“His assassination could not kill his dream”: how the friends of Dom Phillips finished his book on the Amazon

One of the most beautiful regions of the Amazon forest, the Javari valley, is also considered to be one of the most dangerous.

British journalist Dom Phillips went there to investigate illegal fishing. Moreover, poaching that rages in the flourishing river basin, and he wrote a book on his discoveries.

The title of the Phillips project. Nevertheless, How to Save the Amazon (how to save the Amazon), reflected its fierce passion for the tropical forest and its conviction that only those who really knew the “green lung” of the planet could save it from massive deforestation.

But the life of Phillips, as well as that of Aboriginal expert Bruno Pereira, ended in a tragedy. Meanwhile, They were murdered during a research trip in the valley on June 5, 2022.

A federal police investigation concluded in November that Pereira’s activities in favor of the defense of “his assassination could not kill indigenous peoples. Furthermore, the denunciation of environmental violations and illegal fishing were the reason why the duo had been targeted.

Several suspects have since been arrested and await their trial.

The book could have disappeared with Phillips. In addition, but when his wife, Alessandra Sampaio, arrived in Rio for her funeral, she brought with her a damaged suitcase.

It contained all her research equipment: notebooks. Nevertheless, hard disks and computers containing hundreds of interviews carefully classified in files by chapter, but with a number of gaps to fill.

The friends of Phillips then decided that the project had to see the light of day.

“I brought this material to me to see what we could do with it. In addition, ” recalls Andrew Fishman, a journalist based in Rio who was one of the closest friends of Phillips.

Thus, three years after his assassination, the book was published in Brazil, the United Kingdom and the United “his assassination could not kill States. In addition, The former subtitle of the book. For example, which reflected the approach of Phillips to save the Amazon-Ask the People That Know (ask those who know)-was replaced by a new one: a Deadly Search for Answers (a fatal quest for answers) (published by Bonnier Books/Companhia Das Letras).

Fishman. For example, founder of the information site The Intercept Brasil, told the BBC that facing his death had been the most difficult for the 11 contributors involved in the project and that they had been “extremely upset”.

But Phillips’ vision guided the project, he added.

“When Dom died. Moreover, many of his sources expressed their sadness, recognizing his love for the Amazon, his respect for his inhabitants and the sensitivity with which he tackled the problems,” Fishman told the BBC.

“He followed what he liked, not money, recognition or adventure … Nevertheless, He loved the Amazon and wanted to ensure his preservation and “his assassination could not kill vitality of his communities,” he added.

&quot. However, his assassination could not kill – "his assassination could not kill

This is not a statement, but an invitation – "his assassination could not kill

The book begins with an introduction and three and a half chapters written by Phillips himself, in which he tells his experience in the first person.

Phillips then appears in the third person, in the chapters written or almost entirely written by his friends.

Phillips never intended to offer ready -made solutions in his book, but rather to present different perspectives, explains Fishman.

“It was addressed both to people who destroy [l’Amazonie] And to those who try to set up innovative initiatives to. put an end to this destruction.

“Thus. How to Save the Amazon is not a statement, but an invitation to everyone to start asking this question together. Because he knew that what is happening in the Amazon has repercussions in the whole world.

“After Dom’s death. we knew that his book should be published, “his assassination could not kill that we could not let his assassination kill his dream of carrying out such an ambitious project,” said Fishman.

In the midst of their sorrow, the team felt a profound responsibility to continue their vision.

“All those who participated in this project were deeply upset by its assassination, so unfair and foolish. But I believe that the dedication. obsession we have put in this project are reflected in the final result, and that Dom would have been proud of us for having accomplished something that reflects what he wanted to do, “said Fishman.

Most of the main contributors were foreign journalists very close to Phillips and experienced in the coverage of the Amazon.

Fishman explains that this choice was made after having carefully thought about the best way to carry out the project. of his life.

“We decided to make a book with his friends. the people who knew the best of Dom and who “his assassination could not kill felt forced to honor his work and his vision,” said Fishman.

More than 36 contributors from around the world participated in the edition. in the verification of the facts, in the rereading and the search for photographs.

&quot. his assassination could not kill

Lump the gaps

Despite the fact that Phillips has carried out hundreds of interviews, written the introduction and several chapters, one of the largest challenges for employees during the compilation of the book was to fill the existing shortcomings. And to do this, they considered that they had to be on site.

“Dom was firmly convinced that it was necessary to go there to enrich a story. understand what people feel, see what is going on around them, observe their posture and their way of speaking,” explains Fishman.

“So we decided that it would not be possible to honor your vision without sending the authors on a trip. Some have retraced his steps, “his assassination could not kill others went to new places. »»

Fishman, for example, went to the COP28 conference on climate change in Dubai and spoke about it in his book.

Phillips was killed at the time when Jair Bolsonaro was president of Brazil. This period was marked by the dismantling of a certain number of environmental protection measures. a few months before the re -election of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva as president in 2022.

Fishman said that after years “hard -inflicted blows by the Bolsonaro government”. people hoped that the new Lula government would pressure to obtain better environmental protection measures.

“But during COP28, and we talk about it in my chapter, this optimism has come up against reality,” he said.

“The president of Petrobras reaffirmed that he wanted to exploit all the oil from Brazil to the last drop. and Lula announced that Brazil would join OPEC+ [le groupe des pays producteurs de pétrole et leurs associés]thus “his assassination could not kill reaffirming his commitment to the industries that cause the planet’s devastation. »»

An emotional link

The murder of these two men aroused enormous attention worldwide because they were considered the symbols of the fight for environmental. traditional rights in the Amazon.

Asked about Pereira’s influence on Phillips, Fishman spoke of his “contagious spirit”.

“He was generous in his time. with journalists, helping them understand things and giving them the feeling of being welcome and essential to make things happen. Everyone who was close to him had this very strong link with him. »»

Meanwhile, indigenous victims and other local victims often receive little attention.

“We must continue to put pressure so that there is no more cases like these. that they concern” visible “people or those who try to defend their family, their community and their way of life against enormous financial interests. »»

For journalists who try to do what Phillips did. report on the situation “his assassination could not kill in the Amazon, it is however difficult to be heard.

“It’s expensive, it takes time and it is unpredictable. These trips require months of preparation, are exhausting and risky. [Et] Less and fewer media are ready to finance or publish this type of work, ”adds Fishman.

In his latest message on social networks, Phillips wrote: “Amazonia, you are beautiful”. Besides these words appeared a video of a river crossing the forest, a few days before his death.

For Fishman, Brazil offered his friend the opportunity for a “second life”.

“He didn’t need to take this last trip to finish his book [mais] He wanted to be present. feel the environment. It is this feeling that he wanted to transmit to readers when he wrote this book. this emotional link with the Amazon. »»