Earth - community resistance to mining in Latin America.’

The exhibition It is also going on display at St Wilfrid’s Primary School, Halton, Lancaster during February. St Wilfrid’s teacher Karen Jackman said: “We are studying the rainforest this term as a special subject and it’s fantastic that we are able to use this excellent resource in our school.”

Sian Phillips, Dom’s sister who lives in Lancaster, said: “I encourage people to go to see the exhibition and take on board its messages, which my brother was seeking to tell the world. There must be no amnesty for people attacking defenders of the Amazon - nor for people attacking democracy in Brazil as happened so shockingly earlier this month.”

If you or your organisation is interested in hosting this important exhibition, please contact Fiona@haltonmill.org.uk. You can find more information and see a low resolution version of the exhibition panels here. The exhibition was originally shown at Halton Mill in November last year.

Other current and former Lancaster Environment Centre staff involved in creating the exhibition are Alison Cahn - who curated the exhibition - Dr Cecilia Contijo-Leal and Dr Daniel Tregidgo.