Amazonians make plea for forest

Matthew Supple
2/12/09
SOC 202

Amazonians make plea for forest

Many indigenous leaders are calling attention to the blight facing the amazon basin . they are the "custodians of the forest" and feel the obligation to draw support from the international community by things such as rallying hundreds of activists to form a "Human banner" in a Brazilian city. The week-long World Social Forum (a gathering of rights activists) started soon after. The native people's primary concern, who are coming out in record numbers to defend their forest, is the rapid deforestation for use of lumber and to make way for cattle land and perhaps most sickening of all, soy plantations. The indigenous people are demanding an immediate halt of this rape of nature resources. Luckily, the law is on their side. The 2007 declaration via the UN gives full control of the natives land and resources to themselves, regardless of government and private business concerns. According to a report, if the deforestation continues at its current rate (and it tends to increase as it proceeds) the forest has maybe one or two decades before it is too late. And seeing as how the amazon is a climate stabilizer, that would be devastating for the entire world.

It feels very good to find a story like this, where the environmental destruction is actually being fought, by natives no less; a largely untapped environmental resource. Though they have full legal control of their land and resources...the law isn't binding enough to stop the destruction. However, in conjunction with the global economic collapse the law may be enough of a foothold to bring the march of deforestation to a halt. On the other hand the economic instability may be used as a weapon against stopping the harvest. Natives coming out in such numbers and with such enthusiasm in defense of the forest is very heartwarming and the fact that the loss of the forest would have global implications is just more reason for the world to pay attention and weigh what the real cost of convenience is. Also I hate soy and everything about it.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/oneworld/20090130/wl_oneworld/world3598451233354476