One of the major themes presented across the Amazonia posts was that of environmental depletion and how certain capitalist and imperialist powers are to blame. Many people observed a direct contrast between the ways in which the land is viewed by native people to how it is viewed by outside powers concerned only with resource extraction. Irene calls attention to the large amounts of oil damage and deforestation that have become a reality inflicted by a rise of corporatism and industrialization[1]. In addition, Simon looks specifically at the negative environmental impact of rubber industrialization on the Amazon[2].

Lily addresses a similar idea in her blog, but goes further to call into question whether nature possesses innate rights that are not being upheld through the current subjugation of the natural environment[3]. Does nature have the right to not be exploited? Many of the indigenous Amazonian populations held this perception of nature as something with which to co-exist rather than to utilize. The depletion of the rainforest really took off following the rise of capitalism and presents a stark contrast to the way of life of the indigenous populations.

The same colonial and imperialist powers that are to blame for much of the environmental impact in the Amazon have had direct and negative implications on the preservation and existence of indigenous cultures as well. On possibly the most basic level, environmental depletion that is severe enough can drive out whole communities from their native land or even begin to kill many off. Beril cites the indigenous population decline from the industrialization of farming and fishing as well as the mass migration that came from an attempt to distance themselves from the white settlers as a major detriment to native groups in that area[4]. She also calls upon an equally important, however potentially less easily identifiable aspect of this type of capitalism as she cites a westernized narrative in education as causing discrepancies in native and non-native students’ performance in school.

A suppression of culture as well as natural resources is another prevalent outcome of capitalism and industrialization. Western narratives were and are the ones being preserved and presented. Wamaitha cites the military bases on Yonomami lands and how difficult it is for communities to preserve their cultures while under a direct threat of violence[5]. Dominant capitalist powers often erase indigenous narratives. Both Julia and Evan speak of the importance of preserving culture[6], and Julia draws upon the examples of the museum’s “orphan objects”—artifacts that come without background—as being representative of the ways in which many cultures are being undervalued[7].

These themes are not ones which are exclusive to the Amazon. Industrialization, environmental depletion, and the mistreatment of native populations are seen all around the world. Jordan calls upon the recent conflict over the Dakota access pipeline and the 210 000 gallons of crude oil it leaked, citing a common conflict of capitalist expansionism versus the protection of human and environmental rights[8]. Victoria talks about a theme of environmental importance in Bolivia[9] and Oliver addresses the ways different countries reconcile environmental importance and issues in Canada with the Kinder Morgan pipeline[10].

With these commonalities arises a question of whether there is some aspect of inevitability in many of these themes. Codi addresses this type of idea in her discussion of the “innate morality of humans and the dangers of ongoing power relations”[11]. Are humans predisposed for a search for power in such a way that there will always be a group that controls the cultural narratives? And are we inherently consumers therefore we will always search for the resources to produce copious amounts of goods and products? Whether or not these problems are indicative of broader issues of human nature they are nevertheless important to reconcile in our modernizing world.

[1] Lin, Irene. “Amazonia: The Rights of Nature Exhibit Reflection.” Irenes ASTU Blog, blogs.ubc.ca/irenesastublog/.

[2] Luo, Simon. “Reflection on the Amazonia Exhibit.” Simons Blog, blogs.ubc.ca/simonluojy/.

[3] Flawn, Lilly. “Post #4.” Lillys ASTU Blog, blogs.ubc.ca/lillysastublog/2018/01/18/post-4/.

[4] Gunduz, Beril. “MOA UBC.” Berils Blog, blogs.ubc.ca/berilgunduz/.

[5] Kinuthia, Wamaitha. “Amazonia.” Wamaithas ASTU Blog, blogs.ubc.ca/wamsblog/.

[6] Ruiz, Evan. “Culture- The Fight to Preserve It.” Evans Blog, blogs.ubc.ca/evanruiz/.

[7] Niebles Fernandez, Julia. “Birds of a Feather.” Global Citizens, blogs.ubc.ca/jgc04/.

[8] Corder-Swanson, Jordan. “Amazonia Exhibit.” Jordans ASTU Blog, blogs.ubc.ca/jordancorderswanson/.

[9] Nava, Victoria. “Bolivian Culture Found in the Amazonia Exhibit.” ASTU 100 g04, blogs.ubc.ca/astu100victorianava/.

[10] Ng, Oliver. “Amazonia Exhibition and the Environment.” Olivers Astu Blog, blogs.ubc.ca/ngoliverblog/2018/01/18/amazonia-exhibition-and-the-enviroment/.

[11] Hatfield-Gambino, Codi. “Amazonia: The Kamëntsà Headdress.” Codis Blogtastic Blog, blogs.ubc.ca/codisblogtasticblog/2018/01/18/amazonia-the-kamentsa-headdress/.