Category Archives: Rundbriefe

Annual report 2022

Blumenthal, Januar 2023

Dear friends of the Yanomami,
this time the annual report of 2022 appears rather belated because at the begin of ’22 I was with the Yanomami for 3 months and immediatley afterwards I was lecturing in Schleswig-Holstein, Lower Saxony and South Tyrol. Together with the Yanomi and a competent work team I was able last year to renovate our second health station in Papiu Kayanau completely. An unexpected large support I received from the Brazilian ministry of health SESAI, who took over the expenes for transport flights from Boa Vista to Papiu.

Das Arbeiterteam vor dem Flugzeug

The team of workers in front of the plane

It took a few days to bring together the proper work team in Boa Vista which are Flávio the lumberjack, Senna the bricklayer, Michel and Gessivaldo the help-hands.
Despite previous vaccination against Corona in Germany I was tested positive in Boa Vista  and had to postpone my flight to the Yanomami by 10 days.

Meine brasilianischen Freundinnen in Boa Vista

My Brazilian friends in Boa Vista

In Boa Vista I met my longstanding freinds Anna, Loretta, Alessandra and Edna. They all helped with the preparations of the projects and the purchase of the building material for the renovation. With a pickup – lent from Anna – it took me merely a few days to get my purchases done.

In Papiu we were warmly welcomed by the Yanomami. At the end of the runway a few armed gold diggers wwere watching us suspiciously so I quickly explained I wasn’t a foreign journalist but only here to renovate our 22-year old health station.

In the year before last I had already visited a nearly gold digger camp. The gold diggers in the woods had everything: well working internet including satellite dish, solar electricity weth batteries for fridge and TV, a well filled kitchen, a small shop as well as a dance bar supplied with prostitutes from Manaus.

In our health station I had to – bitterly – observe malaria infected gold diggers looking for and getting treatment there. But for nurse Arisson there was no alternative. He explained, “I’ve got to treat every patient, that’s my duty.“

Senna verlegt den Boden

Senna is laying the floor

We started the renovation by building a sewage for the health station and a new cement floor for its terrace.

5 Yanomami together with lumberjack Flávio were going upriver in a canoe and cut down some trees and cut them into boards and beans. The Yanomami carried then through the woods to the bank of the river and were then taken by canoe down to the health station. It had a veranda at first floor level going around the whole building and all rotten boards and beans were being replaced by the new ones. 2 high scaffoldings for 500 l water tanks – one for the kitchen, one for the bath – completed our timber works.

Successful renovation of our health station

Due to mercury used for gold digging several rivers are being polluted and hardly drinkable.
So we built gutter along the long-sides of the roof of the health station to lead the rain water into th new tanks. Those were being filled quickly after the first heavy rain so we had good water in the surgery, the kitchen and the bath. Beautiful!

Robertson mit dem Solar-Mikroskop

Robertson with the solar microscope

For 3 days the Yanomami cleaned and sandpapered all outside walls of the health station and gave them a new fresh green coat of paint. Reginaldo and Kuata were working the benches, tables and doors. Everybody was happy when the health station was shining in its new glamour and I was happy when everything worked out fast and without problems.

In the health station new cables had to be laid everywhere and being connected up with the solar panels and batteries. Our microscopist for malaria examination Robertson is very grateful for the letter light through solar batteries. It makes examinations easier and is easier on the eyes as well.

The political situation of the indigenous in the rain forest

President Lula da Silva was being elected last year for the third time. He had promised to strengthen protection for climate as well as environment. He actually did by a large deployment of military and police. He banned gold diggers out of the rain forest and had their tools and machines destroyed and their planes burned.

Flugzeuge und Maschinen der Goldsucher werden zerstört

Gold diggers’ planes and machines are destroyed

He installed an action plan for protection of the Amazonian rain forest. He intends to confiscate half of the area used illegally for clearing. An additional 3 million ha of conservations area will be created. The rain forest will be closer watched and higher penalties for illegal clearing introduced.

