September 22, 2009 by Jay Taber.

As showcased on the Survival International website, the diversity of humanity is intimately tied to the diversity of nature. Given the contribution to climate change of predatory practices like deforestation for biofuel and open pit mining for luxury goods like oil and diamonds, this loss of diversity has become a death sentence not only for indigenous peoples, but for all humanity.

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September 22, 2009 by Mirjam Hirch.

The long and desperately needed collaboration between traditional medicine practitioners and institutionalized medical care gets more awareness and coverage. With the limits of so-called western medicine being widely acknowledged especially in the fields of prevention and the healing of mental disease the potential of traditional medicine is more and more perceived, practiced and protected. The “low-tech approach with a focus in prevention also serves to save financial resources in times of economic hardships. Clinical doctors in US hospitals start referring patients to traditional healers on a case-by-case basis.
The New York Times reports on a hospital’s new Hmong shaman policy in California, the country’s first policy which formally recognizes the cultural role of traditional healers.
Many more like policies should follow all over the world to guarantee access and quality of care for patients in need.

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