ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Mark Plotkin - Amazonian ethnobotanist
As fast as the rainforest is disappearing -- the people of the rainforest are disappearing even faster. Mark Plotkin works to preserve generations of knowledge.

Why you should listen

Mark Plotkin is an ethnobotanist, studying the traditional uses for plants in Central and South America forests. He works closely with shamans, community leaders who practice traditional healing techniques using plants and animals, learned over uncounted generations. But when forests are disrupted (by illegal logging, for instance), that knowledge risks being lost. Plotkin's work helps to collect and share shamanic learning, with a twofold goal: to preserve the rainforest by showing its value as a source of yet-to-be-discovered pharmaceuticals.
 
Plotkin pioneered his research working with the Trio Indians of southern Suriname, and has also worked with elder shamans from Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Brazil. He's the author of the best-selling book Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice. With his wife, Liliana Madrigal, he co-founded the Amazon Conservation Team, a group that helps indigenous people purchase and protect their sacred sites.

 

More profile about the speaker
Mark Plotkin | Speaker | TED.com
TEDGlobal 2014

Mark Plotkin: What the people of the Amazon know that you don't

Mark Plotkin: Zuk ez dakizkizun baina Amazoniako jendeak badakizken zenbait kontu

Filmed:
1,613,699 views

"Amazoniako oihan tropikalean desagertzeko arrisku handiena duten espezieak ez dira jaguarrak edo harpia arranoak", dio Mark Plotkinek, "kontaktatu gabeko tribu isolatuak dira". Energiaz eta erakuspenez betetako hitzaldi honetan Plotkin etnobotanikariak oihaneko tribu indigenen eta haien xamanek sendatzeko erabiltzen dituzten landare medizinalen mundura gakartza. Indigenak eta euren jakinduria arriskuan jartzen dituzten erronkak eta arriskuak azaltzen dizkigu eta jakintzaren biltegi ordezkaezin hori babestera animatzen gaitu.
- Amazonian ethnobotanist
As fast as the rainforest is disappearing -- the people of the rainforest are disappearing even faster. Mark Plotkin works to preserve generations of knowledge. Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

