Mexico: Border wall would harm migratory endangered species

Photo: Walk along Arivaca Creek, near the US spy tower, 12 miles north of the border. The region is the migratory route of bats, jaguar, pronghorn, black bear and other rare species in Sonora, Mexico and southern Arizona. Photo Brenda Norrell Photo 2: Sonoran Pronghorn.


Mexico urges fence changes to aid animals

The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY — The Mexican government said Monday it is seeking changes in a U.S. plan to expand fences along the two nations' border because of the threat to migratory species accustomed to roaming freely across the frontier.
The Environment Department said the fences would seriously hurt species that cross the 1,952-mile border, and said the United States needs to alter or mitigate the barriers — aimed at stopping migrants from crossing illegally into the U.S. — where necessary.
Mexico also wants Washington to expand its environmental impact study on the fences and will file a complaint with the United Nations' International Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands if necessary.
"The eventual construction of this barrier would place at risk the various ecosystems that we share," said Environment Secretary Juan Rafael Elvira, noting that the border includes desert, mountains, rivers and wetlands.
A report prepared for the Mexican government by experts and activists from both nations said the fences could isolate border animals into smaller population groups, affecting their genetic diversity.
Exequiel Ezcurra, director of research at the San Diego Natural History Museum, stressed that Mexico would not be the only loser from the construction of 700 miles of border fencing: the United States could lose visits from Mexican jaguars and black bears that have enriched U.S. ecosystems.
Environmentalists say highly endangered species such as the antelope-like Sonoran pronghorn — of which only about 100 still exist — could be wiped out in coming years, because they are used to moving across the border in search of scarce grassland.
Even strong lighting or radar could interfere with nocturnal species in border areas, and construction, maintenance and traffic along the walls would affect a wider strip of border land than just the fences themselves, the report states.
Elvira did not say what alternatives to the fences might be, but the report suggested creating bridge areas so ecosystems can remain connected, and wilderness areas or "green corridors" without roads that experts say may be less attractive to smugglers.
It also suggested "live" fences of cacti, non-permanent or removable fencing, night-vision instead of radar and more permeable fencing to allow water, insects and pollen to move across the border.

Struggling for Border Justice

Photos by Brenda Norrell (Protest of Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano after signing of new immigration law.)

Senate bill includes funds for dangerous crashing drones (unmanned aerial vehicles.)

Senate Approval of massive border militarization sacrifices human security
Coalicion de Derechos Humanos

(July 27, 2007) TUCSON -- Yesterday’s Senate vote to provide an additional $3 billion dollars toward “beefing up border security” will have disastrous implications for border communities and diverts attention from root causes, and therefore solutions, for our migration phenomenon, contend local human rights groups.
Coalición de Derechos Humanos denounces the decision as irresponsible, pointing out the dramatic number of human rights violations and abuses that have occurred as a result of more than a decade of militarization tactics and policies.
The bill provides for an additional 23,000 Border Patrol agents, 4 unmanned aerial vehicles, 700 miles of new walls, 300 miles of vehicle barriers and 45,000 detention beds. The bill passed with 89 votes to 1, and is being put forth by some as an effort to put Congress on a path to override President Bush's promised veto of a $38 billion homeland security funding bill.
Read more ...
http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/

Mohawks in Canada: Secret weapons testing at Sharbot Lake

SPECIAL MOHAWK NATION NEWS REPORT:

IS CANADA THE WORLD’S “BUTT HOLE”FOR TESTING BOMBS AND WMDs??
Sombody’s making deals with the devil!
July 26, 2007
“Ye Shall Know them by the Company they Keep” [from somewhere in the Bible?]

In a Memorandum of Understanding “Mining Resources Engineering Limited” MREL is continuing its weapons making and bomb exploding activities on Algonquin lands. We investigated and found a frightening profile on MREL.

MREL Encampment in the Bush

Their weapons testing is unacceptable! On July 13, 2007, some Indigenous people stumbled on their “secret” lab and explosive testing encampment in the bush on Sharbot Lake. They probably need to clean up some evidence of their questionable activities? We are now in the know! They are making weapons of genocide to be used on our people elsewhere in the world and, who knows, maybe even on us.

MREL tries to stay anonymous. Bill Bauer, the head, keeps company with some big guys in the BIG LEAGUE. Yes, the Department of National Defense Canada [DND] and the U.S. Department of Defense [DOD] are some of MREL’s biggest customers. They work secretly for the sake of “national security”, calling it “R&D” [Research & Development]. We know they don’t care about ‘our’ security. Why do we get the feeling that there’s a lot of “insanity” going on here? [Ask Bill Bauer of MREL at 613-545-0466 (111)Cell 613-530-0777. MREL hides out in Kingston].

Why should these secret companies and agencies know more about our security than us? We are the original owners of the land, and there are non-native settlers who live on our land.

Mysterious MREL has the high tech equipment to measure all forms of radiation. They provide their services to test weapons they call “explosives” at their unique “state of the art” at a remote facility in the wilderness of Algonquin territory.

For years MREL has been making a lot of noise in the Algonquin countryside. Their explosions can be heard and felt for miles around. Farmers have moved away because the noise causes their cows and goats to miscarry. [Are these lands going to become uninhabitable for hundreds of years?]
Read more ... See: “Sharbot Lake”
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/news/news4.php?lang=en&layout=mnn&category=58&srcurl=%2Fnews%2Fnews3.php%3Flang%3Den%26layout%3Dmnn%26sortorder%3D0

Priests prepare for court, possible prison, to expose U.S. torture

By Brenda Norrell

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

TUCSON -- Two priests willing to go to prison to expose U.S. torture and torture training at Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona are prepared for their pre-trial motions.

Fr. Louis Vitale (left) and Fr. Stephen Kelly will join human rights attorney William Quigley in Tucson on Sunday evening, August 12. It is the evening before the August 13 pre-trial motions hearing. The gathering will be held at Southside Presbyterian Church, 317 W. 23rd. That's one block south of 22nd St. at 10th Ave., at 7:00 pm.
Fr. Louie Vitale, a Franciscan priest, is an Action Advocate for Pace e Bene, co-founder of the Nevada Desert Experience and SOA Watch Prisoner of Conscience.
Fr. Steve Kelly (right), a Jesuit priest, has served time in prison for his participation in several Plowshares direct disarmament actions. Fr. Kelly literary attempted to turn a weapon of mass destruction into a plowshare and went to prison for it.

In December, 2005, Fr. Kelly served as chaplain for Witness to Torture, a delegation which marched through Cuba to the gates of the prison at Guantanamo Bay.
Bill Quigley is a law professor and Director of the Law Clinic and the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center at Loyola University, New Orleans. He's been an active public interest lawyer since 1977, volunteering with School of the Americas Watch, the Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti and many other groups.
On August 13 (and possibly 14), Fr. Louie Vitale and Fr. Steve Kelly, represented by Bill Quigley, will have a pre-trial motions hearing in federal court in Tucson on charges of trespass and failure to obey an officer's orders for their nonviolent witness on Nov. 19, 2006 at Fort Huachuca.

The priests attempted to give a letter to the post commander of Fort Huachuca because of the leading role that the Fort has played in the development of the manuals advocating torture used at the SOA (School of Americas) and current interrogation techniques being used by the Army.
On August 13, there will be a support circle in the courtyard outside the federal courthouse, 405 W. Congress, time to be announced.
Please regularly check http://tortureontrial.org/ for details, updated information about the case and related events, or call 520-323-8697.

Read more ...

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/06/priests-face-prison-to-expose-torture.html

Torture protests outside federal court in Tucson. Photos by Brenda Norrell

brendanorrell@gmail.com/

Bush criminalizes the anti-war movement

CRIMINALIZING THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT
By Prof. Michel Chossudovsky
www.globalresearch.ca/PrintArticle.php?articleId=6377
This article gives the implications of the Executive Order Bush issued July 17, 2007 whereby opposing the Iraq War becomes an illegal act. It provides the text of the Executive Order, and the text of his Message to Congress the same day.
"In substance, under this executive order, opposing the war becomes an illegal act. The Executive Order criminalizes the antiwar movement. It is intended to "blocking property" of US citizens and organizations actively involved in the peace movement. It allows the Department of Defense to interfere in financial affairs and instruct the Treasury to "block the property" and/or confiscate/ freeze the assets of "Certain Persons" involved in antiwar activities. It targets those "Certain Persons" in America, including civil society organizatioins, who oppose the Bush Administration's "peace and stability" program in Iraq, characterized, in plain English, by an illegal occupation and the continued killing of innocent civilians. "

New York Times reveals ignorance on Navajo environmentalists

By Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

The New York Times has revealed the newspaper's ignorance with the headline, "Navajos and environmentalists split on power plant."

The headline incorrectly indicates that Navajos and outsiders are split on the issue of the proposed Desert Rock power plant.

However, it is the Navajo people who have maintained the staunch resistance to the Desert Rock power plant; Navajos who actually live in the Four Corners area on tribal land. They are already breathing the toxins from two other power plants.

The Navajos who live on the land are fighting their own Navajo tribal government, Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr., and the Navajo Nation Council, to halt the power plant.

The New York Times' misleading headline is a pattern for national newspapers. During the past decades, Indigenous living in Central and South America, struggling to survive as farmers on their land, were usually referred to as "insurgents," by major newspapers. Since editors usually write the headlines, it is sad to see the New York Times staff so ill-informed.

Major newspapers usually fail to report the fact that a large amount of the revenues from power plants and other destructive mining provide the salaries and travel expense accounts of the Navajo president and the Navajo Nation Council's 88 council delegates.

While Navajos in northwest New Mexico, Big Mountain and southeastern Utah, live with the cancer-producing toxins of coal mining, oil and gas wells and power plants, many Navajos still live without running water and electricity. While they suffer the degradation, non-Indians in the Southwest receive the electricity.

Since Navajos who live on the land lack the huge bank accounts to hire highly-paid spin doctors, the voice of the tribal government and corporations are what usually makes it to the national news. Of course, visiting reporters sweep through and unfortunately, their editors often sabotage their articles with misleading headlines.

The New York Times seems unaware that there are Navajo environmentalists in a modern-day movement. Among the Navajo environmentalists was Leroy Jackson, cofounder of Dine' Citizens Against Ruining the Environment, Dine' CARE, found dead in 1993 after protesting the tribe's clear cutting of the old growth yellow pines on Navajoland.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/27/us/27navajo.html?_r=3&hp&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=login

Photo: Navajos protest Desert Rock power plant at Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr.'s inauguration. Photo Dooda Desert Rock

Most Censored: National Guardsmen, cops smuggling cocaine at US/Mexico border

Photo: National Guard troops arrived at the border, after President Bush’s said it would help bolster homeland security and border patrol activities along the 1,950-mile border. PHOTO DOD

Smuggling drugs -- Members of Immigration and Naturalization Service, Arizona Army National Guard, U.S. Bureau of Prisons, Army, Arizona Department of Corrections, Airforce Security Squadron and Nogales Police Department -- sentencing in federal court.

By Brenda Norrell
htp://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

TUCSON -- While television news reporters want the public to believe that the Arizona Army National Guardsmen, Airforce and border agents were the saviors, protecting the US border, court cases are now revealing US soldiers and agents anxious to run keys of cocaine in uniform from the Mexican border.

The FBI shut down the sting operation, "Operation Lively Green," because so many US soldiers wanted to smuggle drugs in uniform using official vehicles, from the border at Nogales, Ariz., north to Tucson and Phoenix, between 2002 and 2004.

There are now 99 cases -- including a National Guard Sargent who recruited soldiers under his command in Tucson, an Army recruiter in Tucson, police in Nogales, prison guards, Airforce security personnel and other public officials -- all caught in the act of drug smuggling. Court cases are now underway Tucson.

The arrests reveal a more accurate view of the border, far from the hype of television news.

The Arizona FBI sting was related to an Oklahoma FBI sting, "Operation Tarnished Star." National Guardsmen were running cocaine from Texas to Oklahoma.

The Arizona sting also resulted in the arrest of Davis Monthan Airforce men in the Security Squadron in Tucson smuggling drugs.

Tohono O'odham and other border residents have opposed the militarization of the border. They want the National Guard and other military out of the region.

Living in the militarized zone and surrounded by border agents on the ground, residents are spied on from the air and have lost their right to privacy. Border residents are the focus of harassment and increased dangers from speeding border agents and corrupt and drug running soldiers and border agents.

As one Tohono O'odham put it: "With all these helicopters, Border Patrol and supposed-trackers, why can't they find even one of our O'odham who goes missing in the desert?"

Derechos Humanos Coalicion says the increased militarization has only led to more deaths, by pushing migrants into more desolate areas of the desert, where deaths from dehydration and heat have increased this summer.

Breaking news, sentencing in Tucson ...
http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=us&q=%22Lively+Green%22
Michael Marizco: Border Reporter
http://www.borderreporter.com/
Arizona Daily Star: National Guardsmen running cocaine: 'Just following orders'
http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/192903
Army soldiers sentenced in drug sting
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/crime/193268
Davis Monthan Airforce, Security Forces Squadron, soldiers caught smuggling drugs in sting:
http://www.azcentral.com/specials/special21/articles/0520corruption20.html
Army and Marine recruiters ran cocaine operations in Tucson
http://www.quakerhouse.org/Recruiter-Abuses-02.htm

Tohono O'odham ran over by Border Patrol

By Brenda Norrell
Angelita Ramon believes that her son, 18-year-old Bennett Patricio, Jr., was intentionally ran over and killed by Border Patrol agents on Tohono O'odham tribal land near the border.

Based on the evidence, Ramon believes that her son -- while walking home at 3 a.m. through the desert -- walked upon a drug transfer underway by Border Patrol agents on April 9, 2002.

The family filed a civil suit against the US Border Patrol, but the US District Court in Tucson ruled in favor of the Border Patrol. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco recently failed to rule in the family's favor.

However, Ramon's next option, if she can find an attorney, is to file murder charges against the Border Patrol agents at the scene. Read more of the story ...
http://bsnorrell.tripod.com/id63.html

“The Border Patrol is a death squad. They are operating like they do in Central and South America, because no one can hold them accountable,” said Jimbo Simmons, member of the International Indian Treaty Council, during the Summit Aug. 29 – Oct. 1, 2006.

Photo: Angelita Ramon, Tohono O'odham, at Indigenous Border Summit of the Americas on San Xavier tribal land, Oct. 2006/Photo Brenda Norrell


US agents drug smuggling raises new questions about the truth of the deaths of two border agents, and an ICE agent, in southern Arizona in 2004:

Border agents were believed a murder-suicide, while ICE agent Tom DeRouchey, Cheyenne River Sioux, was said to be suicide in 2004

Murder-suicide likely in border agent deaths
By Michael Marizco and Scott Simonson
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona Published: 06.12.2004

TUCSON -- Two U.S. Border Patrol agents died in an apparent murder-suicide south of Tucson early Friday, officials said.
The two agents, a 45-year-oldman and a 31-year-old woman, were from the El Paso Sector in Texas, said El Paso Sector spokesman Doug Mosier.
The male agent, Arturo Betancourt, was a supervisory agent who had been on the job for 15 years.
The woman, Elizabeth Granillo, had been an agent for two years.
Mosier said he didn't know whether Betancourt was Granillo's supervisor. He also wouldn't say whether they'd been in a relationship.
The bodies were found in a vehicle about 10 miles southwest of Tucson on the San Xavier Reservation, said Chief Richard Saunders of the Tohono O'odham Police Department.
He said the woman had been shot three times and the man once. They were not in uniform, but were identified by agency credentials found on their bodies. No suicide note was found at the scene, about a mile southeast of Mission San Xavier del Bac, he said. One handgun was found.
Police found the bodies about 2:30 a.m. Friday when they responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle on a dirt road near Interstate 19.
The FBI, which has jurisdiction in certain felonies on Indian reservations, did a preliminary investigation, then turned the case over to tribal police, said FBI spokeswoman Susan Herskovits.
Meanwhile, agents in El Paso will have counseling services made available to them through the agency, Mosier said.
The last off-duty Border Patrol agent to die in the region was Jorge Luis Salomon, 23.
Salomon had traveled to Cananea, Sonora, in February 2003 after befriending a man who was a drug-smuggler. They joined others in Cananea and when they learned Salomon was a Border Patrol agent, they beat him to death.
Four people are in custody in Sonora pending an investigation. A fifth remains at large.
The last known suicide of a federal agent in Southern Arizona was U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement interim director Tom V. DeRouchey.
He shot himself in March while driving on Interstate 10 in Marana on his way to a press conference in Tucson.

Mount Graham Sacred Run, July 26 -- 27

Thursday, July 26, Whiteriver to San Carlos

Friday, July 27, San Carlos to Mount Graham

Sacred Run Campout on Mount Graham, at Treasure Park, Fri-Sun.

RESIST: Alogonquins say 'No' to being guinea pigs for weapons testing

CANADA AND FRONTENAC VENTURES “NUKE” ALONGQUINS:
MILLION DOLLAR LAWSUIT FILED AT SHARBOT LAKE

Mohawk Nation News
July 24, 2007.

The colonizers are using a new weapon for Indigenous destruction. Law suits. Doesn’t “No mean no”? Canada and Frontenac Ventures have devised new tricks and donned new masks. They figure if they can sue then they can take away our lands.

On July 23rd 2007 they punched us in the face by handing the Algonquins a million dollar lawsuit. Canadian colonial institutions are being used as a tool to assault us.
Remember, the Algonquins never consented to the trespassing that’s happening on their land.

Sharbot and Ardoch Lakes are 42 miles north of Kingston Ontario Canada . The Algonquins rejected Frontenac’s financial offer last week of $10,000 to dig up uranium to contaminate and desecrate the land, air, water, animals and people. They were told that soon an injunction will
remove us from our own land.

The 55 acres at the gate is supposedly private land owned by Peter Jorgenson who leased an office to Frontenac Ventures. Frontenac merely has permits from Ontario to stake mining claims on unsurrendered Algonquin land, as
well as private land.

The Algonquins are supposedly represented by lawyers, Blaine McMurtry, of Toronto . What are they doing? We are not told anything! The Canadian crown claims jurisdiction over the area. Shouldn’t Affairs be protecting the area according to Canadian legislation and Supreme Court of Canada jurisprudence. We know that’s a joke! Indian Affairs has a long history of helping to destroy and steal Indigenous land, resources and rights. Indian Affairs is right in there now punching us without a velvet glove.

