Latest news with #rainforest
The Guardian
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Savages review – indigenous teen and baby orangutan take on developers in Borneo
Claude Barras is the Swiss animator whose 2016 debut My Life As a Courgette was a wonderfully tender study of childhood which won hearts (and an Oscar nomination). His followup is a likable, admirably intentioned if slightly more predictable entertainment, in which the good guys and the bad guys are more obvious. Again it is a stop-motion animation, now set in Borneo's rainforest, threatened by commercial exploitation and destruction. Kéria (voiced by Babette De Coster) is a teenage girl living on the edge of this rich and beautiful wilderness, with her widower dad (Benoît Poelvoorde), who is glumly employed by one of the palm-oil plantations that is eroding it. Kéria is partly of indigenous Penan heritage, and is irritated when her Penan cousin Selaï (Martin Verset) comes to stay after his home village is wiped out. Together they get lost in the forest with a baby orangutan called Oshi which Kéria and her dad rescued when the evil planters shot its mother. Their adventures take them to the truth about Kéria's dad and her late mother, to her Penan heritage and to a fateful confrontation with the plantation officials, who are swaggering, gun-toting bullies. Kéria and the tribespeople courageously face down these people with their blow-pipes containing unpoisoned darts (the cringing company cowards, fearing for their lives, soon lose their nerve). However, the campaign website about the Borneo rainforest which accompanies this film notably does not actually advocate direct action of this sort. Savages is in UK and Irish cinemas from 1 August
The Guardian
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Savages review – indigenous teen and baby orangutan take on developers in Borneo
Claude Barras is the Swiss animator whose 2016 debut My Life As a Courgette was a wonderfully tender study of childhood which won hearts (and an Oscar nomination). His followup is a likable, admirably intentioned if slightly more predictable entertainment, in which the good guys and the bad guys are more obvious. Again it is a stop-motion animation, now set in Borneo's rainforest, threatened by commercial exploitation and destruction. Kéria (voiced by Babette De Coster) is a teenage girl living on the edge of this rich and beautiful wilderness, with her widower dad (Benoît Poelvoorde), who is glumly employed by one of the palm-oil plantations that is eroding it. Kéria is partly of indigenous Penan heritage, and is irritated when her Penan cousin Selaï (Martin Verset) comes to stay after his home village is wiped out. Together they get lost in the forest with a baby orangutan called Oshi which Kéria and her dad rescued when the evil planters shot its mother. Their adventures take them to the truth about Kéria's dad and her late mother, to her Penan heritage and to a fateful confrontation with the plantation officials, who are swaggering, gun-toting bullies. Kéria and the tribespeople courageously face down these people with their blow-pipes containing unpoisoned darts (the cringing company cowards, fearing for their lives, soon lose their nerve). However, the campaign website about the Borneo rainforest which accompanies this film notably does not actually advocate direct action of this sort. Savages is in UK and Irish cinemas from 1 August
The Guardian
3 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Missionaries using secret audio devices to evangelise Brazil's isolated peoples
Missionary groups are using audio devices in protected territories of the rainforest to attract and evangelise isolated or recently contacted Indigenous people in the Amazon. A joint investigation by the Guardian and Brazilian newspaper O Globo reveals that solar-powered devices reciting biblical messages in Portuguese and Spanish have appeared among members of the Korubo people in the Javari valley, near the Brazil-Peru border. Drones have also been spotted by Brazilian state agents in charge of protecting the areas. The gadgets have raised concerns about illegal missionary activities, despite strict government measures designed to safeguard isolated Indigenous groups. Uncontacted peoples, or 'peoples in voluntary isolation', avoid contact with modern society to protect their way of life and stay safe from violence or exploitation. They live in remote areas such as rainforests and deserts, maintaining traditional cultures free from outside influence. Governments and organisations aim to protect their rights and territories to prevent disease, cultural disruption and exploitation, safeguarding their autonomy and lands. What constitutes contact? In anthropology, 'contact' means interactions between cultural or social groups. 