What is special about Chief Almir?
An environmentalist, political activist and tribal chief, Almir Narayamoga Surui, 37, has been fighting to save both his Surui tribe (pronounced SOO-ROO-EE) and the Amazon rainforest for more than 20 years. Almir’s efforts are credited with almost single-handedly bringing his tribe back from the brink of extinction.
What were the early consequences of outsiders making contact with the Surui people?
What were the early consequences of outsiders making contact with the Surui people? The Surui people of the Brazilian Amazon had their first contact with outsiders in 1969. While the first encounter brought disease and deforestation, later contact helped bring about cultural preservation and environmental protection.
What new tools did Chief Almir suruí use to protect his tribe’s homeland How did these tools help?
But Chief Almir Narayamoga Surui says his weapon of choice is technology: Android phones to monitor illegal logging, hand-held Global Positioning System devices to map territory and Google Earth Outreach to show the world what a well-managed forest looks like.
Why is chief Almir important to the Surui tribe?
For these reasons, Chief Almir believes that the issue of illegal logging on Surui territory is important to everyone on the planet and he’s harnessing the power of Google Earth to spread the word. In 2009, Google visited the Surui people again and taught them to use mobile phones and Open Data Kit to record instances of illegal logging.
Who is the leader of the Surui tribe?
Their tribal leader, Chief Almir, came across Google Earth in 2007 and has since embraced the mapping technology as a way to protect the rainforest and preserve his people’s way of living in harmony with the rain forest.
What was life like for Almir Narayamoga Surui?
The life of Surui Tribe Chieftain Almir Narayamoga Surui has everything that makes a good story. He grew up seeing people die of sickness due to contact with outsiders, who brought with them tuberculosis, measles, and other rampant diseases. They had to use their bows and arrows against other tribes and loggers.
How did the Surui tribe use Google Earth?
He invited Google to train his community in recording the stories of tribal elders. Surui tribe members learned to create YouTube videos, geo-tag content and upload it to a “cultural map” on Google Earth in order to share their unique history and way of life with people all around the globe.