Guarani Indians evicted from their land, live in dire
poverty by roadsides © CIMI/Survival
SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL, October 7, 2011 - - On World Mental Health Day (October 10) Survival International has warned of the fatal and lasting consequences land loss can have on indigenous peoples.
An epidemic of suicide unique in South America has beset one tribe in Brazil – the Guarani. More than 625 Guarani have taken their lives since 1981, the youngest just 9 years old.
The tribe has seen virtually all its land stolen in recent decades by farmers and cattle ranchers.
According to the World Health Organization, ‘indigenous peoples often have elevated suicide rates compared with the general population in their countries. Depending on the place and age group, the suicide rate can be over 100/100,000 per year, and two, three or more times higher than the general population.’
This is particularly prevalent amongst the Guarani. A study initiated by Brazil’s Ministry of Health found the suicide rates amongst the tribe to be 19 times higher than the national average. It also noted a disproportionate effect on young and adolescent Guarani.
Survival’s Director Stephen Corry said today, ‘What could be a clearer sign of these people’s desperation than their children killing themselves? It’s a shameful indictment of Brazil’s economic ‘miracle’ - stealing Guarani land destroys their livelihoods. Their mental health remains intact when they are granted the legal right to their land.’
For further information on the effects loss of land and imposed ‘development’ can have on tribal peoples, see Survival’s ‘Progress can kill’ site.
Comments
A chance to stop the destruction
Dear friends,
The Guarani of Brazil are in a desperate situation. Evicted from their lands, many live in makeshift camps by the highways. With your help, we can press harder for their rights to be recognized.
Donate now https://www.survivalinternational.org/donate/guarani
A desperate and explosive situation is developing in southern Brazil, and I’m writing to ask for your help to stop it.
Following decades of invasion by cattle ranchers, and recent occupations by sugar cane and soya companies, the Guarani Indians live in makeshift camps by highways or in overcrowded reserves.
When they try to reclaim pockets of their land, they are violently attacked by gunmen. Their disastrous lack of land has resulted in malnutrition, catastrophic infant mortality rates and an epidemic of suicide.
The Guarani’s plight is one of the worst of all Indians in the Americas. Please help Survival put an end to these forced evictions and allow the Guarani to return home. Together, we can press harder for the Brazilian government to complete the process of demarcating the Guarani’s land.
Survival is in a unique position to get the fate of the Guarani into the headlines, and this in turn puts pressure on the authorities to recognize the Guarani’s rights. And we can amplify the voice of the Guarani themselves, so they have their own platform on the world stage and can talk as equals with governments and companies.
But we can’t do this alone. To stay truly independent, we never accept money from any national government. Our campaigns are funded by you. If, like us, you believe the Guarani, and other tribes around the world, shouldn’t have to die for what is rightfully theirs, please help us to help them take back their land, life and dignity.
It isn’t too late. Please give whatever you can. No amount is too small.
Yours,
Stephen Corry
Director
P.S. Please don’t think this battle is unwinnable. The Guarani already have rights – they don’t need to be ‘given’ them, they just need them to be respected. You can make a real difference, right now.