The Brazilian tribe that played by our rules, and lost - Polidicks

[I]The Kayapó people's battle to save their land from flooding as the Bel Monte dam is built follows a pattern across the Americas[/I] [quote] [IMG]http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/6/3/1307094048661/Chief-Raoni-of-the-Caiapo-003.jpg[/IMG] [I]Chief Raoni smokes a pipe while demonstrating against the construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam. Photograph: Reuters/Ueslei Marcelino[/I] The man pictured above is Raoni Txucarramãe, chief of the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caiapo"]Kayapó[/URL] people, who hail from Brazil's northern Pará province. The homeland of the Kayapó is the tropical rainforest surrounding the tributaries of the giant Xingu river, itself a nearly 2,000km long tributary of the Amazon. But the livelihood of the Kayapó people is under grave threat. Brazil's president, Dilma Vana Rousseff, [URL="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/world/americas/02brazil.html"]has authorised the construction of a dam[/URL] that will flood their homeland. [URL="http://www.survivalinternational.org/about/belo-monte-dam"]The Belo Monte dam[/URL] will be the world's third-largest hydroelectric dam (after China's Three Gorges dam, itself with [URL="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/20/three-gorges-dam-china-warning"]numerous problems[/URL], and the Brazilian-Paraguayan Itaipu dam). It will flood 400,000 hectares of the world's largest rainforest, displacing 20,000 to 40,000 people – including the Kayapó. The ecological impact of the project is massive: the Xingu River basin has four times more biodiversity than all of Europe. Flooding of the rainforest will liberate massive amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas far more damaging than carbon dioxide. But the impact on Chief Raoni's people, on an entire society, is unimaginable. The Kayapó traditionally practised slash-and-burn agriculture on small farms cut into the jungle. The rich resources of their lands (minerals, timber, and potential hydroelectrical power) have brought pressures from outside. Although the Brazilian constitution explicitly prohibits the displacement of "Indians" from their traditional lands, it provides for one convenient exception: where the National Congress deems removal of the people to be "[URL="http://www.v-brazil.com/government/laws/titleVIII.html"]in the interest of the sovereignty of the country[/URL]". Proponents of the dam argue that its construction is in the nation's interest. The Kayapó people's leadership has learned how to participate in the world economy. They were one of the first indigenous peoples to participate in international commerce, with [URL="http://www.brazzil.com/p20jun97.htm"]the Body Shop[/URL], and they learned how to fight back against projects they did not support. A [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altamira_Gathering"]five-day media conference[/URL] they organised to [URL="http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/1577"]fight the Bel Monte dam[/URL] in 1989 generated enough international attention that the World Bank refused the loan necessary for the project to proceed. Now, as the project raises its head again, the Kayapó have forged alliances with non-profits worldwide to continue their battle. In February, Chief Raoni delivered a petition [URL="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/26/brazil-belo-monte-dam-ruling"]with 600,000 signatures[/URL] to the Brazilian government, and construction of the dam was temporarily blocked. But this week, the Brazilian government gave the project the green light. Chief Raoni and his people have, essentially, played by our rules. They learned the ways of a foreign society, and they waged their battle according to those foreign rules and with those foreign weapons, launching petitions and protests, and engaging media and lawyers. I am reminded of another photo that [URL="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/feb/02/amazon-lost-tribe-aerial-photograph"]recently appeared on these pages[/URL]: that of an "uncontacted" Amazonian tribe, their bows raised, their arrows aimed at the Brazilian Indian Affairs Department aircraft flying overhead. For all his efforts, Chief Raoni, too, might as well have been shooting arrows at the Brazilian National Congress building. This losing battle is not unique. Rather, it is the common story to the Americas. I recall my visits with [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cristina_Calderon"]Cristina Calderón[/URL], known in Chile as "the last Yaghan", the last survivor of her race and last speaker of her native tongue. Across the Beagle Channel from her home lies the large island of Tierra del Fuego, traditional homeland of the [URL="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/data/book/society/9780521238847/drama-and-power-in-a-hunting-society-the-selknam-of-tierra-del-fuego"]Selk'nam[/URL], but now devoid of any indigenous people. The demise of the [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaghan_people"]Yaghan[/URL] was due largely to diseases introduced and spread by displacement from their expansive territories to crowded mission schools. The Selk'nam, however, were actively hunted by European settlers. The new industry here was sheep-ranching. With their traditional hunting territories turned to grazing lands, and with no concept of animals as private property, the Selk'nam turned to hunting sheep. The settlers, in turn, issued a bounty for each pair of Selk'nam ears. The Kayapó and their partners have launched a last-ditch effort, including [URL="http://amazonwatch.org/take-action/stop-the-belo-monte-monster-dam"]another petition[/URL], to have the Brazilian government listen to their concerns, and respect traditional land rights. The [URL="http://www.cidh.org/medidas/2011.port.htm"]Inter-American Commission on Human Rights[/URL] has urged the Brazilian government to consult "in good faith … and with the aim of arriving at an agreement with each of the affected indigenous communities". But I know, from experience here, [URL="http://jacquelinewindh.com/books/wild-edge/"]where I live[/URL] – also a land of pristine rainforest that is still populated by vibrant communities of original inhabitants – what industry's requirement to "consult" with indigenous people means: the parties will, at some point, show up in a room together and voice their opinions. The indigenous people will have every right to say no to the project. But no one is required to heed that. [/quote] Source: [URL]http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jun/03/amazon-tribe-kayapo-people-bel-monte-dam[/URL] This is a photo of the Kayapo chief crying when he heard of the president decision that would bring the loss of his people and lands. [IMG]http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsg8g3Tmk71qajvre.jpg[/IMG]

