Members of the Warao group of indigenous people left their homes in Venezuela after commercial deforestation made their lives impossible. The Taoiseach and Gardenia Cooper, a member of the Warao indigenous people, who live along the rivers of Venezuela’s rainforests. It also illustrates the link between environmental degradation, climate change and involuntary migration, a connection the Taoiseach was keen to make. She describes herself as a daughter of the forest, held in the forest’s embrace. Without forest there is no oxygen, so all of us here on this planet need to find a way to protect the forest.”

Source: The Irish Times November 09, 2025 16:36 UTC