Today (August 9) is the UN International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. This year’s theme focuses on human rights, especially for those in voluntary isolation and initial contact. There are some 200 communities (many in the Americas and also Asia) who choose to continue their traditional way of life while staying detached from the “outside world.” This way, they maintain their culture and their strong connections to the environment. Of course, it’s not as simple as that. These groups are extremely vulnerable, especially to forced contact in the shape of development – mining, deforestation, tourism, and more. This makes the environment they are a part of equally vulnerable. The UN website provides some background:Source: International Indigenous Peoples’ Day: a perspective from Suriname on land rights and climate justice – Petchary’s Blog












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