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Bram Ebus

@bramebus.bsky.social

Investigative journalist and consultant for @crisisgroup.org, focusing on the environment, crime and conflict in the Amazon 🐍

60 Posts568 Follower62 Folgt
Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 3mo ago

The Amazon is under assault. Criminal groups seeking drug routes and illegal mining sites are wreaking havoc on ecosystems and communities. Our new @crisisgroup.org report examines what governments, residents and the private sector can do. www.crisisgroup.org/rpt/latin-am...

A Jungle Heist: Shielding the Amazon from Organised Crime | International Crisis Group

The world’s largest rainforest is under assault by criminal groups. Seeking routes for drug trafficking and sites for illegal mining, these outfits are wreaking havoc on the environment and society. G...

crisisgroup.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 3mo ago

In Nariño, some armed groups feud over gold mines and drug routes as others advance in peace talks. With gold prices surging and elections looming, can legalizing illegal mining curb the violence? @crisisgroup.org Photos by Alex Kemman for @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

Could gold mining help Colombia’s armed groups to finally lay down their weapons?

In Nariño, guerrilla groups are swapping arms for legal mining as part of the country’s peace accord. But as presidential elections loom, armed rivals and delays threaten to derail progress

theguardian.com

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 5mo ago

The U.S. pursuit of Venezuela’s natural resources echoes what has become known as the “Donroe Doctrine”, a credo laid down by the White House in late 2025 that seeks to reassert U.S. supremacy in the Western Hemisphere. For @crisisgroup.org 🇻🇪 www.crisisgroup.org/qna/latin-am...

U.S. Snaps up Venezuela’s Oil and Rare Minerals in Race for Supplies | International Crisis Group

Even before the price of oil spiked, the Trump administration was eyeing Venezuela’s natural resources. There is now more urgency to getting access to petroleum and critical minerals. In this Q&A, Cri...

crisisgroup.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 5mo ago

El acceso a los minerales de Venezuela ha sido menos publicitado que el de su petróleo, pero su potencial no ha pasado desapercibido en los círculos del gobierno estadounidense. Lea nuestro nuevo texto para @latam.crisisgroup.org www.crisisgroup.org/es/qna/latin...

EE. UU. pone su mira en el petróleo y los minerales raros de Venezuela en una carrera por insumos | International Crisis Group

Incluso antes que precio del petróleo aumentara, la administración Trump ya tenía la mirada puesta en los recursos naturales de Venezuela. Ahora hay una mayor urgencia por acceder al petróleo y a los ...

crisisgroup.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 5mo ago

With U.S. support, Ecuador’s armed forces destroyed a camp of the Comandos de la Frontera in Sucumbíos, an armed group involved in Colombia's ongoing peace talks. In 2025 we warned about heightened cross-border conflict risks. amazonunderworld.org?policy-paper...

ILLICIT ECONOMIES AND ARMED CONTROL IN THE TRI-BORDER REGION OF COLOMBIA, ECUADOR AND PERU - Amazon Underworld

How armed groups such as Comandos de la Frontera, FARC dissidents, Los Choneros and Los Lobos control the region.

amazonunderworld.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 5mo ago

"U.S. companies risk becoming stuck between two bad options: they could extract directly and either provoke the ire of armed groups or collude with them; or they could buy from state companies responsible for financing systematic abuses of Indigenous and local communities." 🇻🇪👇

Crisis Group Latinoamérica@latam.crisisgroup.org · 5mo ago

NEW Q&A | U.S. Snaps up Venezuela’s Oil and Rare Minerals in Race for Supplies Even before the price of oil spiked, the Trump administration was eyeing Venezuela’s natural resources. In this Q&A, Crisis Group experts explain the challenges lying ahead.

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 5mo ago

U.S. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum told mining executives and metals traders that Washington wants to unlock Venezuela's mineral wealth. Want to know what's really on Trump's menu? We investigated Venezuela's critical minerals: amazonunderworld.org?policy-paper...

The Price of Progress: The Dark Side of Amazon Critical Minerals - Amazon Underworld

The global clean energy transition, increased defense budgets and technological advancement, has created unprecedented demand for rare earth elements and critical minerals essential for electric vehic...

amazonunderworld.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 5mo ago

En Venezuela hay reservas abundantes de minerales críticos. Para el mundo, una oportunidad. Para quienes viven allí, no necesariamente. Mientras Caracas y Washington vean la Amazonía como zona de saqueo e ignoren a sus habitantes, cualquier estrategia fracasará. elpais.com/america-colo...

