Reporting and photography by Mariana Abdalla / 350.org
In the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, just a few hours from Belém, communities on Marajó Island and in the surrounding region live daily with the contradictions of Brazil’s energy model. Transmission lines stretch across forests and rivers to power industries and urban centers, but the people who live closest to these energy corridors are often left in the dark — literally.
In September 2025, I spent several days visiting three communities — Quilombo Ramal do Piratuba, Joanes/Soure, and Vila do Pesqueiro — documenting their stories, testimonies, and resistance. Their experiences reveal what’s at stake as Brazil prepares to host COP30 in Belém: the urgent need for a just, decentralized, and community-led energy transition.
Ramal do Piratuba (Quilombola Territory) — “Lines of Inequality”
In Piratuba, a quilombola territory about 120 km from Belém, high-voltage transmission lines cut across ancestral lands. They were built to supply energy to major industries and cities — but the community itself faces frequent blackouts, unreliable service, and high bills.
Families lost land to make way for the towers. Agricultural plots that once produced food are gone. Despite living beneath lines that carry enormous amounts of electricity, the community often can’t keep a refrigerator running through the night.
Testimony:
“The power lines run over our heads, but the energy doesn’t reach us. That’s not fair. We live far from the markets, so the fridge is essential. When the power goes out, I have to rush, take everything out, and salt the meat. It’s a struggle no one sees.” — Elisandra Souza, nursing technician and resident of Piratuba
Their fight is emblematic: energy transition plans can’t just be about megaprojects and supply numbers. They must center on who actually gets to access energy, and under what conditions.
2. Joanes & Soure — Creative Bioeconomy Under Pressure
The coastal villages of Joanes and Soure are known for their vibrant creative bioeconomy. Here, artisans transform natural resources into traditional Marajoara ceramics, woodwork, and medicinal plant products. Cultural heritage and environmental knowledge shape daily life.
Dona Carminha, artisan from Joanes
But the community faces constant energy insecurity. Blackouts can last for hours, disrupting production, tourism, and the preservation of perishable materials. High energy bills weigh heavily on family incomes. Even families who installed small solar panels remain dependent on centralized, unstable infrastructure.
Testimony:
“We work with clay, kilns, wheels… everything depends on energy. When the power goes out, production stops. Having stable energy means being able to work with dignity.” — Cilene Oliveira, Artisan fom Joanes
Their story shows how energy access is economic access. Without reliable, clean and affordable energy, even sustainable local economies struggle to survive.
3. Vila do Pesqueiro (Soure) — Living at the Edge
Seu Catito, fisherman
In Vila do Pesqueiro, inside the Marine Extractive Reserve of Soure, the frontline of the energy crisis meets the frontline of the climate crisis. Erosion eats away at the coastline, forcing families like Seu Catito and Dona Ivanil to rebuild their homes piece by piece. Meanwhile, blackouts threaten food security and tourism — two of the community’s main sources of income.
Dona Ivanil, housewife
The looming oil exploration projects at the mouth of the Amazon add another layer of insecurity. For residents who depend on fishing and nature-based livelihoods, the risk of an oil spill would be catastrophic.
Testimony:
“The tide has taken so much from me. I wish the authorities would come here to see how hard it is. We had to rebuild everything. On top of that, the electricity goes on and off, and sometimes we lose fish because we can’t store it.” – Dona Ivanil, housewife
Here, the fight is not only for energy — it’s for the right to remain. To protect their territory, their way of life, and the ecosystems that sustain them.
Energy Transition Must Begin Where People Live
The stories of Piratuba, Joanes, and Pesqueiro are not isolated. They mirror the reality of hundreds of Amazonian communities whose lives are directly shaped — and often constrained — by energy policies made far away from their lands.
As COP30 approaches, their message is clear: “Enquanto houver gente no escuro, a transição energética ainda não começou.”
A just energy transition means:
- Access: Reliable, affordable, renewable energy for all communities.
- Justice: Repairing historical inequalities and centering affected peoples.
- Sovereignty: Empowering communities to produce and manage their own energy.
- Climate action: Saying no to new fossil projects in the Amazon.
Their voices illuminate the path toward a different future — one where the energy transition isn’t just measured in megawatts, but in dignity, autonomy, and justice.
🟢 All photos and testimonies collected with consent during field documentation for 350.org (September 2025).