Threats and intimidation down Amazon way
As the narrator of this startling video states, "working in the Amazon forest is not for the faint of heart." In the past, people from campaigning organisations have been bullied by land owners and workers, facing intimidation, violence, death threats and even murder. The most recent example, documented in the video from Greenpeace Brazil, happened just last week and seeing footage of a situation verging on outright violence, I've found a new level of respect for the men and women who put themselves in the firing line.
The trouble began when a group of representatives from Greenpeace and Operation Native Amazon (an organisation working with forest communities), along with two French journalists, went to visit the indigenous Enawene-Nawe people near the town of Juina in Mato Grosso state. All they wanted to do was document their way of life in the forest, but were prevented from doing so by an angry mob of farmers and local officials.
Attempts to negotiate failed as it became clear that the farmers considered themselves as owners of not just the land and roads, but also the Enawene-Nawe as well. As the group are escorted away by a convoy of Jeeps and pick-up trucks, this appalling affront to civil liberties in a democratic country is a shock to the system, particularly as the town mayor was helping to run them out of town. At least they could leave, but the Enawene-Nawe's lands are surrounded by farms which are continually encroaching on the forest.
When it comes down to it, the rights of a community who have lived there for generations are being challenged by the commercial ambitions of farmers who have been cutting down the forest for perhaps 20 years. I know who I'm backing.
Comments
What are the chances that those beautiful macaws will survive?
Is there any progress on saving the rain forest?
Why doesn't the entire world get involved in saving this important resource - the rain forest, the lungs of the planet. I just can't understand the terrible destructivness of humankind.
I just can't.
Posted by: Michal Avraham | August 30, 2007 6:15 PM
We're working on it. Not that we can claim all the credit for it, but deforestation rates in the Amazon are down and the soya moratorium is holding and will hopefully be extended.
Posted by: Jamie | August 31, 2007 1:13 PM
it's unbelievable. Where are the laws allowing anoyone travelling on the public roads? i can't understand how that happened. Are there any public roads reaching to the lands of Enawene Nawe or one has to tresspass those farmers land to reach there?. Anyway how can those farmers surround some people's land and prevent others from going there? indiands have been there long before the colonials came so they must be the real owners of that land. i really can't believe what has happened. if Enawane people want to host activists they could have done so. it is like the land around your house is enclosed by someone else who came to there long after your ancestors did and do not let your guests into your home.
Posted by: Said Salih KAYMAKCI | September 1, 2007 10:24 AM
Responding to Michal Avraham :
till humans understand that we are the custodians and guardians of the incarnations (plant and animal) of the planetary spirit and learn the lesson of compassion for all life, our race is doomed to evil. The horrific abuse of animals, the destruction of plants and forests, the greedy grasping of more and more will only change when each human opens his heart chakra and understands that all life feels pain and sorrow and not only us. Go to the animalsasia.com website and see how the chinese abuse moon bears to extract bile daily from live animals caged for 20 years in small coffin like cages. This is evil walking the earth on 2 feet.
Posted by: Ketayun | September 3, 2007 1:45 PM
what are you on about so what if there mining all there gold and logging all thgere trees why shouldnt they every one else did. dont they deserve a profit as well. maybe you should just ask your own governments to drop outstanding debts and then the government will be able to crack down on the illegal activities beacause finacially they will be better off
Posted by: anthony | May 20, 2008 1:48 AM