COVID-19 IN BRAZIL
Brazil, the most affected country in Latin America
The first case of COVID-19 in Brazil was confirmed on 25 February 2020. Brazil, with over 6,000 cases, is the most affected state in South America and the third in the world after the United States and India. Within the country, one of the most affected regions is the Amazon, where the largest number of indigenous people live.
President Jair Bolsonaro
"E dai? Quer que eu faça o quê? Eu sou messias, mas não faço milagre"
13.03.2020 the Brasilian Ministry of Health recommends a self-isolation period of 7 days upon coming back from a trip abroad.
17.03.2020 The brasilian governament established the closure with the Venezuela’s border.
Still in march the first states decide to move autonomously and to declare the state of emergency, given their disagreement with the decisions taken by the President Jair Bolsonaro and the government. Santa Catarina’s state was the first one, followed by Rio de Janeiro state and some other municipalities.
Rio Grande it was the first state adopting an emergency plan built “ad hoc” for the level of severity the spread of the virus had in the 20 different zone the state was dived in.
HOW ARE INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES REACTING TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC?
below you can find some of the best practices adopted by indigenous people extrapolated by the Second Regional Report "Indigenous RegionalPlatform COVID-19"
PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION REGARDING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19
Indigenous networks and organizations working at the regional and national levels have activated their mechanisms to collect data and distribute reliable information about the impact of COVID-19 to their constituencies.
FILLING GAPS LEFT BY OFFICIAL STATISTICAL SYSTEMS
the intention of said initiatives has been to provide first account information about the number of cases of infection in Indigenous territories as key evidence to inform and influence state authorities to adopt measures in accordance with the magnitude of the effects.
MEASURES TO CONTAIN AND MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC IN INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES AND TERRITORIES
perhaps the most relevant aspect of the COVID-19 health crisis (in the American continent) has been the response of authorities and community leaders to mitigate and contain the virus within their constituent members and territories. Notable among the measures taken are establishment of sanitary fences, reduction of social mobility and the imposition of security protocols, as well as effective ways to distribute food and continue its production; the use of traditional medicinal systems; and lastly the strengthening of relationship between generations with the elders playing a critical role of informing some of the actions to be undertaken.
AUTONOMY, INDEPENDENCE, AND POLITICAL AND TERRITORIAL SELF-DETERMINATION
exercising their right to self-determination Indigenous leaders have taken control of their territories and communities and have provided immediate response to the needs of their people without necessarily waiting for guidance from central government authorities. This will undoubtedly form the basis of a renewed political space and momentum when it comes to occupying a more political space gained from this health crisis and will surely be integrated into future revision of their social contracts with national States.
PRACTICAL EXPRESSION OF THE PARADIGM OF GOOD LIVING:
responses by communities and Indigenous Peoples to COVID-19 can also be interpreted within the framework of their worldviews and cultures. In essence all the measures adopted are systemic responses to stimuli from the (national or global) environment which puts at risk the continuation of their lives as people and as collectives. The paradigm of Good Living contains three connected dimensions for the conservation, adaptation, and evolution of the lives and lifestyles of Indigenous Peoples. In the context of the pandemic, it can be interpreted as such: i) Living well with oneself, preserving life by avoiding or treating the virus; ii) living well with others, building solidarity, collaboration, and mutual help networks; iii) Living well with the natural environment, utilizing the natural systems of their territories to grow foods and medicinal plants to combat hunger and to prevent/ recover from infection.
“Global society is now experiencing “involuntary isolation” from the Pandemic… People in voluntary isolation and initial contact have been experiencing this situation of vulnerability for centuries and, at this moment, we can understand at least one of the reasons that leads them to exercise their self-determination by isolating themselves and not accepting any type of contact with people outside their group. This “geographical isolation” is a protective measure that guarantees their survival.
But in Bolsonaro’s Brazil, their isolation is anything but guaranteed."
References:
Second regional Report,Indigenous RegionalPlatform COVID-19Communities at Risk and Good Practices
Brazil in the Time of Coronavirus, Maite Conde. https://dx.doi.org/10.5209/geop.69349