imagining an oil spill carried there by tides. His village, Manga, sits about 20 kilometers from Oiapoque, a town on the French Guiana border that has been buzzing since Petrobras began offshore exploration a year ago. In August, the state-run company reported signs of oil in a well roughly 175 kilometers off Amapa state's coast. President Lula, seeking reelection on October 4, visited and called the oil a "passport to the future."

Reaching Oiapoque means a 600-kilometer journey from Macapa, partly on a potholed dirt road with makeshift wooden bridges. Many streets lack sidewalks, lined with low-rise buildings in disrepair, though construction is underway. While many residents welcome a potential oil bonanza, Karipuna is not convinced. "In the event of a spill, we will inevitably be affected. Water has no borders," said the 57-year-old, fearing disaster if a leak reaches the Curipi River beside his 1,800-person village. Petrobras says its analyses do not indicate oil would reach the coast in a spill. Jean Paul Prates, former Petrobras head, acknowledged: "There is no such thing as zero risk in offshore exploration"—a low-probability but high-consequence risk. Karipuna is "disappointed" with Lula, who champions the environment and Indigenous peoples but argues oil can finance the clean-energy transition. He already feels impacts from "noise from planes and helicopters" scaring away birds and game. Fisherman Joelso Mendonca worries nobody would buy their fish after a spill. Others see opportunity. Pastor Jacqueline Cadete calls the oil "a sign from God." A study suggests over 50,000 jobs could be created, and royalties could enrich local authorities. But Petrobras president Magda Chambriard says production is still "six or seven years" away. Mayor Inacio Monteiro Maciel remains optimistic, despite needing to "practically start from scratch" on infrastructure. Over half of Oiapoque's 2022 population of 28,000 receives Bolsa Familia; he estimates 40,000–45,000 now live there. (Bssnews)