27
January 12

Anonymous asked: Hello, my name is Hendric and I'am 15 years old. I have to say, I love your work and what you do. I'am reading your newsletter everytime I get it. My question is; Why dont you create an App for survivalinternational? It would be a good publicity and it would be better for news etc. That would be wunderfull!

Hi Hendric,

We’re working on some ideas for apps that can help people campaign for tribal peoples in ways which are different from what we can do on the web. We think apps that work with film, animation and interactives are really interesting, and we should have something ready to launch by the summer.

But we also love the open web, and we think the best way to get news and take action is by joining the millions of people who visit our site

Thanks for your support! Nothing we do is possible without it.

27
January 12

srbishop asked: What is Survival's view on television coverage - and thereby contact - with indigenous groups? I ask because I recently read a 2009 article questioning the BBC's need to revisit Anuta for South Pacific, and for Alice Roberts to walk straight into a Nyangatom village in The Incredible Human Journey, despite sensitive and equally acceptable footage already existing from Bruce Parry's Tribe programme. There seemed to be no need for repeated exposure to television crews.

TV coverage can make millions of people aware of the problems facing tribal peoples, and sometimes lead directly to action to protect their lands and lives. Many TV programmes focusing on tribal peoples don’t even attempt to do this, of course, and some are downright harmful. Film crews can introduce diseases (such as when a TV research team allegedly introduced flu that killed four Matsigenka Indians in Peru), and the resulting programs can be racist, abusive or distorted (such as the program that eventually resulted from that research trip, which portrayed the Matsigenka quite falsely as sex-crazed, mean and savage). 

Clearly, TV crews should not be seeking to make contact with isolated or uncontacted tribes at all. We’ve put together guidelines for broadcasters and production companies to use when filming with tribal peoples who do have regular contact with outsiders. When tribal people are treated with respect and the same standards of ethics that responsible broadcasters apply to minorities in industrialized countries, then they, the broadcasters and the viewing audiences can all benefit. 

The nature of TV production means that repeat visits to the particular areas by the same or different crews are often necessary. Many tribal people welcome responsible journalism as it can draw attention to the problems they face and highlight the way their societies, like all others, are changing and developing. Providing the producers behave ethically, and that the tribespeople are appropriately compensated, the production process and the resulting coverage isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

18
January 12

The land is…

A history of the world’s tribal lands in under 60 seconds.

4
January 12
Wounaan children from the Pacific rainforest in Southwest Colombia play in the river.
A DVD of Mine, Survival’s film about the Dongria Kondh people’s fight to save their sacred mountain in India, has reached the Wounaan tribe of Colombia. They have sent a message of support to the Dongria.

The Wounaan people send a joyful message to the Dongria, and all the peoples fighting against the powers that destroy life. It is always possible to defeat them. Always. 
With you we celebrate your victory against the multinational Vedanta. 
Dongria brothers and sisters, we know that your sacred mountain Niyamgiri is at risk. Niyamigiri is a sacred mountain, like all mountains, like all forests, like all lakes, and like every stone upon which we walk. If she is in danger, so too are we in danger: the harm done to Mother Earth affects all of her children. The owners of Vedanta, their children, and their grandchildren are also in danger, though they are blind to this fact. 
From Colombia we send our solidarity and support for you to keep up the resistance in your sacred territory. Dongria friends, we are with you in spirit. We give thanks to Ewandam the Creator for listening on your behalf. Every mountain is sacred, as is every forest, every plain and every corner of Mother Earth.

Wounaan children from the Pacific rainforest in Southwest Colombia play in the river.

A DVD of Mine, Survival’s film about the Dongria Kondh people’s fight to save their sacred mountain in India, has reached the Wounaan tribe of Colombia. They have sent a message of support to the Dongria.

The Wounaan people send a joyful message to the Dongria, and all the peoples fighting against the powers that destroy life. It is always possible to defeat them. Always. 

With you we celebrate your victory against the multinational Vedanta. 

Dongria brothers and sisters, we know that your sacred mountain Niyamgiri is at risk. Niyamigiri is a sacred mountain, like all mountains, like all forests, like all lakes, and like every stone upon which we walk. If she is in danger, so too are we in danger: the harm done to Mother Earth affects all of her children. The owners of Vedanta, their children, and their grandchildren are also in danger, though they are blind to this fact. 

From Colombia we send our solidarity and support for you to keep up the resistance in your sacred territory. Dongria friends, we are with you in spirit. We give thanks to Ewandam the Creator for listening on your behalf. Every mountain is sacred, as is every forest, every plain and every corner of Mother Earth.

28
December 11

Jorge, a Murunahua man who lost his eye when he was shot by loggers during first contact, recalls the tragedy that followed.

19
December 11

Success!

http://bit.ly/saWQnG

The Kalahari Bushmen are home again.

Driven from their land because of its diamonds, the Kalahari Bushmen of Botswana are returning. John Simpson writes a positive report for the Guardian.

Bushmen celebrate

16
December 11

Anonymous asked: what do yanomami children do

Yanomami children

Thanks for your question.

Yanomami children play like all children do! They learn to swim at an early age, and so playing in the river is a favourite pastime.

Boys often go hunting with their fathers, and learn the skills they’ll need as an adult. 

As the women are generally responsible for fishing, girls learn how to catch fish with their mothers. They also collect nuts and fruits from the forest, plant vegetables in communal gardens and learn to weave baskets and bags to carry fish and harvested vegetables. 

14
December 11
"Oppressive international NGOs that masquerade as benefactors are wolves in sheep skin, and not any different from despots who continue to feed their insatiable greed at the cost of those less fortunate."
-

Simon M. Ole Meeli, Samburu community leader and advocate

The Samburu were evicted from their homes after wildlife charities ‘African Wildlife Foundation’ and ‘The Nature Conservancy’ purchased their land.

Read more.

12
December 11
Ogiek, Kenya
The Ogiek are one of the few remaining hunter-gatherer peoples of East Africa. Their home since time immemorial has been the Mau mountain forest, however, the Kenya government is trying to evict them.

Ogiek, Kenya

The Ogiek are one of the few remaining hunter-gatherer peoples of East Africa. Their home since time immemorial has been the Mau mountain forest, however, the Kenya government is trying to evict them.