Wednesday 11 June 2014 17:00-19:00 Blue Boar Lecture Theatre, Christ Church

Developing with Indigenous Intelligence: An evening with two Kayapó leaders and some of their supporters

Patrick and Sue Cunningham – Introduction Patrick and Sue met Chiefs Raoni and Megaron in the 1980s as journalists. The Kayapó anchored their souls to the forest and to indigenous voices ever since. Through Tribes Alive they give illustrated talks and stage exhibitions, in the UK, and elsewhere. As Trustees of Indigenous People's Cultural Support Trust, they work to promote the interests of the native peoples of the basin, helping them to develop income streams from non-destructive rainforest activities which respect indigenous social structures.

Chief Raoni Metuktire - Becoming the Guardians of Mother Earth Kayapó leader who has dedicated his life to the fight for the conservation of Amazon rainforests and indigenous cultures. When he was 15, Raoni started to wear the distinctive ornamental labret on his lower lip to show that he was ready to die for his people’s land. He left Brazil for the first time in 1989 on a tour to explain why Kayapó people oppose the proposal to build six hydroelectric dams on the Xingu River. Together with , he has created several foundations and protected areas.

Chief Megaron Txucarramãe – Damming the Xingu river: how current government proposals affect indigenous communities In Kayapó, Mekaron-ti means ‘the great soul’ or ‘strong soul’. Chief Megaron has worked closely with Chief Raoni for over 40 years. As a political leader, he was the Director of the Xingu National Park from 1984 to 1995 and has held prominent positions at the National Indian Foundation of Brazil (FUNAI).

Polly Higgins - Why we need Earth Law to reach harmony with nature Former corporate lawyer who after years of work as barrister in London courts decided to dedicate her life to one client: the Earth. She is the author of Eradicating Ecocide: Laws and Governance to Stop the Destruction of the Planet (2010), and Earth is our Business: Changing the Rules of the Game (2011).

Andrew Mitchell - The Amazon Security Agenda Andrew is a Zoologist with extensive field experience, combined with a 30 year career spanning research, journalism, broadcasting, policy and environmental project management. He pioneered scientific exploration of forest canopies and co-founded NGOs such as Earthwatch Europe. He acts as an adviser to governments and international institutions, and is special advisor to the Prince of Wales' Rainforest Project.

Tom Griffiths – Human rights, cultural diversity and alternative visions of development Tom is an Oxford-trained social anthropologist and ecologist with extensive experience in participatory mapping and natural resource management planning. He currently works as policy advisor to the Forest Peoples Programme on issues relating to International Financial Institutions, International Forest Policy and Community-based Natural Resource Management. He uses his grassroots work to inform policy analysis and provide information to indigenous and NGO networks engaged in policy debates at the national and international levels.

Gert-Peter Bruch - SOS Amazonia ...with a little help from each of us A journalist and a filmmaker with over 25 years of campaigning alongside native Amazonian leaders, Gert is the President of the foundation Planète Amazone. He organised the campaign Amazonia Emergency in 2012, and currently coordinates the 2014 tour SOS Amazônia with his long-time friend Chief Raoni. Planète Amazone seeks to inform European citizens about the destructive impacts of mega projects such as the .