Blog - Survival International

‘Lost’? Uncontacted tribe knew exactly where they were

June 23rd, 2008 by Jonathan

The British newspaper The Observer claimed this weekend that it’s now ‘emerged’ that the uncontacted tribe whose photos went around the world were neither ‘lost’, nor ‘undiscovered’ nor ‘unknown’.

This is a classic example of journalists getting the wrong end of the stick. The only people who ever claimed that the Indians photographed were ‘lost’ or ‘undiscovered’ were…. the press, despite the fact that Survival has been campaigning for the protection of the many isolated Indian tribes on the Peru-Brazil border for more than twenty years.

Indeed, you might have thought that the fact that the Indians are living in a government reserve set aside for isolated Indian groups would tend to indicate that they weren’t exactly ‘unknown’.

Expert José Carlos dos Reis
Meirelles explains the situation.

For the avoidance of doubt, let’s just make it clear – yes, the tribe is uncontacted, that is to say, has no peaceful contact with outsiders. But no, they’re not ‘lost’ – they know where they are, and anthropologists, Survival, other NGOs and the Brazilian government have known that there are many isolated Indian tribes living in that region for decades.

What is undoubtedly true is that many people, not least the President of Peru, had publicly questioned whether there were any uncontacted Indians there at all, which is why the fact that Peru’s government has now been pushed into sending a team to investigate is such welcome news.

I guess we should be used by now to the fact that quite a few journalists are incapable of writing on this subject without resorting to stereotypes about ‘lost’ tribes, but one might have hoped that The Observer would know better.

Posted in Supporters, Survival, Uncontacted Tribes | 22 Comments »

Pressure builds for International Law on tribal rights

June 11th, 2008 by Lindsay

Bulldozer wrecks tribal forests in Malaysia

Tribal land could enjoy greater protection
under international law. © Survival

The Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization, UNPO, has launched a campaign for countries to ratify the only international law for tribal peoples.

International Labour Organisation Convention 169, or ILO 169, recognises tribal peoples’ land ownership rights and says they should be consulted about projects that affect them. Unlike UN Declarations, it is legally binding. The more countries that ratify the Convention, the more force it will have.

Survival’s own campaign for ILO 169 is also gaining momentum; so far, 119 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion calling on the UK government to ratify the Convention.

At the moment the UK refuses to sign up to the law, saying that it has nothing to do with this country. But they are wrong – if the UK were to ratify ILO 169, it would be a major step forward in recognising and protecting tribal peoples’ rights everywhere.

Find out if your MP has signed the Early Day Motion. If they haven’t, write to them today!

Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments »

Iconic photos stir the web

June 4th, 2008 by Matthew

From global news front-pages to Facebook, the media has come alive in recent days at the sight of the uncontacted tribe on Brazil’s border with Peru. Thanks to the impact of these photographs, many millions of people have become aware of the dangers facing these unique people.

Here’s a collage from the web and media storm as viewed from Survival’s offices in London.

$BBC examines the photos with Survival\'s expert guidance.$		$Wall Street Journal makes us a \'winner in the battle for consumer\'s attention\'.$
		“ They are so brave. instead of running from something that must be terrifying to them, they stand their ground and defend themselves. ”

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »

[Tribal World] Colouring all from rituals to victuals

May 20th, 2008 by Matthew

Entrancing annatto seeds await preparation, © Fiona Watson/Survival

Bixa orellana, or annatto to the English-speaking food industry, is a tree giving a wonderful and widespread dye. Its red seeds (pictured), once processed, are often used for the yellowing of cheese, smoothies, cereals and other food stuffs.

Being a plant native to South America among other places, it also brings colour to tribal peoples. This photograph was taken in Brazil where many tribes turn the seeds into body paint for rituals, celebrations and general beautification.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

World wakes up to Vedanta

May 9th, 2008 by Matthew

Vedanta Resources, the British-based resources firm, faced a whirlwind of criticism in recent weeks. Coverage of its attempted installation of a mining facility in the hillside home of Indian tribal peoples has swept the web and beyond.

The Dongria Kondh live in the Niyamgiri Hills of Orissa, India. The planned mine will strip them of their livelhoods, culture and religious heartlands.

Survival has just launched a campaign in defence of these people as the Indian Supreme court prepares to announce their fate.

Various British newspapers acknowledged the ‘social and environmental catastrophe’ on the drawing board:

The Telegraph: ‘…mining company is about to end a way of life forever.’

The Independent: ‘…Norway has already excluded Vedanta from its national pension fund investments.’

Indian magazine Tehelka tells the troubling tales of similar Vedanta projects in the past that caused the sort of destruction now on the cards.

A number of colourful videos from human rights organisations highlight the campaign and cultural stories. Action Aid offer a fascinating account of the push to have Vedanta shareholders realise what’s going on.

Another video gives a stirring musical outlook on life in the Nyamgiri hills and the danger it faces.

The finance community raised the alarm on the project with articles highlighting Vedanta’s new scheme as a dodgy investment. Commodityonline.com notes that the company is in ‘a tight spot’.

Meanwhile Vedanta’s own website makes no mention of the tragedy it’s proposing.

With the global outcry ringing in the courts and boardrooms that matter, it’s time to add your voice to the throng. We face another urgent moment of action to defend a people on the brink of destruction. Please use our tool to send a letter by mail to the Prime Minister of India.

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments »

[Tribal World] Shamanic meditation

May 6th, 2008 by Matthew

Yanomami shaman in meditation
Portrait of a Yanomami shaman, © Claudia Andujar

Davi Kopenawa Yanomami, a Shaman himself, speaks of the xapiripë (the spirits):

‘Only those who know the xapiripë can see them because the xapiripë are very small and bright like light. There are many, many xapiripë, thousands of xapiripë like stars.

