I-AM-AZON ! ! !
- Marcia Cilento
- Jun 27, 2020
- 15 min read
Updated: Jul 5, 2020
Amazon cannot BREATHE, so ourselves as a collective.
To speak about the largest tropical rainforest in our planet brings responsibility, it calls our Presence, as its importance to the well-being of the world contains many layers, all which interlace with each other for a harmonious equilibrium within and without its territory. One cannot discard the disastrous effects of its devastation, deforestation, illegal mining here and now, hoping would not affect the balance elsewhere.
Flying from above the Amazon, the infinity of its lands filled my heart with so much wander and brought into me a fierce awaken state to what is happening with the lands. Its air ran through me and in each breath the urge to learn more about it and do all I can to stand for its protection. The sanctuary of Planet Earth opens a grid of contemplation.
The Amazon Rainforest, is known as the “Lungs of the Planet”, as its trees and plants are responsible for providing more than 20% of the world’s oxygen, at 6.9 million square km2, covers some 40 percent of the South American Continent, two-thirds of it is found in the northwestern Brazil, extending into Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Venezuela and Ecuador. Land of over thousand rivers as well The Amazon River, the most powerful in the world by volume, as far as the original name, perhaps the “Amaru Mayu” a native tongue from the tribe Manaós, meaning “The mother serpent of the world.”
It comprises the largest and most bio diverse tract of tropical rainforest on Earth, the abode to one-tenth of the world’s wildlife species, to more than two-thirds of the word’s population of plant species. Rainforests also stabilize climate, producing nourishing rainfall all around the planet. Amazonian trees hold vast stores of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, and produces oxygen, upon which all living beings depend for survival. Currently, 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions can be attributed to forest clearing and degradation. Deforestation for mining also affects the daily lives of indigenous tribes in Brazil. The Munduruku Indians have higher levels of mercury poisoning due to gold production in the area. Climate change is one issue that indigenous tribes attribute as a reason to keep their territory.
My first time about 4 years ago, riding the red waters of the powerful stream of Amazon Serpent River opened my heart channel to the life’s source within the sacred land and also within me. Off the grid for about 3 weeks deep in the jungle for ceremonies and medicine plants “dieta” with the tribes awake the calling on embracing life as a ritual. I’ve received way more of what I could ever imagine. In solitude walks on the jungle to find myself within. Taking the time to observe nature, sharing the ways in connecting to every living being and co-creating an harmonious existence, raised questions upon my own choices, of how I interact with the whole of creation, with each person I encounter, in everything I do. The respect and honor to daily life rituals among the indigenous, a value lost among societies elsewhere in the world, gifted me with sweet nectar of appreciation and gratitude for life and all that is part of it.
Place yourself in a typical indigenous canoe, pretty much aligned with the Amazon River’s water level going across its stream, and instantly floods of attention to its power and magnificence resurge. There are 2.500 different species of fish or more, mammals, amphibians and water snakes. The river has been a source of protein for the local population for thousands of years and also the source of fresh water. Animal life supports each other in the Amazon River by serving as food to other animals above the food chain. Their bodies carry nutrients that eventually serve as fertilizers, feeding the forest and fauna of the Amazon River ecosystem. Sadly also there are some species of animals exclusively found in Amazon River in danger of extinction. Some of the top reasons for the population decline of so many of these animals are deforestation, illegal poaching, environmental changes (such as global warming) and excessive hunting and fishing (both legal and illegal), among them the beautiful pink dolphin, the Giant River Otter, the Piranha, the Amazonia Namatee, the Tucuxi (a bottlenose dolphin with dark gray to light grey coloration but smaller in size), the Giant Amazon River Turtle, the Arapaima (know as Pirarucu or Paiche and it is the largest freshwater fish known by humans), the Electric Eel, the Dwarf Caiman (small crocodile), and the Anaconda, yes one of the largest snakes we have surely heard about it, able to reach 30 feet long, living in the shallow waters of Amazon.
