ANTH 2 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Participant Observation, 18 Months, Rubber Tapping
Document Summary
Across the world, people raise cattle because of economic reasons, but also for cultural reasons. Cattle raising and beef consumption are key drivers of global environmental change. An anthropological perspective can help to understand the appeal of cattle raising, and contribute to sustainability. Opening the amazon in the 1970s: cattle raising, deforestation, and conflict. Cattle raising and the emergence of cowboy culture. Large population in amazon to build these structures. 50-95% population loss in 1st century after contact. Under pressure by consumption of the amazon natural resources. Building of roads and slow deterioration and deforestation over time. Leading resource is cattle in the world forest cattle ranch. Unites people and defines their identity (symbolically and economically) Arrival of ranchers and colonists (70s and 80s) Chico mendes and the rubber tapper movement. Dies by rancher and known as martyr for forest. Living and working with different groups using cattle. Rubber tapper property, large cattle ranch, colonist property.
