Opinion | Editorials
Do not contact the uncontacted
'Civilised' mankind must leave 'unknown' tribes to their own resources.
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:44 May 31, 2008
The discovery of a previously unknown tribe in the Amazon demonstrates how, even in these times, the world is still full of surprises.
It is believed there are more than 100 uncontacted tribes around the world, although how this is determined is difficult to understand if they have not been contacted. But what remains vitally important is for "civilised" mankind to leave these tribes to their own resources and not interfere.
While it may be tempting to "map" their history and determine how they have existed, and still exist, previous attempts to do so with other tribes have resulted in catastrophe.
In some cases the scientists who wanted to assuage their curiosity took with them more than scientific instruments - they inadvertently took illness and disease for which the tribes had no immune system, so many members subsequently died.
Having learnt their lesson, scientists are now rightly saying of the tribes: "Leave well alone!"
Opinion Editor's choice
-
Russia, China complicit in Syria carnage
By Fawaz Turki, Special to Gulf News
By their double veto at the UN, they have chosen to back the Al Assad regime that is already wet spaghetti
-
Two prime ministers in trouble
By Kuldip Nayar, Special to Gulf News
Gilani faces contempt of court charge while Singh encounters moral responsibility in 2G scam case
-
Moving towards honest democracy
By Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister of Russia
Russia needs to unbundle power and property and separate executive power from system of checks over it
Your turn
