The Amazon, Wealth Disparity and Ethnocide
By Oliver Polachini and Leena Mohammed, 6/7/2020
THE REALITY OF ETHNOCIDE
900,000 people live in the Brazilian region of the Amazon rainforest. When compared to Brazil’s population of 200 million, 900,000 makes up a relatively small percentage. 12% of the country’s land is reserved to preserve native culture. Under Brazilian law, more than 700 culturally important environmental sites are protected. Most of them are located in the Amazon, where these indigenous populations have always lived. Yet, President Jair Bolsonaro, the current leader of Brazil, insists on allowing the destruction and deforestation of these sites. This governmental initiative causes the indigenous population to feel insecure, scared, and attacked, as they have been subject to genocide and maltreatment throughout the past 500 years.
The Waiapi tribe, which resides in an isolated area of the state of Amapá, is one of the government’s targets: Mr. Bolsonaro has plans to move the tribe out of their settlement for the sake of exploiting the area’s natural resources. Copper, iron, and gold are some of the most sought after materials on the planet.
In 1973, when miners and pelt hunters encroached on native lands, they not only disrupted the Waiapi’s way of life, but also exposed them to measles and other diseases. In 1996, the Brazilian government declared that the area was a designated indigenous reserve. However, this law does not mean that the inhabitants of the reserve are safe. Years after the policy for indigenous reservations was put in place, the 68-year-old tribe chief Emyra Waiapi was found dead in a nearby river after being violently stabbed all over his body - including his genitals - by illegal miners in July 2019. Michelle Bachelet, UN’s Higher Comissioner for Human Rights, asked Brazil to “reconsider its policies towards indigenous peoples and their lands, so that Emyra Waiapi's murder does not herald a new wave of violence”. Chief Ajaeraty, the new chief of the Waiapi tribe, explained “That's why we made the [land] demarcation.”
Chief Emyra Waiapi’s death is not the only case of murder committed in the name of economic gain. In November, the environmental activist and member of the “guardians of forests” Paulo Paulino Guajajara, was shot in the neck by five non-indigenous armed men. His partner escaped safely. Paulino’s assasination was not the first murder attempt of a “guardian.” Another incident involved land grabbers trying to conquer one of the few remaining areas of Amazon in the state of Maranhão, which resulted in the deaths of three guardians. According to Gil Rodrigues, who is associated with the Catholic Indian Mission Council, says that, since he was young, he had a personal relationship with Paulino’s family. Rodrigues defined Paulino as a “youngster worried about preserving everything for the future generations”, which serves as the reason why he became a “guardian”.
The Amazon tribes are so worried about their future that enemy groups- Kayapó and Panará - have united to protect their lands. “Today, we have only one enemy, the government of Brazil, the president of Brazil, and those invading [indigenous territories]. We have internal fights but we've come together to fight this government”, said the Kayapó Chief Mudjire. The Panará Chief Sinku agreed: “We've killed the Kayapó and the Kayapó have killed us, we've reconciled and will no longer fight. We've got a shared interest to stand together so the non-indigenous people don't kill all of us.”
Sawre Muybu, a Munduruku village around the Tapajós river may lose their land to a hydro-eletric dam project. Since the 16th century, the Munduruku tribe has taken pride in their resilience. Portuguese guns could not win against Munduruku weapons. The Sawre Muybu village, home to 100 people, considers the Tapajós sacred just like all members of the Munduruku ethnicity. Like all other tribes, they are scared of having their land, their way of life, and their lives taken from them. Yet, in the midst of so much fear, the indigenous populations keep fighting for their ideals. Sinku Panará explained “[I'm concerned] about the trees, water, fish, the non-indigenous people who want to enter our land," explained Sinku. "I don't want to contaminate the water with [toxic products from] mining... That's why I'm here.”
900,000 people live in the Brazilian region of the Amazon rainforest. When compared to Brazil’s population of 200 million, 900,000 makes up a relatively small percentage. 12% of the country’s land is reserved to preserve native culture. Under Brazilian law, more than 700 culturally important environmental sites are protected. Most of them are located in the Amazon, where these indigenous populations have always lived. Yet, President Jair Bolsonaro, the current leader of Brazil, insists on allowing the destruction and deforestation of these sites. This governmental initiative causes the indigenous population to feel insecure, scared, and attacked, as they have been subject to genocide and maltreatment throughout the past 500 years.