The Algonquins refused to come under the Indian Act. They remain free and independent, to be dealt with on a nation-to-colony basis. The land is unsurrendered and remains unceded. The Algonquins are not Canadian citizens. This is all verified by international law. The
Canadian government represents the corporate interests, against us.

All it takes is for a greedy corporation to persuade one department to give them a license to exploit Indigenous land that doesn’t belong to Canada . All the other departments will fight tooth and nail to defend this theft. We can’t think of a single time when the Department of
Justice took our part against a corporate predator.

Another dirty player on Algonquin land is MREL [Mining Resources Engineering Limited], a manufacturer and tester of weapons. It has a unique “secret” facility in a “remote location” on Algonquin land. We know all about it!

Has anyone noticed that there’s been a sudden burst of spending on the military even though war is illegal in international law? Canada is under no war threat. No attempts are being made to solve disputes by peaceful means. The UN has been turned into a “war machine”.
Canada is an eager little “go for” for these totalitarian schemes. The military siphons money away from education, health care and much needed repair of infrastructure for public health and safety.

Canada has opened up our land to any country or anybody who wants to do military testing. We are set up to be used as “guinea pigs” for these tests! The public says nothing because they are too scared and too shocked.

Canada is trying to seduce a new generation into their lethal games. Tey’re suckering the children of the poor into sacrificing their lives to lower the population of “useless eater”, as Henry Kissinger called us. They’re trying to convince us it’s glorious to “self-destruct”.

The Department of National Defense Canada and the DRDC [Defense Research and Development Canada ] are doing studies on the effects of weapons on people, animals, land, water and air. CRTI is the umbrella organization [“Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear
Explosives Research and Technology Initiatives”] that includes 21 agencies and departments, including Atomic Energy, Health Canada , CSIS and Natural Resources.

MREL makes and tests radon equipment and weapons of mass destruction on Algonquin land, like RDDs and IEDs, which are “dirty bombs” made from uranium tailings or medical grade radio active materials. Who’s the “Chemical Ali” of Canada ? Gordon O’Connor, the Member of Parliament of the area and the Minister of Defense? Are they nuking settlers who don’t vote for them?

These losers don’t know how to make a living without killing, molesting or preying on their fellow human beings. Go to the DRDC website for all the connections with the worldwide
military industry at http://www.ottawa.drdc-rddc.gc.ca/.

MREL is a very private company that does contracts for the U.S. Department of Defense Navy, Army and Air Force and who knows who else. Bill Bauer, the Vice President “front
man”, doesn’t answer any questions.

MREL is busy showing off their explosive and weapons technology at the “Force Protection Equipment Demonstration” in Stafford Virginia U.S. Also there are exhibitors like “SAIC”, “Raytheon” and “RedX Defense”
[http.//www.redxdefense.com/RedX_site/RedX_homepage02.htm].
[We want to reassure our readers that this has nothing to do with our Sage “Red-X”, though they may have been reading MNN and want to stop our peace mongering against their bombs!] Look for an article on MREL at http://www.cbrneworld.com/, a trade magazine on
weaponry development for terrorism worldwide.

These companies are all up to their necks in Algonquin land without any permission or authority. Their presence is based entirely on colonial bluff.

We aren’t sure if MREL is banned from going around on our land. The OPP told Frontenac’s George White and Pete Jorgensn to stay away. Uranium companies exploring in the Athabaskan basin oil sands in Alberta are using helicopters to fly in their heavy exploration
and drilling equipment, which is a technical possibly that could be done here on our land.

MREL boasts of having a “remote location” to do its experimentation, development and testing. They’re hoping that the Indigenous protests will disappear because they’re farther from major universities, military and population centers. These guys are playing hard ball. They are starting to manufacture “red neck” opposition to our attempts to defend the peace and
sanity of the land.

It's just a matter of time before the OPP have to "uphold their rule of law" and enforce the injunction. The OPP work with DRDC by keeping a consistent presence at the Robertsville Mine. They know how isolated this territory is and how many people are there.

Port Hope near Toronto is where the uranium waste is being stored. This was closed a few days ago due to “seepage”. The Algonquins of Sharbot Lake are feeling the pressure.

Janie Jamieson asked, “Please send in whatever you can as soon as possible: water, gas, food, disposable cameras, socks, bug spray, candles, eating utensils and any type of camping supplies. Help is urgently needed for our well being and protection”.

The Algonquins, our supporters and the local residents are demanding “No uranium mining whatsoever” on our land. “The testing of the IEDs and RDDs and nuclear weaponry has to stop”. We’re not allowed to burn a tire and look what they’re blowing up practically in our faces. We face birth defects, permanent DNA damage, leukemia and cancer to present and future generations living in the area. For the sake of the earth and the future generations, we have to mobilize now to stop this insane nonsense.

The 20th century tactic was to claim our lands were needed for military defense. The 21st century tactic is to use their courts to sue us with their colonial laws that are made up as they go along, in the name of democracy, but in violation of democratic principles.

Contact Chief Paula Sherman 613-279-1970 http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=paulasherman@trentu.ca;
Bob Lovelace at 613-268-2746, Cell 613-532-2166; Harold Perry
613-479-5534; Lynn Daniluk 613-268-2746, Cell 613-267-0539; Ormond
Lee of the settler committee 613-267-7584.

Send your opposition and concerns to Natural Resources Canada
http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=inspector@nrcan.gc.ca Phone 613-948-5200, MREL Bill Bauer
13-545-0466 (111) Cell 613-530-0777 http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=bbauer@mrel.com; Prime
Minister Stephen Harper http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=harper.s@parl.gc.ca and the Governor
General info@gg.gc.ca [she’s responsible, knows it’s happening
and turns her back on us and our children constantly].

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News

See: “ Canada ”
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/news/news4.php?en=en&layout=mnn&category=27&srcurl=%2Fnews%2Fnews3.php%3Flang%3Den%26layout%3Dmnn%26sortorder%3D0

Guatemalan mother found dead on Tohono O'odham tribal land

Migrant Walk for Life 2007/Brenda Norrell

CENSORED: Indigenous continue to die from heat and dehydration on Tohono O'odham tribal land in Arizona. Many of those walking north to survive are Indigenous Peoples, but the tribe has created a law which makes it a crime to transport migrants. Further, the tribe has failed to support the humanitarian efforts of Tohono Oodham Mike Wilson. Wilson, in conjunction with Humane Borders, puts out water in several areas on tribal land for migrants.

Guatemalan mother is second mother found dead on Tohono O'odham land with son nearby

By Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

SELLS, Ariz. -- A Guatemalan mother, walking on Tohono O'odham tribal land, with her 10-year-old son was found dead Thursday. It was the second consecutive day that a mother was found dead with her son nearby.
The ten-year-old Guatemalan boy was found walking about a half mile mile north of the border south of Tecolote Ranch on tribal land. The boy told Border agents that his mother had died, the Arizona Daily Star reported.
On Wednesday on Tohono O'odham tribal land, one mile west of Big Field near Federal Route 24, the body of Maria Resendiz Perez, 33, of the central Mexican state of Queretaro, was found with four survivors, including her 10-year-old son.
"The boy is in custody of the Mexican Consulate in Tucson, which is arranging for the boy to return to Mexico this weekend to be with his grandfather, said spokesman Alejandro Ramos Cardoso. They believe the mother died of dehydration," the Star reported.
The heat has taken many lives this summer. Thursday was the 37th straight day of 100-degree temperatures in the Tucson area.

Coalicion de Derechos Humanos: More migrants die because of increased enforcement

Coalición de Derechos Humanos, a Tucson-based human rights group, announced that the total number of recovered bodies on the Arizona border reached 147 by the end of June, 2007, up from 133 at the same time last year. Thirty-three bodies were recovered in the month of June alone, twelve of them not as yet identified and nearly a third of them female.

These numbers do not reflect any of the 24 bodies recovered in first twelve days of the month of July, with reports coming out almost daily about remains found in the desert by residents, humanitarian groups and law enforcement officials alike.

Adding to this increasing tragedy are the families who are desperately searching for news of loved ones who attempted to cross the border and have yet to be heard from. Men, women and children are regularly reported missing to consulate officials and human rights groups, who attempt to search for them in detention centers, hospitals, migrant centers, and medical examiner offices.“Rarely talked about are the desaparecidos, the people who have gone missing with no clue as to their whereabouts,” says Isabel Garcia of Derechos Humanos.

“The desert is an ultimately unforgiving force, and can completely devour remains within a matter of weeks or even days, given the brutal conditions. This leaves mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children lost to their families forever, with no hope of ever finding out what became of them.”Every month has yielded more skeletal remains on the Arizona border, indicating that death could have taken place weeks, months, or even years prior to discovery.

This—coupled with the fact that migrants do not always carry identification on their person, and their clothing can be torn away by animals or by themselves as they hallucinate and suffocate in the desert heat—makes identifying them even more difficult. Despite the recovery of an estimated 5,000 bodies on the U.S.-México border during the last 12 years, a direct result of the funnel-effect of border and militarization policies, the U.S. government has failed to acknowledge the deadly result of these strategies, and has, to the contrary, continued to increase efforts to militarize the border.

“To die because you sought a better future for yourself and your family is a human rights violation,” continued Garcia. “and to die without your family ever knowing what became of you, as they suffer the anguish of not being able to bury your body and mourn your death is a tragedy that we must demand be made right. Human life is the most precious thing on earth, and we all must work to change any government policy that threatens it.”

The complete list of recovered bodies is available on the Coalición de Derechos Humanos website: http://www.derechoshumanosaz.net/.
This information is available to anyone who requests it from us and is used by our organization to further raise awareness of the human rights crisis we are facing on our borders.

Photo 2: "No More Deaths" campaign at protest outside Gov. Janet Napolitano's office in Tucson in July/Photo Brenda Norrell

Photo 3: Isabel Garcia of Derechos Humanos speaks out at the protest outside Gov. Napolitano's office in July in Tucson, criticizing failed immigration policies that force migrants into isolated desert regions and death./Photo Brenda Norrell

Healing journey, Native AA Convention in Billings

NATIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN AA CONVENTION IN BILLINGS, MONTANA
OCTOBER 25-28, 2007

Local Native American AA members bring Annual National/International Native American Indian Alcoholics Anonymous Convention to Billings

(Billings, MT) Two years ago local Native American AA members began work to bring the Annual National/International Native American Indian Alcoholics Anonymous Convention to Billings, Montana. Their efforts have been successful. The Holiday Inn Grand Montana, 5500 Midland Road, Billings, Montana will be the host hotel for the 17th Annual National/International Native American Indian Alcoholics Anonymous Convention October 25-28, 2007.

Activities include marathon AA meetings, AA and Al-A-Non Speaker meetings, Al-A-Non brunch, workshops, talking circles, old timers meeting, young peoples’ AA meetings, dance, social powwow, and a dinner banquet.

For hotel reservations call (406) 248-7701, ask for Cindy Vaughn or make your reservations online at: www.holiday-Inn.com/billings-west. Reservations must be made by October 12, 2007.

For NAI-AA convention registration information, call Marie at (605) 747-5756. Pre-registration is encouraged.

Registration forms can be found online at
www.nai-aa.com, or write:

NAI-AA CONVENTION
PO Box 1643
Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57101
informationnaiaa@yahoo.com

In memory of Doc Rosen, final e-mail from Tsunami relief

July 23, 2007
Dear AIMsters,
As some of you have probably already heard, our dear friend and brother, "Doc" Ron Rosen, suffered a massive stroke on Friday, and passed to the spirit world yesterday morning. He is being taken to Crow Dog's Paradise this morning, on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota , for his final rest. Please keep Doc, his wife and his children in your thoughts and prayers, and please read the message from one of his colleagues in the message below this one.

As we all know, Doc was a member of AIM at least since his service as a medic in Wounded Knee in 1973. He was one of the few non-Indians who was considered a full member of AIM, having given and given to Indian people, without asking anything in return. Whenever we needed a medic in the streets for any AIM action, Doc was there -- ready to provide his services in the midst of tear gas or police clubs or arrests. Doc was a certified acupuncturist, and many of us benefited from his skills, which he often provided for free, or certainly at a reduced rate for Native people. He travelled regularly to Guatemala , to provide freed medical services to Indian communities there. In 2004, he went to the area in Thailand that was most heavily destroyed by the massive tsunami in that region. In addition, he served as a medic coordinator at the World Trade Organization protests in Seattle in 1999, and in Toronto in 2003. Needless to say, he was always integral to coordinating the medic trainings and teams for Columbus Day in Denver .

Doc and his new wife, Carol, were married only a month ago, and all of our support for her will be appreciated. I believe that we should plan a memorial for Doc toward the end of the summer, to remind us of his commitment and dedication to the Movement, and to Indian people, and to continue his work. I will write more later. Below is a message from one of Doc's colleagues.
In Struggle,
Glenn Morris

From Diana Horowitz:Today is a deeply sad day for the acupuncture profession and for humanity. "Doc" Ron Rosen, OMD, L.Ac., passed away in the comfort of his home at approximately 11:00 a.m. this morning.

As an honored, adopted member of the Lakota tribe, Doc will be buried on the Rosebud reservation in South Dakota tomorrow (Monday, July 23rd) in the late afternoon/early evening. If you wish to attend the burial, please contact Joe Wollen for details at 720-234-0967. Meet up with them in S. Dakota, or join the departing entourage at 10:00 a.m., at the funeral home located at 17th Avenue and York Street in Denver.

There will be a memorial service/fundraiser/ celebration of Doc's life in Denver after August 6th. Details will follow. Doc is survived by his wife Carol (they were just married last month), sons Lonny and Ari, and his daughter Krystal. He did not have any health insurance. To make a contribution towards medical and funeral expenses, please send a check to:

Carol Garlington
1590 S. Dalia StreetDenver, CO 80222

Also, Doc had recently expanded his clinic at Colfax & York in Denver, and was in need of a few more holistic health care renters. Renting a treatment space would be a terrific way to help out Doc's family. Please call Maria Lee, L.Ac. at 720-275-1205 for more information.

Doc dedicated his life to helping all people in need, locally and globally, and regardless of their income level. He treated thousands of patients, and mentored dozens of fledgling acupuncturists over the course of his career. Doc was a co-founder of the Acupuncture Association of CO, and one the persons responsible for our professional licensure in the 1980's. Now is the time to return the generosity that Doc gave so freely. Let's band together as a community to commemorate Doc's extraordinary life, and help his family through this time of uncertainty and loss.

In sympathy,

Diana Horowitz, M.S., L.Ac.

Message from Carter Camp:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/07/doc-rosen-aim-and-wounded-knee-brothers.html

In Memory of Doc Rosen, who Carter Camp honors in his passing as "AIM and Wounded Knee brother."

Doc, who chose the path of love for humanity, passed to the Spirit World on Sunday following a stroke. Here's the last e-mail I received from him during his work in Tsunami relief in Thailand in 2005:

Feb. 12, 2005
It should come as no surprise at all for most of you but I am - and have been for the last several weeks- in one of the areas hit by the Tsunami. I tend not to keep in touch much and I want to just let eveyone know that I am OK and what it is I am up to. This is a bit rambling but I have limited time on computer and am just trying to get some of my thoughts down on paper.

I came to Asiawith ateam of Native American Doctors, EMTs, etc. Planned on heading for Bandeh Aceh. We were kept out of Aceh by the Indonesian military.Went to Southern Thailand, Phang Nga Province, Nam Kem. The people here are devestated. Homes gone Boats gone Children dead, Sisters, Brothers, Mothers,Fathers, Grand Children... all dead. You have heard/read/seen this and have moved on.

The people here are still afraid of the sea.
In this one village 4,000 dead out of 6,500.

I am doing PTSD work. Doing Magic /slight of hand for kidsThe kids flock around asking for magic tricks ... as do the adults.The other aid workers say some have not smiled in weeks but they are laughing as i do my slight of hand. Today an old man who lost his entire family -16 people- smiled at me and then he asked me to "do the rabbit trick".The Thai woman counselor said they thought they would lose him because he was not responding before this but now he is talking again and eating....They are so sweet and gentle. Many have lost everyone. Brother dead, sisters dead, mother and father dead it is the constant litany. I cry at night but only when alone.A little girl started calling me uncle
-her favorite is the magic coloring book.Did some recovery and some moving of bodies.The Thai counseling people say that the magic tricks are the biggest step the kids have taken towards normalization.I went on a tour of some refugee camps and orphanages doing magic and medical work.Did magic for a group of orpahans at a temple. Then we handed out toothbrushes and did some medical exams.Acupuncture and slight of hand as medicine for PTSD.Treating other aid workers as well.
We also build houses
BUT
The men can not work
They can not feed their families
They do not feel alive
and
Their entire culture is in danger of dying
The government does nothing for the poor family fishermen
They are talking about rebuilding boats but only for the big boat fisheries not the longtails
They need to have their fishing boats rebuilt or repaired.

The Tsunami Fishermens Relief long tail boat project is trying to do exactly that with local people and resident foriegners working together. (They need to raise $35,000 to repair or replace all of the boats of the fishermen who survived, but this is not a fund appeal)
Right now I am putting a lot of my efforts (outside of clinic hours and doing magic shows) into helping with construction of the dry dock. It is mostly just lifting, carrying, and hammering.
This project can give the people the tools to help themselves.

