BRAZIL | SOCIAL | PHOTOGRAPHY: Amazonia

Showing posts with label Amazonia. Show all posts

2012/10/10

I support the Indigenous Cause

Copyright © Tatiana Cardeal. All rights reserved.
Reprodução proibida. © Todos os direitos reservados.

The model of development that Brazil was rising in the last years could have some strong positive points, but some issues related with the environment, sustainability, violence and disrespect of the Indigenous and Traditional Communities rights (as the Quilombolas - historic afro-brazilian communities) are just going worst.

Last July and August I traveled about 4000km on the Brazilian east boarder, between Bahia' South state and the North of Espírito Santo, visiting many Indigenous and Afro-Brazilian communities (Quilombolas). I was shooting for a research that will be published soon. The main picture is really bad. I also met and interviewed anthropologists, professors at universities and researchers, and what I've seen is disappointment when not revolt.
A meeting formed by a large national group of anthropologists to write a collective manifest for the government was recent planned to happen in Florianópolis. I'll updated about.

You've probably heard about Belo Monte Dam and other projects in the Amazon area, troubles with deforestation, monoculture, and lands issues in the country. The Brazilian Association of Judges for Democracy (www.ajd.org.br) released a campaign named "I Support the Indigenous Cause" and are asking for signatures.

I support the Indigenous Cause
Against the PEC 215 (proposed constitutional amendment)
Demarcation of the Indigenous Lands
Urgency in Court Decisions

There are more detailed information rolling the bar on this link.
I Support the Indigenous Cause
Check the link for other languages:
Português / Español / Français / Italiano / English

If you agree, you can sign the petition that will be sent to the Supreme Court,
the President of the Republic, the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Please, share the campaign with your contacts.

________________________

Eu Apoio a Causa Indígena

Photo: > Kayapó women were singing and dancing their traditions during the Indigenous National Festival, 2012. Bertioga, SP, Brazil.

2011/02/02

Back to the point: Belo Monte Dam

Copyright © Tatiana Cardeal. All rights reserved.
Reprodução proibida. © Todos os direitos reservados.

> Yawalapiti warriors live along the Xingu River, at the Xingu Park. I photographed them during the Indigenous National Festival.

While watching the bad day that people, photographers, journalists had in Cairo today, I was observing the arrogance of Muraback's govern and feeling shocked with all the violence. At the same time, I needed to write again about another trouble in another govern, that in a way, is also showing arrogance and total disrespect from it's people: Brazil and the way the Belo Monte Dam have been conduced.

A recent partial license grant given by an interim president of IBAMA (Brazilian Institute for Environment and Natural Renewable Resources), allowed the construction camps and site of the hydroelectric plant of Belo Monte in the Xingu River, at Para State - and has generated a series of reactions against the decision at the media. Federal prosecutors had recommended to IBAMA to not fragment the licensing to speed up the process because the requirements for the previous license had not been completed. A partial license (which should be part of a full license) does not exist in Brazilian environmental legislation.
Not enough, the Federal Public Ministry estimates the number of people affected to be about 40,000 - including traditional and indigenous populations!

Also a controversial fact was the departure of then President of IBAMA, Aberlardo Bayma, on January 12. Bayma justified the resignation saying that his decision was motivated by "personal reasons". However, rumors on the media tell that in recent meetings with Eletronorte, Bayma refused to grant the dam's final construction license, arguing that IBAMA could not grant the document since the project is full of environmental disputes.
Belo Monte's socio-environmental viability is also considered the reason for former Environmental Minister (and candidate in the 2010 presidential elections) Marina Silva stepping out of office in 2008.
Well, there are a lot of new information going on media and social media every day, showing many irregularities, economics doubts, and some institutional explanations. A quick research on the web will add much more to this issue.

Meanwhile, many organizations, social movements, indigenous people, activists, anthropologists, economists, journalists, environmentalists, judges... and many like me, have been alerting and questioning if this dam is really needed, and what are the real costs of this project (economic, human and environmental). The answer is still a mystery. Too many doubts to put so many and so much in risk.

