ANEMIA AND ANOMIA: IMPACTS OF MINING ACTIVITIES IN THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF THE ECUADORIAN AMAZON REGION

Abstract

I analyze the impact of modernization in Ecuadorian society, on the indigenous population of the Amazonian region. The indigenous people are intensely affected by the structural breakdown of their traditional ways of life, based on itinerant horticulture, harvest, hunt and fishing. Among the indigenous people, only the young are able to adapt, but elders do not. This inability to adapt generates anomy as a social phenomenon that affects indigenous groups, and is expressed in alcoholism, malnutrition–especially among children and women–, drug abuse, prostitution and suicide. Processes such as the appearance of indigenous peasantry, sendentarism, urbanization, atribalization and the origin of a generic Indian are all expressions of a modernization process in the Amazonian region. Anomy is a public health problem that precludes the social and economic improvement of the indigenous population, which is an important percentage of the general population in the Amazonian region. I also present a critique to the management of development projects carried out by ministries, secretariats, municipalities, provincial governments, NGOs and cooperation.