00:12
Now, I'm an ethnobotanist.
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Hasteko, etnobotanikaria naiz.
00:13
That's a scientist who
works in the rainforest
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Oihan tropikalean
bizi direnek landareak nola
00:16
to document how people use local plants.
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erabiltzen dituzten
aztertzen duen zientzialaria, alegia.
00:19
I've been doing this for a long time,
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Luzaroan aritu naiz honetan,
eta esan nahi dizuet
00:22
and I want to tell you,
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bertakoek oihanak eta altxor medizinalak
ondotxo ezagutzen dituztela,
00:24
these people know these forests
and these medicinal treasures
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00:27
better than we do and
better than we ever will.
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guk baino hobeto,
guk inoiz ezagutuko duguna baino hobeto.
00:30
But also, these cultures,
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Baina, gainera, kultura horiek,
00:32
these indigenous cultures,
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kultura indigena horiek,
oihanak baino askoz azkarrago
ari dira desagertzen.
00:34
are disappearing much faster
than the forests themselves.
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Amazoniako oihan tropikaleko
espezie ikusgarrienak
00:39
And the greatest and
most endangered species
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00:41
in the Amazon Rainforest
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eta desagertzeteko arrisku
handiena dutenak
00:43
is not the jaguar,
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ez dira jaguarrak,
edo harpia arranoak:
00:45
it's not the harpy eagle,
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kontaktatu gabeko tribu isolatuak dira.
00:47
it's the isolated and uncontacted tribes.
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Duela lau urte oin batean min hartu nuen
mendiko istripu batean,
00:51
Now four years ago, I injured my
foot in a climbing accident
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00:54
and I went to the doctor.
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eta medikuarengana joan nintzen.
00:56
She gave me heat,
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Beroa agindu zidan,
00:57
she gave me cold, aspirin,
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gero hotza, aspirina,
analgesiko narkotikoak, antinflamatorioak
01:00
narcotic painkillers, anti-inflammatories,
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eta kortisona-txertoak.
01:03
cortisone shots.
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01:05
It didn't work.
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Ez zuten funtzionatu.
01:07
Several months later,
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Hainbat hilabeteren buruan
01:09
I was in the northeast Amazon,
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Amazoniako ipar-ekialdean nengoela,
01:11
walked into a village,
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herrixka batera iritsi
eta xamanak esan zidan: herrenka zatoz.
01:13
and the shaman said, "You're limping."
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Hura ez dut ahaztuko
bizi naizen artean.
01:16
And I'll never forget
this as long as I live.
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01:18
He looked me in the face and he said,
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Aurpegira begiratu eta esan zidan:
01:20
"Take off your shoe and give
me your machete."
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erantzi oinetakoa eta
emadazu zure aihotza.
01:24
(Laughter)
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(Barreak)
01:26
He walked over to a palm tree
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Palmondo batera hurbildu zen,
01:28
and carved off a fern,
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eta hostaila bat ebaki zuen.
01:30
threw it in the fire,
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Sutara bota,
01:31
applied it to my foot,
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nire oina harekin igurtzi,
01:33
threw it in a pot of water,
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urez beteriko ontzi batera bota
01:34
and had me drink the tea.
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eta te hura edanarazi zidan.
01:37
The pain disappeared for seven months.
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Zazpi hilabetean ez nuen minik eduki.
Mina itzuli zitzaidanean,
xamana ikustera joan nintzen berriz.
01:40
When it came back, I went
to see the shaman again.
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01:42
He gave me the same treatment,
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Tratamendu berdina eman zidan,
01:44
and I've been cured for three years now.
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eta ordutik hiru urte
daramatzat sendatuta.
01:47
Who would you rather be treated by?
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Nork sendatzea gustatuko litzaizueke?
01:50
(Applause)
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(Txaloak)
01:53
Now, make no mistake — Western medicine
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Tira, ez zaitezte nahastu.
Mendebaldeko medikuntza
01:55
is the most successful system
of healing ever devised,
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inoiz izan den sendatze-sistema
arrakastatsuena da,
01:58
but there's plenty of holes in it.
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baina hutsune asko ditu.
02:01
Where's the cure for breast cancer?
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Non dago
bularreko minbiziaren sendagaia?
02:03
Where's the cure for schizophrenia?
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Non dago eskizofreniarena?
02:05
Where's the cure for acid reflux?
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Non dago
errefluxu gastroesofagikoarena?
02:07
Where's the cure for insomnia?
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Non dago loezinaren sendagaia?
02:09
The fact is that these people
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Kontua da oihaneko jendeak,
02:11
can sometimes, sometimes, sometimes
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oso-oso noizbehinka bada ere,
guk sendatu ezin ditugun
gaitzak senda ditzakeela.
