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GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, OCTOBER 25 2008
CONCERT IN FAVOUR OF THE AMAZON SURUI PEOPLE
HAND OVER OF THE ISHR HUMAN RIGHTS PRIZE 2008
TO
CHIEF ALMIR NARAYAMOGA SURUI
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A life devoted to justice and wisdom for Humankind and the Planet.
The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR, IGFM in German) decided to hand over this prize to Mr Almir Surui, Chief of the Amazon Surui tribe.
He leads an active struggle for his peoples survival, to maintain its traditions and cultural values, its ways of life and its environment. A struggle reaching far beyond the limits of his territory, with the underlying vision that indigenous people can contribute to help the whole planet in their global role as Guardians of the Forest.
His wisdom is recognized by number of indigenous organisations all over Latin America and his voice spreads to the entire world as a spokesman for ethnical minorities. |
A public of over 500 persons attend the concert and ceremony at the Victoria Hall, in Geneva. |
| A public of over 500 persons attend the concert and ceremony at the Victoria Hall, in Geneva. |
After the opening with the Concerto for guitar and small orchestra orchestra by
H. Villa-Lobos, and ended with Mozart's messe en Ut Mineur.
Brazilian singer, José Barrense-Dias gave a musical introduction to the prize ceremony... |
...followed by the allocution of IGFM Switzerland President and National Counsellor, Madame Barbara Schmid-Federer
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| José Barrense-Dias hands over the Prize to Almir Surui |
| A recognition for his life devoted to public service, |
| while his life is still threatened by illegal loggers and brazilian economical interests because of his stand to protect the Amazon Forest against deforestation |
The openig was the Concerto for guitar and small orchestra orchestre
H. Villa-Lobos |
| Almir started his struggle as an indigenous right activist and forest defensor when he was 14 year old, he then became chief of his tribe at 17 |
| and in 2008, at the age of 36, his has become world famous with is stand to protect the Amazon Forest and the people living there against destruction, thus fulfilling a planetary mission. |
What is
IGFM ?
The International Society for Human Rights (ISHR) and its national branches are independent non-governmental human rights organisations (NGOs) which base their work on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the United Nations on 10 December 1948. The ISHR seeks to promote international understanding and tolerance in all areas of culture and society. It is a non-profit organisation, independent of all political parties, governments or religious groups. It acts according to the philosophy that the realisation of human rights and the improvement of social conditions cannot be pursued by use of force. ISHR was founded in order to support individuals who share this principle and, consequently, claim their rights in a non-violent manner.
The ISHR operates as a membership organisation with approximately 30.000 members in 26 states worldwide. The International Society for Human Rights has observatory status at the European Council in Brussels and ECOSOC status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The ISHR is mainly financed by membership fees and private donations and largely cooperates with different human rights organisations.
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