Action Figures Indian

The Amazon rainforest and its communities, threatened Greenpeace

Hundreds protest from today until August 20 on behalf of 233 indigenous communities against the construction of more dams and roads in the Amazon Brazilian

Hundreds Brazilian Indians across the country are joining together to call attention to the murder of their leaders, the theft of their land for industrial projects and other threats to their survival, as reported Survival International.

Thus, states that the demonstration will take place from 16 to 20 August in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, south of the Amazon and is expected to attract about 800 Indians representing many of the 233 indigenous peoples Brazil.

also points out that the protest will highlight the "rising anger" among indigenous peoples who oppose government plans to build a series of huge dams and roads in the Amazon.

also reports that protest organizers are the Association of Indigenous Peoples Brazil and Forum for the Defense of Indigenous Rights and have invited all candidates for the upcoming presidential election.

On the other hand, states that the Guarani have been "stripped of their land" to make way for cattle ranches and sugarcane plantations. In this regard, stresses that this tribe has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

Since the UN has called on governments to respect the canon of international indigenous rights. Speaking on the occasion of International Day of Indigenous Peoples, James Anaya (United Nations special rapporteur for indigenous peoples) said "Indigenous people are seeing their traditional territories are invaded by powerful actors seeking to enrich at its expense, taking away their lifeline ".

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples establishes important principles that states must follow. Almost all governments now support these early after both Australia and New Zealand withdraw their previous objections this year. Canada is committed to support the Declaration before the end of 2010, and the United States is also reviewing its objections.

However, James Anaya remarked that "today the Declaration continues to be more a reminder of how much we have ... a reflection of what has actually been achieved on the ground" . also added that "the faithful implementation of the Declaration should be the main focus of coordinated care for governments around the world for the UN and other actors" . Although

Declaration represents a major international principles, unfortunately is not yet legally binding. Survival is campaigning for more and more governments have signed the only legally binding international agreement on indigenous peoples: the Convention 169 of the International Labour Organization .

few months ago, the Central African Republic became the first African country to sign the agreement, and soon after did Nicaragua. Only 22 states have ratified it to date.

(*) Source of news: IRIN and SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL