Dear Friends,
As many of you may know there has been a lot happening in Peru.
The Bad News
Last year President Alan Garcia passed laws number 1090 and 1064 that opened up 70% of Peru's Rainforest to oil exploration. Oil companies have been lining up for concessions and are beginning to move into the forest.
The first part of June the Aguaruana group (tribe) in the northern jungle of Peru were protesting the advance of oil companies into their territory. There was a confrontation near the small town of Bagua with the national police and it turned deadly. At least 20 Natives died and several police were killed.
Strikes and protests broke out all over Peru. Support for the Rainforest people came in from all over the world.
Amazon Herb Company had already arranged for a meeting of over 200 chiefs and representatives at the first Congress of the Shipibo-Konibo on June 20, 21 and 22. This meeting took on a new sense of importance and urgency.
The Good News
The day before the Shipibo Congress started the Peruvian Government bowed to popular opinion and repealed two of the most onerous Rainforest exploitation laws by a margin of 82 - 12.
Glorioso Castro Martinez opened the Congress with a minute of silence to honor those who lost their lives in Bagua. I spoke at the Shipibo Congress in support of Indigenous rights. The chiefs and representatives know that Amazon Herb Company and its associates are friends of the Rainforest and friends of the Shipibo.
I assured the Congress we will continue to support them with our projects for land rights and education through the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research (ACEER).
I introduced Olivia who sang 'Pearls on a Chain'. Olivia and I received awards on behalf of Amazon Herb Company for our support of the Shipibo people, Indigenous rights, and our commitment to a healthy Rainforest.
The story was on the front page of the Primier newspaper in Pucallpa. (click here) Because of Olivia's presence the story was also broadcast on Peruvian national TV.
The Future
There is now and will continue to be real challenges to Rainforest preservation, but it's clear the world's awareness of the value of the Amazon is shifting. I offer a special thank you to all of our Amazon Associates and customers for being pioneers in supporting our bold mission for a healthy Rainforest.
To a healthy and prosperous future,
Amazon John
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