Day 71: Uncontacted (5/30/2008)

Both the BBC and Reuters have news articles regarding pictures taken by the Brazil government of Amazonian indigenous populations that have not have contact with the outside world. While I can understand the fascination of these pictures, I wonder if this is a good thing for the group itself. They probably are well aware of the outside world and remain xenophobic for a reason. In Peru, where a number of these populations exist there is a law that protects these populations. Also, this summer there will be a symposium on these groups at the 2nd Latin American Symposium in San Jose, Costa Rica this July. There is also a book by Beatriz Huertas entitled "Indigenous Peoples in Isolation in the Peruvian Amazon, Their Struggle for Survival and Freedom".

I agree with the Brazilian governments assessment that these groups need protection but do you do that by publishing their pictures all over the internet and without their expressed informed consent.