'Contacted' individuals have continuing relations with society. Contact can be direct, for example trade or conflict, or indirect, such as disease transmission. It involves cultural exchange and economic interactions. Colonial contact often imposed systems that disrupted Indigenous cultures. Brief or accidental interactions don't count as contact. Where are their territories? Most uncontacted peoples live in the Amazon basin, especially in Brazil and Peru, often within protected areas. Others are in the Gran Chaco, Andaman Islands, North Sentinel Island and West Papua. The Amazon basin, a vast region spanning several countries in South America, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, is home to the largest number of uncontacted communities, with estimates suggesting there could be dozens of such groups living in isolation. Western Brazil and eastern Peru are known for having some of the last uncontacted groups, including some that live in voluntary isolation within protected Indigenous territories and national parks. Is it essential to protect uncontacted peoples? Some oppose protection, citing a lack of modern benefits, concerns about land use or safety issues. Advocates argue that they survive using natural resources, contact harms health and evangelisation weakens cultures. They emphasise these peoples' rights to their territories and the inability of governments to ensure their safety. Even after contact, Indigenous peoples have rights to their full traditional territories according to some national and international norms. Why is the idea controversial? Governments and NGOs work to protect uncontacted peoples' territories from logging, mining and agriculture as they threaten their survival. Demarcating protected zones reduces human activity and preserves the way of life within them. In some countries, such as Brazil, legislation requires the government to demarcate Indigenous territories in the event of identifying uncontacted peoples – a measure that often conflicts with economic interests linked to land rights and use. This is not thought to be the first recent attempt by missionary groups to reach isolated and uncontacted communities in the Javari valley. Shortly before the pandemic, a group of US and Brazilian citizens affiliated to evangelical churches were allegedly reported to be planning to contact the Korubo people. It was claimed they had used seaplanes to map trails and locate longhouses. Three missionaries were identified as planning these alleged contact efforts: Thomas Andrew Tonkin, Josiah McIntyre and Wilson de Benjamin Kannenberg, linked to the Missão Novas Tribos do Brasil (New Tribes Mission of Brazil – MNTB) and a humanitarian group known as Asas de Socorro – or Wings of Relief. They were prohibited from entering Indigenous territory by court order during the Covid crisis. Now it has emerged that missionaries have returned to the Javari valley and surrounding towns, such as Atalaia do Norte, with a new tool. The first device uncovered, a yellow and grey mobile phone-sized unit, mysteriously appeared in a Korubo village in the Javari valley recently. The gadget, which recites the Bible and inspirational talks by an American Baptist, can do so indefinitely, even off-grid, thanks to a solar panel. Up to seven of the units were reported by local people, but photo and video evidence were obtained for just one. A message on the device located by the Guardian states: 'Let's see what Paul says as he considers his own life in Philippians chapter 3, verse 4: 'If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more'.' The Brazilian government does not permit proselytising in the Korubo's territory. Its policy, dating from 1987, stipulates that isolated groups must initiate any contact, a stance that made Brazil a pioneer in respecting Indigenous self-determination. The state also strictly controls access, to protect the Korubo and other uncontacted peoples in the region from common diseases to which they have little or no immunity. The device that reached the hands of the Korubo is called Messenger and is distributed by the Baptist organisation In Touch Ministries, based in Atlanta, Georgia. It is now a curiosity in the possession of the Korubo community matriarch, Mayá. In Touch does not sell the Messenger. The devices are donated to 'unreached' people in countries around the world and are available in more than 100 languages. With its solar panel and built-in torch, the device is designed to bring the gospel to places that lack reliable electricity or internet connections. In an interview with the Guardian, Seth Grey, In Touch Ministries' chief operating officer, confirmed that the organisation uses devices such as the Messenger and that 'it is built for functionality, solar-powered, with a flashlight'. 'Then they discover the content,' he said, adding that the device is loud enough for 20-person 'listening groups'. Grey said he personally delivered 48 of the devices to the Wai Wai people in the Brazilian Amazon four years ago. They contained religious content in their language and Portuguese. The Wai Wai have engaged with US missionaries, who have contacted and proselytised among communities in the northern Amazon, for decades, according to anthropologist Catherine V Howard. Grey said, however, that the Messenger should not be present in the Javari valley in violation of Brazilian policy. 'We don't go anywhere we're not allowed,' he said, referring to In Touch staff. He said he was aware of missionaries from 'other organisations' who do carry the devices to regions and countries where they are prohibited. The Korubo, known for their deadly expertise with war clubs, are a recently contacted people and therefore of keen interest to certain missionaries focused on preaching to the 'unreached'. Sgt Cardovan da Silva Soeiro, a military police officer at the government protection post at the entrance to the Javari valley Indigenous territory, said he learned about the devices from an Indigenous person stationed at the base. 