PL | EN
16 October 2020
#5
Brief #5: Agricultural Brain and bride kidnapping

Natives’ land in danger

New Saudi hi-tech megacity NEOM, a project of 500 bln USD, puts in danger the existence of the Huwaitat, one of the oldest tribes in Saudi Arabia. The authorities allegedly arrested, harassed, hounded, and even killed members of the tribe who refused to sell their land and oppose the plan. The government continues to evict the tribe from their property in 13 villages along the Red Sea. Members of Huwaitat called to the United Nations to investigate the issue.

The mining concessions overlap over 20% of indigenous land in Amazon, and illegal mining affects 31% (or 450 000 square kilometers) of indigenous reserves, according to the report by the World Resources Institute. Deforestation caused by garimpeiros – independent, wildcat miners – rose between 2018 and 2019 by 23%, to the record 10 500 hectares. Brazilian gold export is currently estimated at three bn USD and rose 35% between January and August this year.

The Guapinol community from northern Honduras opposes the activity of an iron oxide mine which poses the danger of contaminating the river Guapinol – their main water source. The mine was opened within the area of a protected national park and without consultations with locals. The government and the mining industry target the community members who fight the Inversiones Los Pinares company actions: they are threatened, harassed, and even persecuted.

More about: Saudi ArabiaBrazil
Read also
Unmanned aerial vehicles in armed conflicts
Unmanned aerial vehicles in armed conflicts
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russia has more than doubled the production of unique systems to deter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Over the last year, the demand for such systems has quadrupled. As a consequence, private companies, particularly those in the oil and gas sector, are seeking to protect themselves from increasing […]
Evolution based on collaboration and human superpowers
Evolution based on collaboration and human superpowers
Scientists from the University of California have discovered that some individuals possess abilities that go beyond the norm and can be considered “superpowers”. For instance, sherpas living in the Himalayas have the ability to survive in an atmosphere with 40% less oxygen than sea level regions. They have evolved to maintain low levels of red […]
Bird populations in the world and the impact of human activities
Bird populations in the world and the impact of human activities
A group of experts from Finland, Denmark, Great Britain, and Spain have conducted research on bird species and their vulnerability to human-dominated habitats. The study examined around 6,000 bird species worldwide and found that 80% of them are at risk of being negatively impacted by urbanization, air pollution, and climate change. While some species can […]
Student integration in Senegal and corruption in Indian education
Student integration in Senegal and corruption in Indian education
In Maharashtra, India’s most prosperous state, cheating during exams for lower government jobs prevents candidates from escaping the agricultural crisis. It happens that over a million people apply for a job, and just over 850,000 candidates take the exam for 4,600 vacancies. Some people pass dozens of exams but are cheated and robbed by the […]
Cities of the future in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
Cities of the future in Egypt and Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Arabian government is planning to build a new city called “The Line,” which will be a long, linear city made of glass in the desert. It was initially planned to be 170 km long, but by 2030, it will only be 2.4 km long. The city will ultimately be home to about 9 […]
Previous issues