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Gold fever in the Amazon threatens the lives of 'Yanomamis'

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Author: 
Laura Morral
  • One of the settlements of gold seekers in the north of the Amazon. Source: Survival International.
    One of the settlements of gold seekers in the north of the Amazon. Source: Survival International.
  •  63/5000 Indigenous village of the 'Yanomamis'. Source: Survival International.
    63/5000 Indigenous village of the 'Yanomamis'. Source: Survival International.
  • A woman from the 'yanomamis' village. Source: Survival International.
    A woman from the 'yanomamis' village. Source: Survival International.

Survival International denounces that thousands of furtive search engines are invading indigenous lands by spreading malaria and contaminating mercury rivers.

The invasion of thousands of people looking for gold are exploding the lands of the Amazon with the approval of the current president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, is having catastrophic consequences to the indigenous tribes that inhabit the territory.

The spokesman of the organization, Survival International, Miguel Ángel Del Ser, denounces that the practices of these poachers are illegal and threatens the lives of the indigenous tribe of 'Yanomamis'. "They will die with the simple contact of the white people. The tribe is not immunized with any disease, "says Del Ser.

So much so that the same spokesman says that this invasion of about 10,000 furtive search engines is causing the spread of malaria in the area and contaminating mercury rivers.

The 'Yanomamis' is a tribe of 35,000 inhabitants living in northern Brazil and constituting one of the most numerous indigenous peoples in this jungle. Gold fever in the Amazon dates back to the 80s with intervals of "peace" according to the political color that governs the country. Since then, 20% of the population 'Yanomami' has died as a result of these invasions.

 

Bolsonaro declared the war

"Bolsonaro is against indigenous lands and is exploiting them with violence without taking into account the rights of indigenous peoples included in the Constitution," denounced Del Ser. Add: "We want them to be protected and that these rights are respected, not just on paper but also on the ground. The fight is continuous ".

Survival International is an organization with 50 years of history that works in collaboration with indigenous peoples to make their voices heard worldwide. Among other actions, the organization helps 'Yanomamis' to create the largest jungle area in the world so that it is controlled by the indigenous tribes themselves.

 

 

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