'I sent a report with the photos to police intelligence, but so far we haven't heard anything back. The Indigenous people didn't want to give me the devices, so I thought it best not to insist. I just managed to get the images,' he said. Cardovan said military police officers are aware of the presence of missionaries allegedly linked to another Christian group, Jehovah's Witnesses. 'Some of these religious entities are very likely trying to get closer,' he said. He also reported to police command the presence of 'mysterious drones' that had recently appeared above the base, usually in the late afternoon. Cardovan was ordered to shoot them down, but so far has been unable to do so. 'We don't know if they belong to missionaries, drug traffickers, fishers or miners who are watching the base to see if they'll have free passage through here. When I received the order from command to shoot them down, I aimed my rifle, but the drone fled at high speed. It seemed very sophisticated,' he said. Daniel Luís Dalberto, a federal prosecutor's office agent who monitors the rights of uncontacted and recently contacted peoples, said the key point to understanding the presence of missionaries is not how many there are in the territory, 'but rather the change in methods like those of the radios that are emerging now'. 'It's a stealthy, concealed, under the radar conversion,' he said. 'The method has become sophisticated and difficult, almost impossible to combat.' This series on uncontacted peoples is a partnership between the Guardian and Brazilian newspaper O Globo and is supported by the Open Society Foundations, the Ford Foundation, the Pulitzer Center and the Nia Tero Foundation. Read it in Portuguese here
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Travel + Leisure
5 days ago
- Travel + Leisure
I've Been a Travel Advisor for Over Two Decades—Here's How to Craft the Perfect Itinerary for Any Destination
The most rewarding trips are those that gently push your boundaries and leave you with a new perspective. But creating a journey that ventures off the well-trodden path while still delivering comfort can be challenging. I've been designing itineraries for discerning, adventurous travelers for more than two decades. Here's what I've learned about crafting a trip that's both low-stress and deeply fulfilling—and how you can implement the tips into your trip planning, too. A traveler arriving at her stay while on vacation. Consecutive destinations can start to blur if they feel too similar. Back-to-back safaris, jungle lodges, or chateaus—no matter how impressive they are individually—might start to lose their appeal. That's why it's important to prioritize contrast on a trip. Each destination in an itinerary should justify itself by being palpably different from the last. Move from a buzzing city to a remote desert. Follow a rainforest stay with time on a wild coastline. Even within one region, make each stop serve a different mood or activity. Panoramic views while traveling by train. SL_Photography/Getty Images Contrast also applies to your lodging. Of course, you should absolutely treat yourself to a stay at an iconic hotel or a showstopper suite. But then blend that style of stay with a characterful boutique, design-led eco-lodge, or off-the-grid camp. Staying at properties that have their own feel makes each stop feel more meaningful and gives you a rich sense of place. The best travel days feel seamless, but that doesn't happen by chance. If you're going to multiple places in a row, try to plan that as a circuit, rather than traveling in and out of the same location multiple times. It's also wise to think about what each form of transport can offer. Flights are efficient, road trips open up more opportunities for discovery, and an epic train journey becomes a scenic highlight in and of itself. Start your trip at a slower pace, rather than jumping right into a bustling city. Taking a couple of days to decompress, whether that's in nature or a smaller town, allows you to ease your way through jetlag (if applicable), tune into your surroundings, and settle into the travel mindset so you're ready for busier destinations later in the vacation. A woman working remotely in a hammock. ac productions/TetraLonger trips demand space to breathe. This might mean scheduling 'down days' with no plans, ensuring the accommodation has enough rooms for every family member to take time to themselves, or, if you know you'll need to work a little bit along the way, setting up a room with dedicated desk space and a strong Wi-Fi connection. One common mistake I see travelers make is trying to cram too much into one trip. A meaningful getaway isn't a sprint through the highlights. It involves taking the time to go beyond the Instagram spots, explore, and ask questions. Yes, you'll want to visit the must-sees of a destination, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but allow yourself the freedom to veer off course and develop your own relationship with the environment around you. The best part of traveling to a new destination is forging connections with the people who live there. A great way to do this is to schedule tours operated by local guides, visit boutique shops instead of chains, and speak directly with local residents. As a seasoned travel advisor, connecting you with guides who are passionate about the area they live in is something I always prioritize. Steve Wilson is a member of Travel + Leisure's A-List and specializes in sabbatical trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Wilson at [email protected] .