The Waiapi tribe, which resides in an isolated area of the state of Amapá, is one of the government’s targets: Mr. Bolsonaro has plans to move the tribe out of their settlement for the sake of exploiting the area’s natural resources. Copper, iron, and gold are some of the most sought after materials on the planet.
In 1973, when miners and pelt hunters encroached on native lands, they not only disrupted the Waiapi’s way of life, but also exposed them to measles and other diseases. In 1996, the Brazilian government declared that the area was a designated indigenous reserve. However, this law does not mean that the inhabitants of the reserve are safe. Years after the policy for indigenous reservations was put in place, the 68-year-old tribe chief Emyra Waiapi was found dead in a nearby river after being violently stabbed all over his body - including his genitals - by illegal miners in July 2019. Michelle Bachelet, UN’s Higher Comissioner for Human Rights, asked Brazil to “reconsider its policies towards indigenous peoples and their lands, so that Emyra Waiapi's murder does not herald a new wave of violence”. Chief Ajaeraty, the new chief of the Waiapi tribe, explained “That's why we made the [land] demarcation.”
Chief Emyra Waiapi’s death is not the only case of murder committed in the name of economic gain. In November, the environmental activist and member of the “guardians of forests” Paulo Paulino Guajajara, was shot in the neck by five non-indigenous armed men. His partner escaped safely. Paulino’s assasination was not the first murder attempt of a “guardian.” Another incident involved land grabbers trying to conquer one of the few remaining areas of Amazon in the state of Maranhão, which resulted in the deaths of three guardians. According to Gil Rodrigues, who is associated with the Catholic Indian Mission Council, says that, since he was young, he had a personal relationship with Paulino’s family. Rodrigues defined Paulino as a “youngster worried about preserving everything for the future generations”, which serves as the reason why he became a “guardian”.
The Amazon tribes are so worried about their future that enemy groups- Kayapó and Panará - have united to protect their lands. “Today, we have only one enemy, the government of Brazil, the president of Brazil, and those invading [indigenous territories]. We have internal fights but we've come together to fight this government”, said the Kayapó Chief Mudjire. The Panará Chief Sinku agreed: “We've killed the Kayapó and the Kayapó have killed us, we've reconciled and will no longer fight. We've got a shared interest to stand together so the non-indigenous people don't kill all of us.”
Sawre Muybu, a Munduruku village around the Tapajós river may lose their land to a hydro-eletric dam project. Since the 16th century, the Munduruku tribe has taken pride in their resilience. Portuguese guns could not win against Munduruku weapons. The Sawre Muybu village, home to 100 people, considers the Tapajós sacred just like all members of the Munduruku ethnicity. Like all other tribes, they are scared of having their land, their way of life, and their lives taken from them. Yet, in the midst of so much fear, the indigenous populations keep fighting for their ideals. Sinku Panará explained “[I'm concerned] about the trees, water, fish, the non-indigenous people who want to enter our land," explained Sinku. "I don't want to contaminate the water with [toxic products from] mining... That's why I'm here.”
BALANCING COMMERCE AND CULTURE
While President Jair Bolsonaro may be considered a tyrant for his intentions of ethnic cleansing, many see him as a visionary due to his innovative efforts. According to the majority of Brazilians, Bolsonaro does not target indigenous people on the basis of racial prejudice; instead, Bolsonaro is after indigenous land.
The Amazon rainforest may be the only thing left stopping Brazil from prospering economically. Bolsonaro has stated, “Where there is Indigenous land, there is wealth underneath it.” His opinion is technically accurate. With a surface area of 2 million square miles, the Amazon has striking potential for industrial and economic growth. Therefore, because people live in the Amazon, environmentalists and economics alike attempt to find the balance between ethics and commerce.
