Number 194, August 31, 1995

ECOLOGY

- Deforestation in the Pantanal

Newspapers from Campo Grande have published data regarding deforestation in the Pantanal, provided by the CPAP (Centre for surveys on agriculture and stock raising in the Pantanal) and the INPE (National institute for space surveys) for 1990/91. According to this data, 3.9% of the total area of 140,000 square kilometres have been cleared, in other words 5,423 sq.Km. Joao dos Santos Vila e Silva, who is responsible for the CPAP survey, says that complete and more recent information will be divulged at a meeting to be held in October in Corumba. 3.9% may appear to be a small amount, but a great part of the 140,000 sq.Km are permanently under water, or flood when the rivers overflow, and therefore impossible to deforest. The area which is usually deforested - and not touched by the waters - mostly acts as a refuge for animals and plants. Therefore the impact of the 3.9% measured in 90/91 could be far greater than it appears to be.

LAND ISSUES

- Appeal trial in Belem (state of Para) starts today

With reference to the Rio Maria Bulletin (News from Brazil #191 of August 10, 1995), the appeal trial of the accused murderers of the President of the Rural Workers Union of Rio Maria (PA), Expedito Ribeiro de Souza, began at 8.30 this morning in Belem. Jose Serafim Sales, "Barrerito" and Francisco de Assis Ferreira, "Grilo", are accused of killing Expedito, under orders from Jeronimo Alves de Amorim, who is still at large. The two were tried in 1994 and sentenced to 20 years, and have a right to this appeal trial. Amorim did not appear at the first trial. There is a warrant out for his arrest, but he cannot be tried until he is found. The two defendants are pleading innocence.

HEALTH ISSUES

- Infant mortality

Although it is one of the Brazilian cities with a low rate of infant mortality, Campinas (100 km. from Sao Paulo) is working hard trying to diminish by 30% the number of deaths among children. The hope is to lower the 17 deaths per 1000 births to 12 (this is the rate in the USA). Problems in Campinas are not related to basic infrastructure like in most Brazilian cities. 98% of homes have running water and 87% have sewers. The program will centre its efforts on preventive medical attention, especially in the poorer areas of the city where the number of deaths could be potentially avoidable. The program will work on three fronts: pre-natal, natal and post-natal. It will provide 100% of Campinas women with a family planning program, so that more women will become pregnant by option. There will be special assistance for newborn babies, by increasing the number of beds in hospitals and maternities, breast feeding will be encouraged, and all babies at risk will be identified while still in the hospital. There will be medical assistance for the babies after they leave the hospital, with special emphasis put on respiratory and intestinal problems.

INDIGENOUS ISSUES

Newsletter n. 173

CNBB OPPOSES AMENDMENTS TO DECREE 22/91

Convened in Brasilia this week, the Permanent Council of the

National Conference of Bishops of Brazil, CNBB, issued a document

today called ``A Warning to the Nation'' which highlights the massacre of rural workers in Corumbiara, Rondonia, on the 9th of August, and the possible risks posed by the proposal of the Brazilian Government to change Decree 22/91, which regulates the procedures to be adopted for the demarcation of Indian lands. In the document, CNBB clearly states that ``tensions should not be aggravated and the demarcation of Indian lands should not be postponed any longer.'' The meeting of the Permanent Council is held twice a year and is attended by the presidency of the entity, the pastoral episcopal commission, bishops who are the presidents of 16 regional headquarters, and advisors and directors of bodies linked to the entity. It is the first meeting of the board that was elected in July. Speaking in behalf of CIMI, secretary Roberto Liebgott reported the situation of Indian peoples in Brazil, and denounced the absence of an official Indianist policy and the intention of the government to amend the decree, which has enhanced conflicts and the invasion of Indian lands.

CNBB's Permanent Council declared that the growing violence against Indians and rural workers in Brazil will only cease if the

population as a whole decides to put an end to it. As a first step, however, it stated that a Land Reform should be implemented on an urgent basis, as well as an agricultural policy ensuring fair conditions to the workers. The document also says that Indian lands should be demarcated, an Indianist policy defined, and that the Indianist agency in charge of implementing that policy should be restructured. It also mentions the need to put an end to impunity, particularly in cases involving crimes against rural workers and Indian peoples. In conclusion, the bishops invite the population as a whole to hear the cries of those who have been socially excluded and turn them into a clamor for prayer, conversion, and solidarity toward the peoples.

NATIONAL MEETING WARNS ON INDIAN HEALTH

Tomorrow (August 25) is the last day of the 14th National Health Meeting promoted by CIMI's Health Sector. Attended by 30 participants and by representatives of entities such as Medicos sem Fronteiras (Doctors Without Borders), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, and Indian organizations, the meeting will issue a diagnosis of the chaotic health situation of Indian peoples. CIMI warns that the Deni people, in Amazonia, are under threat of extinction because of frequent outbreaks of malaria followed by death. The incidence of the disease in the north region of the country is alarming, as well as the increasing rate of infectious-contagious and sexually transmitted diseases and of other diseases which did not exist among Indians before, such as uterine cancer. The meeting is also debating the self-management of Indian health issues and the Indian health information system.

Brasilia, August 25, 1995

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