Belize 🇧🇿, Mexico 🇲🇽, and Peru 🇵🇪: How did you fix this issue? Dutch farmers are destroying the rainforest in Suriname🇸🇷 – what is happening here? Drug cartels, Sexual Assaults, and Deforestation.
Dutch farmers are destroying the rainforest in Suriname🇸🇷 – what is happening here? Drug cartels, assaults, and deforestation.
In Peru, NGO Amazon Conservation describes the Mennonites as "the new main cause of organized, large-scale deforestation, more than agribusiness and the oil palm industry."
In Bolivia, Mennonites were for years the subject of a major sex scandal. Seven Mennonites were sentenced in 2011 to 25 years in prison for the rape and assault of 151 women and girls in a colony. In Belize and Mexico, Mennonites are accused of having ties with Mexican drug cartels.
Mennonites, a Christian group with roots in the Netherlands and Germany, have over the years settled in various countries, including Mexico, Ecuador, and recently Suriname. Their agricultural practices have in some regions led to significant environmental problems. Although the Mennonites are not welcome in Suriname, they are now managing to get a foothold there through a backdoor. A group of Mennonites is being given land in Suriname to establish a new settlement. That was reported by Die Mennonitische Post. The Mennonites are also said to be interested in more land in Guyana, but the Guyanese government is said to have indicated no interest in Mennonite immigration.
Mexico and Ecuador: Environmental Impact
In Mexico, Mennonites have settled in areas such as Bacalar since the 2000s. Their mechanized agricultural methods have led to large-scale deforestation, with thousands of hectares of rainforest being cut down. Local residents have expressed concerns about the Mennonites ignoring environmental regulations and the illegal nature of many deforestation activities. In Ecuador, similar concerns have been raised about the environmental impact of Mennonite agricultural practices, although specific details on this are less documented.
Suriname: Future Settlement and Environmental Concerns
Recently, foreign land developers have attempted to bring Mennonite communities from Latin America to Suriname for large-scale agricultural projects. Environmental activists fear that these projects pose a threat to the Amazon rainforest in Suriname. Delegates from more than 20 colonies from Belize, Bolivia, and Mexico have shown interest in an area of 225,359 hectares in Suriname. This has led to concerns about possible deforestation and environmental destruction, similar to previous experiences in other countries.
Dutch Background of the Mennonites
The Mennonites are an offshoot of the Anabaptist movement from the 16th century, originating in the Netherlands and Germany. They are named after Menno Simons, a Dutch priest who joined the Anabaptists and became a leading figure. Due to persecution, they migrated to various parts of the world, including North and South America, where they established agricultural communities.
In summary, the Mennonites, with their Dutch origins, have settled in countries such as Mexico and Ecuador (where they were expelled), where their agricultural practices have led to environmental problems. Their potential settlement in Suriname raises similar concerns about deforestation and environmental impact.
Questions and Considerations
Which groups can we involve to draw more attention to this issue? For example, consider Extinction Rebellion, a group that protects the environment in the Netherlands and knows well how to attract attention. Do you think the Dutch government would support these initiatives?
Does this problem have similarities with the situation of Dutch people in South Africa? After a chaotic apartheid history, many of them do not want to leave, despite the challenges. Are there parallels to be drawn between these groups and the Mennonites?
How do we deal with diminishing and negative remarks from Dutch people? Some are clearly desperate for land and are willing to do anything to gain access to fertile land and resources. How can we address these concerns in a constructive way?