I’ve never been the same after this rendezvous... One truly contemplates how disconnected we became as what we call “modern society” and the price we are paying by ignoring the ancestors wisdom and the language of spirit medicine and its divinity!! The respect for each living being and the continuous energy exchanges with it! In the space within the jungle life flows in such harmonious beats... there are infinite sounds playing at all times, and as one merges within the depth of its tunes one remembers its own magic and a natural state of honoring the responsibly on its protection arises.
The cosmic amphitheater of magnificent wildness beauty imprints in such clarity in one’s vision, mesmerizing.... stays within forever. I close my eyes often and return to its sacredness as I can align with it and embrace the humanity experience on Planet Earth within myself!
Saving the Amazon and the indigenous is not a separated event of one’s life’s agenda. Is truly a matter of survival to each one of us and Earth as we know. Is a calling each being is invited to answer and to play their part standing for it. Find your way, your voice to become present. Together we can rescue it before is too late!!
Traveling through to reach our destination within the jungle’s lands, the sound of the birds invited me to enter with their songs echoing through the air, the brightly colour palette of their wings from small to large, brushes the sky canvas, painting a dream state where all seems in harmony, a Harpy Eagle watches us from above and the divine beauty makes its presence everywhere. Is like a magical portal, once entered changes your seeing under the eyes of humanity.
Since my early childhood. I am deeply connected with birds. As I born in Brazil, I had a beautiful Parrot, given to me by my father, remembrance of the days I used to take him along to school on my shoulder. Surely now, I see things differently about having my beloved wild bird at home, while they should be flying free where he belong to. Illegal trapping of these beautiful creatures sold as pets are also along with deforestation, the primary reasons of its endangerments. The “Scarlet Macaw” is a perfect example of the effects of illegal capture for pet trade, often gets caught and sold depleting the natural population in the Amazon.
Speaking of such high rate of deforestation taking place, to many different factors at local, national, and international levels. The rainforest is seen as a resource for cattle pasture, valuable hardwoods, housing space, farming space (especially for soybeans), road works (such as highways and smaller roads), mining and medicines. Some estimates predict the end of Rainforests, as we know, in about forty years. Scary thought. Since most Amazon Rainforest birds live high in the treetops, they will lose their homes and face serious consequences to their populations. Several species are currently on the endangered list and some species may already been extinct.
Walking thought the lands, upon the red soil of Amazon, looking up to the highest of the trees watching the squirrel monkeys jumps and playful loops, thoughts of a jaguar’s encounter on my path came into my mind, as one walks deeper into the jungle, it seems natural to embrace such possibility. Yet, haven’t found myself in a fearful note, I know it seems strange to many, yet this feline have been part of many of my dreams and visions. It represents the “spiritual healer within” according to the indigenous animism, which I embrace with deep resonance as I continued my walks. Well and yes, I heard the Jaguar’s roar one the nights during my stay in the jungle. Fast paced heartbeat took place indeed and the rise of my sense of compassion too. Felt blessed for its presence, knowing it is listed as one of the Amazon’s endangered animals among others as the it is estimated that about 20% of the rainforest has been destroyed due to deforestation since the 1960’s. If the trend continues, some estimates indicate that over half of the remaining rainforests could be gone in the next seventeen years. This would mean the end of countless species and a significant decline of the remaining ones.
The sense of separation and alienation found in our so-called modern ways is non-existent in tribal community. The communion with the environment is sacred by all means and the survival co-depends with its preservation. Indigenous people revere the forest that, until we interfered, has protected them from outsiders and given them everything they need. They live what is called a sustainable existence, meaning they use the land without doing harm to the plants and animals that also call the rainforest their home.
As a wise indigenous man once said, "The earth is our historian, our educator, the provider of food, medicine, clothing and protection. She is the mother of our races."
We are One with All, and All is within Us.
Is heartbreaking to imagine such earthly treasure lose its enchantment, and the symphony of life lose its melody, the gift given to us by Universe, in name of so much greed in power since the first Europeans entered Amazon about 500 years ago. The hunt for gold, slavery and later the rubber boom, followed by claiming of lands, threats to fauna and flora, tribes annihilation, stripping down cultures and their teachings in favor of private interests. Many of these original peoples, such as the Caribs, have disappeared completely. Others are only scattered remnants of what they once were. With the arrival of Europeans, diseases came along, such as smallpox, measles and even the common cold which indigenous peoples had no immunity.