Many activists argue that compromising native lands in exchange for commercial benefits is a blatant violation of human rights. However, in a country where child labor is a pressing social issue and the national minimum wage is $1.20 per hour, more human rights violations occur daily because of Brazil’s poor financial situation. Bolsonaro believes that fixing the economy will help decrease the number of current human rights violations. Removing parts of the rainforest could further help ensure a thriving economy. With a thriving economy and the removal of the forest, no other indigenous or ethnic group has to be oppressed and isolated from society, much like Brazil’s current indigenous peoples.
The idea behind utilizing Amazonian land for more industrial use has two purposes. The first is, on a broader scale, the modernization of Brazil. Around 11.5 million people in Brazil live in favelas. The main reason behind this situation is because cities are just too overcrowded. More land could be the solution to this issue of overpopulation. The second reason is to employ the unemployed. In more modern cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, the unemployment rate is currently around 15%. The effect that the industrialization of the Amazon could have on the everyday Brazilian is astronomical.
Bolsonaro has stated that the “Amazon rainforest belongs to Brazil,” a weighty statement, but with some truth. Similar to the actions of U.S. politicians who have removed Native Americans from the Great Plains and the Easter coast of the United States in order to industrialize it, the Bolsonaro Administration wants to initiate the same project. Bolsonaro has truly convinced his citizens that his solution is for the betterment of Brazil’s future, which is why his proposal faces little opposition. Cattle farmers in the Amazon have expressed their complete support of the policy.
The actions of Bolsonaro or his administration are not inherently good but it remains important to consider his intentions. Impoverished Brazilians refer to him as a God-like, celestial figure because they believe he can save them from their economic disparity. It is difficult, however, to perform such a task without hurting another community, which is why governments must always find the balance between preserving culture and working towards a more progressive future.
While President Jair Bolsonaro may be considered a tyrant for his intentions of ethnic cleansing, many see him as a visionary due to his innovative efforts. According to the majority of Brazilians, Bolsonaro does not target indigenous people on the basis of racial prejudice; instead, Bolsonaro is after indigenous land.
The Amazon rainforest may be the only thing left stopping Brazil from prospering economically. Bolsonaro has stated, “Where there is Indigenous land, there is wealth underneath it.” His opinion is technically accurate. With a surface area of 2 million square miles, the Amazon has striking potential for industrial and economic growth. Therefore, because people live in the Amazon, environmentalists and economics alike attempt to find the balance between ethics and commerce.
Many activists argue that compromising native lands in exchange for commercial benefits is a blatant violation of human rights. However, in a country where child labor is a pressing social issue and the national minimum wage is $1.20 per hour, more human rights violations occur daily because of Brazil’s poor financial situation. Bolsonaro believes that fixing the economy will help decrease the number of current human rights violations. Removing parts of the rainforest could further help ensure a thriving economy. With a thriving economy and the removal of the forest, no other indigenous or ethnic group has to be oppressed and isolated from society, much like Brazil’s current indigenous peoples.
The idea behind utilizing Amazonian land for more industrial use has two purposes. The first is, on a broader scale, the modernization of Brazil. Around 11.5 million people in Brazil live in favelas. The main reason behind this situation is because cities are just too overcrowded. More land could be the solution to this issue of overpopulation. The second reason is to employ the unemployed. In more modern cities, such as Rio de Janeiro, the unemployment rate is currently around 15%. The effect that the industrialization of the Amazon could have on the everyday Brazilian is astronomical.
Bolsonaro has stated that the “Amazon rainforest belongs to Brazil,” a weighty statement, but with some truth. Similar to the actions of U.S. politicians who have removed Native Americans from the Great Plains and the Easter coast of the United States in order to industrialize it, the Bolsonaro Administration wants to initiate the same project. Bolsonaro has truly convinced his citizens that his solution is for the betterment of Brazil’s future, which is why his proposal faces little opposition. Cattle farmers in the Amazon have expressed their complete support of the policy.
The actions of Bolsonaro or his administration are not inherently good but it remains important to consider his intentions. Impoverished Brazilians refer to him as a God-like, celestial figure because they believe he can save them from their economic disparity. It is difficult, however, to perform such a task without hurting another community, which is why governments must always find the balance between preserving culture and working towards a more progressive future.
