Tuesday October 21, 2008, 2:31 am
Five hundred years of exposure to disease, violence and dispossession
wiped out the vast majority of this indigenous population. Today, there
are around 350,000 Indians in Brazil in over 200 tribes, who live
scattered across the country. Between them they speak a huge number
of languages; 110 of the tribal
languages of Brazil have less than 400 speakers. Brazil's tribes range
in size from the Guarani and Yanomami, who number tens of thousands, to
tribes such as the Akuntsu and Kanoê, who number only a few dozen.
In the 500 years since
Europeans arrived in Brazil, the tribal peoples there have experienced
genocide on a huge scale, and the loss of much of their land. Today,
their land is still taken over for ranches or industrial projects, or
invaded by miners and settlers – and they are still being killed,
whether by diseases encountered when their lands are invaded, by
starvation as they are driven from their hunting grounds, or by the
hitmen who are employed by ranchers and 'landowners' to keep Indians
away. There remains an endemic racism towards Indians in Brazil that
makes all this possible – in law they are still considered minors. The
most important thing for tribal peoples in Brazil is control over their
lands – Brazil is one of only two South American countries that does
not recognise tribal land ownership. If Brazil's tribes were recognised
as the owners of their land, it would give them some real protection
against the individuals and businesses that take over their land,
destroying their livelihood and often destroying them.
http://www.survival-international.org/home

Tuesday October 21, 2008, 2:39 am
The Guarani People.
For as long as they can remember, the Guarani have been searching – searching for a place revealed to them by their ancestors where people live free from pain and suffering, which they call ‘the land without evil’.
Over hundreds of years, the Guarani have travelled vast distances in search of this land.
One 16th century chronicler noted their ‘constant desire to seek new lands, in which they imagine they will find immortality and perpetual ease’.
This permanent quest is indicative of the unique character of the Guarani, a ‘difference’ about them which has often been noted by outsiders.
Today, this manifests itself in a more tragic way: profoundly affected by the loss of almost all their land in the last century, the Guarani suffer a wave of suicide unequalled in South America.
The problems are especially acute in Mato Grosso do Sul where the Guarani once occupied a homeland of forests and plains totaling some 350,000 square kilometers.
Today they are squeezed onto tiny patches of land surrounded by cattle ranches and vast fields of soya and sugar cane. Some have no land at all, and live camped by roadsides.
http://www.survival-international.org/home

Tuesday October 21, 2008, 2:46 am
The Yanomami
are one of the largest relatively isolated tribes in South America. They live in the rainforests and mountains of northern Brazil and southern Venezuela.
Like most tribes on the continent, they probably migrated across the Bering Straits between Asia and America some 40,000 years ago, making their way slowly down to South America. Today their total population stands at around 32,000.
At over 9.6 million hectares, the Yanomami territory in Brazil is twice the size of Switzerland. In Venezuela, the Yanomami live in the 8.2 million hectare Alto Orinoco – Casiquiare Biosphere Reserve. Together, these areas form the largest forested indigenous territory in the world.
The Brazilian congress is currently debating a bill which, if approved, will permit large-scale mining in indigenous territories. This will be extremely harmful to the Yanomami and other remote tribes in Brazil.
The Yanomami have not been properly consulted about their views and have little access to independent information about the impacts of mining.
"Our land has to be respected. Our land is our heritage, a heritage which protects us."
More:
http://www.survival-international.org/home

Tuesday October 21, 2008, 2:51 am
The Indians of Raposa–Serra do Sol Need You!
Brutal farmers make Indian land grab.
The peoples of Raposa-Serra do Sol are under attack from violent farmers.
Vicious attacks have shaken their communities as the state government refuses to uphold the law.
Writing a letter to the Brazilian Supreme Court is a quick and simple way to let them know of your concern:
http://www.survival-international.org/tribes/raposa

Tuesday October 21, 2008, 4:01 am
Sadly noted. Thanks Ben.

Wednesday October 22, 2008, 10:28 am
Thank you Ne, Try to weite something about Mapuches, are beeing exterminated in Chile too. Causes? Imagine, MONEY
hugs
chiara

Wednesday October 22, 2008, 10:49 am
Mapuche International link:
http://www.mapuche-nation.org/english/frontpage.htm