I'm refraining sooooo hard to post a typical BR comment. Sad they won't be able to save their land though.

[QUOTE=Laferio;34485508]I'm refraining sooooo hard to post a typical BR comment. Sad they won't be able to save their land though.[/QUOTE] Not so long ago a bunch of students and American Sudanese immigrants helped mobilizing the US government to help creating an agreement between Sudanese tribes to stop the slaughter that was being unleashed there. After years of struggling, petitions, fund raising they succeeded in reaching people inside the government. Of course such things require people to get their butts out of their seats. however when you really want something to change, you go change and fight for it. Otherwise everybody will be so conformist as you right now. If that's the only thing you have to say, that's pretty sad.

What is this, 1887?

[QUOTE=Article;34485490]The Xingu River basin has four times more biodiversity than all of Europe. [/QUOTE] [img]http://i.somethingawful.com/forumsystem/emoticons/emot-smith.gif[/img]

it always pains me to hear of indigenous peoples made to leave their homelands behind. I wish there were much more I could do for this tribe than sign a petition.

[IMG]http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsg8g3Tmk71qajvre.jpg[/IMG] Holy crap, look at his lower lip!

Between 20,000 and 40,000 people? Fuck. That.

[img]http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IqWOPMHbs0E/SRg89DNp26I/AAAAAAAABSE/-aKk45Tv464/s400/crying_indian.jpg[/img] Is this what you are proud of mo fucker?

I wonder how the utilitarians among us will defend this.

This is insane. Just doesn't make sense.

[QUOTE=Behemoth_PT;34485637]Not so long ago a bunch of students and American Sudanese immigrants helped mobilizing the US government to help creating an agreement between Sudanese tribes to stop the slaughter that was being unleashed there. After years of struggling, petitions, fund raising they succeeded in reaching people inside the government. Of course such things require people to get their butts out of their seats. however when you really want something to change, you go change and fight for it. Otherwise everybody will be so conformist as you right now. If that's the only thing you have to say, that's pretty sad.[/QUOTE] One, you're implying that I'm a conformist. Which is the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. This is actually the first time I've been insulted in such a way. Oh, by the way. Heres you. By your absurd standards and logic, I now feel dumber after reading what you've posted. Stating that its sad that I've actually found it sad, that they couldn't of beaten the government. They have my sympathy, but I don't think you would understand such thing. Considering you took my nearly half-assed comment and attempted to turn it into something artsy. Need I spell it out for you? They have my sympathy, and if you can't understand that then are truly ignorant. Now assuming this is indeed you, (I don't know, I'm just looking here). You'd be the epitome of hypocrisy. [img]http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/369141_100000294963875_1643476388_n.jpg[/img]

[QUOTE=RR_Raptor65;34485645]What is this, 1887?[/QUOTE] Bubba, Go dun there get your them there shootin' boots on and get down to that there cornfield! We's got some Injuns to shoot! On a serious note: Why is this legal? How is this legal?!