02:13
cure things we cannot.
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02:15
Here you see a medicine man
in the northeast Amazon
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Hemen sendalari bat ikus dezakezue
Amazoniako ipar ekialdean
02:17
treating leishmaniasis,
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leishmaniasia sendatzen,
02:19
a really nasty protozoal disease
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munduan 12 milioi pertsonari
eragiten dion
02:21
that afflicts 12 million
people around the world.
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gaixotasun protozoal larria.
02:24
Western treatment are
injections of antimony.
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Mendebaldean antimonio-txertoak
erabiltzen dira tratamenduan.
02:27
They're painful, they're expensive,
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Mingarriak dira, garestiak dira,
02:30
and they're probably
not good for your heart;
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eta ziurrenez bihotzarentzako txarrak;
02:32
it's a heavy metal.
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metal astuna da.
02:33
This man cures it with three plants
from the Amazon Rainforest.
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Gizon honek Amazoniako oihaneko
hiru landare erabiltzen ditu sendatzeko.
02:37
This is the magic frog.
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Hau igel magikoa da.
02:39
My colleague, the late
great Loren McIntyre,
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Nire lankide bikain
Loren McIntyre hilberria,
02:42
discoverer of the source
lake of the Amazon,
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Amazonas ibaiaren
sorburu-lakua aurkitu zuena,
02:44
Laguna McIntyre in the Peruvian Andes,
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Peruar Andeetako McIntyre laguna, alegia,
02:47
was lost on the Peru-Brazil
border about 30 years ago.
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galdu egin zen Peru eta Brazil
arteko mugan duela 30 urte inguru.
02:50
He was rescued by a group of
isolated Indians called the Matsés.
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Matses indio isolatu batzuek
salbatu zuten.
02:54
They beckoned for him to follow
them into the forest, which he did.
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Keinuen bidez eurekin oihanera joan zedin
esan zioten, eta hala egin zuen.
02:58
There, they took out palm leaf baskets.
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Han, palmondoen hostoekin
egindako saskiak hartu zituzten.
03:00
There, they took out these
green monkey frogs —
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Gero, tximino-igel berdeak
hartu zituzten.
03:03
these are big suckers,
they're like this —
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Miazkatzen bikainak dira
eta neurri hau dute.
03:05
and they began licking them.
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Orduan nire laguna
miazkatzen hasi ziren.
03:07
It turns out, they're
highly hallucinogenic.
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Kontua da haluzinazio
ikaragarriak sortzen dituela.
03:10
McIntyre wrote about this and it was read
by the editor of High Times magazine.
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McIntyrek horretaz idatzi eta High Times
aldizkariko editoreak irakurri zuen.
03:15
You see that ethnobotanists have
friends in all sorts of strange cultures.
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Ikusten duzue etnobotanikariok kultura
arraroenetan ere lagunak dauzkagula.
03:20
This guy decided he would go down
to the Amazon and give it a whirl,
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Editore hark Amazoniara joan eta
probatzea erabaki zuen,
03:23
or give it a lick, and
he did, and he wrote,
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igelen miazkadak probatzea.
Horixe egin, eta horretaz idatzi zuen:
03:27
"My blood pressure went through the roof,
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"Odolaren presioa zeruraino igo zitzaidan,
03:29
I lost full control of
my bodily functions,
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gorputzaren funtzioen kontrola
erabat galdu nuen,
03:32
I passed out in a heap,
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bapatean konortea galdu nuen,
03:33
I woke up in a hammock six hours later,
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hamaka batean esnatu nintzen
sei ordu beranduago,
03:36
felt like God for two days."
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eta Jainkoa nintzela
uste izan nuen bi egunez".
03:38
(Laughter)
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(Barreak)
03:39
An Italian chemist read this and said,
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Italiar kimikari batek hori irakurri,
eta zera esan zuen:
03:41
"I'm not really interested in the theological
aspects of the green monkey frog.
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"Nik ez dut interesik
tximino-igelaren alderdi teologikoan.
Zer gertatzen da
odolaren presioaren aldaketarekin?".
03:45
What's this about the
change in blood pressure?"
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03:48
Now, this is an Italian chemist
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Italiar kimikari hori
odolaren presio altua kontrolatzeko
tratamendu berri batekin lanean ari da,
03:50
who's working on a new treatment
for high blood pressure
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03:53
based on peptides in the skin
of the green monkey frog,
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tximino-igel berdearen azaleko
peptidoak oinarri dituena.
03:56
and other scientists are looking
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Beste zientzialari batzuk
botikek eragiten ez dioten
03:58
at a cure for drug-resistant Staph aureus.
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Staphylococcus aureus gaitzarentzat
sendabidea bilatzen dabiltza.
04:02
How ironic if these isolated
Indians and their magic frog
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Ironikoa litzateke isolatutako indioak
eta euren igel magikoa
04:05
prove to be one of the cures.
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izatea sendabidea.
04:07
Here's an ayahuasca shaman
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Amazonia ipar-mendebaldeko
aiahuaska xaman bat da hau,
eta yaye ospakizunean dago.
04:10
in the northwest Amazon, in
