I am currently participating in an electronic seminar Aug. 1-31
about the link between poverty and deforestation in Central Africa.
The study attempts to develop more appropriate analytical methods.
It identifies three types of societies:
1. The indigenous population commonly known as "pygmies".
2. Societies in transition.
3. Inclusive or transformed societies.
It is appropriately recognized that the approaches must be adapted to the
specific circumstances of the societies.
In the article some comments about the Bakas (pygmies) betray certain
eurocentric prejudices. Since this is a draft paper and the author
requested not to forward it to anywhere else, I am reluctant to quote
directly from the paper. But it is available on this web site:
http://www.unu.edu/ias/publications/working_papers/ekoko1/ekoko1.htm
There are two paragraphs in particular that struck me. One paragraph
starts with: "The Bakas are the poorest of the poor...". The other
paragraph talks about "superstitious communities" and cites an example
of one. I think the term "superstitious" inappropriate.
Since no Baka can read and certainly doesn't have access to the net to
share his/her perceptions, I thought others might want to enlighten the
researchers some.
Anyone is welcome to join the seminar.
To join send a message to listserv@msias.ias.unu.edu:
subscribe IAS-CR2 firstname lastname
The Seminar Paper is available also from the archives on this listserv.
I think it is appropriate to quote this much from the paper:
> POVERTY AND DEFORESTATION
>
>
> Dr. Francois Ekoko
> Inst. of Advanced Studies, United Nations Univ.,
>
>
> 53-67 Jingumae-5-chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150
> ekoko@ias.unu.edu
>
>
> Copyright: This is a draft of a working paper for publication. Kindly do
> not quote or copy it for any use other than that of the electronic seminar.
> This paper is also available on the WEB:
> http://www.unu.edu/ias/publications/working_papers/ekoko1/ekoko1.htm
> Please contact ekoko@ias.unu.edu for the forthcoming publication.
Cheers,
Claudia