Survival International

Survival International is an international non-governmental organization supporting tribal peoples worldwide. Survival International has been working with indigenous communities and organizations for the protection of land and human rights of indigenous peoples. The human rights organization has been awarded among others with the Right Livelihood Award.

History

Survival International was founded in 1969 in London. This was triggered by an article by Norman Lewis in the British newspaper Sunday Times about the massacres, land expropriation and genocide against indigenous groups in the Brazilian Amazon.

Today, Survival International has worldwide claims to supporters in 82 countries. Survival International is currently processing about 90 cases in 35 different states.

Organization

The main office of Survival International is located in London. There are other institutions in Milan, Madrid, Paris and Amsterdam. The office established in 2004 in Germany is located in the House of Democracy and Human Rights in Berlin.

Objectives and Methodology

Survival International provides no aid in the classical sense, but also supports indigenous peoples through education, advocacy and campaigns in the fight for their land rights, their own future and their lives. In addition, Survival International offers the indigenous peoples a platform on which they can carry their concerns directly to the outside world.

It only works on cases that are brought by the indigenous peoples concerned himself at her. Cases are not wanted on their own initiative. Survival International relies on secondary sources of information to support those folks who are in danger of losing their land, their livelihoods and way of life and sometimes of one's life. Sources of information on the one hand include local organizations, which are generally formed by the indigenous peoples themselves, other NGOs and journalists, on the other hand, its own employees, who are in most major campaigns locally. The overriding principle for Survival International is to make no decisions over the heads of the interested parties away, but to support them only in protecting their lives and their lands and determine their own futures.

Survival International makes cases of human rights violations against indigenous peoples - for example at the San in Botswana - Republic to generate public pressure for the victims and to move the responsible governments and corporations to act responsibly. The organization works through global and local actions. They organized letter-writing campaigns, targeted at companies, banks and governments (and also extremist missionaries, guerrilla armies or conservationist ), and petitions to government agencies and conducts intensive media work. The aim is to focus the attention of world public opinion to the cases handled and to bring public pressure change processes.

In addition, Survival International has lobbied indigenous peoples and their organizations ( such as First People of the Kalahari ) even a forum through which they can make their voices heard internationally.

In addition, Survival International also funds worthy projects in indigenous communities, such as a " Medical Aid Fund of the Yanomami ," a project to health care in Brazil. Survival International has, for example, financed wells for two Aboriginesgemeinden and participated in a project to promote tourism and employment with the Innu in Canada. In general, indigenous peoples this type of project but not required, as Survival International, since they provided themselves, when their land rights would be respected. Such projects would only be funded if they are explicitly desired and planned by those affected. Survival International understands that the organization of development cooperation, but as a human rights organization. Therefore aid projects make up only a small part of the work.

At the same time promotes Survival International educational work. Especially the prejudice that indigenous peoples are 'primitive' or 'stone age' and their way of life must be adapted to that of the West, is intended to be dismantled. This will be achieved through educational projects, press releases, information and internet news. Survival International also develops learning materials for schools to provide a respectful cultural exchange.

Achievements

Survival International has several governments convinced to recognize land rights of indigenous peoples, such as the Yanomami in Brazil, the Nukak in Colombia and the Jarawa in India. Survival International has brought companies to withdraw from harmful projects in areas of indigenous peoples, such as logging companies in the country of Udege in Siberia. Survival International has also contributed to the situation and the rights of indigenous peoples greater recognition worldwide.

Prominent supporters

Among the prominent supporters include Colin Firth, Damien Hirst and Richard Gere.

Ambassador for Survival International are Quentin Blake, Julie Christie, Kurt Jackson, Mark Rylance and Pippa Small.

Awards

Survival International received the 1989 Right Livelihood Award (also known as " Alternative Nobel Prize " known), as well as the Spanish Premio Felipe Leon and the Italian Medaglia della Presidenza della Camera dei Deputati.