the middle of a yage ceremony.
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04:12
I took him to Los Angeles to
meet a foundation officer
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Behin Los Angelesera eraman nuen
erakunde bateko arduradunarengana,
04:15
looking for support for monies
to protect their culture.
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euren kultura babesteko
dirulaguntzak lortzeko asmoz.
04:19
This fellow looked at the
medicine man, and he said,
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Arduradunak sendalariari begiratu
eta esan zion:
04:22
"You didn't go to
medical school, did you?"
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"Ez duzu medikuntza-ikasketarik,
ez da hala?"
04:25
The shaman said, "No, I did not."
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Xamanak ezetz erantzun zion.
04:27
He said, "Well, then what can
you know about healing?"
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Orduan gizonak: "Tira, orduan
zer jakingo duzu zuk sendabideez".
04:29
The shaman looked at him and he said,
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Xamanak hari begiratu eta:
04:31
"You know what? If you have
an infection, go to a doctor.
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"Badakizu zer? Infekzio bat duzunean,
joan medikuarengana.
04:35
But many human afflictions are diseases
of the heart, the mind and the spirit.
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Baina gizakiaren arazoetariko asko
bihotzekoak, burukoak eta espirituarenak dira.
04:41
Western medicine can't
touch those. I cure them."
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Mendebaldeko medikuntzak ez ditu
horiek ukitzen. Nik, sendatu egiten ditut".
04:46
(Applause)
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(Txaloak)
04:50
But all is not rosy in learning from
nature about new medicines.
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Baina naturako botikei buruz ikastean
guztia ez da arrosa kolorekoa.
04:54
This is a viper from Brazil,
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Hau Brazilgo sugegorri bat da.
04:56
the venom of which was studied at
the Universidade de São Paulo here.
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Bere pozoia São Pauloko
unibertsitaten aztertu zuten,
04:59
It was later developed
into ACE inhibitors.
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eta inibitzaile entzimatikoak
egiteko erabili zen gero.
05:03
This is a frontline treatment
for hypertension.
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Hori da hipertentsioari aurre egiteko
tratamendurik aurreratuena.
05:05
Hypertension causes over 10 percent
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Hipertentsioa da munduan
egunero gertatzen diren
05:08
of all deaths on the planet every day.
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heriotzen %10aren erantzulea.
05:10
This is a $4 billion industry
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Brazildar sugearen pozoinean
05:12
based on venom from a Brazilian snake,
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oinarritutako industriak
ia 1,7 bilioi €-ko balioa du,
05:14
and the Brazilians did not get a nickel.
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eta Brazildarrek ez dute
zentimo bat ere jaso trukean.
05:18
This is not an acceptable
way of doing business.
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Ezin dugu onartu
negozioak era horretan egitea.
05:23
The rainforest has been called the
greatest expression of life on Earth.
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Oihan tropikala Lurreko bizitzaren
adierazpen garbiena dela esan ohi da.
05:26
There's a saying in Suriname
that I dearly love:
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Surinamen badute
nik biziki maite dudan esaera bat:
05:29
"The rainforests hold answers
to questions we have yet to ask."
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Oihan tropikalak guk galdetu gabeko
galderen erantzunak gordetzen ditu.
05:34
But as you all know,
it's rapidly disappearing.
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Baina dakizuen moduan,
ezin azkarrago ari da desagertzen.
05:37
Here in Brazil, in the Amazon,
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Hemen, Brazilen, Amazonian,
05:39
around the world.
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eta mundu osoan zehar.
05:41
I took this picture from a small plane
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Argazki hau
hegazkin txiki batetik atera nuen,
05:43
flying over the eastern border
of the Xingu indigenous reserve
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Mato Grosso estatuko
Xingu indigenen erreserbaren gainetik
05:46
in the state of Mato Grosso
to the northwest of here.
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pasatzean, hemendik ipar-mendebaldera.
05:49
The top half of the picture,
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Ikusten duzue non bizi diren indioak,
05:51
you see where the Indians live.
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argazkiaren goiko erdian.
05:52
The line through the middle
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Erdialdeko lerroa
05:54
is the eastern border of the reserve.
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erreserbaren ekialdeko muga da.
05:56
Top half Indians, bottom half white guys.
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Erditik gora, indioak; erditik behera, zuriak.
06:00
Top half wonder drugs,
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Erditik gora, sendagai miragarriak;
06:02
bottom half just a bunch
of skinny-ass cows.
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erditik behera, ipurdi mehardun
behi batzuk besterik ez;
erditik gora, oihanaren parte den
karbonoa lapurtzen diete;
06:05
Top half carbon sequestered
in the forest where it belongs,
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06:09
bottom half carbon in the atmosphere
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erditik behera, karbonoa daukate airean,
06:12
where it's driving climate change.
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klima-aldaketari eraginez.
06:14
In fact, the number two cause
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Hain zuzen, basoen suntsiketa da
06:17
of carbon being released
into the atmosphere
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atmosferara karbono dioxidoa
06:19
is forest destruction.
