Many of the peoples we work with do not slot easily into bureaucratic categories, and so they are denied fundamental human rights and often face systematic persecution, genocide and murder. The activities of modern, urban man have caused the most terrible destruction of nature and a levelling-down of human cultures to a banal, homogeneous pulp. Amazonian Indians working for oil multinationals, eating at McDonalds, watching the satellite TV and listening to pop music on a sony walkman. Consumer-capitalism destroys both cultural and ecological diversity. It alienates the individual from their nature and puts sterile competition in place of loyalty to their environment or tribe.
Material abundance breeds iniquity and spiritual despair.
P c N aims to reverse the process of development. Instead of imposing on tribal peoples modern offices, modern schools and modern superstores, we should learn from their reverence for nature, their lack of sentimental hypocrisy, their ancient wisdom, their physical and moral strength. We are uncompromisingly on the side of peoples who resist the forces of 'civilisation' which have for centuries corrupted our own world. Their struggles have become ours, too. P c N gives its preferential support to tribes, groups and communities who wish to retain their traditional lifestyles.