''The deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon has become one of the most talked about and concerning issues over the last few months, attracting the attention of many including Hollywood Director James Cameron who quoted that the situation reminded him of the storyline in his blockbuster film hit ''Avatar''. Over the years many environmentalists have tried to stop the cutting down of trees and preserve this treasure to humanity. Many of who paid a high price for the simple wish of making the earth a better place. Between those were a couple Mr Jose Claudio Ribeiro da Silva and Mrs Maria do Espirito Santo, who after 15 years of hard work ended up in the middle of the Amazon, the place they fought so hard to conserve, executed. It is all because they tried to raise awareness to the world of what really goes on there. Illegal loggers in the area and cattle-ranchers will go to any extent to put a silence to those voices and the government has failed to protect them, despite receiving many pleas from the couple to help them they decided to ignore it. José Cláudio Ribeiro da Silva spoke about the numerous threats he faced for rising in defence of the Amazon rainforest:
''I could be here today talking to you and in one month you will get the news that I disappeared. I will protect the forest at all costs. That is why I could get a bullet in my head at any moment ... because I denounce the loggers and charcoal producers, and that is why they think I cannot exist.
[People] ask me, 'are you afraid?' Yes, I'm a human being, of course I am afraid. But my fear does not silence me. As long as I have the strength to walk I will denounce all of those who damage the forest.''
Greed and capitalism have failed to see this beauty as it is, the only thing they see is a way of making money, with no regards for the indigenous that live there, not mentioning the rare animals and plants who have found habitat on this corner of the earth."
The $11 billion project to build the Belo Monte dam on the Xingu indigenous land will be bigger than the Panama Canal, flooding nearly a million acres of rainforest and indigenous lands. 40,000 natives and local people will be forced off their native lands. Many people have tried to raise the alarm over this important issue, not just to the Brazil but to the whole world. Heartbreaking pictures of the natives’ cries for help and their protests against the corporate giant were seen all around, when the President Dilma Rousseff announced, that she was giving the green light for the project to go ahead.
The legal battle between Brazilian judges to stop/continue the project has given a new decision. Last week Judge Carlos Castro Martins ruled in favour of stopping the project, which is very likely to be appealed by the Norte Energia Company, who is behind the project. Belo Monte once finished will be the world’s third largest operational dam in the world, behind China’s Three Gorges and Brazil/Paraguay’s Itaipú. It has been said that President Rouseff is dissatisfied with this decision and has therefore decided to suspend the annual contribution to Human Rights body. The Brazilian government insists the 11.000 MW Belo Monte dam is crucial for development and will create jobs, as well as provide electricity to 23 million homes. Despite all the promises from important Brazilian political figures, such as: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, that this is being done for the people all we have so far seen are painful frustrations such as increased poverty, insecurity and social chaos. The Judge came to this decision because the dam would not meet all standards required, and interfering with the flow of the Xingu River would affect local fish stocks and could harm indigenous families who make a living from fishing. But still, the government insists the dam is crucial to meeting growing energy needs. Environmentalists and indigenous groups have argued that it will harm the world's largest tropical rainforest and displace tens of thousands of people. The agency, Ibama, said the dam had been subjected to "robust analysis" of its impact on the environment.
Putting aside all the important facts, such as the tremendous impact that wiping out an enormous part of the Amazon, will have on our echo system and how it will affect our planet. We have to also think about the people, why are their voices not being heard? Or has the greedy world become deaf to pleas for help. When did we become so into materialistic gain that we decided to turn a blind eye to those who need our help? Why are those few people on top thinking that it’s OK for them to make decision that will enrich them yet even more, at the cost of human suffering? Why haven’t we had or seen enough to finally stand up to them?.
My mind fills with questions, but nowadays there’s no time to sit and question the situation but to act. We, as human beings have rights. The declaration of Human Rights article 1, states that:
“All human being are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedom set forth in the declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty.
According to Article 5 of the text of the Declaration of Human Rights this which states:
“NO ONE SHALL BE SUBJECT TO TORTURE OR TO CRUEL, INHUMAN OR DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT”
Is it not inhuman to deprive these innocent people off their land? is it not cruel let the government destroy their whole world as they know it, before their own eyes?Is it not the time to act now and not let those in power get away with such injustice. Support the movement for Humans right to be taken into account. It is not something that was established to be ignored. Many people all around the world need your help. Can you give them a voice?
Please sign this petition to stop this...
http://www.raoni.fr/signature-petition-1-EN.php 
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