Nowadays the population of Amazon tribes continues to decrease because of the legal and illegal activities. The oil development, war, deforestation, and drug trafficking can be the main reasons for the decline of the tribe population, report states that there are 400 till 500 indigenous tribes in the Amazon, 50 of them have never been exposed to the outside world. The largest tribe today is the Guarani, numbering 51,000, but they have very little land left. Yanomami tribe with 20,000 members holds the largest territory, near the border of Southern Venezuela and Northern Brazil. The smallest tribes who live in Amazon rainforest include the Kanoe and Akuntsu, with less than 30 members. There are at least 180 different kinds of languages spoken by the indigenous Amazon tribes. They still live much, as did their ancestors thousands of years before them. Food, medicines and clothing come primarily from the forest.
“The communities in the Yanomami Territory are seriously threatened! In the past, we lost many of our relatives to diseases brought in by non-indigenous people and today we still suffer from those losses. We do not want outsiders to bring in more diseases which threaten our relatives’ lives. Today, we’re once more at risk from the Xawara (epidemic) brought in by non-indigenous people which you call Coronavirus. Our communities are far from the cities and are already suffering from an increase in cases of malaria, and there is not enough health care to look after our family members who are sick. We do not want this situation to become even worse with the arrival of Coronavirus”.
Please sign the PETITION:
We have so much to learn from the indigenous tribes, as they possess an enormous body of almost irreplaceable information and skills about living in the rainforest without destroying it: the sacred ancient ways. Truly, the opportunity to experience the life in the jungle, and its treasures, brings even more clarity about the abuse of government’s power withdrawing the natural resources in such a greed manner, undertaking ”strategic” public works, such as dams and roads, without indigenous consent, violating international conventions. Is just unacceptable. A connecting point raised by environmental groups is that by strengthening native land rights deforestation slows down and the release of greenhouse gas emissions in consequence.
History shows the weave threads of administration after administration, manipulating the use of power for its own benefits and alarming the state of chaos found within its territories now. Although indigenous people have lived on their lands for thousands of years, they do not own it, because they have not filled “deeds” of land and do not possess a “title”. Therefore governments and other outsiders do not recognize their rights to the land, opening up the field of power abuse and lack of respect for the natives.
In Brazil, start with the “ prosecution of environmental crimes" weakened under President Dilma Rousseff, local NGO Amazon said, contributing to the first increase in deforestation in nearly a decade last year. Clearly “Belo Monte-Dam”, a development under her administration, is a symbol of destruction and corruption, as the project had not a place in the 20th Century renewable energy resources in hand, in terms of economics and/or energy production, specifically if we take into account the environmental and social destruction to the indigenous and Amazon deforestation as a worldwide patrimony. We can also retrace the steps of President Lula and Transamazonica scam.
In alert of such calamities, I like to recall events regarding the Amazon tribes on Brazilian territory, as President Temer which Environmental protection then under his supervision, also appeared to be an expendable pawn in his congressional game, introduced a bill, the RENCA Decree (National Reserve of Copper and Associates, created in 1984 by the military) to abolish a natural reserve the size of Denmark. Reclassifying 349.000 hectares of Jamanxim National Forest in the Amazon, gutting protections, allowing economic activities as logging, ranching, farming and mining, and legitimizing land grabs there. The region is rich in iron, manganese and tantalum, risks of exploitation in highest degree would have been open not only to national companies but foreigners as well.
Our collective power in expressing our voices towards the preservation of the irreplaceable ecosystem and community of Amazon reserve hasn't been heard, or at least this time and for a while. A whole tribe which had never had contact with outsiders, within the protected reserve, has been annihilated by miners, at shotgun point: 20 indigenous killed. A consequence of the runaway power of the rural caucus in congress and within the Tamer administration, as “ruralistas” growing confidence that they will not be held accountable, continue to bring serious consequences for the environment, Indians, quilombolas (those living in communities set up by runaway slaves), peasant farmers and other rural inhabitants. These astonishing events draw society attention to what is behind of the veil in the series of attacks by the Government against the environment and the rights of the indigenous people and continues.