For me last Thursday was particularly emotionaly rough and I am not able to do any more for a bit and am now taking some time for R&R before I return to my Denver family.Said goodbye to all of the kids (lots of grownups too) and did some last slight of hand for themit makes me sad to have left themBack to USA shortlyEvery Thai person i meet (and lots of westerners as well) thanks me the need is so incrediblethe outpouring of help is also incredibleI am honored to have been working with these folks

Doc rosen
Phang Nga Province Thailand

Doc talks of his Katrina relief in 2005:

http://barhc.w2c.net/blog/index.php?/archives/82-Report-from-Common-Ground-Volunteer-Doc-Rosen.html

About Doc (2005)

Doc Rosen is a long time activist, and Movement Medical Trainer. In 1963 he was a local organizer for the March on Washington. He first joined the Medical Committee for Human Rights during the Selma-Montgomery Walk in 1965 where he was part of the first aid team. In 1968 he worked with Dr. King on the Poor Peoples Campaign. As a member of the National Executive Committee of MCHR, Doc was responsible for organizing and training teams of street Medics for hundreds of civil rights and antiwar demonstrations during from the 1960s,till the present day. He trained and helped lead the Medics for the anti-WTO demonstrations in Seattle and the anti-FTAA demonstrations inQuebec. He was the first medic in Wounded Knee in 1973, (and is still the Medic for the American Indian Movement) and spends part of the year on Rosebud, Pine Ridge and Big Mountain Reservations. He has regularly provided medical assistance for the families of Sun Dancers at Chief Leonard Crow Dogs in Rosebud since 1974and also helped Grandpa Fred Zephier, Celo Black Crow and the Big Mountain Dineh Nation during their Sun Dances. D oc is one of the founders of the Guatemala Acupuncture and Medical AidProject and travels regularly to the Guatemalan Rainforest where he workswith the Indigenous Maya, the survivors of La Impunidad (massacres of over240,000 Maya people). Dr. Rosen teaches the Promotores de Salud Acupuncture, sometimes traveling for days by jeep, mule, and even dug out canoe to reach the villages. Because of his activities he has been threatened repeatedly by the the Death Squads. Throughout the sixties and seventies Sifu Rosen was the Ring Doctor for dozens of Martial Arts Tournaments. Doc has been a student of Chinese Medicine since 1953, and has a practice in Denver CO. and has been elected a Fellow of the National Academy of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. He is a past president of the Acupuncture Association of Colorado. In 2002 Doc with his son Ari set up and taught Street Medic trainings throughout both Eastern and Western Europe and helped create the European StreetMedics (Prague, Gdansk, London, Manchester, Amsterdam, DenHag, Helsinki, Barcelona, Strasburg, Lisbon, Paris, etc.) In October 2002 he began teaching the European No Borders Barefoot Doctor Program. Doc lives very simply preferring to put all of his resources into his pro-bono and Social Justice work. Dr. Rosen is the proud father of a 21-year-old son Ari, daughter Crystal, and GrandDaughter Roslyn (3months).

Here is something from the O Read DailyDoc Rosen needs your help.Doc is a very experienced and dedicated medic. He was the first ofthe medics at Wounded Knee in 1973 when AIM (American IndianMovement) held off the federal government for 71 days! He is a renowned doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine, which has usedsuccessfully for treating Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome( PTSD) andother trauma related psychological damage. He is also skilled in setting up, training local people and running clinics in remoteregions. For many years he has been involved in doing exactly thatin Guatemala, and Chiapas where the indigenous people have beenunder attack by the state for decades. As a "StreetMedic" andanarchist for 40 years, he has been involved in providing medicalsupport for street confrontations including the Black Panthers,women's Reclaim the Night marches, and the anti-globalizationmobilizations of Seattle and Quebec City.
"I am currently trying to fund raise the cost ofmy trip to help with the Tsunami relief effort as part of a group ofNative American Medical Workers. We will be working directly withthe people affected. Besides treating people for the after effects ofinjuries and the PTSD/CIS that is effecting millions in that region I hopeto be able to set up clinics and a teaching program for a corps of Health Promoters who will be recruited from the local populace and trained tohelp their own people. We are going to Thailand and later i hope to BandehAceh.""Those of you who know me may be asking why I would go where so much mainstream help is already going? or Why focus on this when everyday thousands of children die from the direct effects of poverty andthe wars supported by US policies kill thousands more.""250,000 known dead from the Tsunami. Did you ever wonder why somany of those folks had built on the flood plain? The vast majorityof those killed by the Tsunami were those same people who are alwaysmost at risk, the people economically oppressed by the industrialist/materialist system and displaced by wars.""Most of the relief efforts now under way are tied to or going through the very Governments that have created or at least colludedin creating the conditions that placed these people in the path ofthe Tsunami to begin with."
Doc spends 4 - 5 months a year working pro-bono in the developing world teaching Promotores De Salud (often in conflict zones) and working as a Street Medic and does not have the money for the fare or the supplies himself.
(from 2005)

Commentary, Julienne Xene Cross, Standing together as a Great Nation

A pen conquered us and a pen can wipe us out as a Nation

by Julienne Xene Cross

We, Indigenous People of North America, “Indian Country”, are inherent speakers for our Mother the Earth. We need to come together with one heart and mind to protect the future of our Great Nation.
When the United States drafted the Constitution, the word conquered written gives the U.S. Congress the authority to take our land without being indebt owed to Tribes. Since Europeans set foot on our lands to this date not one contract, treaty, law or promise has been honorably fulfilled with our Nation.
We as a Nation know that it is the habit of the United States to deceive. They are a society of lawbreakers, laws of their own making. The United States Government run by the rich untouchables of the world do not plan for their unborn children as we as Indian people do. It is our daily habit as Indian people to mention our future generations in our ceremonies. We do not send our elderly to nursing homes. We honor our veterans who have served in the defense of our lands for the United States Government at our pow-wows. We should not forget our past and remember our ancestors who died for our survival. We live our lives daily honoring our unsung heroes in the present. We must come together now as one for the future of our Nation.
It is of great importance that we begin to plant seeds now instead of waiting for the bread to be set on the table. Tribes, Bands, Nations, Indigenous Peoples, Indian Country and their relatives need to stop being distracted by the morsels (casinos) that our Governments and the Bureau of Indian Affairs throw at us.
In the United States, senators are giving commencement speeches at Universities talking about alternative fuels. In North Dakota and Montana on the plains are some of the riches fields of grasses for these fuels. Coal is going to begin to be in demand and it is on our lands that they will be harvesting these fuels. Tribes must not sign any more contracts with States.
The Mohawk Nation has been writing about a Super-Highway that George W. Bush and Rudy Giuliani have already contracted with the Canada and Mexico. This super-highway will run right down the center of Turtle Island and will be the route of free trade between countries. This highway will run right over many of our lands. These trucks will be carrying our resources for foreign trade. Tribes have an inherent interest to write into their Constitutions their rights to their natural resources, air, water, earth and all of the written and unwritten stories, songs and customs of their on unique heritage, your Cultural property rights. Some Tribes have already done so than it would be good to contact other Tribes by way of moccasin highway or faster yet internet assisting other Tribes with this knowledge. It is time to awaken the sleeping giant that is our Great Nation.
Recently, at 34th The Traditional Circle of Elders and Youth held by Harry Beauchamp Sr. and other tribal members at the Assinibione Reservation of Fort Peck Montana many Nations combining knowledgeable tribal leaders met from all corners of North America. From Greenland where the staff has gone for the next conference in 2008 to the Mayans who brought their two hundred year calendar predicting the 2012 effects of global warming. Many tribes validate the changing of the winds. Testimony on the Assinibione Reservation, mentioned they had never seen their prairies so green.
The Chief Greenland Manu said, “We the Indian people at the top of the world are the only people that could survive in this land. From ancient time, our hunting grounds of tundra and ice have provided for us. Now we rarely see a Knorr whale of a beluga whale. Our trails of ice become soft and dangerous.”
Oren Lyons, Chief of the Onondaga Nation shook my hand as he arrived from Sweden to the meeting in Montana and said “It is worst than we are being told.” Again, the United States and its affiliates are deceiving us. They are predicting a 20-30 year effect of global warming. At the Conference of Indian Elders and Youth with first hand knowledge from Manu, we must consider 10 years or less.
Oren Lyons also mentioned that fifty percent Africa is a Nation of parentless children. Dysfunctional Nations including Middle East and Asia will become dangerous to our Nation once the disease, famine, and children raised in war become adults. This reality to our Nation needs to be an issue and considered seriously today and not when our lives and our children’s children lives are in danger. The world is changing fast and Nature can again as it was before Columbus is our means in survival. We must again blend in with the laws of nature.
Tribes must protect their natural resources and utilize all tribal members from the old to the youth in the retraining of growing and naturally preserving foods provided by our great mother the Earth. Allotted Tribal land should be utilized to grow food uncontaminated by the chemical poisons. The Pueblo people have a method of storing foods for four years taking the latest crops first. Seed stores, wild rice, berries, molasses, nuts etc. etc. etc. By harvesting these natural crops on your lands, they will renew themselves and multiply in the coming years. Part of these crops can be sold to incorporate future financing and finance future growth while bringing our tribal elders and youth together teaching and learning our traditional ways.
Are the Algonquin people aware that white society is trying to hybrid the wild rice of our people? Betty Laverdure of The Turtle mountains Plains Pembina Band that Einstein predicted that when bees no longer existed it would be the end of humankind mentioned it at the Elders Circle. It could be the possibility of the cross sectioning of our natural flowers and possibly the unnatural airwaves from cell phones and satellites. Nevertheless, it would be wise of tribes to begin to harvest honey with the learning and investing in manmade hives on tribal lands. What would be the affects of hybrid wild rice?
The Chief of the Seminole Billy, said that we are drinking purified water made from the urine of the white man when we buy and drink bottled water. Tribes need to begin protecting their water and testing and using their own water resources. All natural tap water sources are tested more than bottled water. It would be wiser to drink and protect our own tap water in the future more vigorously and make it our law.
Tribes need to begin to implement alternative energy sources such as solar and wind energy. These two factors are vital and plans should be made with timelines with completion for important focal points within the tribal system. Tribes must remember you are not a myopic island. What happens to one tribe will begin a domino effect that will affect all of Indian Country.
Trees and clear-cutting must be replaced and replanted this will encourage animal inhabitation and promote the oxygenation for human and animal alike. This system will also offset the effects of global warming.
Tribes that have methods for fuel renewal and recycling should notify other Tribes so that we can be a part of the solution and not part of the problem for each other. There is so much more and many more minds that walk upon our people. This is your calling for your voice I welcome you to send this letter to every available media.
Within the near future a common web source will be developed that all Nations will be encouraged to cooperatively communicate ways and means. Their will be another longest walk for 2008 to Washington D.C., I encourage tribes to send delegates as well as promote the largest and most diverse membership attendance as humanly possible from one end of North America to the next. It will be planned Oct 10, 2007 and a city event schedule will be posted timely. More information can be obtained at E-mail jimbosimmons@treatycouncil.org or http://www.treatycouncil.org/.

Chi-Migwitch!
Julienne Xene Cross
Lac du Flambeau, W.I. -54538-

E-mail address: julienne_x@hotmail.com

Poster: Longest Walk/http://www.longestwalk.org

US soldiers ran border cocaine operation

The FBI sting "Operation Lively Green," was shut down, so many soldiers wanted to run cocaine from the border.

UPDATE, July 30, 2007:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/07/most-censored-national-guardsmen-cops.html

Arizona Army National Guard and a former Army recruiter are among the cocaine smugglers.

Soldiers were recruited for cocaine smuggling by Sgt. Robert L. Bakerx, who worked at the National Guard's Valencia Road Armory in Tucson. Bakerx stayed on the job for years with a felony drug record, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
Bakerx and dozens of other military personnel were caught between 2002 and 2004 in Operation Lively Green.
The troops smuggled drugs in uniform to avoid detection.
Michael Marizco, Border Reporter:
http://www.borderreporter.com/
"Drug case defense: 'Just following orders'"
Arizona Daily Star
http://www.azstarnet.com/dailystar/192903

Doc Rosen, AIM and Wounded Knee brother, passes to Spirit World

My Relations,
I'm sorry to announce that I have received word that an "AIM" and "Wounded Knee 1973" brother, Doc Rosen, from Denver suffered a stroke yesterday and passed to the spirit world today. According to his wishes Doc will be buried alongside Frank Clear Water and Jerry Roy in Grass Mountain on the Rosebud Rez. Monday (tomorrow) July 23rd.
Doc came to Wounded Knee as a medic but before long he took up arms and fought along side us and became a close brother to the warrior society. Since that time he has served the people in many ways including the "Long Walk" in 1978, the "Yellow Thunder Camp" in the Black Hills back in the 1970's, up until his recent trip to Guatemala to help set up health clinic for Mayan people there. This past summer he and his son Ari came to stand with us at Bear Butte even though Doc had just been married a few days before. Wherever he went Doc worked hard to help our people with his healing skills including the Sundance at Crowdog's Paradise where his place in the Circle will be empty for many years to come.
I"m not trying to write an obituary at this time, Docs life will take a few pages, I just want to let the People know that a good warrior has left us this day and allow his many friends and comrades to join us in mourning his loss.

Carter Camp

Censored news on the rise

By Brenda Norrell

Thanks to all of you for the information you've sent for this blog. There's currently a tremendous amount of censored and under-reported news, especially on border and American Indian issues.
I've hit the jackpot with incoming e-mails about the Counterpunch "Border Spy Towers," article, especially insulting ones. Thanks to all of you who wrote, especially those people who shared their love of Arivaca and researchers exposing the sham of border environmental assessments.
Scroll down and compare the news to what is in your local newspaper. If an issue is censored or well-covered, please drop me a note: brendanorrell@gmail.com

Free the children in Hutto-Taylor, Texas

JOIN THE CESAR E. CHAVEZ "FREEDOM BUS"

FREE THE CHILDREN AT HUTTO- TAYLOR TEXAS

The struggle for defending the human rights of the children at "Hutto" is a growing movement that we as activist must continue, until "ALL PRISONS FOR PROFIT ARE CLOSED." GANDHI once said " I HAVE NOTHING NEW TO TEACH THE WORLD. TRUTH AND NON-VIOLLENCE ARE AS OLD AS THE HILLS." The results of any movement is an extraordinary account of all of us as we grow together in a lifelong experience of in our involvements for justice, every incident, every educational and working experience, every human encounter bring forth social change and liberation. We can have a tremendous influence in liberating the immigrant families and children at these prisons for profit if we unite in these movement to free the children at Hutto. I invite all of the people who want to join in our movement, the Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice organizing committee to come to "Hutto" this Saturday, July 21, and join our "Freedom Bus" Caravans.

We will be leaving, this Saturday JULY 21, at 10:30 am from our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 1321 El Paso. call: Jaime P. Martinez, 210-842-9339,Claudia Sanchez, 210-355-4050,Tony Mandujano, 210-255-7647, to get on the "Cesar E. Chavez Freedom Bus to Free the Children at Hutto.

In Unity;

Jaime P. Martinez, Founder, Chairperson
"Organizer First Cesar E. Chavez March for Justice"

San Antonio Texas - SI SE PUDO


MIGRANT BABY JAIL CELL in HUTTO, TEXAS

(USA Today) A cell with a baby bed and children's toys is shown at the T. Don Hutto Residential Center in Taylor, Texas. The detention facility houses immigrant families awaiting deportation. Officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement describe the facility as a residential, nonsecure environment that keeps families together. However, advocacy groups say "it's a prison" and that separation and threats of separation were used as disciplinary tools on adults and children.LM Otero, Pool via AP
USA Today: Migrant jails in Texas and Pennsylvania
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-02-22-immigration-detention_x.htm

Mato Paha Spiritual Forum, Rapid City, August 5, 2007

Debra White Plume
Owe Aku, Bring Back the Way
Manderson, SD 57756-0325
605-455-2155 Voice Ph
lakota1@gwtc.net
www.bringbacktheway.com

From Alex White Plume:

All the Lakota holy men will gather, too many years have passed without input or direction for our spirtual leaders. We will obey their decision.
Wopila, Alex White Plume

The Mato Paha Spiritual Forum: Religious Freedom and Human Rights will be held on
Sunday, August 5, 2007 beginning at 1:00pm in the afternoon at the Mother Butler
Center in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The Forum will gather Traditional Healers (Medicine Men) and Spiritual Leaders
from the Oglala Band, Sicanju Band, Hohwoju Band of the Lakota Nation, and the
Mdewakantonwan Band, and Sissetonwan Band of the Dakota Nation, and Arapahoe and
Cheyenne Nations. The Healers and Leaders will come together to provide ancestral
teachings regarding the spiritual significance of Bear Butte (Mato Paha) to the
Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) in the spiritual and cultural life-way of the
people.

Guest speakers also include Chief Oliver Red Cloud of the Lakota
Nation, Chief Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Onondaga Nation, noted scholar Henrietta Mann, Cheyenne; and stateswoman Rosalie Little Thunder of the Seventh
Generation Fund and South Dakota Peace and Justice. Reverend Gail Arnold of the SD
Association of Christian Churches and John Sprague of the Christian Peacemaker Team
will speak as well regarding Human Rights and Religious Freedom.

The Mato Paha Forum is the first time in decades that Traditional
Healers (Medicine Men) from across many Tribal Nations have come together in
one forum to speak to the people regarding sacred places and the traditional Lakota
way of life, as well as sharing the Forum with the Christian Churches from the
region, and from a global organization such as the Christian Peacemaker Team.
Organizers of the Forum have scheduled this event to provide awareness to the
general public in light of the increasing controversy over development related to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally that is occurring near Bear Butte.

The Guest Speakers are each well-known in the Human Rights and Freedom
of Religion arena, from their work in their own Tribal Nation communities
to organizations with a global view and impact.

The Mato Paha Forum is open to all, and all people from all walks of
life are welcome to attend. There will be Lakota Drum Groups and Singers present
and an evening meal is offered to all participants.

The Mato Paha Forum is sponsored by Bring Back the Way, the Black Hills
Sioux Nation Treaty Council, Horse Owner’s Society, and the Seventh
Generation Fund.

For more information please call Debra White Plume 605-455-2155.

'Hands across el Rio' border wall protest

Here's the official itinerary for Hands Across el Rio -- a 1250 mile, 17 day protest against the border wall:

Yesterday, we received the commitment of El Paso to support our project with a press conference on August 25th and a send off on August 26th. Folks in the Big Bend region want to support the Presidio-Ojinaga event on August 28th. Both Mayors of Del Rio and Ciudad Acuña are pledged to support the event 31st. Mayor Chad Foster of Eagle Pass is in touch with the Alcalde of Piedras Negras to receive us on September 1st.

