Stories about Indigenous from August, 2010
Guatemala: Indigenous Teacher and Artist Kidnapped and Murdered
An increasing spiral of violence has impacted different communities in rural Guatemala. This time, the victim was a respected rural teacher, spiritual guide, dancer and artist from Sololá: Lisandro Guarcax.
Paraguay: Day of the Guaraní Language
Juan Carlos Rodríguez writes [es] in his blog about the day of the Guaraní language. He says that on August 25, 1967, Guaraní was recognized as a national language. He also shares a short ebook on the “sacred book of the Guaraní”, Ayvu Rapyta.
France: Racism and Politics
Following a speech from French president Sarkozy that France ought to consider stripping delinquents of their citizenship and the planned expulsion of groups of Roma people back to Rumania and Bulgaria, the UN Comittee on the Elimination of Racial dDiscrimination (CERD) denounced a "recrudescence of racism and xenophobia" in France. Bloggers weigh in on the tense social scene in France.
Brazil: Indigenous Camp Resists for Eight Months in Brasilia
Since the beginning of this year, members of different indigenous Brazilian nations have settled a "revolutionary camp" out in front of the Ministry of Justice in Brasília D.F. The indigenous communities demand for the annulment of a decree on matters related to them, which was approved in the end of 2009 without consulting indigenous leaders.
Brazil: The Indigenous, The Internet and Interculturality
Ever more present in villages, technology has been gaining ground as an efficient means to ensure the indigenous lifestyle and culture. Tools like Google Earth and GPS aid reforestation efforts and help combat deforestation.
Taiwan: Anniversary of Typhoon Morakot
Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan in August 2009. Paul Katz looks at Xiaolin Village (小林村) one year after the disaster. The focus of the people is now on rebuilding their village.
Trinidad & Tobago: Pan Awards
Repeating Islands blogs about the steelband fraternity's upcoming awards function, in which “forty-five awards will be handed out to deserving individuals, steelbands, and organizations…”
Taiwan: Indigenous people protest against forced eviction
In the video report created by Civilmedia[zht], more than 600 Taiwan indigenous people from different tribes and supporters gathered in front of the Presidential Office and criticize the forced eviction, ignorance on tribal integrity, and vacuum promises from government after Typhoon Morakot that hit southern Taiwan one year ago.
Guatemala: Sustainability of Forests in Totonicapán
Blogger Manuel Bolom of Semilla de Maíz [es] recently visited the indigenous community of Totonicapán in Guatemala, where he saw firsthand how they are using sustainable ways of maintaining their natural forests.
