Legend has it that the Emperor Nero fiddled while Rome burned; while obviously bristling at the dubious factoid that such a stupid man could have been a musician, none of us, including me, can be complacent about the tragic dimensions of the disaster taking place in the Amazon as I write. Amazonia is on fire at an unprecedented rate –nearly 80 % up from last year and with 39% more deforestation and the world is suddenly taking notice. Populist leaders citing nationalist … [Read more...] about STATEMENT: Sting on the Amazon’s Wildfires
Human rights
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT): IMPACT ON INDIGENOUS CULTURES?
As far as I am concerned it is difficult to give a forthright answer to this question although I think that there is always a pros and cons in any issue we deal with., but here we are talking about the survival of the indigenous cultures and languages. In fact, the cultural debate on the issue of ICT, its pros and cons is not going to die soon. It is for some a double-edged sword, for others a computer-mediated colonialism, but it can also be a powerful agent of change for the indigenous … [Read more...] about INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT): IMPACT ON INDIGENOUS CULTURES?
A Note from Executive Director and Chair, Dr. Franca Sciuto
Brazil — The new President Jair Bolsonaro was sworn in on January 1st. He feels emboldened to roll back rainforest protections and legitimize the police’s use of deadly force. According to a good article from The Guardian: “Brazil’s preeminent provocateur wrestled it straight into a Trumpian whirlpool of bluster and barminess.”. He portrays himself as a law and order candidate who will use force to “change Brazil”. All those who work tirelessly to help Indigenous People protect and … [Read more...] about A Note from Executive Director and Chair, Dr. Franca Sciuto
A letter from the field: Brazil
August 7th, 2017 Dear Members of the Board of Rainforest Fund, I wanted to take this opportunity to share some of the recent results of our work with indigenous communities in the Brazilian Amazon and take the opportunity to thank you and everyone on the board of the Rainforest Fund, its chair Dr. Franca Sciuto and its staff for their commitment to strengthening indigenous communities and their rights around the world. On the 11th of July in Sao Paulo at the Google Brazil offices, 3 … [Read more...] about A letter from the field: Brazil
3+ Reasons to “leave uncontacted tribes alone”
A recent arcticle in the Washington Post, “Do the world’s ‘uncontacted’ tribes deserve to be left alone?,” caught my attention. … [Read more...] about 3+ Reasons to “leave uncontacted tribes alone”
Did FPIC get it wrong?
FPIC, or Free, Prior and Informed Consent, is one of the most important principles in international law relating to indigenous peoples. … [Read more...] about Did FPIC get it wrong?
Supporting Community Led Environmental Monitoring in the Wake of An Oil Spill
Rainforest Fund partner organization ClearWater and Indigenous communities in the Ecuadorian Amazon are working hard in the wake of the latest oil spill to ensure that families have clean water. … [Read more...] about Supporting Community Led Environmental Monitoring in the Wake of An Oil Spill
Mass trial of indigenous leaders to take place in Peru, May 14 2014
While it is ultimately the Peruvian judiciary's responsibility to ensure that defendants are given a fair trial, we call upon the Peruvian Government to respect all of the International Conventions to which it is a party, … [Read more...] about Mass trial of indigenous leaders to take place in Peru, May 14 2014
A Less Talked About Reality
The exploitation of young girls in the Solomon Islands is a harsh reality of the extractive industries that not only threaten lands but also human dignity. … [Read more...] about A Less Talked About Reality
The Yanomami Way
Sharing, listening, and communicating are all part of Yanomami culture and are ingredients to building consensus - a crucial element of Yanomami governance. … [Read more...] about The Yanomami Way