Entre China, Estados Unidos y el ELN: la disputa geopolítica por Venezuela huele a saqueo

Mientras avanza la competencia por los minerales críticos, la Amazonía está cada vez más amenazada. Estamos hablando de biodiversidad, seguridad, autodeterminación y derecho a la vida

elpais.com

Elizabeth Dickinson@dickinsonbeth.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Today in Colombia, it is impossible to talk about the nature of armed conflict without understanding that there are children being forced to participate in every part of it 🧵on our new @crisisgroup.org report & how generalized child recruitment has become www.crisisgroup.org/brf/latin-am...

Kids on the Front Lines: Stopping Child Recruitment in Colombia | International Crisis Group

Colombia’s armed and criminal groups have recruited hundreds of children into their ranks, inflicting enormous harm on minors, their families and communities. The government and international partners...

crisisgroup.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Following Maduro’s arrest and U.S. attacks on Venezuela, questions arise about Trump’s interest in critical minerals - or rather, preventing Chinese access. Our Amazon Underworld study on criminal control of the business: amazonunderworld.org?policy-paper...

The Price of Progress: The Dark Side of Amazon Critical Minerals - Amazon Underworld

The global clean energy transition, increased defense budgets and technological advancement, has created unprecedented demand for rare earth elements and critical minerals essential for electric vehic...

amazonunderworld.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 8mo ago

1/ Trump's attacks against alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and Pacific have a little-discussed consequence: increased drug trafficking through the Amazon, driving local violence and severely affecting vulnerable communities. amazonunderworld.org/ataques-a-la...

U.S. attacks on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific intensify trafficking through Amazon routes - Amazon Underworld

The bombing campaign against alleged drug traffickers moving through the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean, alongside joint military exercises between the United States and Trinidad and Tobago, has incr...

amazonunderworld.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Critical minerals are being extracted in areas under the control of guerrilla groups, involving systematic human rights abuses and accelerating environmental destruction in one of Earth’s most vital ecosystems. Our Amazon Underworld article for @theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/global-devel...

‘Drug trafficking, extortion, kidnapping’: the lawless rush for rare earth minerals in Venezuela

Guerrilla groups have seized control of mining areas, exploiting Indigenous people and fuelling environmental ruin on the border with Colombia

theguardian.com

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 9mo ago

For almost a year, we've been chasing the critical minerals (coltan, tin, rare earths, and more) of the Amazon and the dark interests behind their trade. Today, we've launched a series of articles and an investigative report, but there's more to come! amazonunderworld.org?policy-paper...

The Price of Progress: The Dark Side of Amazon Critical Minerals - Amazon Underworld

The global clean energy transition, increased defense budgets and technological advancement, has created unprecedented demand for rare earth elements and critical minerals essential for electric vehic...

amazonunderworld.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Durante casi un año, hemos estado persiguiendo los minerales críticos (coltán, tierras raras, etc.) de la Amazonía y los oscuros intereses detrás de su comercio. Hoy, con Amazon Underworld, hemos comenzado con una serie de artículos, ¡pero hay más por venir! amazonunderworld.org/es/specials/...

El precio del progreso: el lado oscuro de los minerales críticos en la Amazonía - Amazon Underworld

La selva amazónica revela una cruda paradoja: mientras los países compiten por alcanzar sus objetivos de energía limpia y aumentan los presupuestos de defensa en medio de crecientes preocupaciones por...

amazonunderworld.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Indigenous peoples, proven to be the Amazon's most effective nature guardians, are increasingly facing mounting pressures from those after the rainforest's riches. We're honoured to have Amazon defender Alessandra Munduruku as our guest writer. amazonunderworld.org/the-crime-th...

Crime bleeds the Amazon and invades our homes - Amazon Underworld

I write these words as I walk through the forest alongside my Munduruku people, doing the work that the Brazilian State refuses to do. In this first week of July, men, women, and children formed yet a...

amazonunderworld.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 12mo ago

About a month ago, Tom Laffay and I visited the Comandos de la Frontera, a group that describes itself as a "21st-century guerrilla organization," controlling the borderlands of Colombia with Peru and Ecuador. This is our Amazon Underworld story 👇🇨🇴🇪🇨🇵🇪 amazonunderworld.org/the-state-of...

The State of coca - Amazon Underworld

Four unmarked white pickup trucks race through a patchwork landscape of bright-green plantations, blasting through mud puddles on winding jungle roads. As the convoy rounds a sharp corner, it draws wo...

amazonunderworld.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 12mo ago

Hace aproximadamente un mes, Tom Laffay y yo visitamos a los Comandos de la Frontera, un grupo que se describe como una "organización guerrillera del siglo XXI," controlando las fronteras de Colombia con Perú y Ecuador. Esta es nuestra historia 🇨🇴🇵🇪🇪🇨👇 amazonunderworld.org/es/el-estado...

