What are the effects of illegal logging, mining, and farming on the indigenous tribes in the Amazon and how can public policy help to address these consequences?

I found my sources by searching for articles using key words like illegal mining, logging, and farming in the Amazon, respectively. I then searched for effects of illegal mining, logging, and farming on the amazon. I tried searching first for the causes of these illegal activities to get a better understanding of why they occur/what influences them. I then searched for the effects they have on the Amazon because indigenous communities live in and survive off of the Amazon, meaning in the end, they are the ones who immediately suffer the consequences. I was able to find many sources that talk about and link these effects to indigenous communities. My sources include newspaper articles from The New York Times and The Guardian, a report from Humans Rights Watch, and a YouTube video of an interview with an illegal logger.

My newspaper article, In the Amazon, Fires Steal Breath, but Smoke Smells of Money, talks about the increase in fires that are raging in the Amazon, which are intentionally started by ranch owners. It’s the fastest, and illegal, way to transform large parts of the Amazon into fields fit for grazing. It also talks about how, ever since Brazil’s president has been in office, he’s prioritized economic development over environmental concerns. Many ranch owners and farmers have seen this as encouragement to burn down more of the Amazon. This source will help my audience understand why people burn down the rainforest.

Another source I will be using, Illegal Mining, ‘Worse Than at Any Other Time,’ Threatens Amazon, Study Finds, talks about how the surge in gold prices has led to an epidemic of illegal gold mining in the Amazon, threatening indigenous territories. A study by a group of environmental organizations analyzed data from six Amazon countries and identified 2,312 illegal mining sites. They have caused the rivers to be contaminated with mercury. These toxic pollutants seep into the earth contaminating plants, animals and people. Aside from polluting, these illegal miners are getting close to uncontacted tribes which poses a mortal threat to them in terms of illness. This source will help me explain the causes behind  illegal gold mining in the Amazon as well as how it affects indigenous communities, including the bigger risks it poses to uncontacted tribes.

I am unsure about using this article, Amazon Deforestation in Brazil Rose Sharply on Bolsonaro’s Watch, because it doesn’t really give me any specific details about any public policies. It does talk about how president Bolsonaro (of Brazil) has had his government ‘scale back efforts’ in fighting against illegal mining, logging and farming by cutting down funding for government agencies that have been tasked with enforcing environmental laws and regulations. He’s been outspoken about the importance of economic development and how conservation policies are just getting in the way of it. He fully supports the mining and agriculture industries and their expansion into protected reserves, including indigenous lands.

I still need to research a bit more on public policies that are meant to protect the Amazon and indigenous lands as well as helping to fight against these illegal activities. Also, ways they can improve and be more effective.

Bibliography

Clifford, Krauss. “In the Amazon, Fires Steal Breath, but Smoke Smells of Money.” The New York Times, 2 Nov. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/02/world/americas/brazil-amazon-fires-cowboys.html

Darlington, Shasta. “Illegal Mining, ‘Worse Than at Any Other Time,’ Threatens Amazon, Study Finds.” The New York Times, 10 Dec. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/12/10/world/americas/amazon-illegal-mining.html.

Londoño, Ernesto, and Letícia Casado. “Amazon Deforestation in Brazil Rose Sharply on Bolsonaro’s Watch.” The New York Times, 18 Nov. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/11/18/world/americas/brazil-amazon-deforestation.html.

Muñoz Acebes, César, et al. “Rainforest Mafias.” Human Rights Watch, 27 May 2020, www.hrw.org/report/2019/09/17/rainforest-mafias/how-violence-and-impunity-fuel-deforestation-brazils-amazon.

Phillips, Dom. “Goldmining having big impact on indigenous Amazon communities.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 07 Oct. 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/07/goldmining-having-big-impact-on-indigenous-amazon-communities.

“Why I illegally cut down trees in the Amazon rainforest | Interview with a Brazilian illegal logger.” YouTube, uploaded by The Telegraph, 2 Dec. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zITRFwiBE38&t=187s.

My research question will be “What are the effects of illegal logging, mining, and farming on the indigenous tribes in the Amazon and how can public policy help to address these consequences?”.