In the recent track of December 2019, President Bolsonaro published Provisional Measure 910, also knowns as MP 910. Provisional Measure 910 intends to amnesty crimes of invasion of public land practiced until the end of 2018. The MP910 amends legislation on land regularization and legalizes informal settlements on federal lands, granting property titles to those occupying the land. If approved, MP 910 will legalize land grabbing with disastrous consequences for indigenous population and the environment.
Provisional Measure 910/2019 can be voted at any time by the National Congress.
The approved case measure “WILL FAVOR ILLEGAL DEFORESTATION AND THE CRIME OF INVASION OF PUBLIC LANDS”.
The government claims its proposed legislation would benefit Indigenous people. Yet the government did not consult with Indigenous peoples when drafting the bill, and the text itself contains no requirement to ensure meaningful consent from affected communities, as international standards call for. Indigenous leaders say the government of President Bolsonaro is failing to defend their people from a dual threat: the spread of the coronavirus on the one hand and a surge of land invasions on the other.
Special researches among environmentalists state that the Amazon fires have raised in a alarming rate of 52% from last years. According to the coordinator of the Fires Program in Brazil, Alberto Setzer, this fact CANNOT be attributed only to the dry weather or natural causes. Now as I type this, the fires are burning indigenous reserves and conservation areas. The focus concentrates on 43,3% of Amazon. Setzer, reminds us that the burned areas happen prior to the plantation of grains (as in Indonesia), following the areas are deforested and invaded, as part of the invasion strategy of public lands. Let’s raise a question about the sequence of events here.
The beginning of 2020 has seen an acceleration of high-profile killings of environmentalists in some of the region’s most biodiverse countries. Their deaths jeopardize the fight against climate change and species extinction.
I left Amazonia grounds as a very different person I arrived. It didn’t take long at all to embrace the calling. The memories of waking up with the children upon my hammock with flowers and an invitation to play with the butterflies are with me everyday. This is an invitation to get back to purity, of the heart, air, water and land, to clear intents, to service, to community, action and see life as a sacred ritual, respecting and honoring each living being. On my perception, key elements of a sustainable existence, and a joyful one.
I raise a call for support and to stand together to make a difference, to bring a higher consciousness of our connection to our planet, nature and all living beings. What would be more important than this?
Here I ask a moment of silence in honor to all indigenous who lost their lives though massacres, genocides, rapes, slavery and disease. The history repeats.
Here I ask a moment of reflection of how you may support Amazon. We all have our unique gifts, resources and insights to be shared. Let us be in service to each other. Stand united. It is one of the most fulfilling achievements we are invited to feel it. The history can be changed as we create a new parallel of reality.
"Within the next few decades, the fate of the world's remaining indigenous peoples, the fragile environments they occupy, and the valuable knowledge that they embody could well be decided once and for all. A number of individuals, corporations, and states are already pursuing their own "final solutions." The 20th century will be remembered either as the century when we destroyed much of the Earth's genetic and cultural diversity, or the century when peoples learned to live together and share their knowledge in order to maintain the diversity upon which we all depend. Working together, we can make a world of difference."
J.W.Clay
"Embrace of the Serpent", one of my favorites movies on Amazon & the Indigenous wisdom.
"Don't let our song fade!"
In your Honor Indigenous Tribes we dance:
“Tribos” Lyrics:
Aimoré, Bororó,
Warekena, Ingarikó,
Kamaiurá, Tikuna,
Amanayé, Xipaya
Ianomâmi, Tukuna
Kaxinawá, Kanamari
Potiguara, Assurini
Makuna, Pankararé
Pataxó, Tapirapé
Wai-Wai, Witoto
Kuripako, Tukano
Xavante, Tupinikim,
Amahuaca, Apinajé
Ashaninka, Banawá
Barasana, Araueté
Catauxi, Jamamadí,
Hupda, Jarauara,
Kaixana, Jiahui
Juma, Waninnawa
Kaxarari, Kokama
Kubeo, Makuna
Mura, Shanenawa,
Paumari, Náua
Canoeiro Tuxá,
Waricaca, Tuyuca,
Shipibo, Yanonami,
Mayoruna, Waimiri
Ajurú, Akuntsú,
Xerentes, Paresi,
Matetamāe, Suruí,
Palicur, Nukini
Sateré-Mawé,
Akaraja, Baré
Katukina, Kaxaxari
Kambeba, Jabuti! ! !
