I think one of the biggest threats to cultural diversity is language loss. Biodiversity correlates to the different views people have that represent them Earth. Some indigenous people believe that the earth is merely a symbol of all we are or can be. The species of life are not lost, but the language is. The government should be actively engaged with protecting cultural diversity of countries and even within the world. Creating legislation and funding shows that they truly care about the well being of their countries and all the people who live in it. The effect of the programs is a welcoming atmosphere.
Different resources or places mean different things to different types of people. For example, Wade Davis is a young kid from the Andes was raised to believe that the mountain is an "apu spirit" that will direct their destiny. While, a young kid from Montana was raised to believe that the mountain is a piece of rock ready to be mined. Davis told a story of people who constantly traveled from Southeast Asia that were forcibly removed from their forest and now are obligated to servitude and prostitution. This isn't as uncommon as we would hope; Indigenous have been forced into settlements from their natural habitat. These actions lead to a loss of biodiversity and cultural diversity because people are being forced to live the way someone else wants them to live. In Australia, the “Diverse Australia Program is primarily a community-based strategy for all Australians which aims to address issues of cultural, racial and religious intolerance by promoting respect, fairness, inclusion and a sense of belonging for everyone”(ABS, 2013). “The government recognizes and supports the diversity of Australian community life through its Community Liaison Officer network”(ABS, 2013).
Because of the great advances in modern day technology, some people believe that technology destroys cultural diversity, but this is not true. Wade Davis used this example: A Sioux Indian did not give up being Sioux when they gave up the bow and arrow. Just as Americans did not stop being American when they gave up the horse and buggy. It is universally seen as a development strategy to take action against indigenous people in their own land, but it is what Wade desribes as "ethnocide". He defines ethnocide to simply be the destruction of a peoples’ way of life. People are going to want the government to stay out of cultural issues and spend the money elsewhere that they deem more important. However, I wish more countries would follow Australia’s lead and allow the government to try and improve cultural diversity.
Sources
Davis, W. (2003, February 1). Dreams from endangered cultures. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2013, January 21). Retrieved December 12, 2014.
Different resources or places mean different things to different types of people. For example, Wade Davis is a young kid from the Andes was raised to believe that the mountain is an "apu spirit" that will direct their destiny. While, a young kid from Montana was raised to believe that the mountain is a piece of rock ready to be mined. Davis told a story of people who constantly traveled from Southeast Asia that were forcibly removed from their forest and now are obligated to servitude and prostitution. This isn't as uncommon as we would hope; Indigenous have been forced into settlements from their natural habitat. These actions lead to a loss of biodiversity and cultural diversity because people are being forced to live the way someone else wants them to live. In Australia, the “Diverse Australia Program is primarily a community-based strategy for all Australians which aims to address issues of cultural, racial and religious intolerance by promoting respect, fairness, inclusion and a sense of belonging for everyone”(ABS, 2013). “The government recognizes and supports the diversity of Australian community life through its Community Liaison Officer network”(ABS, 2013).
Because of the great advances in modern day technology, some people believe that technology destroys cultural diversity, but this is not true. Wade Davis used this example: A Sioux Indian did not give up being Sioux when they gave up the bow and arrow. Just as Americans did not stop being American when they gave up the horse and buggy. It is universally seen as a development strategy to take action against indigenous people in their own land, but it is what Wade desribes as "ethnocide". He defines ethnocide to simply be the destruction of a peoples’ way of life. People are going to want the government to stay out of cultural issues and spend the money elsewhere that they deem more important. However, I wish more countries would follow Australia’s lead and allow the government to try and improve cultural diversity.
Sources
Davis, W. (2003, February 1). Dreams from endangered cultures. Retrieved December 12, 2014.
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2013, January 21). Retrieved December 12, 2014.