Darrell A. Posey, who died in 2001, was internationally known for his support of indigenous peoples and their natural habitats, and particularly for his pioneering work with the Kayapo people of Brazil. He was an organiser of the First International Congress of Ethnobiology which resulted in the Declaration of Belem: the first instance of an international scientific organisation recognizing an obligation to compensate native peoples for use of their knowledge and biological resources. In 1993, Posey received the United Nations Global 500 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Service to the Environment. Indigenous Knowledge and Ethics presents seventeen of his articles on the topics of environment, indigenous knowledge and intellectual property rights. Demonstrating his belief in the validity of indigenous knowledge systems, and his insistence that indigenous rights must be recognised and protected, it is an ideal introduction to his thought and work.

Darrell A. Posey, who died in 2001, was internationally known for his support of indigenous peoples and their natural habitats, and particularly for his pioneering work with the Kayapo people of Brazil. He was an organiser of the First International Congress of Ethnobiology which resulted in the Declaration of Belem: the first instance of an international scientific organisation recognizing an obligation to compensate native peoples for use of their knowledge and biological resources. In 1993, Posey received the United Nations Global 500 Award for Outstanding Achievement in Service to the Environment. Indigenous Knowledge and Ethics presents seventeen of his articles on the topics of environment, indigenous knowledge and intellectual property rights. Demonstrating his belief in the validity of indigenous knowledge systems, and his insistence that indigenous rights must be recognised and protected, it is an ideal introduction to his thought and work.

Darrell A Posey died in March 2001 after a long and distinguished career in anthropology and ecology. Kayapo Ethnoecology and Culture presents a selection of his writings that result from 25 years of work with the Kayapo Indians of the Amazon Basin. These writings describe the dispersal of the Kayapo sub-groups and explain how with this diaspora useful biological species and natural resource management strategies also spread. However the Kayapo are threatened with extinction like many of the inhabitants of the Amazon basin. The author is adamant that it is no longer satisfactory for scientists to just do 'good science'. They are are increasingly asked and morally obliged to become involved in political action to protect the peoples they study.

Over the past two decades there has been a growing attention to environmental matters in both scientific research and public interest. Global concerns have arisen particularly surrounding global warming, the emission of toxic chemicals, threats to biodiversity, radioactivity and the depletion of the world's resources such as fisheries and forest cover. The expansion of environmental interests is evident in numerous ways. These include the rise in the number of environment-focused grass-root and non-government organizations, the proliferation of official environmental agencies at national levels, and the growth of 'green' consumerism. These examples demonstrate a set of ways in which a global 'consciousness of connections' is taking form. Scientists, policy-makers, and the general public have become increasingly aware of the connections between environmental domains, and how damage or depletion in one affects numerous others. Yet another kind of developing 'consciousness of connections' involves the evolving links between individuals, groups and organizations concerned with environmental issues around the world. They are ever more conscious of each other, are creating coalitions for effective public campaigns, and are increasingly gaining the ear of national and international policy-makers. This volume presents the views of a number of leading figures concerning the nature of environmental consciousness and the emergence of connections linking globalization (processes of intensifying social, political and economic networks), globalism (our sense of the world as a whole), specific environments (such as rainforests or cities), and environmentalism (expressed in the activities of social movement organizations).

Darrell A Posey died in March 2001 after a long and distinguished career in anthropology and ecology. Kayapó Ethnoecology and Culture presents a selection of his writings that result from 25 years of work with the Kayapó Indians of the Amazon Basin. These writings describe the dispersal of the Kayapó sub-groups and explain how with this diaspora useful biological species and natural resource management strategies also spread. However the Kayapó are threatened with extinction like many of the inhabitants of the Amazon basin. The author is adamant that it is no longer satisfactory for scientists to just do 'good science'. They are are increasingly asked and morally obliged to become involved in political action to protect the peoples they study.


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From the pre-Columbian era to the present, native Amazonians have shaped the land around them, emphasizing utilization, conservation, and sustainability. These priorities stand in stark contrast to colonial and contemporary exploitation of Amazonia by outside interests. With essays from environmental scientists, botanists, and anthropologists, this volume explores the various effects of human development on Amazonia. The contributors argue that by protecting and drawing on local knowledge and values, further environmental ruin can be avoided.