France 24
6 days ago
- General
- France 24
Proof of life: tracking elusive Amazon group to save their land
Archaeological finds like these keep turning up, and date back to at least 2009, with members of a neighboring clan claiming to have caught glimpses of individuals who live in the Ituna/Itata region in Brazil's northern Para state. For now, the nameless, elusive people -- perhaps belonging to more than one group -- remain among dozens of so-called "uncontacted" communities believed to roam the world's biggest rainforest. "My sister-in-law told me: 'Over there! Over there!' And it was a little boy staring at me from up close," recounted Takamyi Asurini, an elder in Ita'aka -- an Indigenous village of about 300, whose accounts of close encounters have fed theories of the existence of uncontacted people in Ituna/Itata. Asurini showed AFP a scar on his ribs he said was the result of being shot with an arrow by an unknown person in the jungle. Such testimonies, and the objects found, are not considered proof of the existence of people in Ituna/Itata. But it is enough for the region to enjoy a provisional protected status meant to prevent invasions by miners, loggers and ranchers -- preserving both the forest and the people thought to live there. The area covers tens of thousands of hectares and is similar in size to Sao Paolo -- the biggest city in Latin America. It became one of the most overrun Indigenous territories in Brazil under former president Jair Bolsonaro, a backer of agro-industry on whose watch Amazon deforestation surged. Now, lobby groups want the Ituna/Itata region's protection to be made permanent, which would mean stricter land use rules and enforcement. 'Historical neglect' For this to happen, the government's National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (Funai) would have to send expeditions to look for undeniable proof of the group's existence. Part of the challenge is the dense Amazon jungle is home to rich, varied ecosystems that support migratory agriculture for Indigenous peoples, who may travel to hunt, fish and gather food seasonally. Under law, any searchers cannot make contact with them -- potentially putting them at risk of diseases they have no immunity to -- but are to look instead for footprints of their life in the forest. Brazil recognizes 114 "uncontacted" Indigenous groups who live with no or minimal interaction with others. About a quarter are "confirmed," while for the rest -- like in Ituna/Itata -- there is "strong evidence" that they exist. For Luiz Fernandes, a member of umbrella group Coordination of the Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), there has been "historial neglect" of the issue by the state, which he says "recognizes the possibility of the existence of these peoples but does not guarantee effective measures to protect the territory." Added Mita Xipaya, an Indigenous activist: "the state needs qualified records" to prove that an area hosts uncontacted people, "but for us it is different: we perceive them in nature, in the sounds we hear, their presences, sometimes their smells." 'Taking care of the forest' The Brazilian Amazon has lost nearly a third of its native vegetation since records began in 1988, according to environmental NGO Instituto Socioambiental -- except in Indigenous territories where the figure is less than two percent. From 2019 to 2022, the Bolsonaro government suspended the provisional protection measures decreed for Ituna/Itata, prompting an invasion by land grabbers, turning it into the most deforested Indigenous area in Brazil. Though the protection was reinstated under his leftist successor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the consequences persist, and miles-wide patches of devastated soil intersperse areas of green rainforest, AFP observed during a recent flyover. Brazil will in November host the COP30 UN climate conference in the Amazonian city of Belem under Lula, who has sought to position himself as a leader in forest preservation and the fight against global warming. "It's not just about taking care of the forest but also of the people who inhabit it, because it's through them that the forest remains standing," COIAB coordinator Toya Manchineri told AFP.