2 indigenous women in Lulas new government

In december 2022 Sonja Guajajara was announced Minister of the new ministry of Indigenous population. Her engagement is for the portection of the indigenous areas. She said: “We will not allow any steps backswards“

43 members of the National Indigenous Authority wre being dismissed and the indigenous lawyer Joenia Wapichana put in charge of this authority. All vacant offices will be giben to inidgenous persons. Lula also sismissed 11 local coordinators of the ministry of health.

The new schooling project in Bisho Acu

At the end of the year the Yanomami asked me in a letter for a school project in Bisho Acu. Their wish is a school for maintaining their cultural identity and defence and protection of their enviroment.
Otávio further states in this letter:

“We do not need the school in order to become Nape (Non-Yanomami). We have to understand the world of the Nape and to use that knowledge to give us the capabilities for our rights.“

Daniel und Thiago engagieren sich für die Yanomami

Daniel and Thiago are committed to the Yanomami

So in the beginning of this year I went to the village Bisho Acu at the river Marauia and participated in a large gathering.

Ihre Yanomami Schule in Raiter

Their Yanomami school in Raiter

I visited the school in the Yanomami village Raiter, which was the idea of Daniel and Thiago from Sao Paulo and built by Carlinho from Santa Isabel do Rio Negro. It’s simple and very beautiful.

In this style out of wood I would like to build this school in the beginning of next year for the village of Otavio in Bisho Acu.

A big thank you to all supporters

Foundations and organizations
Oswald-Stiftung aus Pfarrkirchen
Lebensraum Regenwald e.V. von Roland Zeh
Sonnenwasser e.V. von Fritz Strohecker aus Strande
Kollekte des Ev.-Luth. Kirchenkreises von Plön
Eine Welt Kreis aus Mehring
Wortwechsel Verlag, Ulrike Steffen

Individual donors and supporters

Schülerinnen nach dem Vortrag am Gymnasium in Gelnhausen

Students after the lecture at the high school in Gelnhausen

Elisabeth Albert, Perihan Atug, Wolfgang Baumüller und Regine Häusler, Kathrin Beutin, Martin Binz, Hermann Birschel, Christine Bischoff, Hans Bornefeld, Petra und Jörg Bonin, Dr.Andrea Bräuning, Marlen Breitinger, Rudolf Brunner, Christina Chang, Michaela Freudenberger, Monika Gernert, Ferdinand Guttenberg, Monika Hagemann, Angelika Heinsen, Wolfgang und Isolde Hofer, Veronica Huber, Hans Hinrich Kahrs, Antje Kalbe, Stefan Kiehl, Monika Kienass, Karl-Heinz Klöckner, Henning Köhlert, Christhard Kotte, Dagmar und Bodo Kuhnhenn, Hilmar Lampert, Vilas Boas Lessa, Elfi und Volker Lindner, Alexander Mater, Rosi Mauer-Bittlinger und Geburtstagsgäste, Julia Melzner, Karen Knutzen-Mies und Herbert Mies,Toivo und Chris Miller, Hermine Mittermeier, David Muchau, Michael und Marianne Müller, Michael Müller-Andersson, Brigitte Ohm, Kathrina Ott, Markus Pfeifer, Blanche Piper, Hans Christian Plagmann, Dr. Roland Psenner, Ricarda Quick, Christina Chang Rudolph, Katinka Sauer, Giesela Schmieder, Silke Schöne, Ellen Schröter, Dr. Christian Schumacher, Hanna Severin, Alessandro Rocco Silvestri und Fatma, Dr. Florian Steiner, Marion und Herbert Strauss-Barthel und Geburtstagsgäste, Dieter und Elisabeth Untermann, Ulrich Wandt, Ralf Warnholz, Gundula und Sophie Weber, Wolfgang Weyer, Irina Wiessner, Wolfgang Zierke, Beate Ziethen.

Dear members and supporters

of Yanomami-Hilfe e.V. Only through your regular contributions and many donations planning and implementation of further Yanomami aid projects are possible. Muito obrigada!

Thank you
also to all the teachers who repeatedly invite me to their schools to give a lecture to the students about the Yanomami and the rainforest.