El Estado de coca - Amazon Underworld

Cuatro camionetas blancas sin identificación corren por el paisaje verde brillante de las plantaciones, atravesando charcos en carreteras serpenteantes de la selva. Mientras el convoy toma una curva c...

amazonunderworld.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · 12mo ago

This week, Bogotá hosts the Amazon Dialogues, where Amazon governments convene to discuss main challenges. With our journalistic partners and @amazonwatch.org, we have publications lined up about the Amazon's most disputed borderlands and why this should be on the political agenda. Stay tuned!

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Crisis Group Latinoamérica@latam.crisisgroup.org · 12mo ago

La expansión de la minería ilegal en los estados Bolívar y Amazonas de Venezuela ha provocado una violencia generalizada contra la población local, especialmente contra las comunidades indígenas, así como daños ambientales que amenazan con destruir esta parte de la Amazonía.

La maldición del oro: Minería y violencia en el sur de Venezuela | International Crisis Group

La minería ilegal de oro está generando un daño cada vez mayor en el sur de Venezuela, a su delicado ecosistema y a su población. Frenar este daño es responsabilidad del gobierno de Caracas. Los gobie...

crisisgroup.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · last yr.

Record gold prices have made illegal mining more profitable than ever. In the Venezuelan Amazon, this means not only organized crime is capitalizing, but state authorities like the army are involved as well. Our new @crisisgroup.org briefing 🇻🇪⛏️ www.crisisgroup.org/latin-americ...

A Curse of Gold: Mining and Violence in Venezuela’s South | International Crisis Group

Illegal gold mining is doing growing damage to southern Venezuela, its delicate ecosystem and its people. Curbing this harm is up to the government in Caracas. Foreign capitals should use whatever mea...

crisisgroup.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · last yr.

Los precios récord del oro hacen que la minería ilegal sea más rentable que nunca, y en la Amazonía venezolana esto no solo significa que el crimen organizado aprovecha, sino también las autoridades estatales. Nuestro nuevo informe de @crisisgroup.org 🇻🇪⛏️ www.crisisgroup.org/es/latin-ame...

La maldición del oro: Minería y violencia en el sur de Venezuela | International Crisis Group

La minería ilegal de oro está generando un daño cada vez mayor en el sur de Venezuela, a su delicado ecosistema y a su población. Frenar este daño es responsabilidad del gobierno de Caracas. Los gobie...

crisisgroup.org

Brian Finucane@bcfinucane.bsky.social · last yr.

The U.S. Secretary of State cares so much for Venezuelans that he helped disappear hundreds of them to a hellhole in El Salvador to face horrifying abuse. www.state.gov/releases/off...

Standing with the Venezuelan People:  One Year After Yet Another Sham Election - United States Department of State

One year since dictator Nicolás Maduro defied the will of the Venezuelan people by baselessly declaring himself the winner, the United States remains firm in its unwavering support to Venezuela’s rest...

state.gov

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · last yr.

In Venezuela's far east, where the Orinoco River meets the Atlantic Ocean, FARC dissident groups have seized control far from their Colombian origins. This is what we discovered @armandoinfo.bsky.social / Amazon Underworld 🇻🇪🐍 amazonunderworld.org/es/disidente...

Disidentes de las FARC alcanzan y controlan el extremo este de Venezuela - Amazon Underworld

En el extremo este de Venezuela, en la ruta fluvial a la desembocadura del Orinoco, se mueven decenas de hombres —uniformados y armados— identificados por la comunidad como disidentes de las Fuerzas A...

amazonunderworld.org

Crisis Group Latinoamérica@latam.crisisgroup.org · last yr.

Nuevo Q& A | #Venezuela insiste en sus reclamos territoriales mientras se agudiza la disputa con #Guyana 🔽 www.crisisgroup.org/es/latin-ame...

Venezuela insiste en sus reclamos territoriales mientras se agudiza la disputa con Guyana | Crisis Group

La creciente tensión entre Venezuela y Guyana por la disputada región del Esequibo ha reavivado los temores de un conflicto fronterizo entre ambos países. En esta sesión de preguntas y respuestas, el ...

crisisgroup.org

Bram Ebus@bramebus.bsky.social · last yr.

6 Guyanese soldiers wounded in shootout with suspected Venezuelan gang near disputed border. Attack on GDF supply boat at Cuyuni River comes amid rising tensions over Essequibo region.

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