Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Resort may close to save local tribe
The Indian government is considering closing a resort on one of the Andaman islands in order to save a formerly remote tribe from extinction.The resort, run by Barefoot India, is near the forest home of the Jarawa tribe. This group lived almost entirely isolated from the rest of the world until the 1970s, when road construction and immigration from the mainland began. The Jarawa kept clear of the newcomers until the 1990s, when they began to interact with tourists and settlers.
Foreign diseases such as measles have hit the tribe, and groups such as Survival International are worried their unique culture may die out or even the entire tribe may become extinct. Only about 320 Jarawa are left.
Numerous tour operators take visitors along the Andaman Trunk Road and visit the tribespeople, even though this is forbidden by law. Poachers often trespass on Jarawa lands.
In an attempt to protect the tribe, a buffer zone was created around their reservation and the resort was closed down. Barefoot India has appealed the ruling and now India's Supreme Court is weighing the matter.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Asia, India, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bill Mar 30th 2010 6:57PM
This is a great idea. Then they can open a casino.
Evelyn Mar 30th 2010 7:37AM
Closing the resort is the humane thing to do. The Jawara were there first. Greed cannot continue to rule every decision.
Deb Mar 30th 2010 7:25AM
There are more than enough resorts in this world. One less won't kill us but one more could kill off the remainder of this tribe. We have birds, animals, etc., on protected/endangered lists. These human beings should be protected as well.
Jack Mar 30th 2010 2:05PM
Amen to that, Deb. How many "resorts" do the elite rich need anyway?
Liss Mar 30th 2010 9:06AM
Why don't they just designate the tribe a national treasure, a living museum of sorts and build a big fence around them? Don't let us in our them out. They should be kept untouched forever and ever, and the Gov't can charge money so we can gawk at them as if they are in a zoo. Great revunue source, better than taxes, no need for casinos. Hmm...... we should have tried that here in the US.
Bobby Mar 30th 2010 9:15AM
You mean to tell me that outsiders who were more well vaccinated contaminated a race of people? Am I to believe the Jarawa were immune to disease on their own & had advanced medicine to treat their own? Sorry,, I'm not biting that the outside world is the "ill" considered in this article. Possibly the other way around if handled properly.
joannloraine Mar 30th 2010 9:22AM
Bobby, please read up on the long history of imperialists bringing new diseases to native peoples.
Bobby Mar 30th 2010 10:20AM
Joann,, this isn't the 17th century we're speaking of. If the people indigenous of this area have the means to survive on their own,, then measles shouldn't be a problem for their native means of treatment. Read my comments carefully,, if handled properly,, these people "could be helped" by outside sources instead of looking at that source as the pandemic itself....
JOHN Mar 30th 2010 11:54AM
Bobby is obviously and blissfully unaware of the science of epidemiology, and not smarter than a 5th grader. The pathogen was new to them, so they needed no "cure" until exposure to those who carry the agent for disease, introduced them to the unknown visitor. The type of willful ignorance Bobby practices has lead to the destruction of many societies.
Bobby Mar 30th 2010 1:06PM
John,, spare me with your wannabe intellectual approach. You want me to believe a society of tribal existence is more capable of handling their health care issues than friendly outside advanced medicine? It's irrelevant how they were exposed to certain health problems. If they have them now,, their means of eradicating them are inferior! They can maintain their existence if that's so important to people such as yourself & live within their historical presence. The WHO would argue my point as well that modern medicine could actually HELP PRESERVE THEIR EXISTENCE! You are an ideological idiot!!
Mirillie Mar 30th 2010 9:49AM
RE: Top 10 beaches of the world. I am not sure I agree with this list. If Gadling wants, I would be willing for them to send me to them all so I can see if I agree.
Stam Mar 30th 2010 10:08AM
By all means, close it!
Meia Mar 30th 2010 10:35AM
"extinct" they're not a breed of animal, they are PEOPLE! geeze. And yeah they should shut down, for god's sake what if someone started a nuclear plant near your home and it was endagering your family to become "extinct" you would want them out!
samantha Mar 30th 2010 1:29PM
just because u are imunized does not mean you aren't a carrier of the virus, because if u know anything about an inmunzation the you would know in order to protect you from getting the virus and becoming very ill, you get a small diluted dose of the virus so that your body can create antibodies to keep you well, so if they have never been exposed and u have chances are just like a cold your going to pass the virus....
Grant Mar 30th 2010 10:38AM
Gee, people or money, people or money.... Its a tough decision
Geri Mar 30th 2010 11:11AM
Somethings are better left as they are and yes, we people from the outside world would cause diseases and illnesses to this tribe that is NOT exposed to the outside world.
chris Mar 30th 2010 11:33AM
They're trying to save an entire tribe from extintion and to do it they're going to close a resort? My GOD, what are they thinking?
ANNE JESSEN Mar 30th 2010 12:12PM
SWEPT AWAY? NOT TODAY.
phantomspots Mar 30th 2010 12:29PM
Um, sorry, JAM, but if you had half a brain cell you would realize apparently not all resort visitors are immunized, because THEY ARE TRANSMITTING MEASLES TO THE NATIVE PEOPLE. It blatantly says this. Notice it also said the native Jawara came in contact with SETTLERS, meaning people from the mainland who might not have access to vaccinations. The article wouldn't cite the spread of foreign pathogens if it wasn't a real and immediate threat.
T-Mac Mar 30th 2010 12:45PM
Case in point: American Indians were affected by diseases from the influx of European settlers during the 15th century and thereafter. Logical decision would be to shut down the resort.