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In the whirlwind of the modern world, it's easy to lose perspective. For some 'survival' means making it through a tedious meeting with just a cup of tepid coffee for comfort, for others it's getting through the school holidays with your little darlings with minimal tears and tantrums (on either side). But for some of the earth's inhabitants, survival is actually a matter of life and death.
I'm a member of Survival International, the worldwide movement to support tribal peoples, but I hadn't really given much thought to the movement's mission (my husband set up a direct debit long before we met, so I 'inherited' my membership.)
It's easy to presume development is good or at least inevitable. Has "a chicken in every pot" become "a Starbucks on every corner"? On the other hand, is it condescending to presume we know what's best for tribal people, whatever our opinion is? Last week I attended a Survival event. Before a screening of Away from Her we watched a film narrated by Julie Christie, who has supported the organisation for over 30 years and recently became its first ambassador. The film is central to Survival's new Uncontacted Tribes campaign, which shows how development threatens indigenous people. The film gave me real insight into how issues surrounding climate change have many repercussions. Deforestation and the exploitation of land and resources are threatening these  people's homes – and their lives – as well as the planet. It's lose/lose, so if the environmental side alone hasn't swayed you to get more involved in the preservation of rainforest and other natural resources, perhaps the added dimension of human suffering will. 'I've personally been involved with Survival because it's fighting against the extinction of many groups of human beings," says Ms Christie. She has also been outspoken in support of the Kalahari Bushmen, who were evicted from their ancestral lands to make way for diamond mining. She spearheaded the Boycott De Beers campaign, urging a public boycott.
Take a closer look at the Survival International website, and learn more about its vital campaigns, such as Stamp It Out, an anti-racism campaign promoting more respect for tribal peoples.
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