Mexican Congresswoman, Maria Dolores Gonzales-Mendivil will lead the coordination of Los Dos Laredos Hands Across el Rio on September 2nd. She is also coordinating support to the four Mexican neighboring states of Texas, the alcaldes along el Rio Bravo (mayors on the Mexican side) and Mexican consuls. We're lining up similar commitments from Roma-Miguel Aleman, Rio Grande City-Camargo, Los Ebanos-Diaz Ordaz, McAllen/Hidalgo-Reynosa on down to Brownsville-Matamoros on September 8th. We will finish our journey at the mouth of the Rio Grande at Boca Chica on Sunday, September 9th.

LULAC National, Rosa Rosales, President and Jaime Martinez, Treasurer, have committed their support of Hand Across el Rio. The same is true of the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. We anticipate the support of many other organizations and coalitions, from environmental, cultural, economic, political, faith based and tourism

With the exception of El Paso y Juarez...we will launch kayaks and canoes upriver from each principal international pedestrian bridge. Any one who wants to join our flotillas for any portion or any day of this historical event is welcome to do so. Kayaks, canoes, inner-tubes. We will paddle down river to each international bridge respectively and meet up with fellow grass roots citizens from both sides of our Rio who are opposed to the wall. As we experienced in Roma and Miguel Aleman this past weekend...we will be inviting the grass roots folks from both sides of el Rio...to form a human chain in symbol of our border solidarity and amistad.

As Mayor Chad Foster says..."We're joined at the hip". That’s something that folks like Lou Dobbs and members of Congress who have never lived inside the checkpoints do not understand. Our Congressmen and Texas legislators from the border region have spoken out against the border wall. The Texas Border Coalition of our border mayors, judges and economic experts have all spoken in our behalf...in solidarity...against the wall. Our border sheriffs have spoken out against the wall. No one in Washington is listening to them. Now...we the people of the Rio Grand Corridor...from both sides of el Rio...must make our voices heard. "NO Border Wall...!" "Hell NO!!!

We can tell the Congress and the national media all day long that we who live on the border live in friendship with our neighbors on the other side of el Rio. We can tell them that we don't want to be in a militarized zone...on American soil...here in Texas. Now...we will show them why we don’t need one. We get along just fine!


En amistad and solidarity…


Jay

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jay J. Johnson-Castro, Sr


jay@villadelrio.com

Border protests in Texas
Email from Jay Johnson-Castro

A smashing success...!!!
On Saturday (July 14)...two significant protests against the wall were held. Thought I'd give a brief summary on both.
On Saturday morning, Betty Perez and company...or the Lower Rio Grande Valley area...coordinated a flotilla of kayaks and canoes. Betty was the coordinator of this event...which was hosted by "noborderwalls"...a group of environmentally savvy folks (groups.yahoo.com/group/noborderwall ). To my knowledge...this is the most cohesive group on the US-Mexico border so far. It includes some caliber minds from around the Valley who are using their creative juices to collectively oppose the wall.
We launched up river from Roma in a secluded village along the banks of the Rio Grande called Fronton. Media was converged in ample numbers...including AP, Reuters, San Antonio Express News, Univision, local CBS and a diverse group of local journalists.
We floated down to the historic suspension bridge that connects Roma and Miguel Aleman. The Miguel Aleman Mayor joined the flotilla. His family was on the bank downriver as we paddled by. When we got to the suspension bridge...there was a rally, press conference...and then...a "Hands Across the River". A human chain that virtually stretched across the international bridge.
In the evening, we attended a protest in Brownsville. I was coordinated and hosted by a group called CASA, under the direction of Elizabeth Garcia. Again, the media was plentiful. After a rally, there was another human chain...which felt more symbolically a human wall along the banks of Rio Grande...in opposition to the border wall. After the chain...there was a march from the park through downtown to the campus of the University of Texas Brownsville (see photos at Unidos Contra El Muro).
In both cases, elected officials showed up in support. The diversity of participants reflected those of us who reside on the border. There was no lack of color, size, age, religious affiliation. There was not lack of opposition to the wall. Lots of interviews were taken. Lots of pictures and video. Lots of sound bites...of diversified feelings about the wall. Mission accomplished!
This took the collaboration, coordination and willingness on the part of many folks...who may not have been heard or had their quotes or pics in the paper and on TV. Hopefully you can feel the reward of seeing the fruits of their labor. We're grateful to you...
Jay

Guantanamo hunger strikers defiant despite forced feedings

Guantanamo hunger strikers defiant, despite force feedings
By BEN FOX, Associated Press Writer

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba - Twice a day at the U.S. military prison here, Abdul Rahman Shalabi and Zaid Salim Zuhair Ahmed are strapped down in padded restraint chairs and flexible yellow tubes are inserted through their noses and throats. Milky nutritional supplements, mixed with water and olive oil to add calories and ease constipation, pour into their stomachs.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070720/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/guantanamo_hunger_strikes

Algonquin Defenders: Uranium, cancer and poisoned water

Canada: Sharbot Lake Rejects Offer

In Sharbot Lake within the past couple of months a small number of the Algonquins from the Ardoch First Nation repatriated their unceded traditional lands, still currently used by Natives and Non-Natives for hunting and fishing.

In the same area in Northern Ontario , a corporation called FRONTENAC VENTURES has been "testing" the area for "possible" uranium mining for a few years. The area they repatriated is currently under negotiations with CANADA . However these negotiations are "on hold" by CANADA . Yet FRONTENAC still has a license to carry on with their "testing".

Yesterday Frontenac Ventures made a financial offer to the Algonquins of Ardoch First Nation. This financial offer was flat out rejected by the Algonquins. No amount of money can ever compensate them for the likelihood of death, cancer, mutated births, still births, sterilization and other health risks that will arise as a direct result of uranium mining.

The health risks are too great for our future generations. The environmental damage will be substantial and unstoppable. Why take the risk with any of our children? The responsibility of our people is to maintain life for our future generations. That's all aspects of life. The plant life, animal life and human life. We are born with a responsibility to protect life, no matter what the cost is to us.

The Algonquins need our support as they are undertaking a HUGE responsibility. They are fighting to protect practically the whole watershed of Northeastern Ontario.
Everyone connected to that watershed will benefit, when the Algonquins are successful.

When asked about the financial offer one Algonquin stated, "...we can not be bought. (the land repatriation is) Not about money..."

Janie Jamieson

[To help contact:
Chief Paula Sherman 613-279-1970 paulasherman@trentu.ca
Bob Lovelace at 613-374-5598, Cell 613-532-2166;
Harold Perry 613-479-5534;
Lynn Daniluk 613-268-2746 Cell 614-267-0539;
Ormond Lee of the settler committee 613-267-7584

Post by MNN Mohawk Nation News, www.mohawknationnews.com.
July 20, 2007.

Toxic trailers and smallpox blankets

News links at Indianz.com today : FEMA trailers contaminated

US government knew FEMA trailers were toxic:
http://www.indianz.com/News/2007/003999.asp

Toxic Trailers and Smallpox Blankets

Lakota Spiritual Leader, David Swallow, Speaks Out on Dangerous Conditions
by David Swallow, Lakota Spiritual Leader and a Headman of the Lakota Nation, Edited by Stephanie M. Schwartz and "Deja Vue, Indeed: The Evolving Story of FEMA’s Toxic Trailers," by Stephanie M. Schwartz, Freelance Writer - Member, Native American Journalists Association (NAJA)

Toxic Trailers and Smallpox Blankets
by David Swallow, Lakota Spiritual Leader and a Headman of the Lakota Nation
Edited by Stephanie M. Schwartz
© July 16, 2007 Porcupine, South Dakota

My name is David Swallow. I live near the community of Porcupine on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. I want to speak today. I want to speak out against ethnic cleansing, genocide, and extermination in these modern days.

Today, due to the terrible economic situation on the Pine Ridge Reservation, everyone knows that many poor people need housing. Horrible poverty is everywhere here. Reports say unemployment on Pine Ridge is around 85% or worse.

Many of my people are sick. I am told that the life expectancy here on Pine Ridge is between 48-52 years old. By this, I am one who has already lived past when they thought I would die.

There are some people who live good lives. BIA workers and Federal and State Government workers don’t live on the Reservation. They have jobs and live in nice housing in towns in Nebraska, South Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming.

Others live good lives, too. Tribal Council members have jobs so they can afford decent housing. They live good.

But all these people are working together to bring toxic, contaminated FEMA trailers left over from Hurricane Katrina to the poorest people of Pine Ridge. They will be creating an ethnic cleansing like in the 1800s when the Government sent blankets to the reservations which had smallpox infection in them.

This new trailer housing creates disease. That is why the Government gives them away to Indians. The Government wants the oil, uranium, and rich minerals that might be on our land but the Indians are in the way of this.

That is the same reason the BIA and the Tribal Council started up the Land Consolidation Act of 2000, to buy up all the Reservation land. With no jobs, little food, and much homelessness, they put us in a position where we have to sell our land.

Now they’re trying to bring in trailer houses infested with toxic chemicals. These chemicals get into the air and make people very sick, especially the children, elders, mothers, and people already with health problems. The contamination causes cancer, heart diseases, lung diseases, rashes, mental problems, breathing problems, many horrible things.

If these trailers are such good housing, why doesn’t the mainstream people want to buy them? Why did their own inspectors warn them about the danger from the high levels of the chemicals? Why are the people already living in them suing the trailer makers and FEMA because of getting sick from the toxic poisons? Why will no one listen when many major mainstream news reports have talked about these FEMA trailers being toxic?

Every time we deal with the Government, they give us a deal like this. This is no good way.

I want to say, we are not “Indians.” We are Lakota. And we Traditional Lakota carry the Red Nation C’anunpa [Sacred Pipe] in Truth. Who walked this land first? The Red Man did. And he should be dealt with in a good way.

We need jobs, not charity. We don’t need contaminated hand-outs. We need lots and lots of jobs. We need good economic-development projects and programs on the Reservation. If we had jobs, we could build our own homes. With jobs, we would be able to solve many of our problems.

If anyone really cares about conditions on the Reservation, they should look to these things. They should not try to kill us with poisoned homes.

So this is what I have to say today. Ho h’ecetu yelo, I have spoken.

David Swallow, Wowitan Yuha Mani
Porcupine, South Dakota – The Pine Ridge Reservation


Deja vue, Indeed: The Evolving Story of FEMA’s Toxic Trailers

by Stephanie M. Schwartz, Freelance Writer - Member, Native American Journalists Association (NAJA)

© July 16, 2007 Firestone, Colorado Stephanie M. Schwartz

In June of 2007, Senator Tim Johnson, FEMA, Congress, and the BIA arranged for 2,000 FEMA trailers to be made available to the Native American reservations in dire need of housing. These trailers are part of the 8,000+ excess, unused FEMA trailers constructed for the victims of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina. Exactly which American Indian reservations and how many units each reservation will get remains yet to be decided.

The tribes will be required to pay transportation costs as well as the costs to prepare the lots, set the trailers up, and to winterize them. However, clearly this appeared to be a significant help towards the critical need of about
90,000 American Indian families in critical in need of adequate housing (as detailed in a 2003 study by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights).

According to public statements, Senator Johnson specifically envisioned many of these trailers going to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, a place whose poverty-stricken conditions are likened to third world countries. The Senator and the BIA have been working closely with John Steele, Paul Iron Cloud, and the Tribal Council from Pine Ridge to make it all happen.

It seemed a surprisingly ideal solution, one which many people applauded at first as a huge humanitarian and logical move by the Federal Government. Ideal, that is, until one starts to investigate the history of these mobile homes and learns of an astonishing toxicity issue with the vast majority of the units.

Said to be fully-furnished, three bedroom units, these trailers were built during a construction frenzy created by FEMA's unprepared but immediate need to house Hurricane Katrina survivors. A report from the Sun Herald News in Mississippi in May of 2006 details the picture of this manufacturing frenzy.... untrained workers, a dearth of suitable materials, using materials possibly made outside the U.S. which contained higher levels of chemicals than normally allowed, and low quality control on hastily-created assembly lines.

Chemicals… therein lies the problem. The Government's public announcements about these trailers fail to mention the history of toxic contamination from formaldehyde which has been proven to exist in the FEMA trailers and mobile homes constructed for the victims of Katrina.

Formaldehyde is a chemical which emits gasses which the EPA considers to be highly toxic and carcinogenic (known to cause lung, nose, and throat cancer) but which is not regulated for trailer manufacturing in this country. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, exposure to formaldehyde toxins can create irritated eyes, breathing problems, headaches, asthma attacks, coughing, congestive heart disease, nausea, depression, memory-impairment, skin rashes, respiratory problems and even can lead to cancer. To compound the problem, high temperatures or high humidity increase the toxin levels.

Worse, for people who already are compromised with respiratory health issues, and for infants, children, nursing mothers, and elders, exposure can prove disastrous and even more deadly.

Formaldehyde is used in cheap building materials like particle board, plywood, curtains, molded plastics, counter tops, glue, carpet, insulation, and wallpaper. While normal trailers and mobile homes also contain these toxins, the FEMA trailers and mobile homes, hurriedly built as bare-bones cheap models, seem to contain significantly higher concentrations.

In 2006, the Sierra Club tested FEMA trailers in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama and found 83-94% of them to contain formaldehyde levels far above EPA and OSHA recommended workplace limits of 0.10 parts per million. Other testing has shown comparable results. Varying reports state that the gas levels emitted by the formaldehyde in the contaminated trailers ranged from 3 to 1,000 times the acceptable EPA limits.

Originally, FEMA's response to hundreds of complaints from Katrina victims was that the toxic vapors go away with adequate ventilation after about six months. However, continued testing has proven that not to be the case.

Additionally, according to a report given by journalist Dan Rather on HD-TV, information has come to light that FEMA was informed of the high toxicity by OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) just two months after Katrina hit, in October 2005, but chose to ignore the information. Testing to ensure employee safety, OSHA found new units in four county FEMA staging areas to have toxicity levels 20 times above government standards just in the air outside the trailers.

Dan Rather further related his interview with a former FEMA employee who clearly indicated that not only was FEMA aware of the toxic problems but chose to ignore them. Moreover, the employee stated that FEMA advised their employees to remain silent about the test results.

In March of 2007, the Washington Post News reported FEMA's woes in trying to sell their excess trailers and mobile homes. Selling the units at 40 cents on the dollar seemed like simple poor financial management on the part of FEMA in this report.

However, in light of the contamination issues, it may have turned out to be the best financial move FEMA could have made.

In May, 2007, both ABC News and CBS News reported that Louisiana Dem. Senator Mary Landrieu and Louisiana Rep. Congressman Bobby Jindal have each independently called for hearings to address the FEMA trailer toxicity issues and FEMA's poor response as well as to what it knew, how much it knew, and when.

In June, 2007, the Louisiana Advocate News reported that a class-action lawsuit had been filed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana Federal Court which claims that "hundreds of thousands" of people in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama may have been exposed to dangerously high concentrations of carcinogenic formaldehyde fumes with no recourse or viable solution provided by FEMA.

According to a report in the Washington Post on July 13, 2007, Desiree Collins of Louisiana filed the original lawsuit regarding the contamination of the FEMA trailers. She allowed her lawsuit to become a class-action lawsuit for all Katrina survivors who are victims of the toxic exposure. On July 2, 2007, the 47 year old wife and mother died of lung cancer which was diagnosed only a week before she died. Her husband and children will continue the court case.

Obviously, it seems tragic enough that well over 75-85,000 families, victims of Hurricane Katrina, still have to remain trapped into living in their FEMA units two years after the fact, a home most likely contaminated and dangerous. That, in itself, defies anyone's definition of humanitarian aid.

Yet since June of 2007, with South Dakota Dem. Senator Tim Johnson leading Congress into approval, tribal councils are working hand in hand with the Federal BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) to bring 2,000 of these very same trailers to the reservations of South Dakota as well as to other reservations. Again, all under the guise of humanitarian aid.

Deja vue, indeed. We have been here before. The seeming-correlation of the distribution of toxic trailers to the reservations in 2007 and the government dispersing smallpox-infested blankets to the reservations in the 1800s is not so far-fetched at all. It just leaves one wondering…..

For More Information:

Website: Toxic Trailers
Informational Website Resource Dedicated to Katrina Victims Forced to Live in Contaminated Trailers
http://www.toxictrailers.com/

U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services: ATSDR, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry:
Medical Management guidelines for Formaldehyde (HCHO)
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg111.html
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/MHMI/mmg111.pdf

Dan Rather Reports: 2007 Episode 216: Toxic Trailers
http://www.hd.net/transcript.html?air_master_id=A4558

ABC News: Congressman Wants FEMA Trailers Hearings
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3189161

CBS News: Congress Acts on FEMA Trailer Probe
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/18/cbsnews_investigates/main2827155.shtml

KRISTV: Corpus Christi, Texas: FEMA Trailer Plaintiff Dies of Lung Cancer
http://www.kristv.com/global/story.asp?s=6787670

KXMB News: Bismarck/Mandan, North Dakota: FEMA Trailers Headed to Reservations
http://www.kxmb.com/News/Politics/137555.asp

Native American Times: Tulsa, Oklahoma: FEMA’s Potentially Toxic Trailers Headed for Indian Reservations
http://nativetimes.com/index.asp?action=displayarticle&article_id=8834

Rapid City Journal: Rapid City, South Dakota: Unused FEMA Trailers Headed to Reservations Nationwide
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2007/06/23/news/top/doc467c2d5501f5e704745072.txt

Sierra Club: Mardi Gras Celebrations Overshadowed by Toxic Trailers
http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/releases/pr2007-02-15.asp

Sierra Club: Delta Louisiana Chapter:
Testing by Sierra Club Shows Abnormal Levels of Formaldehyde in FEMA Trailers
http://louisiana.sierraclub.org/pdf/Formaldehydeteleconferencerelease5-16-06.pdf

Sierra Club: Mississippi Chapter: Fact Sheet: Toxic Trailers?
http://mississippi.sierraclub.org/
http://www.sierraclub.org/gulfcoast/downloads/formaldehyde_test.pdf

The Advocate and WBRZ News: Baton Rouge, Louisiana: New Orleans Woman Suing Mobile Home Vendor
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/8008812.html?showAll=y&c=

The Anniston Star: Anniston, Alabama: The Alabama Legacy of Hurricane Katrina
http://www.annistonstar.com/opinion/2007/as-columns-0708-0-7g07s4012.htm

The Sun Herald: Gulfport, Mississippi: Toxic Trailers
http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/16754150.htm

Washington Post: Washington D.C.: FEMA Taking Hit on Sale of Surplus Trailers
http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1228940021.html?dids=1228940021:1228940021&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&fmac=&date=Mar+8%2C+2007&author=Spencer+S+Hsu+-+Washington+Post+Staff+Writer&desc=FEMA+Taking+Hit+on+Sale+of+Surplus+Trailers

Washington Post: Washington D.C.: FEMA Trailer Plaintiff Dies of Cancer
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/13/AR2007071301417.html?sub=new

Stephanie M. Schwartz can be reached at SilvrDrach@Gmail.com
To view this and other Schwartz articles, visit http://www.silvrdrach.homestead.com/

This article may be reprinted, reproduced, and/or re-distributed unedited with proper attribution and sourcing for non-profit, educational, news, or archival purposes.

