CONTACT: John Friede Tel: 212-674-4646, Fax: 212-674-9139
Sue Ann Bailey Tel: 407-684-8100, Ext. 121
Allan Spiegel allan_spiegel@usl.com
OBJECTIVE:
In May, 1993, during Amazon Week IV, Davi Yanomami visited New York
expressing an urgent need for international pressure to remove gold
miners (garimpeiros) from lands belonging to the Yanomami nation.
August's massacres exposed the danger of the gold miners' continued
presence in the Amazon Rainforest.
To help prevent future tragedies, Amanaka'a supports two projects by
U.N. Global 500 prize winner Davi Yanomami, chief spokesman for the
Yanomami people. In the first project, the "friendship tours", Davi
will visit still-uncontacted Yanomami villages to warn them about the
dangers of contact with gold miners. This project is top priority as it
will increase the Yanomami's vigilance and improve their ability to
defend their territory. These trips will require renting air
transportation, at approximately $2000 per trip. Since it requires 25
trips in order to cover the entire Brazilian Yanomami territory,
$50,000 is urgently needed.
Secondly, Davi needs emergency health care to be established at
Balawau, strategically located in the heart of the northern Yanomami
region where the gold miners are invading. At a cost of $50,000, a
health clinic can be constructed to treat hundreds of Yanomami people
suffering from malaria and other Western diseases brought by gold
miners--diseases to which they have no immunity.
Thus, with a minimal investment, the decimation of an ancient group of
people and their ecologically precious lands can be prevented.
Contributors should send donations to:
Amanaka'a (212) 674-4646
339 Lafayette St., Suite 8
New York, NY 10012
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
Amanaka'a Amazon Network is a New York based not-for-profit
environmental organization dedicated to supporting the peoples of the
Amazon in their efforts to establish an agenda for self-sustainable
development in the rainforest. Amanaka'a functions as an embassy by
facilitating direct communication with forest organizations, providing
technical assistance for their projects, and presenting cultural and
educational programs to increase awareness for the American public.
CALL TO ACTION:
Amanaka'a members and concerned individuals can help in several ways:
1) WRITE A LETTER - These points need to be emphasized: reaffirm the
rights of the Yanomami to their demarcated territory; support a
binational investigation, punishing all responsible parties who are
implicated; and urge the Brazilian and Venezuelan governments to
establish effective guidelines to prevent recurrent garimpeiro
invasions. The value of these messages cannot be underestimated.
Please send a letter or fax to:
- Exmo. Sr. Presidente
da Republica,
Dr. Itamar Franco
Palacio do Planalto
CEP 70150-900, Brasilia
DF BRAZIL
Fax: 011-55-61-226-7566
- Ambassador Paulo Tasso Flecha de Lima
Brazilian Embassy
3006 Massachusetts Ave. NW
Washington D.C. 20008
- Ambassador Simon Alberto Consalvi
Venezuelan Embassy
1099 30th St. NW
Washington D.C. 20007
A copy of these letters should also be sent to the Amanaka'a office.
2) CIRCULATE A PETITION - help us to reach our goal of 11,000
signatures (one for each miner) by calling John Friede at (212)
674-4646 to receive a copy.
3) JOIN THE TEAM - we will be organizing events throughout the year to
build community interest and celebrate the culture of these ancient
people, the largest unacculturated indigenous group in the Americas.
Stay in touch with us at the EVENTS HOTLINE: 212-340-8970.
4) SUPPORT THE YANOMAMI FRIENDSHIP TOUR - contact our office and find
out about how to hold your own fundraiser.
5) SUPPORT THE HEALTH FUND - the Yanomami Campaign will also coordinate
fundraising efforts for the Yanomami Health Project, striving to
implement preventative and emergency health care programs in the
Yanomami territory. With your help, we can construct the health center
in Balawau that is vitally needed. Please send donations to
Amanaka'a/Yanomami Health Fund, 339 Lafayette St., #8, NY, NY 10012
Current and past activities are detailed in the article titled
"Yanomami Campaign Background" to follow immediately