A Relação Horizontal entre Direitos Humanos, o Meio Ambiente e a Sustentabilidade. Uma Necessária Sintonia com a Cultura Indígena (Humanista e Ambiental)

Abstract

The article is intended to emphasize that there is no way to deny the close relationship that exists between Human Rights, the environment and sustainability. In addition, it aims to demonstrate how culture and the environment 

are key alternatives for achieving sustainable development. With this understanding, we highlight the awareness and wisdom of visions such as those of the chief Seathle and that of the also indigenous Ailton Krenak. Added to these, we must also consider the narrative of Anthropologist Franz Boas, father of Modern Cultural Anthropology, with a new look at the study of culture based on the relativistic proposal of cultural differences and which contributed to describe that with education and culture, man can develop in its environment. Understanding the discourses of Chief Seathle and indigenous Ailton Krenak is crucial to discern the instability that affects the international community in the economic, environmental, social and cultural spheres. Currently, we face difficulties with neoliberal restrictions, which reduce the State’s capacity to meet fundamental rights, which causes the violation of Human Rights and does not guarantee the basic needs of the population, as well as increasing consumption and disrespecting the environment. In this context, the commitment of States to establish a development model aimed at a sustainable environment that meets humanistic issues with the reduction of social inequalities, environmental problems, extreme poverty and that meets fundamental rights is necessary. An environment that ensures the survival of the human species and a healthy life is part of the list of human rights and consists of the protection of human dignity, being inherent to an environment and to sustainable development. As a way of delimiting the theme, we consider it opportune to use the descriptive qualitative methodology based on the thought of Franz Boas and the wisdom of Seathle and Ailton Krenak on indigenous culture in the USA and Brazil, together with some bibliographical studies on the subject.