Writing

My reporting puts people, communities and their experiences first.

I seek out stories about environment or human rights issues, and where they intertwine, and try to put the people and communities most affected by these issues at the heart of the story.

In 2021, I received a grant from the local TOA-GK (Todos los Ojos en la Amazonia) for In-depth Journalism in the Amazon, and in 2018 was a recipient of the Casa Socio-Environmental Fund for environmental reporting.

Some select publications:

  • For many women in Colombia, peace never arrived (Al Jazeera)

    For many women in Colombia, peace never arrived (Al Jazeera)

    SANTANDER DE QUILOCHAO, COLOMBIA – Clemencia Carabali did not know the number that appeared on her phone when it rang last June. She didn’t recognise the man’s voice on the other end of the call. “If you don’t leave the territory by 5pm today, you’re a dead woman,” Carabali recalled the man saying. Carabali reported…

  • Historic win by Ecuador’s Waorani could re-shape extraction activities (Mongabay)

    QUITO, ECUADOR — The indigenous Waorani community in Ecuador won a historic lawsuit against the government late last month, when a three-judge panel ruled that a consultation process conducted with the community in 2012 was inadequate and violated the community’s rights. The ruling immediately suspends any possibility of selling the community’s territory for the sake…

  • Indigenous Waorani win landmark legal case against Ecuador gov’t (Al Jazeera)

    Indigenous Waorani win landmark legal case against Ecuador gov’t (Al Jazeera)

    QUITO, ECUADOR – The indigenous Waorani community in Ecuador won a landmark lawsuit on Friday against three government bodies for conducting a faulty consultation process with the community before putting their territory up for sale in an international oil auction. The ruling immediately suspends any possibility of selling the community’s land for oil exploration. It…

  • How Drones and GPS Are Helping Indigenous People in Ecuador Save the Amazon (The Pacific Standard)

    How Drones and GPS Are Helping Indigenous People in Ecuador Save the Amazon (The Pacific Standard)

    SINANGOE, ECUADOR — The day begins with everyone drinking a big cup of Yoko. A man called Viejo (“old man,” in Spanish) carves the bark off a special vine found only in the Amazon highlands and mixes it with water. The resulting brew has a gritty texture and a bitter, earthy taste and gives the…

  • Indigenous Waorani sue Ecuadorian government over land rights (Al Jazeera)

    Indigenous Waorani sue Ecuadorian government over land rights (Al Jazeera)

    PUYO, ECUADOR – More than 200 indigenous Waorani people and their supporters marched to the court in the Amazon city of Puyo on Thursday to begin their high-stakes hearing against the Ecuadorian government. After long protesting oil extraction in its territory, the community are suing three government bodies – the Ministry of Energy and Non-renewable…