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askatzeko bigarren arrazoi nagusia.
06:22
But in talking about destruction,
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Baina suntsiketari buruz ari garenez,
06:24
it's important to keep in mind
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garrantzitsua da gogoan izatea
06:26
that the Amazon is the mightiest
landscape of all.
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Amazonia dela
paisaia guztietan indartsuena.
Edertasunaren eta mirarien herria da.
06:30
It's a place of beauty and wonder.
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06:32
The biggest anteater in the world
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Munduko hartz inurrijale handiena
06:35
lives in the rain forest,
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oihan tropikalean bizi da,
06:37
tips the scale at 90 pounds.
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eta 40 kg-tik gora pisatzen ditu.
06:39
The goliath bird-eating spider
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Goliat tarantula txorizalea
06:41
is the world's largest spider.
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munduko armiarmarik handiena da
06:43
It's found in the Amazon as well.
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eta hori ere Amazonian bizi da.
Harpia arranoak bi metrotik gorako
hego-zabalera dauka.
06:45
The harpy eagle wingspan
is over seven feet.
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06:49
And the black cayman —
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Eta kaiman beltza,
06:52
these monsters can tip the
scale at over half a ton.
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tonelada erdiko pisua izan dezakeena,
06:55
They're known to be man-eaters.
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giza jalea dela diote.
Anakonda: sugerik handiena.
06:58
The anaconda, the largest snake,
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07:01
the capybara, the largest rodent.
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Kapibara: karraskaririk handiena.
07:04
A specimen from here in Brazil
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Hemen, Brazilen, 91 kg-ko pisua
07:06
tipped the scale at 201 pounds.
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neurtu zioten ale bati.
Goazen izaki hauek bizi diren tokira,
07:09
Let's visit where these creatures live,
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2295
07:12
the northeast Amazon,
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1836
Amazoniako ipar-ekialdera,
07:13
home to the Akuriyo tribe.
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1699
Akuriyo tribuaren bizilekura.
07:15
Uncontacted peoples hold a
mystical and iconic role
160
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5513
Kontaktatu gabeko herriek
rol mistiko eta ikonikoa
07:21
in our imagination.
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2135
daukate gure irudimenean.
07:23
These are the people who
know nature best.
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Hori da natura ondoen
ezagutzen duen jendea.
07:25
These are the people who truly live
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1851
Hori da benetan naturarekin
07:27
in total harmony with nature.
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3058
erabateko harmonian bizi den jendea.
Gure estandarrak kontuan izanik,
batzuek primitibotzat hartuko lituzkete.
07:30
By our standards, some would
dismiss these people as primitive.
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2964
07:33
"They don't know how to make fire,
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1641
Surik pizten ez dakitela,
07:35
or they didn't when they
were first contacted."
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443062
2252
edo lehen aldiz kontaktuan
jarri zirenean behintzat ez zekitela.
07:37
But they know the forest far
better than we do.
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3144
Baina guk baino askoz hobeto
ezagutzen dute oihana.
07:40
The Akuriyos have 35 words for honey,
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2994
Akuriyoek 35 hitz dauzkate "eztia" esateko,
07:43
and other Indians look up to them
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451452
2050
eta beste indioek
miresmenez begiratzen diete,
07:45
as being the true masters
of the emerald realm.
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4255
erreinu esmeraldako
nagusiak balira bezala.
Hemen nire lagun Pohnay ikus dezakezue.
07:49
Here you see the face of my friend Pohnay.
172
457757
2315
07:52
When I was a teenager rocking out
173
460072
1743
Ni nerabea nintzenean, eta Rolling Stones
07:53
to the Rolling Stones in my
hometown of New Orleans,
174
461815
2444
rockeroen atzetik nenbilenean
nire jaioterri New Orleansen,
07:56
Pohnay was a forest nomad
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2535
Pohnay oihaneko nomada bat zen,
07:58
roaming the jungles of
the northeast Amazon
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Amazonia ipar-ekialdeko oihanetan
08:01
in a small band, looking for game,
177
469291
3230
hara-honaka zebilena taldetxo batekin,
08:04
looking for medicinal plants,
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2095
dibertsio bila, landare medizinalen bila,
08:06
looking for a wife,
179
474626
1397
emazte baten bila
08:08
in other small nomadic bands.
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476023
2278
eta beste talde nomada batzuen bila.
08:10
But it's people like these
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478301
2478
Baina Ponhay bezalako jendeak
08:12
that know things that we don't,
182
480779
1933
guk ez dakigun gauza asko daki,
08:14
and they have lots of
lessons to teach us.
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482712
4110
eta lezio ugari dauka
guri irakasteko.
Dena den, Amazoniako
oihaneko txoko gehienetan
08:18
However, if you go into most of
the forests of the Amazon,
184
486832
3398
08:22
there are no indigenous peoples.
185
490230
1807
ez da bizi indigenarik.
08:24
This is what you find:
186
492037
1934
Hara joanez gero
zizelkatutako harkaitzak aurkituko dituzu,
08:25
rock carvings which indigenous peoples,
187
493971
3149
jente indigenak, kontaktatu gabekoak,
08:29
uncontacted peoples, used to sharpen
the edge of the stone axe.
188
497120
4430
harrizko aizkorak zorrozteko
erabilitako harkaitzak.
08:33
These cultures that once danced,
189
501550
2072
Behin batean dantza eta maitasuna
