There You Go!
Text and Illustrations by Oren Ginzburg, 2006
Published by Hungry Man Books & Survival International (240 words, 22 pictures).

And...

Click here to read the entire book online, courtesy of Survival International;
Click here for a review of the book in the New Internationalist;
Here to see art from There You Go! in the Guardian;
And here for an article in the Cambodian Daily.

Scroll down for...
- Survival International's Director Stephen Corry's foreword to the book (2005)
- Duncan Buchart's 2006 review
- Praise for There You Go!

Foreword by Stephen Corry, Survival International (2005)

There You Go! is an arrow defending tribal peoples. In my 33 years with Survival, I have not come across anything else that hits the bull's eye with such simplicity, accuracy and irrepressible humour. Today the subject of tribal peoples and development is saturated with words, but if you really want to understand what's going on, read this book.

The 'development' of tribal peoples against their wishes - really to let others get their land and resources - is rooted in 19th century colonialism ('We know best') dressed up in 20th century 'political correct' euphemism. Tribal peoples are not backward: they are independent and vibrant societies which, like all of us always, are constantly adapting to a changing world. The main difference between tribal peoples and us is that we take their land and resources, and believe the dishonest, even racist, claim that it's for their own good. It's conquest, not development.

Survival International helps tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures. We are delighted to have the opportunity to give Oren's book to tribal communities around the world, as well as to governments and others who should know better and who must stop living in the past.

Review by Duncan Butchart (2006) - www.wildwatch.com

Oren Ginzburg is a sharp critic of the aid and development agencies which set out to improve the lives of so-called "under-developed" peoples. The arrogant assumption that westerners can teach 'sustainable development' to tribal peoples is torn to shreds in this comically illustrated but poignant little book. Influenced by the political agendas of their home countries, the development workers are often guilty of imposing impractical and short-sighted 'income generating' projects which ultimately lead to the ecological collapse of the environment upon which tribal people are dependent, or the barefaced theft of mineral, timber and other resources.

This is Ginzburg's second cartoon book and it carries a message every bit as powerful as 'The Hungry Man' (reviewed in a previous edition of wildwatch). Like that book it is certain to harpoon the conscience of any development worker who sees it. Survival International (www.survival-international.org) has adopted 'There You Go!" and is actively distributing copies to tribal communities around the world (the skimpy text is in English, but everyone will get the message from the barbed cartoons) as well as to governments "who should know better".

Praise for There You Go!

"Simply Brilliant" - The New Internationalist

"A book that tells the truth" - Mashen Ashini, Innu

"Reading your book got us thinking - we are now changing the entire approach of our community development program" - NGO director, Thailand

"It is brilliant and tells eloquently what a PhD Thesis might take 72,000 words to say" Ruth Johns, UK

"I like Survival's little book, 'There You Go!'. It has a very important message because it talks about problems to do with land. For those people who don't know about the Yanomami, about indigenous peoples and the forest, it will tell them, young and old, teachers and pupils, about us." Davi Yanomami, Brazil

In 2006 Survival International sent copies of There You Go! to a number of well known world figures. Many responded with comments on the book:

"Oren Ginzburg's little book contains the big message that we must avoid the arrogance of presuming to know what's best for those whose voices are not heard in global debates. It reminds us of our shared responsibility to see to it that all people are active participants in shaping the decisions that impact their lives. Only then can we hope to see real development" - Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

"There you go! raises the complex issues of offering appropriate support to different communities around the world in an accessible way. Country and community led approaches to develop are, of course, essential to support sustainable improvements in people's lives. Good governance is also important to help empower individuals to hold their governments to account about decisions that directly affect their lives. There you go! should help raise understanding about the complexities and potential pitfalls of offering development assistance, with a particular focus on tribal peoples" - Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom

"This little book is a wonderful way to get a very serious message over to a very wide audience - without boring them!" - Baroness Trumpington