American Indian Movement Colorado

AIM Gatherings in Colorado

1. Tomorrow, the ceremony at Four Winds (5th and Bannock) that had been held on Sunday mornings, is moving to Saturdays. The ceremony tomorrow begins at 2:30 pm, and there will be a wopila (thanksgiving) meal to follow.
2. In conjunction with the wopila meal, we will have a going-away dinner for Michelle Running Wolf and her sons, Timberwolf and Gerald. Shelley and family are moving back to Cheyenne River, where Shelley will begin a new job on Monday! Please come and give your best wishes to Shelley, Timber and Gerald. They have been an essential part of our Colorado AIM family, and we will miss them. Shelley promises, however,that she is bringing a busload of folks back for Columbus Day!
3. On Tuesday, July 24th, the University of Colorado Regents will bevoting on whether to fire Ward. This is it. This is the final decisionin whether or not to fire our fellow AIM member and brother, Ward. Avigil is scheduled for Tuesday morning, and the Regents will havetheir meeting later in the day. This message comes from Natsuregarding the plans for Tuesday.
All who can, should try to make it toBoulder for part of the day Tuesday:July 24: Regents To Vote on Firing ChurchillMain Rally at 3:30pm – CU BoulderUMC South Plaza (Broadway at Euclid St.)D-Day in the struggle to defend free speech and Prof. Ward Churchillis Tuesday July 24.On that day, the CU Regents will vote after an all-day meeting, most of which will be closed to the public. But the Regents must come outto face us when they make their vote and explain it. So, be therewith us at 3:30pm for our main rally. We will observe their vote andmake our voices heard.If you can join us for more of the day, we will hold a small rally inthe morning (7:30am, UMC South Plaza) to show our presence and we willmaintain a vigil while the fight goes on behind closed doors.Here are 5 reasons why you should join us on July 24th:1) Our enemies are watching—this attack on Prof. Churchill is a keyrightwing "test case" for a much broader national assault. The easier they think it is to fire Ward Churchill on boguscharges of research misconduct, the more attacks we'll see onprofessors, staff, and students, on ethnic studies and women's studiesprograms, and on critical thinking.2) Our friends and allies across the country and around the worldare counting on us to represent them. In just the past month, 100'sof people have written to urge the Regents NOT to fire Prof.Churchill.3) This is your last chance to weigh in—this is the final step infiring Prof. Churchill.4) The University is counting on you not to come—why else scheduleit during the summer?5) It's never too late to do what's right, as Michael Meeropol,economist and son of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg realized two weeksago: " I have hesitated to voice my support for Professor WardChurchill as his case was being adjudicated… These charges were (Ithought) substantive and went to the heart of our profession'sintegrity – relating to intellectual honesty. I have been moved,however, to finally raise my voice in protest after reading thedetailed analysis by Professor Tom Mayer…. To be frank and blunt, thecharges against Professor Churchill are bogus and represent a fig-leafof cover for a politically motivated firing…."The Regents may change their plans/location at the last minute, so,spread the word, stay tuned, and check out last minute developmentsat: http://www.wardchurchill.net/, where you can also find background andanalysis.Finally, we are students, faculty and staff at CU-Boulder who havebeen carrying on the struggle here since the beginning. Pleaserespect our game plan of holding a strong, peaceful rally and vigil.And finally,4. There is a celebration of the life of Helen Henry, one of thestrongest non-Indian supporters of AIM and of indigenous peoples thatI have ever known. Although she is frail, and about 85 years-old, sheis still keeping on, and her family has invited all of us to celebratewith them. I hope that a number of AIM people can attend, and that wecan sing for her, and show her our appreciation for her life, and forher alliance with us. Here are the details: Please join Helen's family, church and residential community incelebrating the life of our dear friend, longtime peace, indigenousrights, and social justice activist Helen Henry. Although her healthis declining, it would bring Helen great joy if her beloved friendscould join her for this party.When: Saturday, July 28, 3-6pmWhere: First Unitarian Church, Denver (14th and Lafayette), Community RoomWhy: Because we love her!What to Bring: Yourself and as many friends and family as would liketo come see herSome light refreshments will be provided by Helen's son Seth. Pleasedon't feel obliged to bring food or drink, but if you feel called todo so, that's just peachy too.There is no formal program, so please feel free to bring any stories,words, songs, or remembrances of Helen you would like to share withthe collective. Please join us to celebrate an extraordinary peacefulwarrior, as we renew and recommit ourselves to the struggle and her fine legacy.
from Colorado AIM

Counterpunch: Spy Towers on the US Border

Photo: Spy tower at Arivaca/Brenda Norrell



July 18, 2007

A CounterPunch Special Investigation

A Boeing / Israeli Joint Venture

Spy Towers on the US Border

By BRENDA NORRELL
http://www.counterpunch.org/

ARIVACA, Arizona-- Boeing has enlisted the aid of Elbit Systems, Israel's major defense contractor, to construct high-tech surveillance along the border of the U.S. and Mexico. So far, the high-tech fiasco is not working and Arizona residents are organizing a lawsuit to halt government spying on U.S. citizens.
Arivaca resident Margaret Keoppen is among those opposing the 98-foot spy tower in her community, part of Project 28 of the Secure Border Initiative.
With a spy viewing range of 10 miles, the spy tower is pointed at the good folks of Arivaca.
"This system is entirely experimental with unknown results and I don't wish to be used as a guinea pig with resulting harm to me, my family, my animals, area wildlife," Keoppen told Project 28.
In Tucson, the search for the biggest joke in town--the environmental assessment of the spy towers -- began at the public library.
"That's odd," said a research librarian, "there are no copies of it here." Diligent, the librarian plowed through the web and made a phone call.
A copy of the environmental assessment for the new high-tech border surveillance was finally located at the Arivaca library. In Arivaca, the draft copy of the assessment arrived on a Saturday in April, with no public notice.
A typed cover letter from U.S.Customs and Border Protection said residents had four days to respond, April 14 -- 18. The library was closed two of those days. Without phone calls from the librarians, no one would have known it was there. Few people had a chance to even read it.
Driving down from Tucson, the earth is scorched from the 114 to 118 degree temperatures. Contrary to the frenzied hype of television news, a drive along the border, through Three Points, then down the road to Sasabe and finally to Arivaca, reveals three Wackenhut buses--all empty -- waiting to be loaded with migrants. There wasn't a migrant in sight. (Wackenhut, with its history of human rights violations, is now on contract to transport migrants rather than Border Patrol. Wackenhut is now Geo Group, but the buses are labeled Wackenhut.)
A stop at a bird walk near Arivaca proves more desolation. Two men with hunting dogs arrive in separate vehicles. One man takes off quickly for another site, both men wearing plain clothes. In this no-man's land, strangers are assumed to be undercover border agents or Minutemen.
In Arivaca, residents are fighting mad about the spy tower, which was built without consulting them, less than a mile from town.
"You can not see the border from that spy tower, because of the mountains. The only thing you can see is Arivaca," says one woman living in this community of 2,500.Arivaca is 12 miles north of the border and the desert mountains are a fortress that the spy tower camera can not penetrate. In fact, the spy tower isn't penetrating anything, because like all the nine spy towers on Project 28 of the Secure Border Initiative so far, it isn't working. But more about that later.
The spy tower has the good folks of Arivaca in clear sight. It is a community of artists and ranchers, popular with birdwatchers and nature lovers. The people here savor their privacy. They have selected Arivaca because it is off the beaten track and ensures a quiet life, far from the prying eyes of anyone.
Now, without any consultation, there is a spy tower on the edge of town, with its camera pointed at them. Worse, the Boeing equipment list for Project 28 calls for radar, infrared, lasers, microwave, iris biometrics and facial biometrics.
"Iris biometrics?" Arivacans ask.
In the environmental assessment, there is no research concerning the health effects of the lasers, microwave, iris biometrics and other technology, on humans.
The environmental assessment concludes Project 28 will have "no significant impact."
However, the assessment lists the endangered, threatened and sensitive life forms, including the Pima pineapple cactus, masked bobwhite habitat, desert tortoise, burrowing owl and lesser long-nosed bat. There's also Santa Cruz stripe agave, Huachuca golden aster and Lumholtz nightshade. In Pima County, there's 20 species, including the Chiricahua leopard frog, cactus ferruginous pygmy-owl and southwestern willow flycatcher.
The conclusion for all: The towers will have "no significant impact."
Arivaca is the territory of migrating bats, including a large population on the move from the nearby ghost town of Ruby. In the assessment, there's nothing more than a little mumbo-jumbo about the bats.
Local residents wonder if the spy towers will effect the bats' ability to hunt.
In the white wash of the environmental assessment, it says, "Tower radar is not expected to impact echolocation of lesser long-nosed bat because recent studies determined that some species of bats avoided the frequencies of radar to which they were exposed," the assessment says.
So, they're guessing the bats won't be impacted.
Here in the Sonoran desert, bats, hummingbirds, bees and butterflies are the major pollinators. Without pollinators, there will be no saguaro, yucca or desert plants.
In the assessment, there's only brief mention of the endangered jaguar, Panthera onca. It is the largest cat in the Southwest. There's also the endangered Sonoran pronghorn and the threatened bald eagle.
The environmental assessment is clearly a joke, no one could have manufactured this document with serious intent. After listing the threatened and endangered species here, including bats and jaguars, the environment assessment concludes that wildlife will not be harmed by the spy towers.
Wildlife, it says, is "expected to stay away."
This is Saturday Night Live funny. It is easy to image the cartoon, as CorpWatch has also imagined and posted on its website, with horns sounding out alerts in the desert. One horn could be honking: "Wildlife -- that includes you birds--you're expected to stay away!"
On the serious side, the assessment admits that warning lights on towers can disorient migrating birds and cause them to fly in circles, resulting in fatal collisions. Red lights attract more birds than white ones. So, the Boeing solution is: "loud hailer horns."
The assessment talks much more about grasses and birds than it does of spying on U.S. citizens, which it does not address.
Unwarranted spying on U.S. citizens can have dangerous, even deadly consequences. With the spy towers, Border Patrol agents will be able to sit in their cars and watch local residents on their laptop computers, if and when the spy towers begin functioning.
Arivacans have asked Homeland Security about privacy. However, no one in Homeland Security can assure them that normal citizens will not be spied on.
Border residents ask: What about the occasional Border Patrol agent who is a pedophile, stalker, rapist or murderer. Border Patrol agents are now charged with the crimes of rape and murder.
What would prevent a Border Patrol agent from keeping tabs on the young man or woman they are attracted to with their spy apparatus?
With thousands of border agents, and new recruits arriving constantly, there are no guarantees.
There are two spy towers already built on the Tohono O´odham Nation, as a result of cooperation between the Tohono O´odham tribal government and Homeland Security.
Because of the cooperation between Homeland Security and the previous tribal chairwoman, Vivian Juan-Saunders, there are two migrant detention centers on tribal land, which O´odham human rights activists like Ofelia Rivas say violates the Him'dag, the O´odham way of life.
Tohono O'odham tribal land is a place where a large number of migrants die of dehydration and heat every year. Although Mike Wilson, O'odham, puts out water for migrants in a few areas, his efforts are not supported by the tribe. Derechos Humanos Coalition in Tucson said more migrants are dieing this year along the border than last year, because of failed immigration policies forcing migrants into more dangerous and desolate crossing areas.
Tohono O´odham, who were not consulted about the spy towers on tribal land, now ask if Border Patrol agents will be watching them in their outdoor shower stalls. Here temperatures range from 114 to 118 in the hottest part of the summer. Further, O'odham interviewed did not have any idea that an environmental assessment had been released or how to find a copy.
As if that wasn't enough cause for alarm, along with the privacy lawsuit now being organized, there are even more troubling facts about the spy towers.
Boeing has entered into a contract with Elbit Systems, Israel's primary defense contractor, to help construct this virtual high-tech border wall. Elbit is involved with building the Apartheid Wall in occupied Palestine.
Elbit provides surveillance and spy products around the world, from infrared spy technology on the Canadian border to surveillance to European countries. Elbit now has subsidiary companies in the United States.
Elbit is currently the subject of a lawsuit involving satellite images. Elbit is a major shareholder in ImageSat International. Minority stockholders at ImageSat have filed suit against the company because of loss of revenues, which they say is based on politics. Among the allegations: ImageSat refused to turn over spy satellite images to Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.
Boeing, the recipient of the $20 million contract for securing the 28-mile stretch of border here, itself is the subject of a new lawsuit. The American Civil Liberties Union alleges Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen DataPlan provided dozens of CIA torture flights to secret prisons.
Back to the spy towers at the Arizona border, those aren't working. After failing to meet a start-up date in June, Boeing was chastised by Congress and Boeing stocks declined. There's no official explanation of the failure of the spy towers to function and no new startup date was announced.
Boeing has admitted that it is using regular Wi-Fi, the same band used at your favorite coffee shop, for communications. Project 28 local broadband wireless uses an unlicensed band at 5.85 GHz. That came as a joke in Arizona. In these rugged desert mountains, even cell phone service is spotty.
In the environmental assessment, Boeing does say it has decided against using the unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) as planned. It does not explain that a multi-million dollar drone crashed near Nogales, Ariz., in 2006. The Border Patrol stopped using the drones at that point.
Earlier, when the unmanned aerial vehicles were hovering above, no one told Arizona residents on the ground, including the Tohono O'odham, of the danger of the lasers onboard. If the drones flew too low, or crashed as one drone ultimately did, the lasers could blind or cause other injuries to people on the ground.
Once again, in the drones' environmental assessment, those lasers were considered to have "no significant impact." The drones were simply expected not to fly too low.
In the spy towers' environmental assessment, there are comments, including this one from Luke James Brannen of Arivaca.
"You have alienated Arivacans enough with your harassment. You need to protect the border, do it at the border.
"Schutzstaffel tactics do not work in a liberal democracy. You can secure our homeland by leaving it alone," Brannen said referring to Hitler's secret police.
Mary Scott had more to say.
"The citizens of Arivaca have been on the front line of the border war for many years. We are sickened by the environmental degradation of our fragile desert, the loss of human life and the constant intrusions of enforcement cars, vans, trucks, buses and helicopters on our lives."
Scott points out that the tower is in a sacred area, the Desert Light Labyrinth, a place of walking meditation and prayer, memorial services and healing ceremonies.
The loud hailer horns, with 100 to 130 decibels, would make prayer and meditation impossible.
Alan Wallen, owner of a small wireless Internet provider service, saw trouble coming from the time the environment assessment draft was first quietly left at the local library.
Wallen immediately notified Project 28, there would be problems with Wi-Fi interference for locals, since Project 28 was using the public band. Those problems are still unresolved.
In a statement just released, Brannen says, "The tower of power is illegal."
Brannen said it is a violation of the Fourth Amendment which guarantees the right of U.S. citizens "to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures."
"Some think just because residents of Arivaca live near the border, this particular location makes the Tower of Power legal. This is not true, in carrying out any and all of its powers, the government must follow The Constitution," Brannen said.
"It may not search citizen's effects or discriminate against them without a warrant. There might be a probable cause to search a person upon entering the country, but not when a resident citizen is living lawfully within the country. If the government does not respect the supreme law of the land, then the government and its 'elected' officials become illegitimate.
"The U.S. Constitution implores the US government to be faithful to the honored Constitution, and in turn respect its citizen's liberties, rights and the rights of the citizens of the world with due process within the U.S.'s Law."
In other areas of the Arizona border where spy towers are planned, including the Douglas/Naco area, residents are also organizing to halt spying on community members.
All along the border, residents point out this fact: Once they've got the photos or the video on you, what's to stop them from using it against you in any way they please -- including for political reasons.
There's another point they are quick to point out: Even if they worked, the spy towers would not stop border crossers. Migrants headed north would find a way to cross.


Brenda Norrell is Human rights editor for U.N. OBSERVER & International Report. She also runs the Censored website. She can be reached at: brendanorrell@gmail.com



Photo 2: Wackenhut bus waits to be loaded with migrants at Three Points, near the Tohono O'odham Nation border in Arizona/Photo Brenda Norrell
Photo 3: Arivaca Creek/Brenda Norrell
Photo 4: Tree at Arivaca Creek/Brenda Norrell


LINKS TO Boeing, Elbit Systems, etc...

UPDATED: More on the Elbit contract from the publication "Israel 21C" ..."The DHS awarded the SBI contract for the border security project to prime contractor Boeing over Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. In addition to Boeing and Elbit, the other members of the $2 billion program are telecommunication heavy-weights Lucent, L3 Communications, Perot Systems and Unisys Global Public Sector.
Elbit was selected because of its ability to bring together global resources with decades of technological experience and capabilities securing borders in extreme cold, mountainous regions, as well as hot, desert terrains.