Successor wanted

Mein langjähriger Yanomami-Freund Chiquinho

Chiquinho, my longstanding Yanomami friend from Tomoropiwei, fasked me during my last visit: “Who will carry on with your work one day?“ I should start looking for someone adequate in order to train him/her up.

Perhaps there’s someone who would like to accompany me and participate in the school project? It’s planned for 3 months and starts early January 2024 beginnen. Anyone interested (but no “dreamer“, please) apply until middle of November: christinahaverkamp@web.de Sufficient knowledge in Portuguese is needed.

Final word

The improved political situation is a huge success, but we still realize that the pressure from gold diggers, mining, corrupt politicians etc will never stop. Our work for human right must be continued.

I’m very grateful for your loyal support. I wish us all a relaxing summer!

With sunny greetings

 

Christina Haverkamp

Final final word: This report was written as usual by me without support of artificial intelligence (AI).

Final final final word: The English version of this report was written without support of AI. By Ferdinand Guttenberg.

Dankeschön für eure weitere Unterstützung

Thank you for your ongoing support

Yanomami-Hilfe e.V., Hökerberg 1, 24241 Blumenthal, Telefon 0 43 47 – 70 81 34
E-Mail: office[at]yanomami-hilfe.de, Internet: www.yanomami-hilfe.de
Sparkasse Mittelholstein, IBAN DE 08 2145 0000 0003 3882 28

Annual report 2021

Blumenthal, January 2022

 

Dear Yanomami friendes,

School lectures in France

School lectures in France

this time you’ll get the annual report before I take off to Brazil in a few days for a 2 – 3 months trip to meet the Yanomamis in the Amazone region of Roraima.
Due to the continuous Corona Pandemic I was hardly able to do any lectures in German schools. All of my lectures I had organized for the autumn in Bavaria had to be cancelled because of the high incidenes. Very, very regrettable!

So instead I was able in October to do quite a few lectures in France in some schools which had been organized by Anne Ballester in her hometown of Ecommoy near Le Mans. The interest of the French pupils was really huge. After lectures I had to answer a lot of questions. And all that in French! It was quite a challenge for me.

Public relations with Anna Ballester in Ecommoy

Public relations with Anna Ballester in Ecommoy

Anna Ballester had prepared a Yanomami exhibition of 200 pictures in the cultural center of Ecommoy . Together with the press and the local TV we were able to really pin-point the threatening situation of the Yanomamis in the Amazonas region. In the end Anna and myself held a speech in front of a lot of spectators in the townhall of Ecommoy.

Because of the Corona pandemic I wasn’t able to visit the Yanomamis duringlast year. In the jungle metropolis Manaus the pandemic had been underestimated and gotten out of control. In the beginning of January the health-system collapsed completely so Mamaus became a proper Corona hotspot. Scores of patients died in the hospitals in the ICU’s (intensive care unit) due to insufficient oxygen supply.

Meetings with the Yanomamis

Meeting of the Yanomami of the Rio Marauia

Meeting of the Yanomamis of the Rio Marauia

In October 2021 we supported with our Yanomami-Hilfe association a large meeting of the local inhabitants at the river of Marauia. Many Yanomamis of various villages gathered for a few days to exchange views and discuss problems in order to find solutions.

These meetings are very important for the Yanomamis to see themselves as one large group and to realize: together they have to stick up for their rights.

A few month ago some members of the scientific foundation Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz) were refused entrance into the Yanomami region by the FUNAI (official Indian protection authority) . They refered to an order from March 2020 which implies indigenous regions may only be entered in case of greatest emergency. But malnutrition, Malaria and (last but not least) Corona worsen the situation of the Yanomamis increasingly.

A new gold digger invasion and Corona threaten the Yanomami

At the end of last year the 2nd forum of the Yanomamis and Ye`kwana took place in Boa Vista. A catalogue of demands was  established and handed over to the appropriate ministries and institutions. Demands were amongst others regualr nedical care by docotors who knew about their traditions and ways of their lifes. Also a test of their waters – lakes and rivers alike – was demanded because of the gold diggers in their region. They use highly poisonos mercury with their work.

