It is not inaccurate to say that historically, first world individuals have often used third world peoples in order to further propagate their ideals or increase their economic gains. The interaction between “civilized” Westerners and Amazonian Indians is no different. As environmentalism took root in Western society, first world activists and opportunists used misrepresentations and generalizations of Amazonian Indians as vanguards of environmental preservation to spread their causes in Latin America and in their country. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Until the 1980s, environmentalism initially focused on the strict conservation of resources and thus emphasized human presence as an obstacle to environmental preservation. However, the shift in focus of environmentalists toward the sustainability of resources rather than their meticulous conservation has created the need to find a model of individuals sustainably using rainforest resources. Through ethnobiological research, scientists discovered that Amazon Indians were able to efficiently use natural resources while increasing biodiversity, and environmentalists saw the potential in supporting these Indians to advance their cause . Environmentalists began hailing Amazonian Indians as "guardians of the forest," and many international agencies began promoting new models of sustainable land use that incorporated Indian methods of resource management. Soon, preserving local Indian culture and supporting its causes became as important a goal as preserving the sustainability of rainforest resources. This new environmentalist strategy of supporting the Indians for a humanitarian cause not only allowed them to propose new effective models of resource management, but it also legitimized the association of these Westerners with the affairs of the nations these Indians represented. from Amazonia. Without a valid connection to local Indian issues, the conservationist crusade against deforestation in the Amazon would have been seen as mere self-serving first world meddling. Supporting indigenous causes allowed environmentalists to enact their conservationist policies while avoiding being labeled as self-serving imperialists. Additionally, Western environmentalists have propagated Amazon Indians as "noble savages", conservationists who use resources non-destructively, creating a cultural media tendency to stereotype Amazon Indians. describe them positively and as possessing qualities of purity, naivety and “greenness”. This romanticized portrayal of indigenous Indians has allowed NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to communicate and mobilize supporters by distinguishing themselves from other non-profit organizations and to raise funds for their cause. By portraying this gallant image of the Amazonian Indians as defenders of nature, the NGOs were able to arouse a feeling of guilt among spectators, making them believe that if they did not support their cause, they were not part of this noble group of individuals. defend and try to save nature. This positive symbolism has also allowed NGOs dedicated to initiating long-term sustainable development in the Amazon to gain support for their cause through the receptiveness of the.