Kollsman's global parent, Elbit Systems Ltd. has extensive experience with operational border control and management systems combined with command, control and situational awareness for the Israeli government. Elbit's Long Range Reconnaissance and Observation System (LORROS) and advanced turnkey unmanned aerial vehicle systems (UAV) are some of the products and technology that will be utilized."
More ...
http://www.israel21c.org/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles%5El1450&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=Technology

Elbit: Border contract:
http://www.elbitsystems.com/data/ESLT_Kollsman_Boeing_SBI_Project.pdf

CorpWatch: Boeing's high tech fence falters:
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14552

IRIS BIOMETRICS, LASERS, etc. on Boeing website:
See the list of technology for the Secure Border Initiative, on Boeing's website.Scroll down for specifics -- microwaves, lasers, iris and facial biometrics collections and unmanned aerial vehicles -- whose health risks and other dangers are still being researched: http://www.sbinetbizopps.com/pdsfeedback.aspx

Israel Elbit:
http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2006/11/experts_at_buil.html

High-tech border network could fall prey to cyberattacks
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0707/0706bb1.htm

More on the Wi-Fi security flaws at Boeing's secure border project:
http://blogs.govexec.com/techinsider/archives/2007/07/101_refresher_info_security_co.phpJeppesen:
The CIA's No-Questions-Asked Travel Agent: http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0725,hentoff,76995,6.html

Boeing/Israeli spy towers aren't working at Arizona border: http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/06/boeingisraeli-spy-towers-arent-working.html

Elbit's contract for the Arizona border:”The DHS awarded the SBI contract for the border security project to prime contractor Boeing over Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. In addition to Boeing and Elbit, the other members of the $2 billion program are telecommunication heavy-weights Lucent, L3 Communications, Perot Systems and Unisys Global Public Sector”http://www.israel21c.org/bin/en.jsp?enDispWho=Articles%5El1450&enPage=BlankPage&enDisplay=view&enDispWhat=object&enVersion=0&enZone=TechnologyFrom

Frankenstein Returns: Wackenhut takes over transporting migrants from Border Patrol: (Wackenhut is now Geo Group, but the transit buses which carry detained migrants in Arizona say "Wackenhut")
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Tools/PrintFriendly?url=%2Fgbase%2FCurrents%2FContent%3Foid%3Doid%253A95659

Halliburton's KBR $385 million to build migrant prisons:http://robwire.com/?q=node/894

Action alert: Gila River new threat from hazardous waste

This action alert is from the Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment and Greenaction for Health and Environmental Justice:
ACTION ALERT! Please spread the word and take action immediately!!

The Great News: On June 20, 2007 the Gila River Indian Community Tribal Council voted unanimously 14-0 to reject signing the draft US EPA permit that would have allowed Romic to keep operating their hazardous waste facility on tribal lands. The vote by the tribal council means that by law the US EPA must deny the permit, although EPA is dragging its feet.

The Bad News and Why You Must Take Immediate Action: A giant hazardous waste company called “Clean Harbors” wants to buy the Romic facility and wants the tribal council to give permission to operate a hazardous waste “recycling” operation there.
The Gila River Alliance for a Clean Environment, the grassroots tribal member organization, is asking all of us to support their effort to stop Clean Harbors from taking over the facility, and to close the hazardous waste plant once and for all.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP TRIBAL MEMBERS CLOSE THE ROMIC FACILITY! CALL “CLEAN HARBORS” TODAY!!!
TELL THEM WHERE YOU ARE CALLING FROM AND TELL THEM THAT CLEAN HARBORS WILL FACE STRONG ONGOING PROTESTS AND OPPOSITION IF THEY BUY THE ROMIC PLANT.

CLEAN HARBORS TOLL FREE NUMBER IS 800-282-0058
ASK TO SPEAK TO PHIL RETALLICK and then call back and ask to speak to the CEO of the company.

Call today! Tell Clean Harbors “GET YOUR TOXIC HANDS OFF OF GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY”

Coming next: More on the border spy towers

Heat stroke summer, on the road to Arivaca. Watch for the latest in the series on border spy towers ...

Mohawks: 'Chernobyl' in the making at Sharbot Lake

CANADA’S VERY OWN “ CHERNOBYL ” NUCLEAR
DISASTER IN THE MAKING AT SHARBOT LAKE
JUST NORTH OF KINGSTON ONTARIO .

Mohawk Nation News
July 14, 2007

The standoff over uranium mining
at Sharbot Lake just north of Kingston Ontario is not a
conflict between “natives and non-natives” as the
Globe and Mail suggests. The dispute is between the
Indigenous landowners and the mining companies and
their colonial government puppets.

Non-natives who want a peaceful and healthy future for
their children are rallying in support of the Indigenous
owners of the land. In this instance nobody with any
sense is supporting uranium mining and the kind of
activities that turns the earth into a toxic waste dump.
In the past week Highways 509 and 7 were blocked to
protect our lands and the Ottawa/Mississippi rivers
watersheds from radioactive contamination.

A mysterious private company called “Frontenac
Ventures Corporation” FVC has been trespassing
on our land so it can extract our resources.

Frontenac is a “private” company that develops
uranium properties in Canada . Their website has
three paragraphs with no names, addresses, phone
numbers or links for more information. It states they
operated “four mines between 1957 to 1964 in that
area which produced 15 million pounds of uranium
from pegmatite ore”. Open pit mining is one of their
favorite methods. They presently have 400 claims
for almost 8,000 hectares on Algonquin territory. They
also have claims on property occupied by non-native
cottagers who feel totally voiceless. According to their
website Frontenac plans “to start aggressive exploration
and development immediately”. The main settler
opposition is associated with the “Green party” which
is gearing up for the Ontario provincial election. Their
focus is to change the “Ontario Mining Act” and are using
this issue for their own ends.

Frontenac's board is made up of:

Dr. K. Sethu Raman, former Vice-President of “Campbell
Chibougamau Mines” and “Royex Gold Group of Companies”
(now “Barrrick Gold”);
George White at 613-479-2936, the front man (who looks
something like Mr. Burns of “The Simpsons”, the owner
of the nuclear reactor that Homer works at), former
vice-president and general manager of “Westburne
Industrial Enterprise Limited” that distributes oil and gas
all over Turtle Island;
William J. Radvak is co-founder of “Response Biomedical
Corporation” which develops and commercializes rapid
“immunoassay diagnostic” tests;
Anthony Deweth previously of the private banking sector
of “CIBC Wood Gundy”; and Doris Meyer, former
vice-president and financial officer of “Queenstake” which
negotiated the acquisition of the “Jerritt Canyon Mine” in
Nevada and other publicly traded mining companies. Her
own company is “Golden Oak Corporate Services”.

Does anyone have any information on how these colonial
exploitation companies treat Indigenous people in the other
“ventures” they’re been involved in?

Frontenac is being “reverse” bought out by "Sylvio Ventures"
to be traded on the "Ventures Exchange Sector" of the Toronto
Stock Exchange. This means that the rules for scrutinizing
their activities is less stringent than a publicly traded company.
They plan to form a new company “Amalco” which will be a
wholly-owned operating subsidiary of Sylvio. The corporate
veil cannot be pierced. You can only sue the company which
could be just a front. If there’s trouble the corporation dissolves
itself and no one can be sued except for personal guarantees
and illegal activities which are hard to prove.

It appears that besides mining uranium, they are trying to make
a profit by creating nuclear weapons and other instruments
of mass destruction in violation of international law.

Frontenac and their cohorts are furious that the Algonquins are
denying them access to our land, minerals and the site to dig
our uranium and make their bombs. George White even called
us “eco terrorists” even though there hasn’t been one incidence
of violence, except for the mosquitoes and deer flies that are
wicked this year!

George White of Frontenac is concerned that the situation is
similar to Niger in Africa where companies use armed security
to carry out theft of resources there. Yes, George, your project
is similar to Niger . A foreign corporation is taking somebody
else’s resources and the bandits need armed forces to get
away with it. In the meantime the land is being devastated and
making it uninhabitable for good.

The Ontario government is developing nuclear power that
could create the same kind of devastation that happened at
“ Chernobyl ” in the Ukraine . The Soviet Union thought they
had the greatest energy generating facility in the world. They
did not foresee the catastrophic explosion of the nuclear
plant in 1986 that killed thousands of people and destroyed
the land for thousands of years. This once beautiful part of
the Ukraine was turned into a waste land that will not be safe
to live on for hundreds of years. It was the worst accident in
the history of nuclear power. The fall-out drifted over western
Soviet Union, Europe and eastern Turtle Island . It exposed 6.6
million people to radioactivity. The number of deaths that
resulted cannot yet be told. It affected rivers, lakes, reservoirs,
ground water, fauna and vegetation and continues to cause
grass and forest fires.

Frontenac has been ground to a halt. Frontenac, Mining
Resource Engineering Limited MREL, Ministry of Natural
Resources, Department of National Defense, Indian Affairs
and the Ontario government are uninvited crooks who
sneaked into Sharbot and Ardoch Lakes without telling the
Algonquin people. It is being done for the benefit of private
shareholders and investors who want to profit from the
theft of our resources that we never surrendered.

Private corporations like Frontenac are not listed on the
stock exchange. We cannot find out who the real owners
are. They could be a front for secret investors. They appear
to have something to hide. There is a legal separation between
the private investors and the corporation. In this case it is
almost impossible to pierce the corporate veil and get at the
scoundrels who hide behind such corporations. Let’s take
that veil off.

Only the federal or provincial environment ministries can
chose to become involved in their activities. The corporation
can act secretly without regard for the welfare, laws, elders and
future generations of both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
Should a catastrophe happen they could declare bankruptcy
and disappear. No one will ever know who the secret culprits
were. Even if they’re caught, found to be negligent or
criminal and the company is charged, a judgment could go
in their favor against us.

On the other hand, a “public” company is highly regulated
and has to tell the shareholders what they’re doing.

The Algonquins are sovereign and independent who never
surrendered their lands. They are not part of Canada because
they never agreed to join the colonial state and come under
the “Indian Act”. They remain independent under their own
traditional law and the rules of international law apply.

Should a squatter build a house on your land, they would be
trespassing. Even if a buddy of theirs gave them the rights
or deed. At Sharbot and Ardoch Lakes neither Canada nor
Ontario has legal jurisdiction to grant mining licenses to
Algonquin territory and resources. It’s trespass and theft.

Indian Affairs usurped Indigenous sovereignty by declaring
themselves as the “trustees” that these foreign agencies
have to deal with. Indian Affairs pretends that we and our
lands are under their jurisdiction. They don’t want anyone
to deal directly with us under our laws.

In the Guerin and Sparrow decisions, the Supreme Court of
Canada found that the Crown has a fiduciary obligation to
act in our best interests. Indian Affairs has notoriously
breached this duty.

On top of this breach, they allow foreign interests to conduct
munitions manufacturing, target practice and experimentation
which is devastating and destroying our land. Uranium
tailings are being made into nuclear bombs. Under international
law it is illegal to use weapons of mass destruction or to even use
force to solve disputes. We don’t know why these guys are
making weapons that cannot be used legally. This must be
why they are keeping their operations a big secret. It takes
10,000 years for uranium to lose its “half life”. That’s over 500
generations from now.

Non-natives formed the “Community Action Coalition Against
Mining Uranium” to raise money for food and other necessities.
The three issues the Algonquins are facing are: unsettled
colonial claims to our land; colonists are giving permission for
foreign entities to stake claims to our unsurrendered land and
resources; and the danger of uranium mining.

Journalists are worried about being fired if they write the truth.
The mining activities and nuclear experimentation is so
dangerous that it is putting the lives of the public at stake.

It freezes our mind to think of the consequences. We have to
help the Algonquins at Sharbot and Ardoch Lakes . Write your
members of parliament, the prime minister and the international
community. Ask who has bought off the government and why?
Is any amount of money gained in one lifetime worth jeopardizing
the lives of humans for 10,000 years to come?

We are demanding “No uranium mining whatsoever”. The Big
Trout Lake and Nishnabe Aski and three other Indigenous
communities have declared an indefinite moratorium on uranium
mining and they’re enforcing it. The Algonquin’s Coalition is
waiting for the September negotiations with the Ontario government!!!
The fighters are getting tired and need your help immediately.
[To help contact: Chief Paula Sherman 613-279-1970
http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=paulasherman@trentu.ca; Bob Lovelace at 613-374-5598,
Cell 613-532-2166; Harold Perry 613-479-5534; Lynn Daniluk
613-268-2746 Cell 614-267-0539; Ormond Lee of the settler
committee 613-267-7584].

In the meantime George White of Frontenac sits on his wicker
chair at his cottage waiting for us to get tired and leave.

[For more information contact: Explosives Regulatory Division,
Natural Resources Canada http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=inspector@nrcan.gc.ca Phone
613-948-5200.] [[MREL Bill Bauer Phone 613-545-0466 (111)
Cell 613-530-0777 http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=bbauer@mrel.com]. [Prime Minister
Stephen Harper http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=harper.s@parl.gc.ca] [Anyone else you can
think of to stop this madness.]

Kahentinetha Horn
MNN Mohawk Nation News

See: “ Canada ”
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/news/news4.php?en=en&layout=mnn&category=27&srcurl=%2Fnews%2Fnews3.php%3Flang%3Den%26layout%3Dmnn%26sortorder%3D0

Uncensored coverage: Navajos targeted by power plants, mining and nuclear industry

Uncensored in today's news ...

Navajos fight to shake off lethal nuclear legacy
New Zealand Herald
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/2/story.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10451671
Pechanga Net (California)
http://www.pechanga.net/

Navajos and others fight expansion of Navajo Mine in northwest New Mexico

Suit challenges coal mine permits

AP
Uncensored at:
Santa Fe New Mexican and Pechanga Net

http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/64794.html
http://www.pechanga.net/

An aerial photo shows stockpiled coal combustion waste at the Navajo Mine near Farmington. Two environmental groups filed a lawsuit Friday against the federal agency that regulates coal mining over its approval of two permits for the mine in northwestern New Mexico. Photo courtesy Ecoflight/San Juan Citizens Alliance

UPDATED: Navajoland: Desert Rock mercury poisoning threatens endangered species

From Steve Cone
Comment 17 July 2007 Farmington Civic Center, New Mexico

Public Hearing, Desert Rock Energy Project -- Draft Environmental Impact Statement
ANSWERS TO THE SIX QUESTIONS CONSIDERED IN FORMULATING THE DRAFT EIS FOR:
DESERT ROCK ENERGY PROJECT

QUESTION #1: IS THERE A VALID PURPOSE AND NEED FOR THE PROJECT?
Of course there is NO valid purpose or legitimate need for the Desert Rock Energy Project. The need for the project has been invented to justify construction of the Project. The apparent purpose of the Project is to generate maximum profit by offering a glut of power to make-believe customers to fuel rampant, unrestrained development in remote markets. “But just trust us,” says Sithe Global, LLC, somewhere, sometime, someone will purchase Desert Rock power to sell to restless consumers with a craving for more of all those gadgets no respectable American should live without: the electric knife, the 55-inch plasma TV, the weed whacker, and the electric lint remover. The real purpose of the project is to create an artificial demand for more electricity and still more projects, as growth is unleashed to feed on itself unabated, always begetting more growth. So, the real purpose of the project is to kill for profit; some must be murdered so others can bask in a bottomless pool of obscene wealth.

QUESTION #2: HAVE A REASONABLE RANGE OF ALTERNATIVES BEEN CONSIDERED?
Sadly, no! A reasonable range of alternatives has NOT been considered. The Environmental Impact Statement for Desert Rock is woefully inadequate because the No Action Alternative has not been rigorously explored or objectively evaluated. The public has been deprived of an opportunity to fully consider the impacts of the proposed Project because the No Action Alternative has been mischaracterized and misunderstood. The National Environmental Policy Act [“NEPA”] specifically requires that the examination of a proposed action must include a thorough analysis of a No Action Alternative, and that the No Action Alternative then be raised as the standard against which all other alternatives are weighed. Satisfactory analysis of a No Action Alternative provides a reliable benchmark, enabling the public and decision makers to compare the magnitude of environmental effects of the various alternatives.
The Executive Summary on page ES-7 of the DEIS notes that if No Action is taken to construct and operate the Desert Rock Energy Project, air quality in the Project Area “would remain unchanged”. But in assessing adverse environmental impacts of Desert Rock, the DEIS presumes a substantial reduction of toxic emissions from the existing Four Corners and San Juan power plants. These emissions reductions have not actually occurred yet. Sithe, nonetheless, claims credits and offsets associated with some future, scaled-down operation of these two plants. The fact is that air quality would improve dramatically in the Four Corners if the “No Action Alternative” was adopted, and the Desert Rock Energy Project was not constructed. If the Proposed Project were not constructed as planned, and the additional thousands of acres of the Navajo Mine were not developed, the incidence of cardiopulmonary disease would drop dramatically and lives would be saved.

QUESTION #3: IS THE PROPOSED PROJECT CONSISTENT WITH APPLICABLE EXISTING REGULATIONS AND PLANS?
Surprise! Surprise!! The system is rigged! Land managers at the Department of the Interior are expected to maintain the façade of serving the interest of the public in the preparation of Environmental Impact Statements and by conducting public hearings. But the fundamental purpose of this NEPA process and this Draft EIS is to understate the damage to be done by Desert Rock and arrive at a finding of “NO Significant Impact”. Those who wield power --the Government (both United States & Navajo Nation) in collusion with private corporations (Sithe Global, BHP, Blackstone, and URSCorp), are literally using the law to get away with murder. Industry stooges, politicians, and bureaucrats cooperate as partners in the business of murdering communities and murdering the Earth.
- It is not uncommon for Federal agencies to fire, threaten to fire, harass, or strong arm biologists who find that activities such as the construction of a power plant would harm Federally listed, legally protected species.
- It is not uncommon for Federal agencies to fire, threaten to fire, harass, or strong arm cultural specialists who report that proposed activities would destroy archaeological sites or sites sacred to Native Americans.
- It is not uncommon for Federal agencies to fire, threaten to fire, harass, or strongarm hydrologists who disclose that a planned project would damage aquifers, streams, or rivers.
- It is not uncommon for Federal agencies to fire, threaten to fire, harass, or strong arm toxicologists who reveal that project operations would result in the poisoning of the people and their landbase.
Naïve as we all sometimes can be, it may come as some surprise at first that an Environmental Impact Statement is not, in fact, a document designed to help people make informed decisions about anything, but instead attempts to justify decisions made long before, to satisfy backroom deals cut between politicians and their corporate backers. It is ridiculous to pretend this Draft EIS is important as a decision-making document. The die has already been cast, and the system is rigged from top to bottom.

