Founded in 2017 by Erisvan Bone Guajajara, the indigenous Brazilian platform “ Media India »Received, on December 17, the Joan Alsina (1) Human Rights Prize awarded each year by the Casa Foundation America Catalonia from Barcelona (2). The Foundation wanted to reward the platform for its invaluable contribution to the dissemination and knowledge of the realities of the peoples from the Brazilian Amazon. This at a time when their survival is seriously threatened by the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change, fires, the often violent and uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources. But also by the decline in the protection of their rights. On its Facebook site, as of January 7, Mídia Índia claims to have 60’236 subscribers.
For example, one of the last information she relayed there on January 5 concerns the protest that the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples and Organizations of Amapá and North Pará – APOIANP – addressed to the Brazilian Government following the designation of a soldier as Regional Coordinator of the National Indian Foundation – FUNAI. It requests the revocation of the appointment decree of the holder of this post; respect for international treaties signed by Brazil (the Convention 169 of the ILO, the United Nations Declaration on peoples rights indigenous people) and that their proposals for the occupation of such positions be taken into account. On January 4, on YouTube, the entity has published a retrospective of its activity.
If simple radio is still useful for communications between communities, new communication tools and networks have been widely used by indigenous people and their organizations for several years. This allows them to distribute the information they produce themselves, at a lower cost, to their own communities or to the general public. Where appropriate, it is used to document specific claims addressed to the authorities. A practice that is not specific to Brazilian organizations. A previous note was devoted to the work of indigenous Peruvian organizations fighting against environmental damage caused by oil companies. A subject currently included in the program ” Solidarity spirit “From” Léman Bleu “, the local Geneva television station.
By distinguishing “Midia India”, the Catalan Foundation has put the spotlight on the efforts of indigenous organizations to make their voices heard.
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(1) Joan Alsina (1942 – 1973) is a Catalan priest shot in Chile on September 19, 1973 during the military coup.
(2) Entity attached to the municipal authorities of Barcelona.
Illustration : Platform logo. Click on the thumbnail to enlarge the size.
PS : The activation of hypertext links (in blue) refers to some of the sources used in writing this note. These sources allow “to know more”.
This note will be published in “AYA Info” No 136, the bulletin of the association “Support for the Yanomami Indians of Amazonia” – AYA / 13, rue des Bossons – CH – 1213 Onex / Geneva – CCP 17-55066-2
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