The Brazilian rainforests not only provide a wealth of resources for biodiversity among the animal kingdom, but they are a necessary home land and resource for the indigenous peoples who live there. Therefore, in the deforestation of these rainforests, there is more at stake than environmental issues. The ramped deforestation has brought to the surface a human rights element that can no longer be ignored. While Brazil suffers from steep population increase, economic decrease, and slightly unstable government, the rainforest and the native people are paying the price for the trying times. After several massacres carried out with impunity and the various unchecked invasion of lands, some representatives from Brazilian tribes, a presidential representative from Brazil, and enviromental experts met with the United States House of Representatives to investigate the problem.
In his initial address, the chairperson of the meeting, Mr. Torrricelli, stated that ñ[the indigenous peopleÍs] survival and their capability to maintain their cultural integrity is intimately connected with their control of their natural resources.î After living off the land for generations, these tribes whose land has been reduced or downright taken from them are suffering greatly. Already, a tribe whose land was taken chose to committ suicide before they left their homes. Marta Guarani, the leader of the Guarani-Kaiwa community of Jaguapire, explained that their area had already been homolegated, and they were just waiting for full expulsion. But he says that before they leave the land, they, too, will commit suicide. The communities of Shaquada and Shaquadi have already been expelled, and are now starving without their forest land.
The main motivators for deforestation and expulsion of the native people are goldminers and the timber trade. Anthropologist, Stephan Schwartzman, explained to the house that ñ[the timber trade]..is a textbook case of unsustainable development in which a few private actors benefit at enormous public, and environmental cost.î As for mining, while it is clear that the process by which they are taking over the land is a cause of injustice, goldmining itself is detrimental to the Brazilian environment and its economy . Not only are they tapping on a resource that is not expendable, but the mining process dumps toxi mercury into the Amazon, which is a resource for all of Brazil. The goldminerÍs most recent atrocities, however, are the massacres of the indigenous people. In August of 1993, sixteen Yanomani Indians were killed by goldminers. The men are now out of jail, and the tribes live in constant fear of another genocide. The role of the Brazilian government has not been a dominant one in dealing with these issues.
The suggestions and pleas made at the house were reasonable. Swartzman suggested that information be made available to purchasers of timber, so that they can make educated decisions when they make their purchases. The proposal was also made that access roads to the Amazon be cut until they decided on a more consistent format for governing the land. The spokesperson for the Yanomani pleaded simply to the Brazilian government, as well as to the entire House, ñYou have to preserve our forests, our life.î