Golddiggers and now Corona on top of it in Yanomami region.

According to ISA ( social ecological institute) less than 5 % of the Yanomami in Brazil are vaccinated. A large part of them don’t trust the vaccine. They demand increasingly to get all dold diggers out of their region. Not only do they destroy the jungle but also bring malaria and now Corona on top of it into their region. Now they expect us to protect ourselves with a vaccine we don’t even trust?

Since June last year the Yanomami-organisation Hutukara demanded the removal of thousends of illegal gold diggers working on their terretory and transmitting those deseases. Illegal pits are clearly the source of Covid 19 infections. The campaingn #MinersOut CovidOut# started by Yanomamis and Ye`kwana and being supported by Brazilian and international allies has collected more than 410.000 signatures supporting this “war”.

Yanomami and Ye'quana launch a campaign together

Yanomami and Ye’quana launch a campaign together

“We ask urgently for the removal of the invaders form our land. We want to hand over this document to the Brazilian authorities. It is an instrument to denounce the problem with the invasion of gold diggers, the contamination of the environment including our rivers and contamination through diseases like this epidemic,” says Dário Kopenawa Yanomami, Vice president of Hutukara.

The report doesn’t just blame the current lack of control of the Corona pandemic in Yanomami territory, it also shows how it developed in the region. Many Yanomamis were weakend before the outbreak of Corona by diseases like malaria which fourfolded during the last 5 years. Thus strained already makes them far more susceptible for any furhter virus infection.

Our Yanomami office in Blumenthal

In the last year our colleague and bookkeeper for many years Maren Doobe left us. She debited the fees of our members. Dear Maren, thanks a lot for your year-long and always reliable office work!
This work now is being done by Eva Piest, a longstanding friend and teacher in the community school of Nortorf, a neighbour village.


In appreciation to all our Yanomami friends and donors

Maren Doobe is leaving our Yanomami office

Maren Doobe is leaving our Yanomami office

Regretably there wasn’t any beneficial event of any kind in favour of the Yanomami during last year. Corona is ruling our lives for more than 2 Years now.  For your further support in aid of the Yanomamis I’m really, really gratefull!

For the support of our Yanomami work I’d like to specifically thank:

Foundation, companies, theaters and organizations
Bündnis mit Indianern Südamerikas e.V. aus Eggenfelden
Eneratio Ingenieurbüro GBR aus Hamburg
Kath. Pfarrkirchenstiftung St. Martinus Mehring
Landschaft und Siedlung AG
Lebensraum-Regenwald e.V. von Roland Zeh
Oswald-Stiftung aus Pfarrkirchen
Schauspielhaus Zürich AG
TAC-Verlag Karl Wenning
Wortwechsel Verlag GmbH, Ulrike Steffen

