Unofficial Conference Blog | Society of Environmental Journalists

Indigenous Peoples at the Frontlines: From Alaska to the Amazon

 Indigenous tribes around the world may be among the first to feel the impacts of a changing climate. Friday's 2 PM panel on "Climate Change: Indigenous Peoples at the Frontlines" will look at tribes in the southwestern U.S., Alaska, and the Brazilian Amazon. Margaret Hiza Redsteer of the U.S. Geological Survey, Sarah James of the Neet’sai Gwich’in, Arctic Village, and Scott Wallace, author of Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes will discuss the changes these "place-based peoples" are seeing in their environment, and the unique adaptation strategies they might be able to offer.  

In this video from the New Security Beat, Wallace, frequent contributor to National Geographic and former public policy scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center, talks about his expedition through Brazil's Javari Valley Indigenous Land, home to the fleicheros, or "People of the Arrow," who live in complete isolation from the rest of the world. By protecting these people, the Brazilian government is also protecting thousands, if not millions, of acres of virgin rainforest, says Wallace, creating a mutually beneficial intersection between human rights and environmental conservation.

 

 

Wildlife meet Humans

One of my interests at this conference is to explore the interface between humans and wildlife. I’ve been gathering information by serving as a docent at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Viewpoint on California’s Central Coast.

The issues of of marine mammals are similar to those of land mammals, which I’ll learn about on the Thursday tour, "Preserving Wildlife in a Changing World."

Northern elephant seals don’t cross paths with humans much, so they’re less controversial than animals that do, such as manatees.

SEJ member Craig Pittman’s book, "Manatee Insanity," examines how that innocuous vegetarian became the hot button animal in Florida’s development fights. Manatees and elephant seals are both marine mammals, but very different from each other. Manatees can die if the water gets too cold. Elephant seals eat fish and squid and spend most of their time in frigid northern Pacific waters. Manatees stay close to the surface. Elephant seals are deep divers.

In my work as a docent, I often see how coming across hundreds of seals on the beach delights the tourists, most of whom have never heard of them. The nonprofit that sponsors the docents – this is California, there’s not money to staff the viewpoint with paid employees – is making plans to celebrate the millionth visitor this month,

Books by Conference Speakers

Books by conference speakers Here's a list of books by some of the speakers you'll have a chance to meet at SEJ 2008,  including links to the author websites and other information.  These and other books by SEJ authors will be on sale at the Hotel Roanoke. 

Peter Annin --"The Great Lakes Water Wars"

Wendell Berry -- Culture and Agriculture,The Gift of Good Land, and many others.

Gary Braasch, Photojournalist and Author, Earth Under Fire

Shirley Stewart Burns, Author, Bringing Down the Mountains: The Impact of Mountaintop Removal on Southern West Virginia Communities

Marla Cone -- Silent Snow: The Slow Poisoning of the Arctic

Denise Giardina -- The Unquiet Earth, Storming Heaven

Jeff Goodell --  Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind American's Energy Future

Jacques Leslie --Deep Water: The Epic Struggle Over Dams, Displaced People, and the Environment

Nancy Lord -- Beluga Days: Tracking the Endangered White Whale and Green Alaska: Dreams from the Far Coast