egiten zuten kultura haietatik,
08:35
made love, sang to the gods,
190
503622
2581
jainkoei abesten zieten haietatik,
08:38
worshipped the forest,
191
506203
1583
eta oihana gurtzen zutenetatik,
08:39
all that's left is an imprint in stone,
as you see here.
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507786
3648
atzean ikusten diren harri markatuak
besterik ez dira geratzen.
08:43
Let's move to the western Amazon,
193
511434
2570
Goazen mendebaldeko Amazoniara,
08:46
which is really the epicenter
of isolated peoples.
194
514004
3087
herri isolatuen epizentrora.
Puntu hauetako bakoitzak
08:49
Each of these dots represents
195
517091
2038
kontaktatu gabeko tribu bana erakusten du.
08:51
a small, uncontacted tribe,
196
519129
2293
08:53
and the big reveal today is we believe
there are 14 or 15 isolated groups
197
521422
4958
Aipagarria dena zera da,
soilik kolonbiar Amazonian
08:58
in the Colombian Amazon alone.
198
526381
3381
14 edo 15 talde isolatu daudela.
09:01
Why are these people isolated?
199
529762
2242
Zergatik dauden isolatuta?
Badakite existitzen garela, badakite
mundu bat dagoela oihanetik haratago.
09:04
They know we exist, they
know there's an outside world.
200
532004
2707
09:06
This is a form of resistance.
201
534711
2020
Erresistentzia-mota bat da haiena.
09:08
They have chosen to remain isolated,
202
536731
2135
Isolatuta gelditzea erabaki dute,
09:10
and I think it is their
human right to remain so.
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538866
3573
euren ustez giza eskubide bat delako.
Zergatik ezkutatzen dira
gainerako gizakiengandik?
09:14
Why are these the tribes
that hide from man?
204
542439
2423
09:16
Here's why.
205
544862
1105
Hona hemen zergatia:
09:17
Obviously, some of this
was set off in 1492.
206
545967
3258
Alde batetik, 1492. urteak
eragina izan zuen, noski.
09:21
But at the turn of the last century
207
549225
2022
Baina XX. mendearen hasierako
09:23
was the rubber trade.
208
551247
1825
kautxuaren sukarra
izan zen eragile nagusia.
09:25
The demand for natural rubber,
209
553072
1650
Amazoniako oihaneko
09:26
which came from the Amazon,
210
554722
1906
kautxu naturalaren eskaria
09:28
set off the botanical
equivalent of a gold rush.
211
556628
3174
urre-arrapalada baten
baliokide botanikoa izan zen.
Kautxua bizikleten gurpiletarako,
09:31
Rubber for bicycle tires,
212
559802
1876
09:33
rubber for automobile tires,
213
561678
1618
kautxua autoen gurpiletarako,
09:35
rubber for zeppelins.
214
563296
1751
kautxua zeppelinetarako.
09:37
It was a mad race to get that rubber,
215
565047
3007
Kautxua lortzeko
lasterketa zoro bihurtu zen hura,
09:40
and the man on the left, Julio Arana,
216
568054
2678
eta ezkerrean ikus dezakezuen
gizona, Julio Arana,
09:42
is one of the true thugs of the story.
217
570732
3067
istorioko maltzurrenetariko bat dugu.
09:45
His people, his company,
218
573799
1693
Bere menpekoek, bere enpresak
09:47
and other companies like them
219
575492
2102
eta antzeko beste enpresek
09:49
killed, massacred, tortured,
butchered Indians
220
577594
3155
orain ikusiko dituzuen
Witotoak eta beste zenbait indio
09:52
like the Witotos you see on the
right hand side of the slide.
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580749
4907
hil, sarraskitu, torturatu
edo sakailatu egin zituzten.
09:57
Even today, when people
come out of the forest,
222
585656
2425
Gaur egun ere, oihanetik ateratzen badira
10:00
the story seldom has a happy ending.
223
588081
2705
istorioa gutxitan amaitzen da ondo.
10:02
These are Nukaks. They
were contacted in the '80s.
224
590786
3120
Hauek Nukak indioak dira, 80ko
hamarkadan kontaktuan jarri zirenak.
10:05
Within a year, everybody over 40 was dead.
225
593906
3957
Urtebetera, 40 urtetik gorako guztiak
hil egin ziren.
10:09
And remember, these
are preliterate societies.
226
597863
2232
Eta gogoratu alfabetatu
gabeko gizarteak direla.
10:12
The elders are the libraries.
227
600095
1780
Helduak dira gazteen liburutegiak.
10:13
Every time a shaman dies,
228
601875
1778
Xaman bat hiltzen den aldiro,
10:15
it's as if a library has burned down.
229
603653
3389
liburutegi bat erre balitz bezala da.
10:19
They have been forced off their lands.
230
607042
2496
Euren lurretatik alde egitera
behartuak izan dira.
10:21
The drug traffickers have
taken over the Nukak lands,
231
609538
4223
Droga-trafikatzaileek
Nukaken lurrak hartu dituzte,
10:25
and the Nukaks live as beggars
232
613761
1978
eta orain Nukakak eskale gisa bizi dira
10:27
in public parks in eastern Colombia.
233
615739
3242
Kolonbia ekialdeko parke publikoetan.
10:30
From the Nukak lands, I want to
take you to the southwest,
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618981
2900
Nukak herritik hego-mendebaldera
eraman nahi zaituztet,
10:33
to the most spectacular
landscape in the world:
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621881
2647
munduko paisaiarik ikusgarrienera:
10:36
Chiribiquete National Park.
236
624528
2073
Chiribiquete parke nazionalera.
10:38
It was surrounded by three isolated tribes
237
626601
2139
Hiru tribu isolatu bizi ziren inguruan,
10:40
and thanks to the Colombian government
and Colombian colleagues,
238
628740
3031
eta Kolonbiako gobernuari
eta lankideei esker
10:43
it has now expanded.
239
631771
1946
parkea askoz handiagoa da orain,
10:45
It's bigger than the state of Maryland.
240
633717
1977
Maryland estatua baino handiagoa.
10:47
It is a treasure trove
of botanical diversity.
241
635694
3441
Aniztasun botanikoaren
altxor ezkutua da.
Nire maisu Richard Schultes-ek
10:51
It was first explored botanically in 1943
242
639135
2955
1943an aztertu zuen lehen aldiz
10:54
by my mentor, Richard Schultes,
243
642090
1790
botanikaren ikuspuntutik.
10:55
seen here atop the Bell Mountain,
244
643880
2870
Hemen, Bell mendiaren gailurrean dago,
10:58
the sacred mountains of the Karijonas.
245
646750
2435
Karijona herriaren mendi sakratuan.
Utz iezadazue orain
Chiriquete gainean hegan egitea
11:01
And let me show you
what it looks like today.
246
649185
2291
11:03
Flying over Chiribiquete,
247
651476
1929
zer den erakusten,
mundu galdu honetako mendiak
oraindik galduta daudela erakusten.
11:05
realize that these lost world
mountains are still lost.
248
653405
2578
11:07
No scientist has been atop them.
249
655983
1805
Zientzialari bat ere ez da egon
gailur horietan.
11:09
In fact, nobody has been
atop the Bell Mountain
250
657788
2193
Egia esan, inor ez da egon
Bell mendiaren gailurrean
11:11
since Schultes in '43.
251
659981
1959
