Canadian-backed potash mine in Brazil dries up sacred Amazon springs

Residents of the Indigenous Mura people in Brazil's Amazonas state claim that the construction of an access road for a potash mining project has caused at least two sacred springs to dry up. The project, backed by Canadian investors, has been plagued by controversy over the past decade. According to Mura traditional cosmology, all springs and water sources have a guardian or owner who must be treated with respect. The loss of a spring is believed to disrupt the spiritual balance that sustains life in the territory. The company behind the project has also begun clearing the area where it intends to build, further alarming residents. The Mura people are concerned that they may be losing their territory, culture, and the life that exists in the place.