What We Can All Learn From Indigenous Cultures

Centuries after European colonization, discrimination faced by indigenous peoples remains the norm in many nations around the world. These peoples are seen by many as primitive but ‘developed cultures’ could learn a lot from them about sustainability. Indigenous cultures have lived, sometimes for thousands of years, in harmony with their environment, while modern societies are bringing irreversible cultural, social and environmental damage.

Arhuaco's Village

The circumstances that Latin American aborigines are confronting should concern us all. For instance how can the Peruvian government allow oil and gas exploration in indigenous land? Up to 70% of the Peruvian Amazon is being explored for oil which is not only destroying the rainforest but also could wipe out some of the world’s most vulnerable citizens. This Amazonian region is occupied by some of the most uncountable tribal people in the world stresses Prof. James Anaya, the UN’s special reporter on indigenous peoples assert.

In Colombia, at least 64 out of 102 indigenous groups are facing extinction says a report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The government has introduced laws supposed to protect those communities but their land is still used by illegal armies for the growing and trafficking of drugs. An estimated 74,000 indigenous people have been forcibly evicted from their homes, says the country’s national indigenous peoples’ organization (ONIC).

Kogui Children

In Guatemala, the situation is also grave. Mayan descendants appeared to be removed from the political system, have little access to education and there is clear evidence of discrimination. “Much as black Africans were the majority in South Africa under apartheid, the Indigenous peoples of Guatemala constitute the disempowered (and persecuted) numerical majority,” says Prof. Valerie Alia internationally recognized for her work in media ethics and indigenous communications.

The critical situation that indigenous peoples have to face nowadays around the globe is unacceptable. Their traditions and sacred lands all deserve respect. But what can we do to help the situation of indigenous peoples’ human rights?  It is important to change the way indigenous peoples are perceived; we should educate people about different societies and the way that they survive. Pressure governments to implement policies which promote respect for indigenous peoples’ values.  We cannot help but be vigilant with regard to indigenous peoples’ human rights.

Aztec descendant

An Arsario child

Zulu Children

Peace Journalism, War and Conflict Resolution, Book Review

Peace journalism as a theory was introduced forty years ago by the sociologist Johan Galtung with his studies on peace and conflict. Today, we have been presented with Peace Journalism, War and Conflict Resolution which contains a collection of essays by leading international peace journalism writers, their concerns and reflections and valuable ideas for the future of journalism.  This book was edited by Proff Richard Keeble, Prof John Tulloch and Ph.D student Florian Zollmann, all from the University of Lincoln. They all have also contributed a chapter.

This engaging book gives us an international overview of the field of peace journalism. It provides us with the theory and the concept that peace journalism is its own distinct field of study. The collection of over 20 international writers is divided in three sections.

The approaches of the first section are diverse with styles taken from the mainstream media to alternative media debates. One of the highlights of this section is the call from Richard Keeble to “move away from the concept of the audience as a passive consumer” which demands a new perspective and alternative media.

 The second section focuses more on the practice and innovative methods on reporting conflicts and peace journalism as a whole. It includes a chapter with a remarkable approach written by Valerie Alia in which she explores the alternative ways that indigenous people around the world have been found to communicate and in which resolve conflicts.

The last section is a critique of the mainstream media and how can it be transformed. David Edwards writes about our apparent sense of freedom. He states that only people of great cognitive ability would have what is necessary to wake the people up to the fact that this is an illusion.

This text allows us to consider the role of peace journalist in the media, by criticizing the mainstream media we have been given a reason to question the status quo and demand a new perspective.