Tribes Join Global Cause for Change

Tribes Join Global Cause for Change

Web address: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/americas/2009/01/2009127224359240168.html

By Gabriel Elizondo in Brazil from AlJazeera.net

Redone by Ariana and Corryn Wetzel

 

More than 100,000 people join together in the city of Belem, Brazil where the World Social Forum is to be held. This year’s theme of the World Social Forum is focused on the struggles of indigenous people. In the past, the World Social Forum was known as a place where many “decision-makers” gathered. This years meeting will be focused on indigenous people and racial equality for them. Many Brazilian Kayapo indigenous people are there in large groups to protest against the controversial hydroelectric dam. The people gathered there for hope to get equality and for illegal logging to stop.

Just a day before the starting time of the World Social Forum, eight major companies announced that they would be cutting another 75,000 jobs. Many citizens of Brazil have become victims of this economic crisis. Brazilians usually blame this problem from the economic downfall in the north to have a huge impact on the poor as well. Belem is in the most deforested state in Brazil called Para. People hope that because the World Social Forum is being held there that it will give visibility to the struggling wildlife in the Amazon and might help them rebuild their forests and natural habitat. There is a large illegal logging and deforestation company, and many hope that this meeting may be able to shut them down. Because so much of the Amazon has been destroyed due to deforestation, many more people are recognizing the vitality of this forest and its effect on the whole planet. This week participants of the meeting will be looking into what is ahead for their community and how to get there.