Individual donors and supporters

Marion and Herbert celebrated their birthday in favor of the Yanomami

Marion and Herbert celebrated their birthday in favor of the Yanomami

Perihan Atug, Johannes Barthel, Wolfgang Baumüller, Maria Benkert, Kerstin Bensch, Martina Berger, Kathrin Beutin, Dr. Bernd Jürgen und Simone Bundschuh, Richard Borggrewe, Hans Bornefeld, Petra und Jörg Bonin, Friedhilde und Rolf Brandt, Rudolf Brunner, Hartmut Bunjes, Jörg Franz-Josef Danne, Birgit Kuhlmann-Deutz und Joachim Deutz, Andrea Fischer-Bickert, Monika Maria Gernert, Marwin Leon Szmula Gonzalez, Diane Granitz, Christian Griebl, Gerhard Haverkamp, Anna Hegele, Inge Heier, Angelika Heinsen, Jan Henselder, Sinje Kätsch, Stefan Kiehl, Monika Kienass, Karen Knutzen-Mies und Herbert Mies, Henning Köhlert, Bettina Kolm, Andrea Konopka, Christhard Kotte, Dagmar Kuhnhenn, Anna Kühl, Anneliese Lauscher, Maria Ester Gonzalez Losada, Alexander Mater, Christoph Maurer, Matthias Merget, Hermine Mittermeier, Andrea Moser, David Muchau, Kirsten Nehberg, Andreas Niepage, Wolfgang Nottmeier, Dagmar Olsen und Dietmar Volkers, Jens und Anna Otto,Thorsten Pagalies, Markus Pfeifer, Christiane Pieper, Ricarda Quick, Norbert Reis, Manfred und Ingrid Reithofer, Anne-Katrin Roever-Plagmann, Nadjy Python, Gisela Schmieder, Ellen Schröter, Alessandro Rocco Silvestri und Fatima Christina Elisabeth, Dr. Alexander Spaar, Joachim Stachelscheid, Dr. Florian Steiner, Marion Strauss-Barthel und Herbert Barthel, Kerstin Struck, Gabriele Sutor-Krüger, Monika Theissing, Rosario Luz Mendivil Trelles, Cornelia Edith Vettel, Ulrich Wandt, Gundula, Sophie und Thilo Weber, Franz Wetzl, Irina Wiessner, Sabine Willmann, Roger Windrich, Angelika Winkler, Wolfgang Zierke, Beate Ziethen

My plan for 2022
In February I’d like to meet Davi Kopenawa Yanomami of the Hutukara organisation in Boa Vista. For his entiring work in 2019 he receibed the Alternative Nobel Price in Stockholm! He will give me detailed comprehensive informationabout the situation of the Yanomami region. With the Yanomami-Hilfe e.V. and another foundation we’d like to further support his political work. Together we’ll discuss the current necessities and possibilities as far as help is concerned in the Yanomami region.

We have been friends for 30 years. Davi Kopenawa and Christina Haverkamp

We have been friends for 30 years. Davi Kopenawa and Christina Haverkamp

Furthermore I hope we’ll be able to renovate our 2nd hospital in Papiu Kayaman completely.
For that purpose I’d need a lumberjack, 2 craftmen and the possibility to fly by bush’ aero-plane from the ministry of health into the Yanomami region to Papiu. Wether this is possible in time of Corona I won’t know until I get to Boa Vista. With the pandemic world wide there’s no sage planning. I’ll here to just take it easy, whick really isn’t easy for me at all.

Many thanks for your reliable and generous support!
I’m looking forward to meet with the Yanomami again.
Until soon, hasta luego

Christina Haverkamp

Translator: Ferdinand Guttenberg

Speech with appeal from Davi Kopenawa Yanomami

3. Januar 2022

Wir sind sehr besorgt, traurig und wütend. 2021 war ein sehr schlechtes Jahr für die indigenen Völker. Im Yanomami-Land nahmen Xawaras (Krankheiten) und auch die Zahl der Eindringlinge zu. Es gibt mehr als 20.000 Goldsucher, die jeden Tag unsere Gemeinden zerstören, um Gold zu gewinnen und leichtes Geld zu verdienen. Wohin sie auch gehen, hinterlassen sie eine Spur der Zerstörung, der Gewalt, der Drogen, der Prostitution und des Todes.
Im Jahr 2022 wird die Invasion fortgesetzt. Präsident Bolsonaro unternimmt keine Schritte, um die Goldsucher zu vertreiben. Er will sie da nicht rausholen – ganz im Gegenteil!

Davi Kopenawa

Davi Kopenawa

Ich bin ein Schamane und ich bin nicht allein. Nur Schamanen kennen die Vision von der Zukunft Brasiliens und der Welt. Der Tɨtɨri (Geist des Waldes) kommuniziert mit den Schamanen. Wir sind mit dem Land und dem Wald verbunden. Wir alle, Menschen des Planeten, werden leiden, da wir bereits leiden. Unsere Welt, der Planet Erde, ist sehr bedroht.

Tausende Menschen sind bereits an der Krankheit Krukuri sɨkɨ wai (Covid-19) gestorben. Die Nicht-Indigenen in der Stadt denken, dass sie nicht krank werden, aber sie werden es. Umweltverschmutzung bringt die bereits weit verbreitete Xawara in den Wald und ins Meer. Die Welt ist voller Probleme.