I'm sure there are better ways of generating power than a hydroelectric dam that damages the local environment and displaces up to 40,000 people. Seems like a gross violation of human rights and blatant disregard for environmental preservation. Logging alone causes huge amounts of the rain forests to be lost, I can't see how flooding 400,000 hectares is even acceptable.

[QUOTE=Laferio;34485796]One, you're implying that I'm a conformist. Which is the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. This is actually the first time I've been insulted in such a way. Oh, by the way. Heres you. By your absurd standards and logic, I now feel dumber after reading what you've posted. Stating that its sad that I've actually found it sad, that they couldn't of beaten the government. They have my sympathy, but I don't think you would understand such thing. Considering you took my nearly half-assed comment and attempted to turn it into something artsy. Need I spell it out for you? They have my sympathy, and if you can't understand that then are truly ignorant. Now assuming this is indeed you, (I don't know, I'm just looking here). You'd be the epitome of hypocrisy. [/QUOTE] Yes, that's me when I was 18. What does it prove? Nothing. One other thing, nobody insulted you and nobody implied a thing about you. I just thinked what you said was a rather dumb thing to say and just leave it at that. If I made you feel bad, I'm sorry. Not my intention. However, bringing my photo here and pass judgment over it is not right either.

Someone should give the tribe enough money to build a dam of their own just a mile upriver of the other dam, making it useless.

"Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," anyone?

What's wrong with his lip?

The amount of rage I feel at this is more than I can express over the internet. It emulates exactly what happened FAR to many times to the American Indians over a 300 year span. Whites come in, decide they want what is rightfully the Indians, tell the indians to fuck off, or else we will make you leave. Then when the Indians wonder what the hell the whities are telling them about, "we want your land, so give it to us or else." they are forced to leave and give up their homelands that they have had for thousands of years. This bullshit is unacceptable. There are not enough explatives to express how filled with rage I am at this moment.

Heartbreaking :(

The question I am asking: does the dam make sense in regards to climate factors? Flooded woods releasing methane doesn't mean the dam will not contribute more to preserving the biodiversity on Earth than what it destroys localy.

[QUOTE=Killuah;34486862]The question I am asking: does the dam make sense in regards to climate factors? Flooded woods releasing methane doesn't mean the dam will not contribute more to preserving the biodiversity on Earth than what it destroys localy.[/QUOTE] How would a dam help preserve global biodiversity?

[QUOTE=valkery;34486691]The amount of rage I feel at this is more than I can express over the internet. It emulates exactly what happened FAR to many times to the American Indians over a 300 year span. Whites come in, decide they want what is rightfully the Indians, tell the indians to fuck off, or else we will make you leave. Then when the Indians wonder what the hell the whities are telling them about, "we want your land, so give it to us or else." they are forced to leave and give up their homelands that they have had for thousands of years. This bullshit is unacceptable. There are not enough explatives to express how filled with rage I am at this moment.[/QUOTE] Really has nothing to do with race, it's just what happens when one group finds another weaker group. The more powerful group then proceeds to stomp all over the weaker one.

What the hell is wrong with his lower lip. Native Brazilian punch out?

[QUOTE=superdinoman;34485981]I'm sure there are better ways of generating power than a hydroelectric dam that damages the local environment and displaces up to 40,000 people. Seems like a gross violation of human rights and blatant disregard for environmental preservation. Logging alone causes huge amounts of the rain forests to be lost, I can't see how flooding 400,000 hectares is even acceptable.[/QUOTE] It just doesn't damage the local environment, nope! It damages the fucking global environment by not having carbon dioxide in the air but methane. Which is worse. They should find a better way instead of damaging the global atmosphere.

Not a fan of the tribal lifestyle but it still sucks that this is happening nonetheless.

this is why i hate hispanics

Dancing with Wolves comes to mind...

[QUOTE=RR_Raptor65;34486995]Really has nothing to do with race, it's just what happens when one group finds another weaker group. The more powerful group then proceeds to stomp all over the weaker one.[/QUOTE] Generally speaking, the weaker group tends to be Indegiounous people who have none of the weapons that the invading group has. (eg. Indians) [editline]31st January 2012[/editline] [QUOTE=abcpea2;34487075]this is why i hate hispanics[/QUOTE] Says the Australian who's ancestors destroyed the Aboriginal culture.

[QUOTE=abcpea2;34487075]this is why i hate hispanics[/QUOTE] Kind of ironic, since Caucasians where just as evil.