Alberto Curamil
A hero for the world, but a danger for his country
A hero for the world, but a danger for his country
The Mapuches are one of the few indigenous communities that faced Spanish colonization that still remain in Chile. They have gone through and continue to go through a lot, from discrimination to mass killings and violent expropriations of their land, leading to a struggle that is still going on and that these people have in mind every day.
The Mapuches are one of the few indigenous communities that faced Spanish colonization that still remain in Chile. They have gone through and continue to go through a lot, from discrimination to mass killings and violent expropriations of their land, leading to a struggle that is still going on and that these people have in mind every day.
This is how Alberto Curamil is a lonko (a Mapuche leader) of 45 years who is recognized for his activism for the environment in the southern zone of Chile, this because of the culture to which he belongs, "he keeps firm in his convictions about the defense of the water and the territories, sacred elements for the Mapuche culture", for them the "Mapu", the land, is something very important, so it is inevitable that they do not fight to defend it from those who want to destroy it, which has been something very common in recent times.
This is how Alberto Curamil is a lonko (a Mapuche leader) of 45 years who is recognized for his activism for the environment in the southern zone of Chile, this because of the culture to which he belongs, "he keeps firm in his convictions about the defense of the water and the territories, sacred elements for the Mapuche culture", for them the "Mapu", the land, is something very important, so it is inevitable that they do not fight to defend it from those who want to destroy it, which has been something very common in recent times.
He was and is recognized worldwide as the most important environmental activist in Central and South America, through the Goldman Environmental Prize. Unfortunately, he was unable to travel to the United States to receive it, as he was in prison. Those who received the award in his place were his 18-year-old daughter, Belén, and another Mapuche representative, Miguel Melín.
He was and is recognized worldwide as the most important environmental activist in Central and South America, through the Goldman Environmental Prize. Unfortunately, he was unable to travel to the United States to receive it, as he was in prison. Those who received the award in his place were his 18-year-old daughter, Belén, and another Mapuche representative, Miguel Melín.
The Mapuches, and a large part of the indigenous peoples, defend the land because of their great respect and devotion, for which they raise their voices with protests or mass movements to stop those who want to exploit it, such as private companies; this has culminated in a constant criminalization of indigenous peoples' leaders in Chile. One example of this is Alberto Curamil, who has been implicated and arrested for crimes he did not commit.
The Mapuches, and a large part of the indigenous peoples, defend the land because of their great respect and devotion, for which they raise their voices with protests or mass movements to stop those who want to exploit it, such as private companies; this has culminated in a constant criminalization of indigenous peoples' leaders in Chile. One example of this is Alberto Curamil, who has been implicated and arrested for crimes he did not commit.
Today he continues to be a great reference for the community and a symbol of resistance "overcoming persecution and violent attacks against him, he united Chileans to prevent the construction of two hydroelectric projects and protect a sacred river".
Today he continues to be a great reference for the community and a symbol of resistance "overcoming persecution and violent attacks against him, he united Chileans to prevent the construction of two hydroelectric projects and protect a sacred river".
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Bibliogarphy:https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/%C3%BAltimas-noticias/el-ind%C3%ADgena-mapuche-que-gan%C3%B3-el-nobel-ambiental-pero-no-lo-puede-recibir/https://www.amnesty.org/es/latest/news/2018/04/la-criminalizacion-de-lideres-de-pueblos-indigenas-en-chile/https://www.theclinic.cl/2020/01/20/alberto-curamil-la-resistencia-como-lonko-desde-la-carcel-el-pueblo-es-el-unico-que-tiene-el-poder-para-cambiar-este-modelo-que-nos-perjudica-a-todos/https://es.mongabay.com/2020/01/chile-alberto-curamil-entrevista-lonko-mapuche/