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In just two weeks, Brazil will host the 2014 World Cup and a massive influx of people from around the world who are planning to visit the world of soccer and samba. What most Brazilians and global soccer lovers don't know, however, is that the new stadiums and infrastructure costing upwards of $10 billion come at the expense of basic social needs, human rights and the environment. In response, civil society in Brazil is rising up and taking action.
500 people from over 100 distinct cultures are in Brazil's capital They have come to Brasilia to defend their rights and their territories from a massive attack, waged by the agribusiness lobby and "ruralist" caucus of Congress. These business interests and their representatives in Congress have stopped the demarcation of indigenous lands and are working to limit indigenous rights that are guaranteed in the 1988 Constitution. Yesterday, indigenous leaders delivered declarations against these attacks to the Supreme Court and Congress. They then joined public workers protesting the World Cup. Signs read, "WORLD CUP FOR WHOM?" and "FIFA NO. DEMARCATION YES." The peaceful demonstration was met by a violent response by the national police force. Legendary Kayapo Chief Cacique Raoni and hundreds of men, women and children were tear gassed in a harbinger of what's to come in a couple of weeks as the World Cup begins in this Amazonian country. Can there be indigenous rights and the World Cup? We think it's possible, but there's a long way to go if that's to be. For that to happen we need to add our fullest support to this fight against entrenched businesses and corruption and for the rights of indigenous forest peoples of the Amazon.
Please show your support for the National Indigenous Mobilization today. For Indigenous Rights and the Amazon,
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