Enough from today! With all I've seen, one thing must be said: Muraback won't be forgot by the history for his choices and acts. The same will happen with the Belo Monte Dam in Brazil.

Mobilizations and online petition

Amigos da Terra, Amazonia.org.br, Amazon Watch, AVAAZ.org, Greenpeace, Instituto Akatu, Instituto Sociambiental, International Conservation, International Rivers, Movimento Xingu Vivo Para Sempre, and other organizations, have been incisive on their position against the continuity of the project in the way it's being developed. Some of them started campaigns.

On Twitter, mostly of them are spreading the rashtag #parebelomonte and #belomontenao to protest and call attention for the issue. Some tweets are sharing petitions to be signed.

Avaaz launched a large petition, you can sign here.
"President Dilma promised in her inauguration speech to develop Brazil without damaging the environment. But the Belo Monte dam would be the opposite -- a massive environmental scar in the heart of the Amazon."

Save the Xingu River says, and can be signed here.
"It would divert the flow of the Xingu River and devastate an extensive area of the Brazilian rainforest, displace over 20,000 people and threaten the survival of indigenous peoples."

"Now is a crucial time to take action to defend the Xingu River."

Sources: Global Voices , Survival International , Instituto Sociambiental , Ministério Público Federal do Pará , Avaaz , Movimento Xingu Vivo Para Sempre , Miriam Leitão.com

2010/10/28

do we have a future?

Copyright © Tatiana Cardeal. All rights reserved.
Reprodução proibida. © Todos os direitos reservados.

In the middle of so many debates about our presidential elections, sustainable development, social responsibility...
what would be the real future for Xingu People of Brazil?

Tuesday, October 26, the Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre (Movement Xingu Alive Forever), a coalition of over 250 organizations and social movements that oppose the construction of Belo Monte dam, sent to Dilma Rousseff and Jose Serra a letter requesting that they expose their projects about the controversial dam. It's time to hear answers from these candidates. We can strengthen the process, and let them know that the world is watching signing this:
Petition (english)
Abaixo-assinado (português)

You can also visit the Movement site here and support the cause at their social networks:
Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre

> Exhausted, a Kayapo child, during the Indigenous National Festival.

2010/07/29

yanomami alert

"Healthcare programs for indigenous peoples in Brazil are overseen by a federal agency, called FUNASA, under the Ministry of Health. In Northern Brazil, the Yanomami have denounced an alarming increase in malaria cases, exacerbated by illegal gold mining. Currently, medical assistance is not getting to the communities because of bureaucratic hurdles around the approval of airstrips in the Yanomami Area – something that has never been a problem either there or elsewhere. Indeed, many of the scandals involving FUNASA have taken place within the Yanomami health program. In the Javari Valley, a vast indigenous area in the western Amazon, hepatitis and malaria epidemics are ravaging the Kanamari, Matis, Marubo Tsohom-dyapa, and Korubo, as well as isolated groups that live in the region. "

For these and other reasons, indigenous organizations, organizations on human rights, racial equality and policies for women are mobilizing for what the Senate does not change the Bill of Conversion and vote before the 4th of August, when expiry of the term MP 483.

We hope that through a new, independent government office, indigenous healthcare will receive the attention it deserves.

Please sign the letter to the Brazilian Senate

Learn more and participate by sending the signing the petition at the link!
We need a lot of signatures and we have only four days.
Thank you!

http://www.change.org/rainforest_foundation/petitions/view/indigenous_healthcare_under_threat_in_brazil

>> photo of Yanomami people at the Indigenous National Festival, Bertioga, Brazil.

2010/06/04

Health and Happiness Project at the Amazon

Open publication

Plateform published a selection of images from the series I took at the Health and Happiness Project (Projeto Saúde e Alegria) during a few days in the Amazon region. There's also an interview. The link above is for the English pages of the essay (for the French pages, click here).

