Write a letter for the Yanomami

1. Write your letter, then 2. Complete it and 3. Mail it

 
14-year-old Geraldo Yanomami making a necklace from porcupine quills, Demini, Brazil.
14-year-old Geraldo Yanomami making a necklace from porcupine quills, Demini, Brazil.
© 1996 Fiona Watson/Survival

The Yanomami are one of the most numerous, and best-known, forest-dwelling tribes in South America.

Their home is in the Amazon rainforest, among the hills that line the border between Brazil and Venezuela.

After the creation of the 10 million hectare Yanomami park in 1992, independent medical staff were recruited to work alongside traditional Yanomami healers. This health initiative, Urihi – which was supported by Survival – reduced the number of deaths by half.

In 2004, the Brazilian government took it over by decree. Spending was doubled, but disease rocketed. Some communities saw fatal cerebral malaria increase four-fold.

How you can help

Please write to the Brazilian government expressing your concern about the deterioration of the Yanomami’s health since the government’s National Health Foundation took over responsibility for delivering health care to the Yanomami.

HE President Dilma Rousseff
Presidente da República Federativa do Brasil
Gabinete do Presidente
Palácio do Planalto
Praça dos Três Poderes
70150-900
Brasilia DF
Brazil


May 23, 2012

Your Excellency


 
Will my letter make a difference?
Yes. Time and again, letters from Survival supporters have called governments and organisations to account. Policies have changed and lives have been saved.

Should I post, fax or e-mail?
The most powerful way is to print and post your letter. We will e-mail you a ready-to-print PDF of your letter, together with postage information.

We sometimes also publish e-mail addresses or fax numbers where there is a realistic chance of these being read. However, e-mail addresses change and fax machines get unplugged. If you can, please post your letter.