The Debate and the Construction of Dams in the AmazonThe conservation of the Amazon continues to remain a significant environmental concern. The perpetual conflict between environmentalists and the construction of dams show the ongoing challenge of the Amazon. Natives of the land such as the Sawe Moybu people argue that development of dams will destroy their way of life. Although the Brazilian constitution protects the indigenous tribes, with recent developments in progress, the tribes have begun to question the motives of the government. Thus, they find themselves battling to preserve their way of life, while builders want to construct dams to extend electricity and spread economic wealth. Thus, the conflict remains a deep-rooted global and social issue that affects indigenous people and the entire environment.

James Cameron’s Comparison of the Amazon and Avatar
Cameron vividly depicts the challenge of indigenous tribes to preserve their culture and the natural world in the midst of a profit-driven, technologically advanced civilization. Thus, similar to the Na’vi people in his movie, Avatar, tribal people are also fighting a war to protect their land from a bureacratic government. The movie shares a lot of similarities to the real world and the ongoing fight between indigenous people and major corporations seeking to increase economic wealth. Thus, Cameron compares the fictional environment in Avatar to the Amazon and how the natives fought diligently to protect their homeland.

Impact of Construction of Monte Belo Dam
Brazil’s Amazon is home to many different species and native people. Thus, environmentalists argue that profit-driven big businesses and construction of the Monte Belo Dam are destroying the homelands of indigenous people. Furthermore, environmentalists point to the serious environmental issues that arise as a result of deforestation. For instance, when tries and forests are burned down, this emits carbon dioxide in the air, which leads to climate change and global warming. Thus, this is a serious hazard and shows the level of destruction of deforestation. Also, environmental groups argue that when trees are cut down, it lessens the fertility of the soil, which can destroy the land and lead to wasteland.

“You have the greatest wealth in the world…”
This statement would be quoted by poverty-stricken people from third world countries. They will be speaking to environmentalists and national corporate leaders during the debate about the conservation of the amazon. This is a key issue because many impoverished people do not have access to many of the resources derived from the forest that it is often taken for granted. Thus, poverty-stricken people from countries that not have good water, sufficient land and resources will view America as a capitalist neoliberal society.

Native Resistance to Construction of Dams
Due to government corruption, the native people have begun to resist changes to the Amazon. For instance, the Munduruku people seized biologists and researchers entering their homes without consent. Thus, this shows the level of dignity and respect that they have for their land, and the lack of value that the government places on people of the Amazon. The plants and the forest represent spiritual life for them, and they hold a high regard in the indigenous people’s way of living. Thus, the natives have been taking actions to prevent the destruction of their home. But with armies and troops from the government, it has been extremely difficult for the natives to protect their land.

The Future of the Amazon Indigenous Tribes
Native tribes are forced to leave their forest and adapt to society, which can be threatening and harmful for them. These hunter-gatherers have grown accustomed to their way of life in the forest, and face difficulty assimilating to societal norms. Thus, indigenous tribes experience harmful effects of construction of dams. Their life is the land, and thus they have learned and grown to make their living and build their cultural values through the Amazon. Essentially, tribal natives face many dangers that not only threaten their way of life, but their very existence.

Economic Benefits of the Dam
However, many global corporations and markets benefit economically from deforestation. The dams are able to provide electricity and economic boost to all people in the country. Also, clearing the forest leads to farming and production of crops and meat that provide protein for humans. Ultimately, big businesses hold that humans are superior to all other species, and thus, they should be provided with all of the resources and crops needed to live a healthy and sustainable life. The assimilation process can be extremely difficult as they have to adapt to employment and education, and thus their future will be extremely bleak.

Neoliberal Globalization
Thus, neoliberalism is a major part of global forest policies because it enhances the role of multinational corporations. Thus, these markets play a major role in the perpetuation of deforestation because they fund construction of dams and exportation of crops from the Amazon. The bureaucratic government gives little protection to native people and does not help to preserve the Amazon. Essentially, deforestation has paved the way for globalization and a significant economic boom for many international markets, but it still poses a threat to native tribes, species and the entire ecological atmosphere.