Stand with Peruvians against road construction through indigenous lands
At least two communities of indigenous people live in the Peruvian Purus, an Amazonian rainforest which has been preserved as a national park. These people are so self sufficient and isolated from the rest of the world that they are called the "uncontacted."
Now an Italian priest living in Peru is calling for construction of a highway right through the forest home of the uncontacted. Miguel Piovesan claims the road will bring new development to Peru--even though there is no evidence that the forest inhabitants want anything but to be left alone. And a grassroots protest against his proposed road is growing by leaps and bounds. A mongabay.com article says that Piovesan holds the rain forest dwellers in contempt and quotes him as saying the "uncontacted tribes 'made him laugh.'"
The Upper Amazon Conservancy has issued a warning that this road could lead directly to illegal logging. Tell Peru's Congress not to permit this road through the Purus!
We the undersigned do not believe there needs to be a road through the virgin rainforest of Purus. This forest was preserved as a national park for a reason. Miguel Piovesan does not have the best interests of Peru in mind when he proposes highway construction through a forest sacred to indigenous peoples. His contempt for the uncontacted tribes is documented. He has even denied their existence! Please do not build a road that will bring development and probably illegal timber harvesting to a region that does not need it. Leave the uncontacted in peace!
