In Memoriam: Dom Phillips
The passing this week of Queen Elizabeth II has, for many of us, brought to mind the grief we’ve felt for the loss of friends, family and colleagues in recent months
September has been a time to celebrate and to mourn. On the 7th, Brazil celebrated its 200 year anniversary of independence from Portugal, with Brazilians the length and breadth of the country all enjoying a national holiday. To mark the date, Queen Elizabeth II sent a congratulatory note to the Brazilian nation, remembering fondly her visit to Brazil in 1968. The very next day, Her Majesty passed away, leaving millions of people and nations around the world in mourning. Brazil honoured the passing with a three day mourning period with flags lowered down at half mast on all public buildings throughout the nation.
This collective grief has caught many by surprise; why do we mourn the loss of someone we never met? For many, these feelings are wrapped up in the grief we feel for the loss of others.
For me, and I’m sure many others in Brazil’s journalist community, it has brought to mind the loss of Dom Phillips and Bruno Perreira, who were brutally murdered in the Amazon in early June. Dom was there to research stories to finish writing his book on sustainable development, How to Save the Amazon, which was due to be published later this year. Bruno, an advocate for Brazil’s indigenous communities who had worked for Brazil’s indigenous protection agency FUNAI, was carrying out conservation work in the area.
That day in early June, the pair had set off by boat to the Javari Valley in Amazonas state, near the Peruvian border. The region is the world’s largest refuge for uncontacted indigenous tribes and Bruno, whose work involved protecting these communities, had been receiving threats for a while. The repercussions of their murder were felt around the world, among friends and family and at the highest levels of government.
Dom reported on a wide range of issues relating to social justice and environmental damage in Brazil over the past 15 or so years since I met him. The upcoming elections in Brazil next month reminded me of a news report I filmed with Dom back in 2010 for Global Post (see video below), covering the Brazilian elections back then. Dom knew I was trying to partner with a journalist to film news pieces, and gave me a lead for this commission. I would learn that this was a typical way for Dom to operate: generous in sharing work, and generous with his time and advice.
Before going out filming this piece, Dom took me to his flat and showed me his gear which he wanted to lend me. It was a very simple camcorder. Any camera would do to cover the world around us. He wanted to capture the various tribes that make up the city of Sao Paulo and tell their stories. With a pencil, a note book and a camcorder in hand, anything would do to shine a light on the world. Dom was someone that brought light to millions of people.
Rest in Peace Dom. We will strive to keep your work and memory alive. Your friend, Nick
Related stories
- 'Dom was one of the best - quiet but curious' Andrew Downie (BBC News)
- Bolsonaro focus of ire after bodies found in search for missing men Tom Hennigan (Irish Times)
- There is a war on nature. Dom Phillips was killed trying to warn you about it Jonathan Watts (The Guardian)
- Tributes paid to Amazon pair Dom Phillips and Bruno Pereira (Thomson Reuters)
- Javari valley: the lawless primal wilderness where Dom Phillips went missing Dan Collins (The Guardian)
- Bruno Pereira: the dedicated defender of Indigenous rights missing in Brazil Andrew Downie and Caio Barretto (The Guardian)
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