Do you know Raoni Metuktire? The eighty-something Indian leader, better known as Raoni, has been the emblematic chef of the Kayapos, a Tribe of Brazilian Amazonia for decades. But now, more than ever, he is an angry man. And has been quite menacing over the past days. On Sunday, the Indigenous leader said to the journalists of TF1, one of the main French TV stations, that he is “ready for war”. The huge issue at stake is the $17.3 billion project of construction of a dam in Belo Monte, in the river Xingu located in Brazilian Amazonia. After 16 years controversy, Brazil has finally decided to allow the construction.

Raoni, the Indigenous leader (picture from the Raoni institute)

The bad effects of the dam

But if it comes into effect, the dam would become in 2015, the year the construction should be achieved, the third largest one worldwide. Around 500 km square of the forest, the equivalent of 1/3 of the tribe’s territory, would be under water. A "real disaster" for many activists who are struggling against the project. Even worse, more than 20.000 people would be forced to leave their land: a real tragedy for the local communities. “We will kill the whites who are building up this dam,” said the old man before adding, “It is time to get back what we have.” It is in 1989 that the Indian leader - who has this unconventional wooden disc on his lips - got famous when he got the support of the world British Pop Star singer Sting in his struggle to protect Amazonia. The effects were quite good. The foundation “rainforest” was found as well as 21 other foundations whose goal has been to raise awareness about the dangers Amazonia has been facing. In addition, they raise money. The G7 for instance, the annual meeting of the head of the states of world’s most industrialized countries, gave development funds to protect Amazonia and help developing a national park.

A trip to France to ask for help

The Indigenous ambassador, who fights against the attacks on Amazonia hammer and tongs is looking for help. Currently on a European tour, Raoni is “begging Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy to convince the Brazilian president to stop this project”.  He was in Paris last week where he met them. Of course, he knows that both Presidents could have a real impact on the decision as France has recently tightens bounds with the South American country. But the idea is also to raise the public awareness because the project has been a hot potatoe for many years. 

How much for the prestige of a country?

But beyond this visit, the story is obviously sad, very sad. It raises several important questions. The first one that comes to my mind is the cost of globalization. Indeed, Brazil has seen its economy booming over the past years. Several key points of the society have changed positively in a short amount of time and Brazil is now heading the top of the global stage, along with others countries as India, Russia and China of course. But shall the countries destroy indigenous local communities on behalf of modernity, of race for money or power? For several NGO's, the results, in terms of economic growth haven't been proven yet. But the Indian tribe, the Kayapos, had their first contact with Western people only in 1954. 

Some media and people I recently discussed the issue with, have point out an interesting parallel. The battle of Raoni looks like the James Cameron’s world blockbuster Avatar. The American director has been involved in the battle. Anyway, the story is about a struggle to survive, a struggle for life.  A sad story somehow.