AHO ! ! !
As each day goes by, I breathe Amazon within me.
I continuously ask myself "How can I help"? And driven by this inner fire, I am soul honored to announce "SAVE THE AMAZON MARATHON" presented by Serialism Records and Meoko Music Mag (UK). channeled last weekend of 26th to 28th June as the underground Music world united in a unique event for the protection of the Amazon forest and the indigenous population reached over 100K views! Infusing the sound of awareness over the whole planet, activated dozens of thousands of signatures for petitions to protect the indigenous tribes and the lands. The music marathon for our beloved Amazon was a success!
It wasn’t with simple steps that we made it happen.
Time was against us. COVID-19 invading the Amazon and attacking its tribes, creating a perfect scenario for more devastation and violation of human rights meanwhile Europe is waking up from isolation.
The stream censored by Facebook the day prior its start, created waves of interference upon our abilities to open the field drooping the seeds of information. While aligning another platform options at the last minute the transmission opened, yet we were interrupted as well, muted as the live playing set took place, a video from Facebook owner Mark Zuckerberg, speaking about his view on the COVID. I truly question the intention behind media platforms (as I cannot do it differently) and offer you an opportunity to do the same about it.
And although they try to bury us, they don't know we are seeds as now our voices and sounds become even louder exposing the “circus-tances” of the politics play!!
All Gratitude all for being part of this journey, the viewers who supported us, the friends who let us spam their channels with related information, petitions, and donations. A wave of goodness to our working team, all the artists, labels, festivals, clubs, radios, promoters, broadcasting stations for their unique contributions towards this campaign.
You are invited to visit Serialism Records and Meoko FB pages for the full content streaming, the line up gives me goosebumps! Save the videos, play the sets and bring your PRESENCE to the added petitions still moving. Particularly, the petition to save the Yanomami tribe from extinction - Covid 19 (above in the article) collected 311.000 signatures by now, the goal is 350.000 to put pressure on the Brazilian Government.
Every action counts!
EVENT LINKS:
I-AM-AZON Artists Line Up:
FRIDAY 26.06 Sublee 22:00 CET Vlad Arapasu 21:00 CET David Gtronic 20:00 CET Lorenzo Chiabotti 19:00 CET Weg (DE) 18:00 CET Anushka 17:00 CET Rods Novaes 16:00 CET Nazt 15:00 CET SATURDAY 27.06 Renato Ratier 22:00 CET Marko Nastić 21:00 CET Rich NxT 20:00 CET Mike Shannon 19:00 CET Cesare vs Disorder 18:00 CET Deadbeat Music 17:00 CET Frank Storm 16:00 CET Guilherme VAC 15:00 CET Ocean Lam 14:00 CET SUNDAY 28.06 Javier Carballo 21:00 CET Andre Buljat 20:00 CET Christian Burkhardt 19:00 CET Vlf 18:00 CET Red pig flower 17:00 CET Kat Kat Tat 16:00 CET Kappen 15:00 CET Joe Le Groove 14:00 CET Magnus Asberg 13:00 CET
Finally, worth to say, the event is entirely pro-bono, artists, media partners, house productions will entirely work for free. All we want is to support existing trustworthy campaigns and local associations. Please take the time to visit their website and support them!!
Petitions we support, please sign and share:
Please Donate to Amazon Emergency Fund !!!
Join the Call for a Moratorium on the Invasion and Destruction of Amazonian Indigenous Lands! TAKE ACTION!https://amazonwatch.org/take-action
We are coming with a round 2 sooner than later
I SEE YOU NOW in PRESENCE to THE AMAZON & THE INDIGENOUS TRIBES
Let Here Be Light!
Marcia
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