Rare uncontacted Amazon tribe photographed

[Stallit 2 de Halfo]

This is fascinating. I dont know what way to feel about it really. Its scary, because its like looking back in time thousands of years. Its also very very sad that these cultures and people are being destroyed. We could really learn alot about these people, and about ourselves and our society more than anything else, because they can sometimes go against what we believe to be 'natural' or the norms. They test how we percieve the world.

For example, in a work by Engles on the family - he quotes studies done by anthropologists on indian tribes in NewYork, and how their family structure was different. For example, uncles were considered "fathers" just as much as the biological father was, and similarly with Auntie's. Its really outside the box defined by Christianity Islam etc.


Rare uncontacted Amazon tribe photographed

RIO DE JANEIRO - Amazon Indians from one of the world's last uncontacted tribes have been photographed from the air, with striking images released on Thursday showing them painted bright red and brandishing bows and arrows.

The photographs of the tribe near the border between Brazil and Peru are rare evidence that such groups exist. A Brazilian official involved in the expedition said many of them are in increasing danger from illegal logging.

"What is happening in this region is a monumental crime against the natural world, the tribes, the fauna and is further testimony to the complete irrationality with which we, the 'civilized' ones, treat the world," Jose Carlos Meirelles was quoted as saying in a statement by the Survival International group.

See story:

www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24880941/


And another photo:

news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-05/30/content_8285216.htm

[Papa C.]

Fascinating story indeed. I remember seeing a BBC documentary where the crew contacted an uncontacted tribe. It was quite amazing to see but I don't think they should have contacted them at all. I think it's important for these people to be allowed to develop by themselves. Outside intervention would be like aliens coming to this planet. If they are anything like the Perenaco company, it would seem to us, to be an invasion of the worst kind. I would like to add that international law recognises the tribes who live on the land to be the rightful owners of the land so for any outside company to contact them would indeed be an invasion.

[Papa C.]

French company in legal battle over uncontacted tribes
29 May 2008



An uncontacted Indian woman in Peru
© Heinz Plenge Pardo / Frankfurt Zoological Society

A French company is locked in a legal battle with Amazon Indians over its plans to drill for oil in parts of the jungle inhabited by some of the world’s last uncontacted tribes. A hearing is due on 30 May.

The company, Perenco, is working in a remote part of the Peruvian Amazon where at least two uncontacted tribes live. It is believed to be the biggest oil find in Peru in thirty years and the Peruvian president, Alan Garcia, has expressed hopes it will transform the Peruvian economy.

The case has been filed by Peru’s Amazon Indian organisation, AIDESEP. It urges the judge to prohibit Perenco and other companies from working in the region and making contact with uncontacted tribes.

Perenco acquired the rights to work in Peru after taking over a US company, Barrett Resources, earlier this year. Barrett had already attracted fierce criticism from Peruvian Indians after revealing plans to ‘communicate’ with the tribes using megaphones if its oil crews were attacked by them.

Any form of contact with the tribes could be catastrophic because of their vulnerability to outsiders’ diseases. After first contact, it is common for more than 50% of a tribe to die. Despite this, and despite an international law that recognises the tribes as the rightful owners of their land, Perenco continues to work there.

Survival’s Director, Stephen Corry, said today, ‘Perenco must understand the potentially disastrous consequences its actions may have for the uncontacted tribes. Perenco, pull out. It’s the Indians’ land, not yours, and you’re breaking international law by working there.’

[Stallit 2 de Halfo]

I think it's important for these people to be allowed to develop by themselves. Outside intervention would be like aliens coming to this planet. If they are anything like the Perenaco company, it would seem to us, to be an invasion of the worst kind.

Couldnt agree more!, they should just let them be.

[Papa C.]

It seems that private business (in the form of illegal loggers) has even effected those who have never encountered it. Actually I was reading somewhere else that some uncontacted tribe have attacked illegal loggers who have invaded their land (rightly so, all power to them) and had pitched battles with private companies. Even stone aged tribes know that capitalism is a bad thing!

[Stallit 2 de Halfo]

One of the interesting things I find about this, or south america in general, is that the Brazilian state controls territory that hasnt even been visited, or a terrain unknown to it. In a day and age where we can travel around the world in less than a day, map the earth with satelites - still these places exist!. Outlaw land. Its weird from an Irish perspective, where the state is pretty much 'all knowing' and its claw reaches over the whole territory, with no escaping it.

I wouldnt advise them tribes to attack loggers, id imagine they are pretty well armed with machine guns or something! And the Bulldozers must be like flying saucers to these people.

[Papa C.]

Jun 2, 2008 22:42:08 GMT Stallit 2 de Halfo said:

One of the interesting things I find about this, or south america in general, is that the Brazilian state controls territory that hasnt even been visited, or a terrain unknown to it. In a day and age where we can travel around the world in less than a day, map the earth with satelites - still these places exist!. Outlaw land. Its weird from an Irish perspective, where the state is pretty much 'all knowing' and its claw reaches over the whole territory, with no escaping it.

I wouldnt advise them tribes to attack loggers, id imagine they are pretty well armed with machine guns or something! And the Bulldozers must be like flying saucers to these people.

I don't know about not escaping it. Perhaps that's what they want you to believe but the truth is that many people have escaped the state's clutches and continue to do so even though you may not hear very much about it.

During the IRA long-war hundreds of Republican soldiers hid away in many areas of the country. I'm sure the country is all mapped but there are still places to hide. We don't all have electronic tags - yet. But I take your point about Brazil indeed. Quite crazy.

[Stallit 2 de Halfo]

I don't know about not escaping it. Perhaps that's what they want you to believe but the truth is that many people have escaped the state's clutches and continue to do so even though you may not hear very much about it.

I see what your saying. Its a fear thing they instill. Lots of people get away with lots of things.