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
(see also article titled "Yanomami Campaign call to action")
CURRENT EFFORTS:
Since May, 1993, Amanaka'a has spearheaded efforts to raise public
awareness about the Yanomami in the U.S., serving as a liaison for the
San Paulo-based Committee for the Creation of the Yanomami Park (CCPY).
We have consolidating an international pressure campaign to permanently
remove goldminers from the Yanomami area, and raised urgently needed
emergency funds.
Our Yanomami Campaign uses a multi-faceted approach to stimulate
protection for the Yanomami by:
* Maintaining an awareness campaign to increase the number of
people supporting the Yanomami in the United States.
* Organizing a foundation-directed fundrasing drive for the
health post.
* Organizing an individual, organization, and corporation
fundraising drive to support the "Friendship Trips" and other
travel expenses of Davi Yanomami, chief spokesman for
the Yanomami tribe, so that he may visit remote villages
to warn of the dangers of contact with many outsiders.
* Continuously updating the press and other interestedagencies
and individuals with further information onthe Yanomami
situation.
* Lobbying other organizations to nominate Davi Yanomami for
upcoming international prizes. We have convinced the Amazon
Coalition to jointly indicate Davi for the Goldman
Environmental Prize (which, if won, would bring him $60,000 in
February).
* Working on our own to get more support from other
organizatons such as Ashoka. In fact, we are still working to
have them give Davi a "Bolsa" for next year.
* Developing a solid support group to sponsor the next Yanomami
trip to the U.S. We understand that besides Claudia Andujar
(CCPY) and Davi, at least two other Yanomami will need to come,
and that the agenda will need include participation in Amazon
Week V events in New York and important appointments in
Washington, D.C.
* Collecting all press articles that appeared in the U.S. and
Brazilian media about the Yanomami or the Amazon since August
of this year. The first collection of this material, Eye on
Amanaka'a, and an upcoming comprehensive dossier on the
Yanomami massacres, contain numerous illuminating features.
BRIEF HISTORY:
We have been extremely active coordinating efforts in the U.S. to
respond to the genocidal actions which surfaced in August. The
Campaign:
* Called for nationwide simultaneous vigils on August 25th at
the Brazilian Consulates in New York, Houston, and San Francisco;
* Presented Ambassador Marcos Cesar Naslausky with a group
letter on behalf of 65 U.S. environmental, cultural and human
rights organizations at the Brazilian Consulate in New York on
August 25;
* Organized the vigil in San Francisco on August 25 with
support from Beto Borges, Rainforest Action Network;
* Amanaka'a and several environmental, human rights and
indigenous organizations met with Minister Mauricio Cortes at
the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, DC on August 26;
* Held a Press Conference with Gale Gomez (CCPY) at the U.N. on
August 27;
* Amanaka'a met with the U.N. Human Rights Center to inform UN
Secretary General Boutros Boutros-Ghali on August 27;
* Provided Campaign updates and training for a nationwide
coalition of grassroot activist oranizations at the Rainforest
Action Network Chautauqua in Occidental, CA August 19-24;
* Amanaka'a led a rally at the September 5th Brazilian
Independence Day festivities in New York attended by
approximately 100,000 people;
* Amanaka'a organized an alliance of Native American groups and
outraged citizens at a public vigil at the Brazilian Consulate
on September 16;
* Amanaka'a organized a special public vigil on October 5th at
St. Peter's Church in New York City with support from Native
American organizations and AVEDA Corporation;
* Yanomami Campaign organized a Benefit Concert at the
Nuyorican Poet's Cafe on October 9th to raise money for
emergency relief measures including travel funds for Davi to
warn remote chiefs who haven't been informed;
* Conducted tabling and activist training as well as speaking
engagements at public events and street festivals around the
New York area from June - October;
* Yanomami Campaign functioned as a clearinghouse of resources
and information for all interested groups who participated in
World Rainforest Week, October 18-24;
The Yanomami Campaign has been extremely active fulfilling media
requests and keeping journalists updated. Zeze Weiss, Executive
Director of Amanaka'a, co-authored a report, The Yanomami Massacres and
the Role of a Powerful Anti-Native Alliance, exposing the complex web
of intrigue behind the massacres. We have received a lot of requests
for slides and photographs of the Yanomami and would like to include
these in upcoming information packages for you.
Brazilian President Itamar Franco cancelled his trip to New York in
September, but asked Ambassador Sardemberg to arrange for Brazilian
Foreign Minister Celso Amorim to meet with Amanaka'a on September 29th
at the U.N. Mission to Brasil in New York City. In the meeting, the
Yanomami Campaign had human rights advocate Bianca Jagger present
nearly 10,000 petition signatures that had been collected since May.
Amanaka'a, and the supporting NGO's present, urged Amorim to take
immediate concrete actions to bring the killers to justice and offer
evidence that indigenous rights were a priority by demarcating 18 areas
that were pending prior to the October 5th deadline for constitutional
review.
UPCOMING:
We intend to utilize every aspect of our support network in 1994 as we
implement strategies that address all vital, binational concerns
affecting the welfare of the Yanomami nation.
Please call with any questions you have about our work or upcoming
projects. We strongly encourage any suggestions as we close 1993 and
establish a working plan for 1994.
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.
Amanaka'a Amazon Network (212) 674-4646
339 Lafayette St., Suite 8
New York, NY 10012