QUESTION #4: WILL THE PROPOSED PROJECT CAUSE ADVERSE EFFECTS ON THE HUMAN AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT?
Of course it will! The Proposed Project is an exercise in predatory capitalism, rooted in human misery and environmental degradation. The drilling of twenty water wells to supply the Project will result in a deterioration of water quality and a reduction in the diversity and density of wildlife habitat and groundwater dependent vegetation in the upper reaches of the Chaco River.
Sithe Global is a profit extraction corporation which treats the human and natural environments as resources to be exploited, converted into capital, and destroyed. As a profit extraction corporation Sithe Global, LLC is devoted to an ideology of greed and endless economic growth without the slightest concern for the public good or the natural environment.
The treatment of cumulative impacts in the Draft EIS is haphazard and self-serving, failing as it does to consider all past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions. Existing impacts of current mining activities, power transmission, and the operation of two existing coal fired plants, as well as the cumulative impacts of nearly 30,000 approved oil and gas wells are conveniently swept under the rug as the San Juan Basin is further relegated to a permanent status of National Sacrifice Area.

QUESTION #5: IS MITIGATION EFFECTIVE IN MINIMIZING IMPACTS?
Of course NOT! Mitigation is a myth designed by the Government and Sithe to buy people’s trust and approval. As the corporation funnels profits from the rape of the earth and the annihilation of life, the public is supposed to feel satisfied and secure in the knowledge that everything possible is being done to compensate for this murder and mayhem. Shouldn’t we be eager, shouldn’t we be proud to provide corporate incentives and Payment in Lieu of Taxes perks to reward the nameless, faceless folks who profit handsomely by poisoning our precious air and water and sickening our children?
Disproportionate impacts of the Project to the indigenous population are unconscionable, as these people already bear the brunt of pollution form two other existing power plants. The Project promoters’ disdain for environmental justice demonstrates a penchant for colonialism and an utter disregard for public health.
There is no way to mitigate for the spewed filth that will impede vision and impact visual resources. You cannot put a price tag on the misery of those forced to suffer from crippling asthma or chronic emphysema. But for Project proponents, all those respiratory ailments and lung cancer deaths to come are simply corporate “externalities” – collateral damage that cannot and will not be mitigated.
And so, the NEPA process is law the government uses to mitigate murder by the project promoters. Throw a handful of cash at a school district to buy its assent. Sidestep the ESA and strong arm the F&WS to produce a “No Jeopardy” opinion allowing for further contamination of the river and the extirpation of two federally listed aquatic species.
A recent ruling in a California U.S. District Court in the case Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) v. DOI (Kempthorne) cited the Bureau of Reclamation’s failure to consider the best available science with respect to the potential effects of climate change on endangered species. The impact of global warming on the San Juan Basin’s hydrologic future is significant, and climate change associated with power plant emissions may well interfere with the Fish & Wildlife Service’s obligations under the endangered Species Act to recover federally listed aquatic species in the San Juan River.

QUESTION #6: HAS THE PUBLIC BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE PROPOSED PROJECT?
NO, of course not! A massive, private, multinational corporation, URS Corp., has been paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by a massive, private, multinational corporation, Sithe Global Power LLC, owned by a massive, private, multinational corporation, The Blackstone Group, to write a public document, the EIS, for a public agency, the Bureau of Indian Affairs. In the process the NEPA has beensubverted, and the public’s mind has been poisoned with propaganda purporting the unrivaled cleanliness and state-of-the-art efficiency of the Desert Rock Energy Project.
Frank Maisano of Rudy Guiliani’s law firm, is the media/public relations specialist hired to create a smokescreen, defuse the justifiable public outrage, twist the truth, and put the people back to sleep. These poor, confused locals must simply be made to understand that emissions from a third massive power plant in the National Sacrifice Area they call home “will be”, in Maisano’s words, “negligible” and won’t pollute the air, sicken or kill them.
The “Scoping Report” referred to on page E-20 of the Executive Summary as “a detailed report of comments and issues heard from the public”, actually fails to address many of the public’s most pressing, legitimate concerns such as accurate air quality monitoring and valid health studies. Critical issues raised in the scoping process have been totally ignored in the Draft EIS, and all those who submitted scoping comments early-on in this process should resubmit them for inclusion in the Environmental Impact Statement.

PROPOSED THIRD MASSIVE COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT IN THE FOUR CORNERS -- DESERT ROCK -- THREATENS SAN JUAN BASIN ENDANGERED SPECIES WITH SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE EFFECTS FROM MERCURY POISONING

By Steve Cone

15 July 2007
[Farmington] The Fish & Wildlife Service is undertaking a Jeopardy Analysis for the proposed Desert Rock Power Plant because Preferred Alternative B --the full-scale project outlined in the DEIS-- is likely to adversely affect two Federally listed aquatic species -- Colorado Pikeminnow & razorback sucker. The Biological Assessment, Appendix G of the DEIS, prepared by Ecosphere Environmental Services in Farmington, confirms that increased mercury contamination due to emissions from Desert Rock is likely to adversely affect the two endangered species.
According to the Fish & Wildlife Service ["F&WS"], such increased mercury contamination could well interfere with the reproductive capacity of the fish (resulting in a "taking"). The F&WS has submitted 27 questions regarding the Biological Assessment in a letter to Ecosphere (available pursuant to FOIA), and will likely have follow-up questions depending on Ecosphere's responses. FWS plans to have a Biological Opinion with either a "Jeopardy" or "No Jeopardy" ruling completed by August. A source from the F&WS anticipates pressure and a lot of heat in the form of "arm twisting" by "this administration" to come out with a finding of No Jeopardy for the Desert Rock Project.
In addition, the F&WS is closely eying a recent ruling in California's U.S. District Court in National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) v. DOI (Kempthorne) in which NRDC prevailed in part due to the Bureau of Reclamation's failure to consider the best available science with respect to the potential effects of climate change on the endangered delta smelt. The impact of global warming on the San Juan Basin's hydrologic future is critical, and climate change associated with power plant emissions might well interfere with the F&WS obligations under the ESA to recover Federally listed aquatic species in the San Juan Basin.
Another major concern is the failure of the Desert Rock DEIS to address the issue of cavitation and subsidence in relation to the 20 deep wells to be drilled into the Morrison Formation. A Federal employee at Chaco Canyon had identified this as a significant threat during the Desert Rock NEPA scoping process more than two years ago.
Steve Cone
327-0743
The Four Corners
Steve Cone
1217 Chaco Avenue
Farmington, NM 87401
http://us.f330.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=scone@infoway.org
505-327-0743

July 15, 2007
TO: Region 2 FOIA Officer
United States Fish & Wildlife Service
P.O. 1306
Albuquerque, NM 87103
505-248-6289

ATTENTION: FOIA REQUEST [submitted electronically for expedition]

Dear FOIA Officer:
Pursuant to the federal Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, I request access to and copies of a letter comprised of some 27 questions regarding the Desert Rock Energy Project from the United States Fish & Wildlife Service to:
Ecosphere Environmental Services
4801 North Butler
Suite 15101
Farmington, NM 87401
and/or
2257 Main Ave.
Patio Level
Durango, CO 81301.
An expedited response to this request is sought as it is a matter of public well-being. The public has an urgent need for information about possible jeopardy to endangered species due to proposed construction of a third massive coal fired power plant and associated mining activity in the Four Corners Region on Federal, tribal trust land. Citizens are faced with an imminent deadline in responding with comments to the Bureau of Indian Affairs/Department of the Interior on a Draft Environmental Impact Statement on the Desert Rock Energy Project. The United States Fish & Wildlife Service intends to prepare a Jeopardy Analysis and Biological Opinion on the Desert Rock Energy Project based in part on answers to 27 questions it has recently posed to Ecosphere Environmental Services regarding the likely adverse effects to two Federally listed aquatic species, the potential impacts of cavitation and subsidence due to planned construction activities and subsequent operation of the Project, and various other concerns. It is in the public interest that this letter be released immediately, so as to allow for timely and informed public comment and full implementation of the National Environmental Policy Act.
I agree to pay all reasonable duplication fees for the processing of this request in an amount not to exceed $20. However, please notify me prior to your incurring any expenses in excess of that amount.
If my request is denied in whole or part, I ask that you justify all deletions by reference to specific exemptions of the act. I will also expect you to release all segregable portions of otherwise exempt material. I, of course, reserve the right to appeal your decision to withhold any information or to deny a waiver of fees.
As I am making this request as a scholar/educator and this information is of timely value, I would appreciate your communicating with me by telephone, rather than by mail, if you seek clarification regarding this request.
I look forward to your expedited reply, but no later than within 20 business days, as the statute requires.
Thank you for your cooperation and prompt consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

Steve Cone

Border drug traffickers target American journalists

Border drug traffickers target American and other foreign journalists:
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/altss/printstory/local/57426

Read comment: Michael Marizco, Border Reporter blog:
http://borderreporter.com/blog/

Action alert: Outdated 1872 Mining Law

ACTION NEEDED ON THE OUTDATED 1872 MINING LAW!

Indigenous Environmental Network

Tribal Councils, Tribal members, Native organizations and others, call your Congressman now to support HR 2262 – The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007.

Earlier this year, Congressman Rahall of West Virginia again introduced legislation to reform the 1872 Mining Law. This new effort represents a unique opportunity for this nation to overhaul this antiquitated law from the 19 th century that is completely inadequate for today's industrial mining technology and scale. The House Sub-Committee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold the first hearing specific to HR 2262 on July 26. We will need more co-sponsors for the bill by the 26 th of July as well as in the upcoming months.

American Indian and Alaska Natives have been disproportionately impacted in a variety of ways: Dispossession of land, destruction of sacred sites, damage or destruction of cultural and natural resources, loss of cultural life ways related to the boom/bust mining economies, with a legacy of polluted water resources, toxic and radiation poisoning and many more impacts.

(Photo: Navajo protest planned Desert Rock power plant and coal mine at the inauguration of Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr., in 2007/Photo Dooda Desert Rock)

The law was originally written to encourage settlement of the American west once American Indian and other impediments to American settlement had been forcibly removed or otherwise cleared. The law makes very little requirement for mine closure, clean up, environmental remediation, or restoration, allowing the mining industry to leave behind half a million abandoned mines. This new legislation will not fix the historic social, environmental and human rights violations and abuses in Indian Country as a result of unsustainable mineral extraction, but it will fix some of the other problems that are important to American Indian and Alaska Natives and others.

This 1872 Mining Law also impacts Alaska federal lands. Congressman Rahall needs your help. An editorial from the May 28 Denver Post states much of the case to take action; Closing in on mining-law fix The Denver Post Editorial BoardArticle Last Updated: 05/28/2007 10:27:39 PM MDT Colorado wasn't even a state and Leadville's great silver boom was still in the future when the nation's basic mining law was enacted in 1872.

Colorado's been a state for more than a century and Leadville has boomed and busted more than once, but the General Mining Act, signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant, is still on the books. It's way past time for an update. The law has allowed mining companies to extract an estimated $245 billion in metals without paying a dime to the taxpayers. Until a moratorium was imposed 13 years ago, mining companies could buy federal land for $5 an acre or less.

(Thankfully, different rules - including royalties paid to the government - apply to coal mining and oil and natural gas extraction.)

Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., wants to bring the law into the 21st century. Like a prospector stubbornly working an unpromising claim, Rayhall has introduced reform legislation every year since 1985. Now, it looks like he may finally strike pay dirt this year or next. The bill would impose an 8 percent royalty on the value of minerals extracted, close places like wilderness and roadless areas to mining, install additional environmental requirements and create a cleanup fund. That last provision would be vitally important to much of the West, which has an estimated 500,000 abandoned hardrock mines, many of which continue to ooze toxic waste (cyanide, lead, arsenic, mercury - that sort of thing) decades after they closed.

In Colorado, there are at least 22,000 old mines, shafts and exploration holes. An 8 percent royalty could raise $100 million a year to start making a tiny dent in the $32 billion estimated cost of a total cleanup. The reason Rahall may be close to making a strike is that the ideal of repealing the law has gained some interesting supporters. The industry says it's willing to work on modernizing the bill. Predictably, it doesn't like an 8 percent royalty rate, even though prices for things like gold and uranium have soared in recent years.

Even Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of mining-dependent Nevada signals he's flexible but that reform might not come until 2008. He dynamited previous reform plans. Mike Kowalski, CEO of big gold buyer Tiffany & Co., says his industry wants reform. "Ultimately, this cost will make it more expensive to produce jewelry, but it is the right thing to do," he wrote in a column recently published in a Las Vegas newspaper.

We're looking forward to Congress erasing the General Mining Act of 1872 from the law books and moving it to the history books.In addition to the fixes stated in the Denver Post, the legislation would also provide for protection of Tribal sacred sites as well as additional protection for ground and surface waters. It will not fix all that has happened in Indian country and Alaska, but it will fix these two important environmental and cultural considerations for American Indian/Alaska Natives.

(Photo US EPA: Navajo house adjacent to a uranium mine in northern New Mexico. Radioactive waste rock from uranium mine in left foreground of picture was used to build foundation for house shown in upper right.)

Thus far, the below listed members of Congress have signed on as co-sponsors to HR 2262 – The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007. Rep Capps, Lois [CA-23] - 6/19/2007Rep Christensen, Donna M. [VI] - 5/24/2007Rep Costa, Jim [CA-20] - 5/10/2007Rep Gonzalez, Charles A. [TX-20] - 6/19/2007Rep Grijalva, Raul M. [AZ-7] - 5/24/2007Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22] - 5/24/2007Rep Honda, Michael M. [CA-15] - 6/19/2007Rep Inslee, Jay [WA-1] - 5/24/2007Rep Jackson-Lee, Sheila [TX-18] - 6/19/2007Rep Markey, Edward J. [MA-7] - 5/24/2007Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 5/24/2007Rep Moran, James P. [VA-8] - 5/24/2007Rep Stark, Fortney Pete [CA-13] - 6/19/2007Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] - 6/19/2007Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] - 6/19/2007Recent additions: Earl Blumenauer (OR), Dennis Kucinich (OH) Betty McCollum (MN), and Sander Levin (MI) First, Tribal members living in areas impacted by hardrock mining should call their Tribal Council Representatives and request that the Tribal Council pass a resolution supporting HR 2262 – The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007.

A draft Tribal Council resolution is available from Robert Shimek, Indigenous Environmental Network, http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ienmining@igc.org, 218-751-4967 or Bonnie Gestring, Earthworks, http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=bgestring@mineralpolicy.org, 406-549-7361.

Tribal Councils should than send the finalized resolution to members of Congress. Second, Tribal members, Native organizations and everyone else who cares about environmentally and socially responsible hardrock mining should call their Congressional Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor HR 2262 – The Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007. If your Representative has already signed on as a co-sponsor, call them anyway and thank them for their support as well as encourage them to make sure the provisions critical to American Indian/Alaska Natives stay in the Bill.


(Photo: Gold mining cores out mountain tops in Western Shoshone Territory)

For additional information, see;The Earthworks mining reform home page: http://www.miningreform.org/.
Earthworks' brief explanation of the WHY behind each section, called Principles of Reform: http://www.mineralpolicy.org/PrinciplesOfReform.cfm.
The full text of HR 2262 (112 pages): http://www.mineralpolicy.org/pubs/HR2262.pdf.
[The "Protection of Special Places" section begins on page 24, Title III, p. 39 (J) is of notable interest for those mining locations prone to acid mine drainage.]

Tom B.K. Goldtooth
Executive DirectorIndigenous Environmental Network
PO Box 485Bemidji, MN 56619
USAEmail: http://us.f520.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ien@igc.org
Web: http://www.ienearth.org/

Top photo: Wyoming coal mine/Office of Surface Mining

Toxic coal mine: Navajos file suit in Four Corners

Navajo Mine: Forced relocation of Navajos and toxic dumping

Australia's BHP Billiton the latest of the Australian and Canadian corporations exploiting Indigenous lands worldwide

By Dine' CARE

DURANGO, COLORADO — Diné Citizens Against Ruining our Environment
(“C.A.R.E.”) and the San Juan Citizens Alliance were forced to take legal action against
the Federal Office of Surface Mining (“OSM”) today over the agency’s approval of a
massive mine expansion for the Navajo Mine. OSM’s decisions have already led to the
permanent removal or relocation of numerous tribal members from their homeland and resulted in the permanent dumping of millions of tons of hazardous wastes. OSM recently issued mine permits to BHP Billiton, an Australian Corporation, which would
significantly expand these practices.
BHP’s Navajo Mine is a massive 13,000 acre surface coal mining operation located in the Four Corners Region on the Navajo Nation. The two mine permits challenged by the groups authorize BHP to mine coal for the Four Corners Power Plant and to permanently
dispose of Coal Combustion Waste (“CCW”). CCW consists of toxic solid wastes
(including fly ash, scrubber sludge and bottom ash) from the power plant’s coal-fired
generators.
“Over 1.5 million tons per year of coal combustion waste from the power plant is
backfilled into the Navajo Mine,” said Mike Eisenfeld of the Alliance, “Despite legal
requirements, OSM hasn’t required protections for ground or surface water. It doesn’t
even require monitoring—even though the mine is part of a major river drainage,” said
Eisenfeld. The Navajo Mine lies within the Chaco River drainage which drains north
into the San Juan River. “OSM is creating a massive superfund legacy for the residents
of the Four Corners. This is an irresponsible dumping practice and has to stop now.”
“OSM’s permitting actions will result in the permanent removal and relocation of Navajo
Nation tribal members including elders.” said Lori Goodman of Diné C.A.R.E. and
Navajo Nation tribal member. “The agency and BHP treat this area as if it is uninhabited.
OSM must understand that community members live or graze livestock in these areas.
OSM fails to recognize that this is our homeland.”
Many tribal members living in the mine area only speak Navajo, do not have phones,
electricity or running water, and use the area for ceremonial and medicinal purposes.
“People have lived on this land for generations. Family members are buried on this land.
2
OSM’s failure to even contact impacted tribal members before making these permitting
decisions is simply wrong.”
BHP is the largest mining company in the world and the sixth largest energy
corporation. In the 2006, BHP posted record profits of over $10 billion dollars.
http://www.bhpbilliton.com/bbContentRepository/companyprofile12feb2007.pdf
The lawsuit challenges OSM’s decision to grant a mine permit renewal and mine
permit revision to BHP as a violation of the National Environmental Policy Act
(“NEPA”). “This lawsuit asks the Federal Court to hold OSM officials in Denver
accountable for their actions.” said Brad Bartlett with the Energy Minerals Law
Center and an attorney for the groups.
OSM’s Denver office that oversees all surface mining activities conducted at the Navajo
Mine. OSM is a federal agency within the U.S. Department of Interior. The groups have
asked the U.S. District Court in Denver to compel OSM to undertake an analysis under
NEPA that adequately analyzes the impacts of permanent coal combustion waste disposal
and removal and relocation of tribal members.
The groups will answer questions about the lawsuit at the Open Shutter Gallery in
Durango from 5-7 P.M., Saturday, July 14, 2007. The groups are sponsoring an event
featuring the work of documentary photographer Carlan Tapp. Carlan has interviewed
and photographed Diné tribal members directly impacted by coal-power development in
the San Juan Basin – including the newly proposed Desert Rock coal-fired power plant.