This question interests me because it talks about transgressions that are threatening the lives of indigenous communities living in the Amazon. This question will help me explore the current effects of these illegal activities on indigenous tribes living in the Amazon as well as any future repercussions they may suffer if these illegal activities were to continue. Apart from the environmental effects caused, I also plan on writing about the ‘war for survival’ by indigenous tribes against invading loggers, miners, and farmers as another effect. This question will also help me address public policies that help protect indigenous tribes and their lands and those that lack effort in fighting to solve this problem and in enforcing them.

By the end of next week, I should have all of my scholarly sources. I need to do more research on ways the governments can improve on protecting indigenous tribes, their lands, and those who protect the rainforest.

The intended audience for my essay is people who don’t understand the impact logging, mining, and farming has on indigenous communities and/or those who don’t believe these illegal activities affect them. I want to change their perspective and inform my audience on the severe consequences these actions have on native tribes who live in the Amazon. I’ve chosen this model essay called “Effects of Deforestations” by Pachamama Alliance (https://www.pachamama.org/effects-of-deforestation) to model my essay after because I want to structure my essay in a way that my audience won’t have a problem following. I will begin with explaining the causes of illegal logging, mining, and farming, as well as the effects it has on the Amazon which, in turn, affect indigenous communities who depend on the rainforest to survive. I will then follow with writing about the ‘war for survival’ which indigenous warriors have found themselves being forced to fight against invaders (illegal loggers, miners, and farmers) in order to defend their lands. I then plan on finishing off with different plans of action governments can implement to help make a change and solve this issue.

Bibliography

Clifford, Krauss. “In the Amazon, Fires Steal Breath, but Smoke Smells of Money.” The New York Times, 2 Nov. 2019, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/02/world/americas/brazil-amazon-fires-cowboys.html

Darlington, Shasta. “Illegal Mining, ‘Worse Than at Any Other Time,’ Threatens Amazon, Study Finds.” The New York Times, 10 Dec. 2018, www.nytimes.com/2018/12/10/world/americas/amazon-illegal-mining.html.

Londoño, Ernesto, and Letícia Casado. “Amazon Deforestation in Brazil Rose Sharply on Bolsonaro’s Watch.” The New York Times, 18 Nov. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/11/18/world/americas/brazil-amazon-deforestation.html.

Muñoz Acebes, César, et al. “Rainforest Mafias.” Human Rights Watch, 27 May 2020, www.hrw.org/report/2019/09/17/rainforest-mafias/how-violence-and-impunity-fuel-deforestation-brazils-amazon.

Phillips, Dom. “Goldmining having big impact on indigenous Amazon communities.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 07 Oct. 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/07/goldmining-having-big-impact-on-indigenous-amazon-communities.

“Why I illegally cut down trees in the Amazon rainforest | Interview with a Brazilian illegal logger.” YouTube, uploaded by The Telegraph, 2 Dec. 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zITRFwiBE38&t=187s.

For my second essay I have decided to write about another social issue that has interested me, that is, the deforestation of national reserves in the Amazon. More specifically, how indigenous tribes have been affected by illegal logging, mining, and farming. Some of the research questions that have come to mind are: Why are people illegally logging, mining, and farming in national reserves in the Amazon? How are indigenous tribes being affected by this? What is the government doing to help indigenous tribes protect their land? These questions arose after I watched a documentary called “Guardians of the Amazon”. This documentary follows a group of indigenous people, from Brazil, in their hunt to stop illegal loggers from logging on their lands. It also points out the lack of response from the Brazilian government in aiding them in their fight. Unfortunately, many more tribes have also had to wage war against illegal loggers, miners and farmers who have, day by day, taken more of their lands. This topic is very important because it talks about how the deforestation of the Amazon threatens the lives of indigenous tribes. Some of these indigenous tribes still remain uncontacted from the world, making them more vulnerable and more likely to disappear if these illegal activities were to continue on in the future. The consequences will be devastating to these local indigenous communities. It saddens me to think that these indigenous people have been forced to take it upon themselves to fight to protect their lands from disappearing. This rainforest has been the home to thousands of generations of indigenous tribes. They shouldn’t have to fight to preserve their homes or their way of life. I plan to answer these questions by researching more on what is causing the deforestation of the Amazonian rainforest, the effects it’s had on indigenous communities, and in what ways has the government not/assisted in protecting these national reserves. I’m still not sure if I want to cover different parts of the Amazon, since it expands over a few countries, or just focus in one location specifically. This battle to protect the rainforest and the indigenous tribes inhabiting them, takes place in several locations.  Lastly, for my opposing point of view, I might research for interviews with loggers, miners, and farmers on their reasons for exploiting the rainforest’s resources.

