Indigenous peoples / 3 posts found
Signs of lasting trauma in people evicted to make way for giant mine in Ecuador
Battles with the government and army over land and mining rights has caused indigenous Shuar people long-term psychological damage, report says Months after they were evicted from their homes to make way for a mine, almost half the population of an Ecuadorian village is suffering from psychological damage, experts have said. Psychiatrists found 42% of the indigenous Shuar people of Tsuntsuim village suffering from mental health problems and trauma. Many of the villagers had been involved in violent confrontations with Ecuadors military as they were removed from their homes. The mental ordeal has manifested itself in depression, severe headaches, insomnia, […]
Coca-Cola apologizes for indigenous people ad intended as ‘message of unity’
The ad, in which fair-skinned people bring soda to a local town, is not the first time countrys lax advertising regulations permitted offensive stereotyping Coca-Cola issued a rare apology and was forced to pull an online advert which was deemed by pointing the finger at the ag agency. Earlier this year, McDonalds made a huge cultural faux pas when it decided to disparage a popular traditional breakfast dish in hope of boosting its own sales. A Facebook campaign to promote McBurritos claimed tamales a popular steamed savoury maize dish stuffed with spiced meat or cheese which dates back to pre-Hispanic […]
Amazon land battle pits indigenous villagers against might of Ecuador state
Only a bridge separates the Shuar village of El Tink from threat of military and mining interests in high-profile dispute resulting in death and displacement Military drones and police helicopters circle above the Shuar indigenous village of El Tink, an Amazonian community in Ecuador where a high-profile dispute against a Chinese copper mine has become a standoff and a siege. Aerial surveillance is the only way the authorities can monitor this cloud forest enclave because residents have blocked the sole entrance to their home: a bouncing plank-and-cable bridge suspended 15 metres above the brown torrents of the Zamora river. Some […]
