Monday, February 21, 2000
Darrell Posey of Oxford University delivered the opening lecture in this year’s International Symposium sponsored by the Center for Humanities and Arts. He focused on the growing conflict among Latin American indigenous groups, national governments and international environmental and scientific organizations over the question of ownership and use of biological resources and traditional knowledge. Some highlights:
“Since colonization began, Latin America has provided cheap labor and natural resources for the dominant economies--that’s the definition of colonization. . . . Today this has changed. . . .
“By indigenous peoples, the Convention on Biological Diversity [the first international attempt to protect biodiversity] is seen as nothing less than a sovereignty grab, denying them access to their own lands, rights and knowledge. . . .
“It’s often difficult for scientists themselves to know when they should wear the hat of their patrons and when that of their scientific disciplines. Indigenous peoples see them as the same. There is a certain paranoia among indigenous groups. . . . The political legacy in Latin America of ruthless exploitation of natural resources has left states unprepared to protect access to traditional resources.”
--Beth Roberts
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