Magazine article

https://cuny-cc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CUNY_CC/qlf695/cdi_gale_lrcgauss_A610282066

This magazine article, “The Act of Protest” by Jiayang Fan from The New Yorker, is about the author’s experience during the Hong Kong protests. She begins talking about a play titled “The first and second half of 2047”, performed at City Hall. This play is a semi-documentary by director Wu Hoi Fai in which many of the actors are university students who also take part in protest marches. She attends multiple rallies herself  where she notes the difference between daytime rallies and nighttime ones. She also visits various places, like one of the multiple Lennon Walls that have sprung up around the city and interviews multiple people with different opinions about the protests.

Journal article

https://cuny-cc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01CUNY_CC/qlf695/cdi_jstor_primary_26838911

This journal article, “Hong Kong’s Summer of Uprising: From Anti-Extradition to Anti-Authoritarian” from China Review, is a study that describes the origins and characteristics of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement. It uses data collected from onsite surveys and population surveys during a three-month period from June 2019 to August 2019. The study uses graphs to illustrate the demographics of protesters, motivations, means of participation and identification with slogans used. A comparison between these current protests and the Umbrella movement from 2014 reveal that the failed 79-day occupation helped shaped protesters motivations, structure and strategy in the present.

Newspaper article

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/world/asia/hong-kong-protests-one-year-later.html

This newspaper article, “Hong Kong Protests, One Year Later” by Austin Ramzy and Mike Ives from The New York Times, illustrates some of the key moments of this pro-democracy movement that began in early June of last year. In the course of a year, clashes between protesters and the police have become a common occurrence. The legislature of Hong Kong, university campuses, subway systems including trains, and commercial centers have all been battlegrounds of these hostile encounters at least once. A ban on face masks, new national security laws and for the first time in 30 years, a ban on the Tiananmen Square vigil, have all been met with mutiny by Hongkongers. Although the pandemic has ceased some of these demonstrations at the beginning of this year, since spring, more have been reemerging.

Web source

https://time.com/5606212/hong-kong-history-mass-demonstrations-protest/

This article, “A Brief History of Protest in Post-Handover Hong Kong” by Amy Gunia from Time, shows Hong Kong’s history of battles for democracy. For over 2 decades, Hong Kong has struggled with China’s attempts at limiting their freedoms and restricting their civil liberties. From aiming to control Hong Kong’s electoral system, educational system, and even their culture, Hongkongers have expressed their discontent every time. Protests that have ensued from these grievances have had its successes and failures. China’s efforts of distorting history and influencing the younger generations, was halted. The proposal of universal suffrage in Hong Kong’s electoral system has long been, and still is, a demand of Hongkongers.

An issue that interest me are the protests that are occurring in Hong Kong. As mentioned before, in my rhetorical analysis, these protests started in response to an extradition bill that would allow extraditions from Hong Kong to mainland China. However, these protests have a deeper meaning. They are not just protesting against a bill. What they are actually fighting for is to keep their democracy and self-autonomy intact. They are fighting to preserve their rights from being taken away before their due time. Hong Kong use to be a British colony for 99 years. In 1997, Britain gave Hong Kong back to China under a special agreement called “one country, two systems”. This agreement made Hong Kong a part of China, but it had its conditions. It stipulated that Hong Kong was to remain as a semi-autonomous region with democratic freedoms such as the right to vote, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and the right to assembly. Unfortunately, this agreement doesn’t last forever. It’s said to expire in 2047. Hong Kong is suppose to fully become a part of China, where it operates as an authoritarian government that doesn’t allow the same freedoms as present day Hong Kong. This topic interests me because these Hong Kong protests aren’t a local struggle. They are just a recent battle from a long lineage of fights for democracy around the world. It’s what America has also fought for. It’s what America stands for – liberty, freedom and hope. I can’t imagine what it’s like having an expiration date on your human rights. I wish to learn more about past Hong Kong protests that have occurred over this issue. How can these current protests make a meaningful difference? Can they bring about the change they so desperately want?