1943an Schultes igo zenetik.
11:13
And we'll end up here
with the Bell Mountain
252
661940
2872
Hemen geldituko gara, Bell mendia
irudiaren ezkerraldean dugula.
11:16
just to the east of the picture.
253
664812
2258
11:19
Let me show you what it looks like today.
254
667070
2690
Ikus ezazue gaur nolako itxura daukan.
11:21
Not only is this a treasure
trove of botanical diversity,
255
669760
3177
Ez da bakarrik aniztasun
botanikoaren altxor ezkutu bat,
11:24
not only is it home to
three isolated tribes,
256
672937
2778
ez da bakarrik
hiru tribu isolaturen etxea,
11:27
but it's the greatest treasure trove
257
675715
1788
munduko aurrekoloniar artearen
11:29
of pre-Colombian art in the world:
258
677503
3325
gotorleku baliotsuena da:
11:32
over 200,000 paintings.
259
680828
2539
200.000 margolan baino gehiago daude.
11:35
The Dutch scientist Thomas van der Hammen
260
683367
2644
Thomas van der Hammen
holandar zientzialariak
11:38
described this as the Sistine Chapel
of the Amazon Rainforest.
261
686011
5686
Amazoniar oihan tropikaleko
Sixtoren kapera dela esan zuen.
11:43
But move from Chiribiquete
down to the southeast,
262
691697
2574
Utz dezagun atzean Chiribiquete
eta goazen berriro
11:46
again in the Colombian Amazon.
263
694271
1811
hego-ekialdera, kolonbiar Amazoniara.
11:48
Remember, the Colombian Amazon
is bigger than New England.
264
696082
2882
Gogoratu kolonbiar Amazonia
Ingalaterra Berria baino handiagoa dela.
11:50
The Amazon's a big forest,
265
698964
1617
Amazonia oihan handia da,
11:52
and Brazil's got a big part of it,
266
700581
1631
eta zati handi bat Brazili dagokio,
11:54
but not all of it.
267
702212
1486
baina ez guztia.
11:55
Moving down to these two national parks,
268
703698
1588
Goazen hegoaldera kolonbiar Amazoniako
11:57
Cahuinari and Puré
269
705286
2149
bi parke nazionaletara,
11:59
in the Colombian Amazon —
270
707435
1346
Cahuinari eta Puré parkeetara;
12:00
that's the Brazilian
border to the right —
271
708781
2688
eskuinaldean Brazilekiko muga dago.
12:03
it's home to several groups
272
711469
2374
Eremu hori kontaktatu gabeko
12:05
of isolated and uncontacted peoples.
273
713843
1744
hainbat talde isolaturen etxea da.
12:07
To the trained eye, you
can look at the roofs
274
715587
2129
Ondo begiratuz gero,
maloca edo etxe komunitarioen
12:09
of these malocas, these longhouses,
275
717716
2091
teilatuak ikus daitezke,
12:11
and see that there's cultural diversity.
276
719807
1921
eta aniztasun kulturala dagoela antzeman.
12:13
These are, in fact, different tribes.
277
721728
2048
Izan ere, tribu desberdinetakoak dira.
12:15
As isolated as these areas are,
278
723776
2564
Eremu hauek isolatuta badaude ere,
12:18
let me show you how the
outside world is crowding in.
279
726340
4253
utz iezadazue erakusten kanpoko
mundua nola ari den indarrez sartzen.
Hemen ikusten dugu Putumayoko
merkataritza eta garraioaren gorakada.
12:22
Here we see trade and transport
increased in Putumayo.
280
730595
2721
12:25
With the diminishment of
the Civil War in Colombia,
281
733316
2440
Kolonbian gerra zibila baretzearekin batera
12:27
the outside world is showing up.
282
735756
2612
kanpoko mundua ate joka hasi zen.
Iparraldean legez kanpoko urre-meatzeak daude,
12:30
To the north, we have illegal gold mining,
283
738368
2752
12:33
also from the east, from Brazil.
284
741120
1692
baita ekialdean, Brazil aldean ere.
12:34
There's increased hunting and fishing
for commercial purposes.
285
742812
3640
Helburu komertzialdun
ehiza eta arrantza gehitu da.
12:38
We see illegal logging
coming from the south,
286
746452
3057
Legez kanpoko zuhaitz-mozketa
hasi da hegoaldean.
12:41
and drug runners are trying to
move through the park
287
749509
2655
Eta droga-trafikatzaileak
Brazilera igaro nahi dute
parkea zeharkatuz.
12:44
and get into Brazil.
288
752164
2206
12:46
This, in the past, is why you didn't mess
289
754370
2758
Iraganean hau zen indio isolatuekin
traturik ez izateko arrazoia.
12:49
with isolated Indians.
290
757128
1621
Argazkia fokutik kanpo
dagoela irudituko zaizue,
12:50
And if it looks like this
picture is out of focus
291
758749
1864
12:52
because it was taken
in a hurry, here's why.
292
760613
3286
presaka atera baitzuten.
Hemen duzue arrazoia:
12:55
(Laughter)
293
763899
2517
(Barreak)
12:58
This looks like — (Applause)
294
766416
5887
Brazildar Amazoniako — (Barreak)
13:04
This looks like a hangar
from the Brazilian Amazon.
295
772303
2520
Brazildar Amazoniako
hegazkinen tailer bat dirudi.
13:06
This is an art exhibit in Havana, Cuba.
296
774823
2743
Habanako, Kubako, arte-erakusketa bat da,
13:09
A group called Los Carpinteros.
297
777566
1657
Los Carpinteros taldearena.
13:11
This is their perception of why you
shouldn't mess with uncontacted Indians.
298
779223
4351
Horrela adierazi dute zergatik ez dugun
muturrik sartu behar indio isolatuen bizitzan.
13:15
But the world is changing.
299
783574
1977
Baina mundua aldatzen ari da.
13:17
These are Mashco-Piros
on the Brazil-Peru border
300
785551
2768
Hauek Mashco-Piro indioak dira,
Brazil eta Peru arteko mugan.
13:20
who stumbled out of the jungle
301
788319
2141
Ihes egin behar izan zuten oihanetik,
13:22
because they were essentially chased out
302
790460
1954
droga-trafikatzaileak eta egurketariak
13:24
by drug runners and timber people.
303
792414
2378
jarraika zituztelako.
13:26
And in Peru, there's
a very nasty business.
304
794792
2633
Eta Perun negozio
nazkagarri bat daukate,
13:29
It's called human safaris.
305
797425
1820
giza safaria deiturikoa.
13:31
They will take you in to isolated
groups to take their picture.
306
799245
3032
Talde isolatu batengana
eramaten zaituzte, argazkiak egitera.
13:34
Of course, when you give them
clothes, when you give them tools,
307
802277
3046
Eta noski, arropa edo tresnak
ematen dizkiezunean
13:37
you also give them diseases.
308
805323
1898
gaixotasunak ere pasatzen dizkiezu.
13:39
We call these "inhuman safaris."
309
807221
2847
"Giza safari" deitzen diegu.
13:42
These are Indians again
on the Peru border,
310
810068
2098
Hauek Peruko mugako indio batzuk dira;
13:44
who were overflown by flights
sponsored by missionaries.
311
812166
3218
misiolariek babestutako hegazkinak
euren gainean aritu ziren hegan,
13:47
They want to get in there
and turn them into Christians.
312
815384
2931
indioengana iritsi eta
kristau bihurtu nahi baituzte.
13:50
We know how that turns out.
313
818315
2195
Badakigu nola amaituko den kontua.
13:52
What's to be done?
314
820510
1774
Zer egin dezakegu?
13:54
Introduce technology
to the contacted tribes,
315
822284
