Stephen Corry

Stephen Corry (born 1951) is a British indigenous rights activist, better known as the former CEO of Survival International. He was asked to lead the organisation in 1984. In 1993 he became the chairman of the Free Tibet Campaign and remains on its board.

For the American poet, see Stephen Corey. For other people, see Stephen Curry (disambiguation).

Stephen Corry
Born1951
Malaysia
CitizenshipBritish
Known forIndigenous rights activist
Scientific career
FieldsAnthropology
Human rights
InstitutionsSurvival International
Free Tibet Campaign

Biography

Stephen Corry was born in Malaysia in 1951. He won a scholarship to Gresham's School, where he excelled in rifle shooting.[1] At the age 16, he left school with the desire to travel and learn other languages.[2] He travelled to places like Nepal, Turkey and India. As his mother was born in India, he was particularly interested in learning about the country. At 18 he found himself at Mount Everest, Nepal. With no money or support, Corry had to rely on the local people for sustenance. Corry has stated in interviews that before his interaction with the Himalayan tribes, he had always believed in the spread of Western-style technologies around the world.[2] His experience with these people completely changed his way of thinking. He found them to be living very fulfilling lives without electricity or cars. He became even more interested in learning about the tribal people of the world. When he returned to London he thought he would feel out of place. However, in 1972, he founded together with Robin Hanbury-Tenison the organisation Survival International. The organisation was re-launching at the time, and he was happy to find there people who thought the way he did.[1][2] Influenced by his travels, and authors such as Jiddu Krishnamurti, he quit the University of Paris, Jussieu, and volunteered. After becoming a member, Corry sought to go to Brazil to study the indigenous people there, but was asked to stay in London and do research.

Stephen Corry later became Projects Director of Survival International.[3][4] According to explorer and Survival's founder and President, Robin Hanbury-Tenison, after several long field trips to South America on their behalf, combined with an ability to relate to Amerindians and anthropologists, Corry had become an expert on the status of the Indians of Colombia, Peru and Ecuador. He had started his work with Survival with the ambitious intention of compiling a World Red Book of Threatened Peoples – parallel to the IUCN's "Red Book of Threatened Species", an idea which was proposed to him by Robin Hanbury-Tenison, while discussing his future role in Survival International. In 1974 he spent nine months in Colombia researching the situation of the indigenous tribal peoples and setting up several projects for funding by the Joint Projects Committee. On his return, in 1976, he published his report, "Towards Indian Self-determination in Colombia".[5] From 1984 until 2021 he served as Director-General of Survival International. [6] Corry is a climber and ski-tourer. He lives in the West Country, England, is married and the father of three daughters.


Views

Stephen Corry worked as a member of Survival International with the perspective that indigenous people have both moral and legal rights to their lands.[7][8] The protection of this right is considered essential for their survival. They believe that governments must acknowledge this and that this is only possible if they are made to by force of public opinion. Survival International believes that the culture of this people is of great value, and it is now put at great risk from a violent interference on their way of living.

Awards

Survival International was awarded the Right Livelihood Award in 1989. Corry gave the acceptance speech.[7]

See also

References
  1. Corry, Stephen (2011). Tribal peoples for tomorrow's world. Freeman Press. ISBN 978-1447424130.
  2. "An insight into the life of Stephen Corry". Mmegi. 17 March 2004. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  3. Hanbury-Tenison, Robin (2004). Worlds Apart: An Explorer's Life. Long Riders' Guild Press. ISBN 1-59048-163-1.
  4. A. Ed., Willem (1975). Case studies on human rights and fundamental freedoms: a world survey. Kluwer Law International. ISBN 90-247-1780-9.
  5. Corry, Stephen (1976). Towards Indian self-determination in Colombia. Survival International. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  6. @stephencorrysvl (26 August 2020). "In 2021, I stand down as CEO @Survival, 49 years after volunteering there" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 26 August 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2023 – via Twitter.
  7. "Right to Livelihood Award – Acceptance Speech by Stephen Corry December 9th, 1989". The Right to Livelihood Award. Archived from the original on 20 June 2010. Retrieved 5 February 2010.
  8. "The Indigenists". The New Yorker. 31 August 1981. Retrieved 25 January 2010.

Further reading
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