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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

Macuxi of Brazil's Landrights at Stake

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Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises

September 3, 1995

OVERVIEW & SOURCE

Amanaka'a Amazon Network, a Amazonian advocacy group based in New

York, reports that the Macuxi indians land rights are being

threatened. Recently Macuxi leaders appealed for international

assistance in assuring recognition of their ancestral lands,

expelling thousands of illegal gold miners, and removing the

military from their traditional land. Macuxi ancestoral land

surrounds Mount Roraima, a 9000-foot-high mesa which has the

world's second highest waterfall, and which is considered sacred

by it's peoples. This item was posted in econet's rainfor.general

conference.

g.b.

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RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:

/* Written 3:37 PM Sep 2, 1995 by allan@novell.com in

igc:rainfor.genera */

/* ---------- "Urgent Action: Macuxi Land Rights" ---------- */

Now is a critical point in this campaign. The government is

starting to respond to pressure. Write the Brazilian President

today...

MACUXI URGENT ACTION

Macuxi Indian leaders came to New York City for the first time in

order to attend Amazon Week VI. They asked Americans to help in

the struggle to recognize their ancestral lands, expel thousands

of illegal gold miners, and remove the military from their

traditional land.

11,000 Macuxi and 3,000 Ingariko Indians live around Mount

Roraima, a 9000-foot-high mesa which is the sacred home of their

gods. Hundreds of unique species live on its summit, from which

the world's second highest waterfall - Kukenan - parachutes into

the Rainforest.

The traditional land of the Macuxi, known today as the

Raposa/Serra do Sol Area, has been invaded by thousands of gold

miners and squatters who are destroying both the Macuxi and their

land. Fish have practically disappeared from the major rivers and

the remaining fish populations have high levels of Mercury.

Malaria, introduced because of large open pits of stagnant water

left by miners, has become the main cause of death among the

Macuxi.

The Brazilian Army was sent to the Raposa/Serra do Sol Area on

March 17, 1995, supposedly to protect the Macuxi. Instead, the

Army has systematically sided with illegal gold miners and

squatters while destroying the Macuxi's houses and corrals, and

intimidated whole communities at gun point. Now they want to

establish a permanent base in the Area.

Granting indigenous nations rights to their land is the most

important step towards protecting the Amazon and the native

cultures. Newly elected Brazilian President Fernando Henrique

Cardoso has the power to sign into law a bill which would

guarantee the Macuxi the right to their traditional land. He has

not yet signed the decree, due to pressure from regional

politicians. The situation is critical, and the Macuxi ask for

your support. Amanaka'a is organizing an urgent campaign with the

Macuxi. Below are our suggestions for action. For more

information and to find out how you can help, please contact us

today.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

*Write* the President of Brazil asking him to demarcate the

Raposa/Serra do Sol Area.

Exmo. Sr. Dr. Fernando Henrique Cardoso

fax: 011-55-61-226-7566

Presidente da Republica

Palacio do Planalto

CEP 70150-900, Brasilia

DF BRAZIL

*Tell* your friends about the Macuxi. Order postcards and

distribute them to your friends and community.

*Give* a tax-deductible contribution to keep the campaign going

and to help the Macuxi protect their land.

Most important of all, *Join* our campaign. We need people of

all skills; you can be assured your efforts will make a

difference.

AMANAKA'A AMAZON NETWORK voice: 212.925.5299

584 Broadway #904 fax: 212.925.7743

New York, NY 10012 email: amanakaa@igc.apc.org

###RELAYED TEXT ENDS###

You are encouraged to utilize this information for personal

campaign use; including writing letters, organizing campaigns and

forwarding. All efforts are made to provide accurate, timely

pieces; though ultimate responsibility for verifying all

information rests with the reader. Check out our Gaia Forest

Archives at URL= http://gaia1.ies.wisc.edu/research/pngfores/

Networked by:

Ecological Enterprises/ 301K Eagle Heights/ Madison, WI 53705

USA/ Phone- (608) 233-2194/ Fax- (608) 233-2193/ Emails-

gbarry@forests.org or switpi@igc.apc.org