Die Stadtbewohner denken, dass der Planet in Ordnung ist, aber tief im Inneren wissen diejenigen von uns, die mit Tɨtɨri sprechen, dass es nicht so ist. Der Planet Erde schreit und bittet um Hilfe, damit der Wald geschützt wird. Die Stadtbewohner können den Hilferuf von Mutter Erde nicht hören.

Wir müssen den Planeten Erde in Ruhe lassen, weil er große Schmerzen hat. Das verlangt er auch von mir und ich sehe und höre dieses Leiden. Ich bin besorgt. Wir wissen nicht, wie wir die Lunge der Erde heilen sollen. Wir haben kein Heilmittel. Wir Yanomami und Nicht-Indigene müssen die Erde gemeinsam heilen. Ich bin eine kleine Ameise, trage meinen Teil bei und kümmere mich um meine Menschen. Das ist meine Rolle.

Deshalb verkünde ich der ganzen Welt, was im Yanomami-Land passiert. Wenn die Eindringlinge nicht entfernt werden, wird das Leiden noch schlimmer! An der Spitze des Apiaú-Flusses, wo es angeblich viel Gold gibt, ist die Heimat meiner Moxihatëtëma-Verwandten, der isolierten Indianer, wie Nicht-Indigene sie nennen. Sie können sich nicht verteidigen. Sie kennen die Goldsucher nicht, sie wissen nicht einmal, dass es Gold gibt. Ich mache mir große Sorgen um sie. Sesai, die Gesundheitsbehörde für indigene Völker, kümmert sich nicht um die Yanomami und Ye’kwana. Deshalb bin ich hixiu (wütend).

In Homoxi ist die Situation schlecht und wird immer schlimmer. Dort wurde bereits 1986 und 1991 Goldabbau betrieben, jetzt ist er noch stärker zurückgekommen. In Xitei haben die Goldsucher viel abgeholzt, laut Experten hat die Abholzung zwischen Dezember 2020 und September dieses Jahres um 1000 % zugenommen.
Jeder, der illegal Gold kauft, ist auch ein Goldschürfer. Die Besitzer der Geschäfte, die Gold kaufen und verkaufen, sind ebenfalls in dieses Verbrechen verwickelt. Flugzeugbesitzer und Piloten sind Kriminelle. Es ist ein Verbrechen, im Land der Yanomami und in allen anderen indigenen Gebieten Brasiliens Bergbau zu betreiben! Warum wird Artikel 231 der Verfassung, der für nicht-indigene Völker geschaffen wurde, nicht angewandt? Warum lassen die Behörden die Yanomami sterben?

Um das Jahr 2022 herum werde ich nur diejenigen beraten, die indigene Völker unterstützen. Ich werde die Regierung , die indigene Völker tötet, nicht beraten. Ich werde die kämpfenden Verwandten beraten, wie die Kayapó, Xavante, Tucano, Macuxi, Wapichana, Wamiri-Atroari, Munduruku, Ye’kwana und Yanomami – die Freunde der Waldvölker.
Lassen Sie uns gemeinsam weitergehen, gemeinsam kämpfen, bis Präsident Bolsonaro die Macht verlässt. Ich werde abwarten, ob sich Ende des Jahres nach den nächsten Wahlen ein anderer Präsident um den Wald und Brasilien kümmert. Ich bin immer misstrauisch. Ich kenne bereits den Weg der Zivilisation. Aber ich werde weiterhin um Unterstützung bitten, um zu versuchen, unsere Natur, unsere Mutter Erde, zu retten.

Thank you for your continued support

Thank you for your continued support

Yanomami-Hilfe e.V., Hökerberg 1, 24241 Blumenthal, Telefon 0 43 47 – 70 81 34
E-Mail: office[at]yanomami-hilfe.de, Internet: www.yanomami-hilfe.de
Sparkasse Mittelholstein, IBAN DE 08 2145 0000 0003 3882 28