Saying that people in the western world and indigenous Indians of the South American rainforests are interconnected refers to the concept that all human beings and societies across the globe are linked together in complex ways, even if they seem very different on the surface.
Here are a few key ideas this statement conveys:
- Shared humanity - At our core, all humans have fundamental similarities - we experience emotions, have hopes and dreams, and share basic needs like food and shelter. Our common humanity connects us.
- Globalization - Advances in technology, communication, transportation and trade have increasingly connected societies worldwide. What happens economically or politically in one region can now impact people across the globe.
- Environmental interdependence - The planet is an interconnected ecosystem. Deforestation of the Amazon affects oxygen levels and weather patterns worldwide. Pollution in one area spreads through air and water. We all feel the impact of climate change.
- Cultural diffusion - Ideas, technologies, languages, religions and cultural practices have spread between different societies over time. For example, the numeric system used worldwide originated in India.
- Historical intersections - Western colonization impacted indigenous cultures, both through violence/exploitation and exchange of language, goods and ideas. The effects of those historical interactions are still felt today.
- Shared future - How people manage environmental threats, technological change, global conflicts, etc. will determine the future for all societies. All humans have a shared stake in humanity's fate.
In summary, the statement expresses that we should see all people as part of the same global community, rather than thinking in terms of isolated societies. Our fates are intertwined, even when surface differences make it seem otherwise.