Use this link to see more about the Health and Happiness Project published at this blog.

> Info:
▪ Projeto Saúde e Alegria
▪ Plateform Magazine
"PLATEFORM est un magazine pour exposer, s'exposer, se raconter et raconter. PLATEFORM ouvre le regard et s'ouvre aux talents. PLATEFORM apporte une double vision sur un thème, un lieu, une émotion, une idée."

2009/09/03

the Jabuti spirit can sing

Embraced by his friend that was playing the flute, they danced together.
It was the first time I've seen someone playing a Jabuti's (turtle) hull.
The sound was a vibration produced by the friction of his warm hand,
in a constant rhythm, giving me a sense of transe.
Hypnotic and beautiful.

In the House of Knowledge, at São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas.

2009/07/22

Bará

A Bará Indigenous man that is living at São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas, also found at the Maloca (House of Knowledge) a secure place to express his own traditions and share with others. A way to keep his immaterial cultural alive.

With a peculiar humor, he was listed to me as a 'dangerous indigenous man' by the Baniwa's leader of the community, because he has a mustache (not very usual here).
Bará People are rare in Brazil, a estimative about their group here is about only 39 people. His original tribe is near the frontier with Colômbia, around Papuri river.

São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas.
+ Info: ISA: Povo Bará

2009/07/16

maloca's gate

There are 22 familes living at Itacoatiara Mirim, a Baniwa Comunity around São Gabriel da Cachoeira. To recover their traditions after leaving the original tribe, they built this "Maloca", also knowed as House of Knowledge.

"House of Knowledge is an area of transmission and learning of the traditional culture for those who do not know or forgot. It's to talk, tell stories of past, reliving the custom to eat together. A place to dance, make instruments, showing the young our culture" explained Mestre Luiz Laureano, community leader. "The House of Knowledge is also to receive relatives who come from the original tribe to share with us the stories of our family who were there. Is a school that will pass knowledge. "

São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas - Brazil.

Info | ISA - Índios e a Casa de Conhecimento

2009/06/12

mourning chant to Peru

Copyright © Tatiana Cardeal. All rights reserved.
Reprodução proibida. © Todos os direitos reservados.

Image: Ashaninka man watching fireworks at the Indigenous National Party, at Bertioga.

A week ago (June, 5), many people have died in clashes in Peru between the security forces and indigenous people in the Amazon region. Those killed included tribesmen and policemen. The violence took place as security forces tried to end a road blockade, a highway near the town of Bagua.
Peru is witnessing violent clashes between indigenous groups desperately trying to protect the Amazon and the government, who has pushed through legislation allowing intensive mining, logging and large scale farming in the rainforest.
If government and extractive industries have their way, the Peruvian rainforest and its people will suffer massive devastation.

More info about , here:
Laws criticized by Peru's indigenous groups

Sign the urgent petition below (from AVAAZ.org)
and support the courageous struggle of the indigenous peoples to protect the Amazon — a prominent and well respected Latin American politician will deliver it to President Alan Garcia on our behalf.

English: Protect Indigenous Rights - Save the Amazon

Português: Proteja os direitos indígenas e a Amazônia

Espanol: ¡Por los derechos indígenas y la Amazonia!

Also available in other languages, please check the links.

2009/05/31

curandero

Seu Feliciano showed his visions and paintings,
his heartfelt fields of reality, a magic world.

Feliciano's veins,
rivers of dreams and spirituality.

Feliciano Lana is a Desana Indigenous, a story teller,
a healer and a visual artist, living in São Gabriel da Cachoeira,
beside the Rio Negro river, at Amazonas state.

2009/04/26

burn it blue

Free market, at São Gabriel da Cachoeira, Amazonas.

The Negro River doesn't have a generous offer of fishes, and the people living at São Gabriel, almost 1000 km far from Manaus, still receive a lot of needs from this city. A long journey by boat that takes 4 to 7 days.

