The Himba are a tribal group located in North Western Namibia who have consistently struggled to retain their cultural viability despite globalization and/or modernization. For the past several years, however, there has been a hydro-electric dam project which threatens to displace them entirely... http://www.mg.co.za/mg/news/97mar1/17mar-namdam.html
The Yanomama are the semi-nomadic people of the
Brazil-Venezuela border. Their forests are being
devastated, their rivers poisoned, game destroyed.
To find out more about their struggle to survive...
www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/anthropology/tutor/casestudies/yanomamo
www.unf.edu/~jinj0001/yanomama.html/
www.libertarian.org/LA/primitiv.html
The Javari Valley is one of the largest indigenous
areas in Brazil, in which 6 groups of indigenous
peoples live and 8 groups of uncontacted Indians. The
land is under intesne pressure from politicians linked
to the logging industry and cocaine cartels...
survival.org.uk/camp/9.htm
Papau New Guinea Tribe Takes Developers to Court! The
Maisin tribe claims it 'will fight to the last man'...
http.//forests.org/recent/pngtrtak.txt
Irian Jaya is Indonesia's last great reserve of
untouched rainforest, but on a planner's map, it is a
checkerboard of mining and logging concessions...
forests.org/recent/iriantro.txt
The government of India, to whom the island on which
the Jarawa peoples live belongs, is poised to make
decisions which would man the difference between the
survival of the Jarawa and their annihilation...
survival.org.uk/jarawa/htm
The Grameen Bank has 'reversed conventional banking practice by removing the need for collateral and created a banking system based on mutual trust, accountability, participation and creativity.' Thus, it serves to empower marginalized people by catering to those rejected by traditional banks--the poor, the illiterate, and women. Today, more than 58 countries around the third world have replicated the program, reaching several hundred thousand people... http://www.rdc.com.au/grameen/homeT.html
The Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) was founded in 1988 in order to cater human right services to grass roots people and general public. INSEC is based in Kathmandu and has branches in all regional countries of Nepal. http://www.hri.ca/partners/insec/about/index.shtml
The Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) was formed by Kenyans in 1991 in order to 'specifically lobby for the respect of human rights and the promotion of democratization, accountability, and good governance in Kenya.' KHRC therefore offers a voice and forum for human rights groups which are not recognized by the hostile Kenyan government. http://www.hri.ca/partners/khrc/who.htm
Lawrence University offers a website regarding Women of Africa and their efforts towards empowerment. This site offers several articles and links to related sites--however, depending on your computer, not all sites are available... http://www.lawrence.edu/fac/bradleyc/war.html
The Bushmen are a peole whose traditional existence is based on hunting. With the increase of globalization and modernization, and their persistent refusal to submit to the changing times, they are being forced more and more into remote areas. The greater the rise in globalization, the more they face the specter of extinction. http://www.africa.com/namibia/ci_peo_bus.phtml
The Stockholm Environmental Institute is an independent,
international research, consulting, and training organization
working to promote global sustainable development.
www.sei.se
The International Institute for Sustainable Development works in
international decision-making; contributing knowledge, concepts,
analyzing policies, identifying and disseminating information
about best practices.
http://iisd.ca/
Many forest conservation sites can be found at: http://www.forests.org/forsite.html#top. This site also maintains information about indigenous resources, sustainable forestry, and biodiversity.
http://www.igc.org/igc/issues/ip/ indigenous peoples links
There are several international organizations working towards the empowerment of indigenous peoples; advocating for their rights, voices and visions to determing their own futures. They offer forums for minorities, and oppressed majorities who struggle to regain their lost countries, preserve their cultural identities, and safeguard their natural environments. A few of them can be found at the following:
International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs
www.pip.dknet.dk/~pip1917/index.htm
Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization
www.unpo.org
Cultural Survival
www.cs.org
Survival for Tribal Peoples
www.survival.org.uk/
The Global Survival Network "conducts a number of
campaigns addressing environmental concerns and human
rights." They have a 'wildlife trafficking program', working
to expose illegal hunting and commercial
trafficking in rare and endangered species...a 'human trafficking
program', investigating the growing
international trade in people, and a 'global conservation
awareness program', working to raise
awareness of threats to endangered wildlife. The site is www.globalsurvival.net
For a great selection of organizations somehow related
to indigenous knowledge...
www.nuffic.nl/ik-pages/www/organizations.html
The Center For World Indigenous Studies (CWIS)
provides a World Wide Web Virtual Library on
indigenous studies...
www.cwis.org/wwwvl/indig-vl.html
Native Web provides information on indigenous
organizations of the Americas...
www.abyayala.nativeweb.org
Minority Rights Group International researches and publishes
reports regarding minorities globally, works
with similar organizations and activists to build alliances,
educates children and teachers on minority
issues, and advocates for the rights of minorities at the UN, in
Europe, and with governments elsewhere.
www.minorityrights.org
Minorities at Risk Project is 'an independent,
university-based research project that monitors and
analyzes the status and conflicts of politically-active communal
groups in countries with a
population of at least 500,000...will contribute to the
understanding and peaceful accommodation of
conflicts involving communal groups.' The web site contains a
clear division of groups, both by
geographical location, and status. www.bsos.umd.edu/cidcm/mar
Netaid (http://www.Netaid.org/) is a long-term effort concentrating on building an online community of conscience dedicated individuals in providing basic needs to those without. Among their concerns are:
Helping refugees - http://www.Netaid/org/refugees/index.htm
Saving the environment - http://www.Netaid/org/environment/index.htm
Securing human rights - http://www.Netaid/org/humanrights/index.htm
UN Wire (http://www.unfoundation.org/unwire) provides news stories about the United Nations and global affairs to registered users free of charge. A sample issue includes case specific stories under the topics of: UN Affairs, Health, Women, Children & Population, Environment & Sustainable Development, Economics & Trade, Humanitarian Aid, Human Rights, Justice & Democracy, and Peacekeeping & Security.
http://www.unhcr.ch/news/media/daily.htm provides a daily digest of the latest refugee news as reported by the world's media.
The mission of IGC (http://www.igc.org/igc/gateway/index.html) is to
advance the work of progressive organizations and individuals for peace,
justice, economic opportunity, human rights, democracy and environmental
sustainability through strategic use of online technologies. IGC houses
PeaceNet (http://www.igc.org/igc/gateway/pnindex.html),
EcoNet (http://www.igc.org/igc/gateway/enindex.html),
WomensNet (http://www.igc.org/igc/gateway/wnindex.html), and
Anti-RacismNet (http://www.anti-racism.net/).