A prophecy by a Cree Indian was quoted by the UN Director of Environment at a Geneva Conference in 1984...
ONLY
"Only after the last tree has been cut down.
Only after the last river has been poisoned.
Only after the last fish has been caught.
Only then will you find that money cannot be eaten."
http://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/news/14246721-the-history-of-deforestation-in-quotes-from-leaders-around-the-world
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| Indigenous painting at The Eden Project 2015 YF |
The impact of deforestation upon the Rainforests is something not to be taken lightly...its effects upon the ecosystems has to be continually re-realised as a growing on going concern.One that's not going to go away.
It's a known fact that 20% of the Rainforest has been cut down in the last 40 years...yet there is more evidence than ever of the catastrophic, traumatic, damaging effects upon Indigenous peoples, wildlife, and fauna.
As can be seen by the article below... reveals it's gaining momentum - (The impact upon climate change surely now being realised).
Such alarming effects upon the eco systems is evidenced, by the total disregard of the voices from Indigenous people groups and the havoc upon wild life, and fauna - the eventual impact....of which none can totally fathom or grasp; until as the above quote puts it, 'We will find that money cannot be eaten'...
Having recently visited the Eden Project and by revisiting a past time project in 2013, spent as a student working along side and researching the work of the World Land Trust: Both have surely opened my eyes to the chaos that deforestation has had upon these areas of the world - such as the Amazon Rainforest ...As the quote from the line of a Bruce Cockburn song goes...
'If a tree falls in the forest does anybody hear?'
Today I saw an image that was heartwrenching; The chief of a tribe in obvious grief over the imminent loss of his tribes homeland;
this is what the article said ...
While magazines and TV chains report about the lives and love affairs of movie actors and actresses, football playe
...rs and other celebrities, the Chief of the Kayapo tribe heard the worst news of his entire life:
Mrs. Dilma, the president of Brazil, has given her approval for the construction of an enormous hydroelectric central (the world’s third largest one).
This means the death sentence for ALL the tribes living at the shores of the river because the barrage will flood more or less 988,421 acres of the forest. More than 40 000 natives will have to find other living surroundings where they will be able to survive. The destruction of the natural habitat, the deforestation and the disappearance of several species of plants and animals will be a fait accompli.
We know that a simple image is the equivalent of a thousand words, it shows the price to be paid for the “quality of life” of our so-called “modern comforts.” There is no space in the world anymore for those who live differently. Everything has to be smoothed away, that everyone, in the name of globalization must lose his and her identity and way of living.
If this enrages you, I urge and implore you to "SHARE" this message to all your friends, relatives and acquaintances.
Thank you in the name of life, nature and biodiversity/please follow Amazon Watch
http://amazonwatch.org/take…/stop-the-belo-monte-monster-dam
Past and present works depicting the impact of deforestation are brought together here...
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Past Studio at UCS working on a project with the World Land Trust
getting together a body of work from the research I made; ideas, sketches and images |
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| Charcoal and pastel sketch |
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| Charcoal and Pastel sketch |
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Indigenous Displacement Charcoal yf 2014
The reason for working in charcoal in this instance is symbolic; As I see it, it's a way of using the medium as a vehicle - for identifying with this subject matter and therefore -engaging me with the issue- By using it as an expressive tool through which to communicate about the issues concerned - the impact of deforestation, then becomes to some degree - in someway ironic - it's a way of using the charred remains of wood to communicate the impact, the relentless onslaught of displacement, loss, destruction upon people, wildlife and fauna; caused by all consuming burning of down of trees in the Rainforests. All in the name (as the above article states) of the 'Globalization' (machine) - It is no respector of another way of living. We can conclude Globalization in its present form is a one dimensional ...act.
Forest, Civilization, Desert. 2013 yf Acrylic and collage.
The impact of fire upon the Rainforest leaves a aftermath of devastation - the land is barren the eco system has collapsed.
Chico Mendes and The Brazil Nut Tree 2013 yf
The work here depicts Chico Mendes - a courageous man whose work helped so many Indigenous people in Brazil I try to capture the deep essence of nature and man that are so intertwined; Of their interdependence - one upon the other. . Using blue tones and colour ; representing the spirit of purity and unity.
A book on Chico's personal story; is powerful and evocative it taught me so much ....did you know the Brazil nut tree is protected against deforestation- however- ironically once the rest of the biodiversity is destroyed around it ...The Brazil Nut Tree also dies within 2 years.
Acrylic and collage the impact of fire deforestation upon People. yf 2013
We often talk and hear about the awful displacement of people due to famine and war, here we see it extending into tribes who rely intrinsically on nature of the Rainforest for survival. Who having followed for generations in the rituals of their ancestors over thousands of years now destroyed by fire in the name of Globalization. Here I am reminded of Polish Artist Sculptor Franz Krajberg who escaping the traumas of war ( and the Holocaust which claimed his family) found his humanity again by living deep in the Rainforest for a number of years... Now at the age of 93 he continues his fight for the rights of the Rainforest and its inhabitants through his wood sculpture made from the remains of deforestation
Recent works are abstract in definition-which I feel is apt concerning mans disregard of nature ..'it's' simply to be abstracted for contemporary 'mans' use and disposal. The series of work representing the aftermath; treeless, empty, void formless landscapes; though they may seem atmospheric in appearance the shadowy darkness hides the scars upon the land.
Mourning After 1 Acrylic and collage 2015 yf
Mourning After11 Acrylic 2015 yf
Mourning After 111 Acrylic 2015 yf
Below the powerful painting 'We are making a new world' by Paul Nash Artist his depiction of the effects of war upon the land .
Paul Nash
We Are Making a New World 1918
© Imperial War Museum, London
http://www.tate.org.uk/context-comment/articles/a-landscape-of-mortality-paul-nash
Finally From the web page below here is an evokative quote form over a hundred years ago....
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, in a letter to A.S. Suvorin on October 18, 1888, was quoted as saying:
"A tree is beautiful, but what’s more, it has a right to life; like water, the sun and the stars, it is essential. Life on earth is inconceivable without trees. Forests create climate, climate influences peoples’ character, and so on and so forth. There can be neither civilization nor happiness if forests crash down under the axe, if the climate is harsh and severe, if people are also harsh and severe...What a terrible future!"
http://onetreeplanted.org/blogs/news/14246721-the-history-of-deforestation-in-quotes-from-leaders-around-the-world
Original Painting at the Eden project by an Indigenous Person tells us of an ancient story.
Iridescent: Beautiful Green leaf. Biome Rainforest Eden Project 2015 yf
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