2426
Kontaktatutako tribuei
teknologia aurkeztu,
13:56
not the uncontacted tribes,
316
824710
1902
baina ez kontaktatu gabekoei;
13:58
in a culturally sensitive way.
317
826612
3133
eta betiere kulturarekin kontu handiz jokatuz.
14:01
This is the perfect marriage of
ancient shamanic wisdom
318
829745
4146
Hori da xamanen antzinako jakintza
eta XXI. mendeko teknologia
batzeko modurik egokiena.
14:05
and 21st century technology.
319
833891
2826
Jada 30 tribu baino gehiagorekin egin dugu;
14:08
We've done this now with over 30 tribes,
320
836717
3011
14:11
mapped, managed and increased protection
321
839728
2924
arbasoen oihaneko
28 milioi hektarea baino gehiagoren
14:14
of over 70 million acres
of ancestral rainforest.
322
842652
3903
babesa taxutu, kudeatu eta hobetu dugu.
14:18
(Applause)
323
846555
5273
(Txaloak)
14:23
So this allows the Indians to take control
324
851828
3222
Horri esker, indioek euren etorkizun kulturala
14:27
of their environmental
and cultural destiny.
325
855050
3527
eta ingurunea kontrola dezakete.
14:30
They also then set up guard houses
326
858577
1989
Gainera, zaintza-etxeak
eraikitzen dituzte,
14:32
to keep outsiders out.
327
860566
2006
kanpotarrak sar ez daitezen.
14:34
These are Indians, trained
as indigenous park rangers,
328
862572
2639
Indio horiek basozain izaten ikasi dute,
14:37
patrolling the borders
329
865211
1656
baita mugak patruilatzen
14:38
and keeping the outside world at bay.
330
866867
3081
eta kanpoko mundua urrun mantentzen ere.
14:41
This is a picture of actual contact.
331
869948
2759
Argazki honek benetako kontaktua erakusten du.
14:44
These are Chitonahua Indians
332
872707
1907
Chitonahua indioak dira,
14:46
on the Brazil-Peru border.
333
874614
2003
Brazil eta Peru arteko mugakoak.
14:48
They've come out of the jungle
334
876617
1704
Oihanetik irten dira
14:50
asking for help.
335
878321
1741
laguntza eske.
14:52
They were shot at,
336
880062
1406
Tirokatuak izan dira,
14:53
their malocas, their
longhouses, were burned.
337
881468
2737
malokak edo etxe komunitarioak erre dizkiete,
14:56
Some of them were massacred.
338
884205
2503
eta euretariko batzuk
sarraskian hil dituzte.
14:58
Using automatic weapons to
slaughter uncontacted peoples
339
886708
5786
Kontaktatu gabeko jendea akabatzeko
arma automatikoak erabiltzea
gaur egun munduan giza eskubideak
urratzeko modurik zital eta ankerrena da,
15:04
is the single most despicable and
disgusting human rights abuse
340
892494
4232
15:08
on our planet today, and it has to stop.
341
896726
2945
eta amaitu egin behar du.
15:11
(Applause)
342
899671
6534
(Txaloak)
15:18
But let me conclude by saying,
343
906205
2723
Baina beste zerbait esanez amaitu nahi nuke.
15:20
this work can be spiritually rewarding,
344
908928
2864
lan hau atsegina izan daiteke espiritualki,
15:23
but it's difficult and
it can be dangerous.
345
911792
2844
baina zaila eta arriskutsua ere bada.
15:26
Two colleagues of mine
passed away recently
346
914636
2902
Nire bi lankide
orain dela gutxi hil dira
15:29
in the crash of a small plane.
347
917538
2365
hegazkin txiki baten istripuan.
15:31
They were serving the forest
348
919903
1778
Oihanarentzat lanean ari ziren,
15:33
to protect those uncontacted tribes.
349
921681
2748
kontaktatu gabeko tribuak babestu nahian.
15:36
So the question is, in conclusion,
350
924429
1937
Beraz, funtsean, galdera honakoa da:
15:38
is what the future holds.
351
926366
1825
zer ekarriko digu etorkizunak?
15:40
These are the Uray people in Brazil.
352
928191
2097
Hauek Brazilgo Urayak dira.
15:42
What does the future hold for them,
353
930288
1681
Zer ekarriko die etorkizunak?
15:43
and what does the future hold for us?
354
931969
2671
Eta zer ekarriko digu guri?
15:46
Let's think differently.
355
934640
2481
Pentsa dezagun beste era batean.
Sor dezagun mundu hobe bat.
15:49
Let's make a better world.
356
937121
1797
15:50
If the climate's going to change,
357
938918
1918
Klima aldatzera baldin badoa,
izan dadila hoberako aldaketa,
ez txarrerakoa.
15:52
let's have a climate that changes for
the better rather than the worse.
358
940836
4081
Bizi gaitezen
luxuzko landaretzadun mundu batean,
15:56
Let's live on a planet
359
944919
3165
16:00
full of luxuriant vegetation,
360
948084
2820
herri isolatuak isolatuta mantenduko diren
mundu batean
16:02
in which isolated peoples
361
950904
2106
eta haiek horrela erabakiz gero
16:05
can remain in isolation,
362
953010
1859
euren misterioa eta jakintza
16:06
can maintain that mystery
363
954869
1973
mantenduko duten
16:08
and that knowledge
364
956842
1526
mundu batean.
16:10
if they so choose.
365
958368
1645
Bizi gaitezen
16:12
Let's live in a world
366
960013
2115
xamanak oihanean bizi diren mundu batean,
16:14
where the shamans live in these forests
367
962128
2369
eta landare mistikoak eta igel sakratuak
16:16
and heal themselves and us
368
964497
2944
sendagai gisa erabiltzen dituzten
16:19
with their mystical plants
369
967441
2737
mundu batean.
16:22
and their sacred frogs.
370
970178
2057
Mila esker, berriro ere.
16:24
Thanks again.
371
972235
1847
(Txaloak)
16:26
(Applause)
372
974082
3919
Translated by Ainhoa Eguren Bengoa
Reviewed by Jone Aliri

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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Mark Plotkin - Amazonian ethnobotanist
As fast as the rainforest is disappearing -- the people of the rainforest are disappearing even faster. Mark Plotkin works to preserve generations of knowledge.

Why you should listen

Mark Plotkin is an ethnobotanist, studying the traditional uses for plants in Central and South America forests. He works closely with shamans, community leaders who practice traditional healing techniques using plants and animals, learned over uncounted generations. But when forests are disrupted (by illegal logging, for instance), that knowledge risks being lost. Plotkin's work helps to collect and share shamanic learning, with a twofold goal: to preserve the rainforest by showing its value as a source of yet-to-be-discovered pharmaceuticals.
 
Plotkin pioneered his research working with the Trio Indians of southern Suriname, and has also worked with elder shamans from Mexico, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Brazil. He's the author of the best-selling book Tales of a Shaman's Apprentice. With his wife, Liliana Madrigal, he co-founded the Amazon Conservation Team, a group that helps indigenous people purchase and protect their sacred sites.

 

More profile about the speaker
Mark Plotkin | Speaker | TED.com