- "The People of the Quilombos" : a new documentary on Afro-
Brazilian Rainforest communities.
"We have respected the Rainforest for over 300 years. If
they win, they will destroy it because of their greed and lust
for bigger profits. They are the wealthy giants. We want to keep
our land and our way of life. They want to displace us and
condemn our children to the Shantytowns. We are not rich, but no
one goes hungry".....
So speak the people of Ivaporunduva, one of the eighteen
Quilombos of the valley of the River Ribeira in the State of Sao
Paulo, Brazil. Quilombos are communities of descendants of
escaped slaves brought to Brazil from Africa.
The recently released documentary "The People of the
Quilombos" illustrates the life and death struggle of these
people faced with powerful economic forces which would construct
four dams on the river deep in the Atlantic Rainforest of Brazil.
Such projects would drive the Quilombo inhabitants off their land
where their ancestors found refuge during the early days of
slavery. The dams, if constructed, would flood large areas of the
Rainforest and destroy important historical sites.
The 29 minutes documentary was produced and launched by
Miryam Productions, Inc. while SEJUP was responsible for
research. It will be shown on PBS TV stations in the US in early
1997. If you would like to receive more information about the
documentary or are interested in acquiring a copy, contact:
Miryam Productions, Inc.,
5770 Crestview Drive,
Paradise,
CA 95969,
U.S.A.
Phone (916) 978 0505
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