Amazing things/Musk’s “Starlink” goes deep into the Amazon rainforest, sparking controversy; the Internet changes the lives of primitive tribesmen and puts them in a dilemma

Amazing things/Musk’s “Starlink” goes deep into the Amazon rainforest, sparking controversy; the Internet changes the lives of primitive tribesmen and puts them in a dilemma
Photo: On May 19, Musk presented a batch of Starlink equipment at a medical center in Bali, Indonesia. \Associated PressRecently, the New York Times reported that indigenous people in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil are addicted to the Internet, which has sparked heated discussions. The Starlink network launched by SpaceX founder Musk has penetrated deep into the jungle, helping these isolated communities connect to the outside world. While bringing convenience to life, it has also brought cultural shocks, created internal divisions, and encouraged criminal activities such as illegal mining. In the face of the impact of the Internet on primitive tribes, how to balance the convenience of modern technology with the need to protect tribal culture is worth discussing and thinking about.

Benefits/First taste of “modernity” and no longer isolated from the world

Convenient life: video chat and electronic payment

Starlink plays an important role in many places around the world where communication is inconvenient, including the Russian-Ukrainian battlefield, Gaza hospitals under Israeli bombing, etc. However, the most subversive impact of Starlink may be areas that had no network coverage in the past, such as the Amazon rainforest.

Since entering Brazil in May 2022, Starlink has swept across the world’s largest tropical rainforest, providing high-speed Internet access to this rare area on Earth without Internet access. Starlink has long regarded the Amazon as an opportunity. When Musk visited Brazil, he said on social media, “I am very excited to come to Brazil and provide Starlink to 19,000 schools in remote areas that are not connected to the Internet, as well as Amazon environmental monitoring services.”

Starlink also allows local residents to use bank electronic transfer services and credit card machines for commercial transactions, promoting economic growth in remote areas. In Atalaia do Norte, a riverside town in the western Amazon near the border between Peru and Colombia, hotel owner Alves installed Starlink in his hotel a year and a half ago. He can make bank transfers and video calls, and even start watching TV series on Netflix. When Starlink was not available, Alves’ son flew 1,140 kilometers to Manaus, the capital of the state, just to hold a video conference with a group of tourists. “There are so many new things to see that I don’t even sleep,” Alves said with a smile.

In addition, Starlink is particularly important for the Amazon interior, where it is difficult to build optical cables. Currently, only satellite networks can connect the Amazon interior to other parts of Brazil. Fabricio Barbosa, director of the Amazon Administration, said that in addition to economic benefits, satellites can also help local governments promote public services, such as launching online medical consultation services and providing online learning for indigenous peoples.

In case of distress, you can seek help immediately

The Marubo tribe, with a population of 2,000, is one of the tribes in the Amazon jungle that has recently suddenly connected to Starlink. The tribe has lived along the Itui River deep in the rainforest. Their huts are scattered along the river, stretching for hundreds of kilometers. Some villages may take a week to reach. The Marubo people have their own language, take ayahuasca to connect with the spirits of the forest, trap spider monkeys to make soup or keep them as pets, and have preserved their traditional lifestyle for hundreds of years.

However, a batch of “Starlink” donated by American entrepreneur Allyson Reneau in September last year has brought about earth-shaking changes to the primitive tribe. Tsainama Marubo, 73, said: “When (the Internet) was first available, everyone was very happy.” She said that the Internet brings obvious benefits, such as video chatting with distant relatives and emergency help.

Enoque Marubo, a 40-year-old leader of the Marubo tribe, said that the biggest benefit of the Internet is that in an emergency, such as when bitten by a poisonous snake, a helicopter can be called for rapid rescue. In the past, when there was no Internet in the area, the Marubo people used amateur radios, and the messages had to be passed through multiple villages before they could contact the relevant authorities. Now with the Starlink network, they can call for help immediately. Enoque said: “Lives have been saved because of this.”

Source: chinese