‘They are beautiful and decorated with parrot feathers, painted with urucum (annatto). Others have oraikok and others still have earrings and use black dye. They dance very beautifully and sing differently.’

As hyponotic as the portrait is, the Yanomami find themselves threatened by ranchers, goldminers, soya growers and others in the business of stealing Yanomami land.

The latest threat is the mining bill making the rounds in the debating hall of Brazil’s congress. You can help: write to the Brazilian president expressing your concern. It really works.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Survival squad succeed at London Marathon

April 25th, 2008 by Ruth

Last Sunday saw the centenary of the London Marathon and another Survival team run one of the most famous races on earth, through rain and hail, for the lives of threatened tribal peoples everywhere.

Survival supporters famously go mad at this event

Survival supporters go wild on the sidelines.

2008 has been a brilliant year for the Survival team. Not only did they smash all previous fundraising records by raising over £32,000, but each one of them struggled through months of training and injuries, ending up a hero.

Darren didn’t slow to a walk once and then helped a flagging stranger make it over the finish line.

Doug beat Olympic rower James Cracknell and his own 3 hour target by over five minutes.

Sam ran the hardest race of his life but raised more money for Survival than any individual ever has.

Tulls did a great time and sacrificed his i-phone to the marathon gods.

Rachel ran a brilliant race and passed a teetotal 25th birthday the week before because of her alcohol ban.

Rusty did 15 miles on crutches after having struggled through months of training with a knee injury but still finished with his head held high.

They made us all so proud and the money they raised will make a massive difference to the work we can do in the coming year.

If you’d like to take on the challenge of a lifetime, visit the Saa! Saa! Saa! Team section of the website and register your details for one of our Golden Bond places in the 2009 Flora London Marathon.

You don’t have to be Superman to do it and it isn’t going to be easy for anyone (except Doug perhaps, although we’re not sure he’s entirely human), but it really is a huge achievement and something you’ll always be proud of having done.

In the words of Darren, “it’s a world of pain… but totally worth it”.

Posted in Act Now, Supporters | 2 Comments »

Peru’s president named ‘Man of the Year’ despite human rights record

April 18th, 2008 by Matthew

In recent days Latin Finance, a digest of Latin American financial affairs, made Peruvian president Alan Garcia its ‘Man of the Year’.
President Garcia is keen to promote oil exploration on the lands of uncontacted Indians in the Peruvian Amazon. He’s not so keen, however, to even admit the existence of the peoples whose lands are being invaded.
Latin Finance’s award spurred Survival to send the magazine a short letter:

In recent days US magazine Latin Finance made Peruvian president Alan Garcia its ‘Man of the Year’.

President Garcia is promoting oil exploration on the lands of uncontacted Indians in the Peruvian Amazon. He’s not so keen, however, to even admit the existence of the peoples whose lands are being invaded.

Latin Finance’s award spurred Survival to send the magazine a short letter:

Dear Sir,

Peru’s economy may well be making ‘admirable progress’, as your magazine’s ‘Man of the Year’, Alan Garcia, Peru’s president, says, but at what cost.

The oil exploration and production his government is encouraging is endangering the lives of tribal peoples in the Peruvian rainforest who have had no contact with the outside world.

These ‘uncontacted’ tribes are extremely vulnerable to any form of contact with outsiders, like oil workers, because of their lack of immunity to western diseases, and it is very common for more than half of a newly-contacted tribe to die.

Moreover, this land is recognised as belonging to the tribes by international law - a law which Peru has ratified and which President Garcia’s government is choosing to ignore.

What do you think? Should President Garcia be awarded ‘Man of the Year’ while at the same time plotting the destruction of entire peoples?

Share your comments here, or you might wish to speak up for tribal people suffering in Peru over at the living in Peru website.

Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

The good ship Survival is now on Facebook

April 14th, 2008 by Ruth

Yesterday marked the grand launch of Survival’s brand new page on Facebook; another glorious digital Survival ship cutting majestically through the surf of the world wide web. I was all for smashing a bottle of champagne against Toby’s computer as he clicked ‘publish this page’ but the nearest we had to a bottle of champagne was my cup of tea, and for some reason Toby didn’t seem so keen on the idea.

The page increases Survival’s presence on Facebook, and keeps Facebook ‘fans’ of Survival up to date with our urgent campaigns. The ‘Share’ facility allows fans to post links on their profiles, and to encourage friends to get involved.

Survival has always believed that public opinion is the most powerful force for change. The page helps you to mobilise others to join the movement for tribal peoples, and best of all it’s a pretty nifty way for you to show your support for Survival for all your friends to see.

Take a look yourself at:

We’d love to hear any feedback from you, so do let us know what you think.

Posted in Act Now, Supporters, Survival | No Comments »

BBC’s Amazon - Matis: Death in Javari

April 7th, 2008 by Toby

Bruce Parry is back in the Amazon for a new BBC TV series, and he’s been learning from the Matis what it was like during the terrible epidemics they suffered after first contact in the 1970s.

The Amazon website has a great background to the current health crisis in the Javari Valley which is enveloping not only the Matis but other recently contacted - and still uncontacted - peoples living in this huge area of the Amazon. Read more about the crisis on the series website.

Survival’s recent Uncontacted Tribes film opens with some dramatic, previously unseen footage of first contact with the Korubo of the Javari Valley - one of the only genuine first contact video clips in existence.

Last year, I spoke to Survival campaigner Fiona Watson about a visit she made to the Matis, and she told me about the current situation in the Javari Valley:

To help the Matis and other peoples of the Javari Valley, please write a letter using Survival’s online letter-writing tool. Your letters really do make a difference.

Posted in Supporters | 2 Comments »

Archives