An Amazon tribal leader warned Thursday that the world will "destroy itself" unless nations stop clearing rainforests and voiced anger that his message is falling on deaf ears.
Taking his campaign to the world's second-largest economy, Raoni Metyktire, a leader of the Kayapo Indians in Brazil, said Amazon nature was falling victim to development, mining and farming.
"I have met with presidents, provincial leaders and other officials. But they do not listen to what I say," he said through a translator.
Raoni, sporting a disc in his lower lip, is visiting Japan for several months of campaigning, educational events and displays of Amazon artifacts on a trip arranged by Japanese environmentalists.
"If destruction of the forests continues, the world will destroy itself. Wind will blow, hail will fall," Raoni said.
"I am convinced that very bad things will happen. I fear that."
Donning yellow headgear and dark-colored neck ornaments, Raoni is best known for joining rock star Sting's 1989 world tour to promote rainforest protection.
Ten countries including Brazil account for 80 percent of the world's primary forests.
Environmental group Greenpeace warned recently that Indonesia had the highest deforestation rate, with more than 72 percent of ancient forests gone and much of the rest threatened by commercial logging and clearance for palm oil plantations.
