VIGILS AND PROTESTS TO MARK MASSACRE
OF NATIVE PEOPLE IN BRAZIL
August 23, 1993 . . . The massacre of more than 73
Yanomami Indians in the Brazilian rain forest last week will
be marked by a silent protest vigil at noon Wednesday, August
25, at the Brazilian consulate, 630 Fifth Avenue, New York
City.
The event, organized by Amanaka'a, is being coordinated
with similar protests by other concerned organizations,
including a vigil in San Francisco at the Brazilian consulate
(Wednesday, noon P.D.T.) sponsored by the Rainforest Action
Network. Participants are encouraged to wear black and
neither speak or eat during the vigils as expressions of
sadness and mourning. In addition, representatives from
various organizations are meeting on Thursday with the
Brazilian Ambassador to the United States.
The chief of the Yanomami Indians, Davi Kopenawa Yanomami,
in an open letter to the public, calls for the Brazilian
government to move for the "definitive withdrawal of all the
gold miners still working on Yanomami lands." His letter also
calls for prosecution of the contractors and politicians who
support and encourage gold miners who threaten and kill the
native populations.
In support of the Yanomami Indians, more than 60
organizations have signed a letter to Dr. Itamar Franco,
President of Brazil, requesting an investigation of the
crimes, punishment of the killers and a guarantee for the
human rights of all Brazilians.
Organizations signing the letter include environmental
groups and Indian defense organizations such as the
Environmental Defense Fund, Greenpeace NYC, National Wildlife
Federation, the Sierra Club and the American Indian Community
House, among many others.
Amanaka'a Executive Director Zeze Weiss asks organizations
and individuals to join the protests in San Francisco or New
York or to organize peaceful protests at other Brazilian
consulates. Individuals are encouraged to fax letters of
protest to the Brazilian President and Minister of Justice,
as well as letters to U.S. Congressional representatives in
support of the Yanomami Indians.
Amanaka'a is a non-profit organization advocating the
protection of the rain forest and its peoples. It brings a
defacto "Amazon Embassy" for native leaders to Washington and
New York. Amanaka'a maintains direct contact with the leaders
of the native populations and is a primary information source
for matters pertaining to the peoples of the Amazon rain
forest and their environment.
***
Here's how and when you can participate ...
New York City:
DATE: Wednesday, August 25
TIME: 12 noon to 2 pm
PLACE: Brazilian Consulate, 630 Fifth Avenue
CONTACT: Zeze Weiss
Amanaka'a
(212) 674-4646
FAX: (212) 674-9139
ACTION: Vigil at consulate. Participants should wear black
and Urucum will be provided for those wishing to
paint their faces. Bring cardboard signs, identifying
your organization and/or affiliation.
There will be Native American drumming. As an
expression of sadness, people are encouraged not to
speak or eat at the event. To help maintain the quiet
vigil, please refer all reporters to the Amanaka'a
organizers who will have a green arm band on their
left arms.
At 2 PM, a delegation of US organizations will meet
with ambassador.
DATE: Friday, August 27
TIME: 11 am
PLACE: United Nations, UN Center for Human Rights
CONTACT: Same as above
ACTION: A copy of the letter to Brazilian President Franco
will be presented to UN General Secretary Boutros
Boutros Gali through Elsa Stamatopoulou
SAN FRANCISCO:
DATE: Wednesday, August 25
TIME: 12 noon
PLACE: Brazilian Consulate, 300 Montgomery Street
CONTACT: Beto Borges
Rainforest Action Network
(415) 398 4404
ACTION: Vigil at consulate, followed by meeting with consul.
HOUSTON, TX
DATE: Wednesday, August 25
TIME: 12 noon
PLACE: Brazilian Consulate, 1700 West Loop South
CONTACT: Benton Musslewhite
One World Now
(713) 222-2288 or
(800) 5-EARTH-5
ACTION: Vigil at consulate, followed by meeting with consul.
WASHINGTON, D.C.
DATE: Thursday, August 26
TIME: 11 am
PLACE: Brazilian Embassy, 3006 Massachusetts Ave.
CONTACT: Fernando Allegretti
Environmental Defense Fund
(202) 387 3500
ACTION: Vigil outside the embassy; followed by a visit from a
delegation to the ambassador.
ORGANIZATIONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO:
1. JOIN US in one of the protest vigils mentioned above;
bring as many participants as possible. If there is no
Brazilian consulate in your area, organize a similar event
at your Senator or Representative's offices. Please be in
touch so we know what is happening all over the United
States.
2. SIGN A GROUP LETTER to President Franco. This letter has
been signed by over 60 organizations and individuals. The
deadline for joining in this collective effort is Tuesday
evening, August 24. Final copies of the letter will be
delivered to Brazilian Consulates and the Embassy during
the Wednesday and Thursday events. (Call Amanaka'a and we
will fax you a copy right away.)
3. FAX INDIVIDUAL PROTEST LETTERS to Brazilian President Dr.
Itamar Franco (011-55-61-226-7566) and to Brazilian
Minister of Justice, Dr. Mauricio Correa,
(011-55-61-321-5145).
4. SEND A LETTER OF SUPPORT TO DAVI KOPENAWA YANOMAMI and his
people. Letters to Davi can be faxed to Amanaka'a at
212-674-9139, or to CCPY in Brazil at 011-55-11-284-6997.
Important: Please send copies of all letters to Amanaka'a so
that international solidarity can be properly acknowledged.
INDIVIDUALS ARE ENCOURAGED TO:
Come to the above mentioned actions, if you live in the
Washington, New York or San Francisco areas. If you live
close to other Consulates, organize visits to the Brazilian
Consul and send letters to President Franco on August 25. If
you cannot go, call the Consulate and send us a note on the
action you took.
If you live far from a Brazilian Consulate, go to the offices
of your Congresspeople on August 25. Ask them to manifest
support to the Yanomami people by writing to the Brazilian
authorities and to Davi Yanomami. Make sure they send us
copies of all letters. If you cannot go, call your
Representative and write us to record what you did.
Please make sure you maintain contact with us so that all of
our efforts can be coordinated. Keep active in support of the
Yanomami at this moment of extreme suffering and sadness for
Davi Kopenawa and his people.
HOW TO REACH US AT AMANAKA'A
Amanaka'a will keep office hours from 11 am to 11 pm Eastern
time until Wednesday, August 25 to answer questions and
provide additional information. Subsequently, daily updates
and background information will be provided during regular
office hours.
Call Zeze or Christine at (212) 674-4646
FAX Zeze or Christine at (212) 674-9139
EMAIL User AMANAKAA on Econet
Mail 339 Lafayette Street, Suite 8, New York, NY 10012
Thank you for your active participation and concern.