We do no favour to the Guarani Indians by giving them computers and introducing them to the Internet.
We do no favour to the Guarani Indians by giving them computers and introducing them to the Internet.
In view of the clearly manipulated photograph in the report on the Dow Brigade site, I had hoped that the story was a hoax.
The report was that an unnamed charity organisation had given laptop computers to the Guarani tribe and taught them to type.
My reaction to the reports, all of which lack background details, is one of scorn. The fact that these people live only 100km from Rio de Janeiro does not mean that they need our visits. I do not know the tribe, but possibly, they had not seen more developed people before. After all 100km is a long way on foot. How far can you walk in a day and in which direction would you set out? You might not even like what you find!
As a traveller (I did not say tourist), one learns to respect the differences in the different cultures. This maxim is even more important for people already living abroad.
An underdeveloped tribe like the Guarani has no benefit from the Internet and should be left alone. No charity organisation has a right to infiltrate their ranks in this manner. I will attempt to contact the charity concerned.
I think it is highly uncivilised of us to impose what we call 'our culture' on them. Cultural diversity makes this world so interesting. The Guarani have their own culture. Please leave them alone.
Ananova also reports this story.
The original report apparently comes from here.
If you are researching this culture, please note the Spanish spelling has an accent on the last letter: Guaraní, whereas in Portuguese is does not.
A site in Spanish on the Argentinian Guaraní.
A site in Portuguese on the Guarani people.