Author: “Hong Kong’s huge protests, explained” by Christine Thornell, is a video that explains, in depth, what started these Hong Kong protests and what they mean. The producer is a video journalist for vox.com, where she produces, researches, and makes web videos for Vox Borders, Vox Atlas and Vox Voices.

Rhetorical Situation: The video explains the reasons behind the massive anti-government protests happening in Hong Kong. These massive protests, that started over a year ago and are still ongoing today, are about maintaining Hong Kong’s democracy and independence from China. People began to protest in outrage over a controversial extradition bill they wanted withdrawn. This law would allow extraditions from Hong Kong to mainland China. There was massive discontent with this legislation because with it, comes this idea that China would gain more power and control over Hong Kong. Over the past few years, similar protests have broken out over this reoccurring issue; Hong Kong wanting to protect its autonomy from mainland China.

Audience: The audience meant for this video is anyone who wishes to understand what the Hong Kong protests are all about. This video is meant for people who want to know what the extradition bill between Hong Kong and mainland China is and how it might affect Hong Kong’s future. It also engages those who want to know more about the history of Hong Kong and how its judicial system works.

Purpose: The purpose of this video is to “…understand the news coming out of Hong Kong and the history that led up to this moment”, as per the description of this video. Essentially, this video was made to make the public aware about this ongoing social-political issue in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is fighting to keep their democracy and freedom from China. They’ve also added multiple links to more videos and articles, in their description box, for those who wish to learn more about Hong Kong’s history, basic law, and its leader.

Genre: The video is meant to be informative in a video format. On it’s website, under their video’s section, they describe their videos as being “videos that explain the news, and the world around you”. Vox.com is a news website that makes videos with the purpose of breaking down news headlines in a transparent manner.

Stance: The producer is pretty neutral towards this issue so she doesn’t have a stance.

Name: Marcela Velecela

Major: Economics

Preferred Gender Pronouns: She/Her

After reading over the syllabus, one thing I am most excited about is learning how to express my thoughts and feelings through carefully wrought language. I am not that good at thoroughly expressing my thoughts on paper and is one of the reasons why I don’t enjoy writing much. I’m always left with this feeling like something in my writing is missing.  That being said, I am also nervous about the amount of writing we will be doing this semester. It’s a challenge I am looking forward to in order to improve as a writer.

The qualities of good writing involve a process of brainstorming for ideas, making multiple drafts, and receiving feedback on your work. In order to be a good writer, one must do their part in researching thoroughly on their chosen subject. For me, research is the biggest part of writing because it’s important to understand what you’re writing about and create or increase public awareness on it. It is important to write well because by doing so you can communicate with the audience better. It will not only benefit your audience but also you in your career and everyday life.

The easiest part about writing, for me, is the part involving research. I enjoy researching about a topic that interests me, especially if it’s something new to me. The hardest part about writing is writing about a topic that I have no connection to. At times, it’s even hard to find a bit of motivation to begin writing and that’s where procrastination starts to hit me. I need to work on learning how to write about a variety of topics, especially on those I may not enjoy so much. I also need to work on self-reviewing. I’ve always found it easier to point out grammatical mistakes to others, but myself.

For my intended major, I believe there is quite a bit of writing I will be doing. Economists research, collect and analyze data so they may, later on, present their results in reports. The writing I will be doing will be analytical and descriptive. Career-wise, being an effective writer will help me with my communication skills and make better choices when advising a client about future projections.