In the free market is possible to find a few fresh things, like fish, flour, cassava, some local fruits... but food can be a hard thing. In this city where mostly of the population (99%) are indigenous people, they've been serious afraid about climate changes. The river was too high to start working on the plantations, the fish are poor, and a single can of milk costs at least $5 dollars, when you can find it.

2009/04/22

one third

one third, originally uploaded by Tatiana Cardeal.

In the next 20 years, the amount of water available for each person
in the world will be reduced by one third.
Today we have 6.5 billion people in the world, and of these,
2 billion have no access to drinking water.
In Brazil, 22 million people lack access to drinking water.

Rio Negro (Black River), Amazonas -Brasil.

2009/04/21

behind us

Rio Negro (Black River), Amazonas -Brasil.

2009/04/16

melted time

Waters cross borders, linking us together.

Last February, Rio Negro has reached the highest level in 106 years.
Everything were under water.

Rio Negro (Black River), Amazonas -Brasil.

2009/03/24

day dreaming

A few weeks working in Amazonas made me dreaming
more than all those years of wait and wishes to be there.

Rio Negro (Black River), Amazonas -Brasil.

2008/12/19

the cycle

Many mothers and grandparents of young people who were sexually exploited share a history in common: rear children and grandchildren who never knew their own father.
At BR-163, several cities were born of goldmines and activities that attracted outsiders, temporary workers with no local ties. It is a cycle that repeats itself.

Young girls become pregnant from men that never return. The children are reared without a family structure, and are often abandoned with grandparents or sold to networks operating in other states or countries.

Many of the children sexually exploited in the region are sons and daughters of this vicious cycle.

Check out my website, the BR-163 Highway's gallerie, for more images and information.

2008/12/18

young victim

At BR-163, the young girl was hesitant to report how, as to the age of 15, after being sexually exploited by a year, she managed to escape by the back window from a brothel, with 8 months pregnant, rescued by her own mother.

Gender and race are themselves aspects structuring the logic of the market for sex.
Projects already implemented show that the vast majority of victims of sexual exploitation, tourism and trafficking are the female, black, mulatto and mestizo.

A former authoritarian and sexist culture still existing in the Brazilian society creates inequality in the relationship between gender and promotes an image of women as mere sexual object, subject to be purchased or used. The crystallization of this strengthen the concept of a female body offered as a supply, something natural - for both adults as for children and adolescents.

2008/11/18

consuME

Copyright © Tatiana Cardeal. All rights reserved.
Reprodução proibida. © Todos os direitos reservados.

During a research about the sexual commercial exploitation of children and adolescents on Brazilian roadways , this set of images was born as a perpendicular set from my documentation of the issue.
Those images, old billboards around the BR-163 Highway, were always calling me, sending me subtle messages, like whispers that I couldn't silence.

According the Brazilian ANDI's documents (Childhood and Adolescence Rights News Agency Network), the consumerist pressure exerted by the media, mainly by the advertising industry, impose patterns of consumer behavior often inaccessible to a large population, and especially the children and youth. The search for such patterns represent in many cases one of the factors for approval among children and adolescents and networks of sexual exploitation.

2008/11/07

voiceless

Many rural households are affected by the sexual exploitation of children and adolescents on the Brazilian roads. Most times, they are sons and daughters of peasants who migrate from rural areas, and end up being exploited on the highways.

It is a portion of the population socially vulnerable, voiceless and without access to basic rights of citizenship. At the root of the problem are poverty and social exclusion: unemployment, malnutrition and hunger, the destruction of the family, the poorly educated family, and children and teenagers out of school.

The networks that take advantage of activity, linked to pornography, sex tourism and child sexual exploitation, is usually organized within the country, in cities with 5 thousand and 100 thousand inhabitants.

2008/11/03

vulnerability

The service stations are the most vulnerable sites to sexual exploitation of children and adolescents on Brazilian roadways.

The conditions of the offered services at these places reflect the very bad situation of the drive truckers, and also a silent complicity in relation to sexual exploitation.

Indirectly, the owners of service stations benefit it as a source of income for their business.