Photo: Navajo Mine

CONTACT:
Lori Goodman, Diné C.A.R.E., (970) 259-0199
Mike Eisenfeld, San Juan Citizens Alliance, (505) 360-8994
Brad Bartlett, Energy Minerals Law Center, (970) 247-9334

Dead on the border: Thirty-three bodies recovered in June

Photo: Migrant shrine at the Third Annual Rasquacho Art Show 2007
Pan Left Productions/Photo Brenda Norrell


Coalición de Derechos Humanos:

147 bodies recovered on Arizona border, 33 in June alone

Mounting enforcement causing more migrants to go missing and die

July 13, 2007
Contact: Kat Rodriguez: 520.770.1373

Arizona— Coalición de Derechos Humanos, a Tucson-based human rights group, announced that the total number of recovered bodies on the Arizona border reached 147 by the end of June, 2007, up from 133 at the same time last year. Thirty-three bodies were recovered in the month of June alone, twelve of them not as yet identified and nearly a third of them female. These numbers do not reflect any of the 24 bodies recovered in first twelve days of the month of July, with reports coming out almost daily about remains found in the desert by residents, humanitarian groups and law enforcement officials alike. Adding to this increasing tragedy are the families who are desperately searching for news of loved ones who attempted to cross the border and have yet to be heard from. Men, women and children are regularly reported missing to consulate officials and human rights groups, who attempt to search for them in detention centers, hospitals, migrant centers, and medical examiner offices.“Rarely talked about are the desaparecidos, the people who have gone missing with no clue as to their whereabouts,” says Isabel Garcia of Derechos Humanos. “The desert is an ultimately unforgiving force, and can completely devour remains within a matter of weeks given the brutal conditions. This leaves mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers and children lost to their families forever, with no hope of ever finding out what became of them.”Every month has yielded more skeletal remains on the Arizona border, indicating that death could have taken place weeks, months, or even years prior to discovery. This—coupled with the fact that migrants do not always carry identification on their person, and their clothing can be torn away by animals or by themselves as they hallucinate and suffocate in the desert heat—makes identifying them even more difficult. Despite the recovery of an estimated 5,000 bodies on the U.S.-México border during the last 12 years, a direct result of the funnel-effect of border and militarization policies, the U.S. government has failed to acknowledge the deadly result of these strategies, and has, to the contrary, continued to increase efforts to militarize the border.“To die because you sought a better future for yourself and your family is a human rights violation,” continued Garcia. “and to die without your family ever knowing what became of you, as they suffer the anguish of not being able to bury your body and mourn your death is a tragedy that we must demand be made right. Human life is the most precious thing on earth, and we all must work to change any government policy that threatens it.”The complete list of recovered bodies is available on the Coalición de Derechos Humanos website: http://derechoshumanosaz.c.topica.com/maag4nkabzTc0b8me9Ne/ This information is available to anyone who requests it from us and is used by our organization to further raise awareness of the human rights crisis we are facing on our borders.

CorpWatch: High Tech Border Fence Falters

Fencing the Border: Boeing's High-Tech Plan Falters
by Joseph Richey
Special to Corp Watch
July 9th, 2007

http://corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14552

Western Shoshone spiritual leader Corbin Harney passes

In Loving Memory of Corbin Harney
Schedule of Visitation/Celebration and Burial
July 14 – 16, 2007
Newe Sogobe (Western Shoshone Homelands)


Corbin Harney, Western Shoshone Spiritual Leader
Schedule of Funeral Services


Eulogy by Katherine Blossom, Western Shoshone: (Schedule below) Corbin Harney, Western Shoshone spiritual leader passed away on July 10, 2007. He was born in Bruno, Idaho on March 24, 1920. He was raised by his grandparents. Corbin traveled around the world and spoke out about global toxins, radiation and illness. He spent most of his life teaching people and healing many. He spoke to many highschools, grade schools, universities, youth correctional institutions and prisons. Corbin is well known around the world for the work he did. Corbin founded Poo Ha Bah – meaning “Doctor Water” in Tecopa, California in the 1980’s, which is a unique native healing and prayer center. A viewing will be in Lee, Nevada at Larson Bill’s residence on July 14th and 15th. Services will be on Monday, July 16th in Battle Mountain beginning with a sunrise ceremony at the Battle Mountain Indian Community park, followed by funeral services at 9 a.m. at the Battle Mountain Indian Community Administrative Building on 37 Mountain View Drive. Burial will be held at the graveside at the Battle Mountain City Cemetery at 10 a.m. A feast will follow at the Battle Mountain Indian Community Administrative Building.

Corbin Harney is descended from generations of Newe (Shoshone) traditional healers and was always grateful for the many extraordinary teachers who shared their knowledge in his lifetime. Corbin is survived by his daughter Reynaulda Taylor; granddaughters Ann Taylor and Nada Leno; grandsons Keith, Jon and Joel Leno and William Henry Taylor; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and his sister Rosie Blossom’s family; John Harney and other Harney family members; and the family of Marge McDade and many cousins and other family members as well as many, many friends around the world. Corbin was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister, grandparents, uncle, great granddaughter, cousins, and friends. A very special thanks to Patricia Davidson, Corbin’s caregiver in his final months; Dominic Daileda, Corbin’s friend and companion for his support and compassion in hard times, and the family of Dixie and Martin van der Kamp for opening up their home and their hearts to Corbin and his family and friends during his time of need.


Visitation:
Saturday, July 14th and Sunday, July 15th. Camp set up beginning Friday, July 13th.
So Ho Bee, Newe Sogobe ( Lee , Nevada )
Home of Larson R. Bill
· Sunrise ceremony to be held each morning.
· Visitation in Tee Pee begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday through sunset on Sunday.
· Camping style in Lee – Hotels available 20 minutes away in Elko , Nevada .
· Food and other donations welcome.

Directions from Elko, Nevada – take 12th street south, turn left on Lamoille Canyon Highway to Spring Creek. Turn right at first stop light in Spring Creek – follow road approximately _______ miles to Lee turn off (on left – see tractor crossing sign). Follow road to Larson’s home (road will be marked with red/yellow/white/black ribbon flags).



Burial Services:
Monday, July 16th
Battle Mountain , Nevada
Schedule:
Sunrise (approximately) 6 a.m. – Sunrise ceremony at the Battle Mountain Indian Community ( Mountain View Drive )
Directions:
From I-80 Eastbound – turn left at first Battle Mountain exit. Right turn immediately
after smokeshop/gas station. Ceremony held at park in center.
From I-80 Westbound – turn right at third Battle Mountain exit. Right turn
immediately after smokeshop/gas station. Ceremony held at park in center.

9 a.m. – Funeral services at Battle Mountain Administrative Building .

10 a.m. – Graveside services at Battle Mountain City Cemetery .

Meal served immediately after graveside services at Battle Mountain Indian Community Administrative offices. See directions above to the Battle Mountain Indian Community Take second right dirt road to large building. Door on left side of building.

AP news article:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20070711-1023-nv-obit-harney.html

Corbin Harney, Western Shoshone Spiritual Leader Passes On –

Public Statement by Corbin’s Immediate Family

July 10, 2007 (Turtle Island). Corbin Harney Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone Nation crossed over at 11:00 a.m. this morning in a house on a sacred mountain near Santa Rosa, CA (Turtle Island). He had dedicated his life to fighting the nuclear testing and dumping.

That battle claimed his life through cancer.

Before he passed, he said to remember:

“We are one people. We cannot separate ourselves now.

There are many good things to be done for our people and for the world.

It is important to let things be good. And it is important to teach the younger generation so that things are not lost.”

According to witnesses present, in the morning fog, the spirits of four Shoshoni dog soldiers were outside on horseback before Corbin’s passing. But then one of the Shoshone present, Santiago Lozada, yelled “Tosawi Tosawi!” (White Knife). And then the fog shifted and there were thousands of spirits waiting.

Corbin passed peacefully at the end. He was only worried that he still had more to do. When he finally let go and went with the dog soldiers, Red Wolf Pope, grandson of Rolling Thunder, was present and sang him the Tosawi death song to call the dog soldiers to come take him home. Golden eagles continue to circle the house hours after his crossing.”

True to form Corbin joked around several days ago that he was going to go at 11:00, and kept his promise.

Over his lifetime, Corbin traveled around the world as a speaker, healer and spiritual leader with a profound spiritual and environmental message for all. He received numerous national and international awards and spoke before the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Corbin also authored two books: “The Way It Is: One Water, One Air, One Earth” (Blue Dolphin Publishing, 1995) and a forthcoming book, “The Nature Way”. Numerous documentaries have been made about his work and message. In 1994, Corbin established the Shundahai Network to work with people and organizations to respond to spiritual and environmental concerns on nuclear issues. He also established Poo Ha Bah, a native healing center located in Tecopa Springs, California. He will be missed but always honored for his work and dedication to traditional ways.

Corbin Harney is descended from generations of Newe (Shoshone) traditional healers and was always grateful for the many extraordinary teachers who shared their knowledge in his lifetime. Corbin is survived by his daughter Reynaulda Taylor; granddaughters Ann Taylor and Nada Leno; grandsons Keith, Jon and Joel Leno and William Henry Taylor; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and his sister Rosie Blossom’s family and many cousins and other family members as well as many, many friends around the world. Corbin was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister, grandparents, uncle, great granddaughter, cousins, and friends. A very special thanks to Patricia Davidson, Corbin’s caregiver in his final months; Dominic Daileda, Corbin’s friend and companion for his support and compassion in hard times, and the family of Dixie and Martin van der Kamp for opening up their home and their hearts to Corbin and his family and friends during his time of need.

Dates and times for services are being made with official announcement to follow. Three day services are planned at the home of Larson R. Bill, So Ho Bee – Newe Sogobe (Lee, Nevada –Western Shoshone Territory) with burial services at Battle Mountain Indian Community, Battle Mountain Nevada.

Family contact information (non-media only):

Donations may be made either to the immediate family through:

Reynaulda Taylor

P.O. Box 397

Owyhee, Nevada 89832

775-757-2610 or 775-757-2064

annietaytay@yahoo.com

Or, to: The Corbin Harney Way

6360 Sonoma Mtn. Rd.

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

Press Contact: Julie Ann Fishel, Western Shoshone Defense Project

775-468-0230 or 775-397-1371 (wsdp@igc.org)

Photo credit: Western Shoshone horses/Western Shoshone Defense Project

Corporate vultures at the border

By Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

NOGALES, Ariz. -- It is obvious that few members of Congress have spent any time along the Arizona border. What were they thinking? A multi-billion dollar border wall through impassable desert mountains?
Spy towers that depend on Wi-Fi? Anyone that uses Wi-Fi for their Internet connection will have a laugh about that. How about a couple of tin cans and a wire?
And sensors in remote no-man's land? Cows and coyotes could be arrested.
What about the U.S. building that border wall on Mexico's land, south of the state of New Mexico? Whoops, what's a few million here and there.
And what about those unmanned aerial vehicles that the Border Patrol stopped using after one crashed near Nogales last year? How many millions do those drones cost? There's also questions about the lasers carried by those drones, lasers that could harm people if the drones fly too low or crash, as one drone already has.
It is a high-tech disaster.
What about the border radar's effect on the bats, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Without pollinators there will be no saguaro, yucca and desert plants.
What about the rare jaguars that cross here? These desert mountains are places of rare migrations of bats and jaguars.
They are also digging up graves. The remains of Tohono O'odham ancestors were dug up and removed for the border vehicle barrier on tribal land.
The U.S. says that in the name of national security, no federal laws apply. The Corporate U.S. can do anything it pleases.
Boeing has the Secure Border Initiative contract. That's the same Boeing whose subsidiary Jeppesen DataPlan was providing torture flights to secret prisons, according to an ACLU lawsuit.
Now, Boeing has asked Elbit Systems, building the Apartheid Wall in occupied Palestine, to help with Arizona border security.
Meanwhile, once the U.S. stops all these people from entering the country -- and those who are here from working -- who is going to do America's dirty work?
I just took a train from northern California to the southern part of the state, stopping in Martinez, San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles and Santa Monica.
Every waitress, restaurant owner, motel clerk, motel maid, taxi driver, street cleaner and bus driver that I encountered spoke Spanish as a first language.
I didn't check anyone's documents, but it is safe to say that if all the undocumented workers were deported from California, the entire state's economy would collapse. It would be similar in other states, with Arizona's construction industry hard hit.
So instead of granting Bush-friendly corporations a few more billions to play around with Wi-Fi in the desert mountains (really), cow-tripping sensors, crashing drones and death-inducing legislation, why not put money into real solutions.
We could begin by saying "thank you" to those cooking our meals, cleaning up after us, building our houses and caring for our children.
We could start by caring.
People are dieing in the Arizona desert. It is nearly 120 degrees out there in the Arizona desert. Americans are allowing people to die for want of a drink of water. Very few people seem to care.
The world is not holding America, self-proclaimed as the human rights champion of the world, accountable for allowing thousands of people to die in the desert.
They are dieing now; few even care to search for the bodies.
They wait for the vultures to signal them.
--Brenda Norrell
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/

Photo: Migrant Desert Cage: Detention center on Tohono O'odham tribal land near the Arizona border. Photo Ofelia Rivas.

Photo: Jaguar, Sonora, Mexico. Defenders of Wildlife
Photo: El Tiradito Shrine in Tucson, with names of more than 4,000 dead in the Southwest desert, including men, women and children, who died from heat, dehydration and murder. Photo Brenda Norrell

UPDATE: CorpWatch: Boeing's high tech fence falters:

http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=14552

See the list of technology for the Secure Border Initiative, on Boeing's website.
Scroll down for specifics -- microwaves, lasers, iris and facial biometrics collections and unmanned aerial vehicles -- whose health risks and other dangers are still being researched:
http://www.sbinetbizopps.com/pdsfeedback.aspx

UPDATE: Israel Elbit's contract at the Arizona border:
http://www.worldproutassembly.org/archives/2006/11/experts_at_buil.html

High-tech border network could fall prey to cyberattacks
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0707/0706bb1.htm

More on the Wi-Fi security flaws at Boeing's secure border project:
http://blogs.govexec.com/techinsider/archives/2007/07/101_refresher_info_security_co.php
Jeppesen: The CIA's No-Questions-Asked Travel Agent: http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0725,hentoff,76995,6.html

Boeing/Israeli spy towers aren't working at Arizona border: http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/06/boeingisraeli-spy-towers-arent-working.html

Defenders of Wildlife: Protecting the jaguar at the border
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/new/bigcats/jaguar/images/jaguar105.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.defenders.org/wildlife/new/bigcats/jaguar/step1.html&h=161&w=244&sz=21&hl=en&start=36&um=1&tbnid=Q4ts_rZOtOgu0M:&tbnh=73&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djaguar%2BArizona%26start%3D20%26ndsp%3D20%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-US%26sa%3DN
.
Frankenstein Returns: Wackenhut takes over transporting migrants from Border Patrol: (Wackenhut is now Geo Group, but the transit buses which carry detained migrants in Arizona say "Wackenhut")
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/Tools/PrintFriendly?url=%2Fgbase%2FCurrents%2FContent%3Foid%3Doid%253A95659

Halliburton's KBR $385 million to build migrant prisons:
http://robwire.com/?q=node/894

(Feel free to post or reproduce)

Arlo Looking Cloud given heroin before so-called video confession

Arlo Looking Cloud Interview
February 2004
Pennington County Jail Rapid City, South Dakota

by David Seals

"It was a set-up, Man, all the way," Arlo said, in the first of several 10-minute collect phone calls he made from the Pennington County Jail in Rapid City, where he's awaiting an April 23 mandatory life sentence for his February 6 conviction of the murder of Anna Mae Aquash in 1975. "Who were they covering up for? They're covering up for someone." "Who?" I asked. "I don't know." Later that night we were allowed a 20-minute face-to-face talk on telephones with a glass window between us, in Cellblock Two, booth 2B. We got into that all-important matter of "Who" again: for if he didn't kill her then who did? His Trial had shown a police videotape with him confessing to it, and several witnesses swore under oath he told them he'd done it. It was much less clear what he thought the role of John Graham was in all of it, as the U.S. Prosecution claims. Graham is a Canadian Native awaiting Extradition to South Dakota as a co-accused in the 1st degree homicide charge. "Yeah, so, they were covering up, but who were they covering up for, you mean?" I asked. "Well, I know who was covering up, my lawyer Tim Rensch. He was in collusion with the Government." We slowly got around to the damning police videotape that was shown in court, of an interrogation of Arlo in the Denver Police Dept. on March 27,2003, in which he confessed to it and said Graham pulled the trigger. What was noticeable about the tape, as I watched it in horror in the U.S. Federal Court in the 4-day trial Feb. 3-6, was that he was almost incoherent, and the police were asking a lot of leading questions. And he had no lawyer present. "What about the videotape?" He grinned at me behind the glass, a handsome fullblood Lakota with classic Sitting Bull good looks and long black hair. "I was drunk. They were giving me drugs and alcohol. Abe Alonzo, the big Denver cop who's going around acting like a hero, claiming he captured me, knew where I was every day. He met me at the liquor store every day and bought me the booze, and gave me drugs. I was really into Chiba. You know what Chiba is?" he grinned again, giving me a hard con's eye stare. "No." "Heroin. I loved that stuff. He was getting it for me. All I wanted." "So the videotape and confession ..." "They were all fucked up. I told Rensch that, but he didn't use it in court. Rensch didn't use a lot of questions I asked him to. I told him a lot of stuff but he didn't use it in the trial. I don't know why. I didn't even see a witness list until the last day, and they had a mock-trial back in December, December 16 I think, to practice everything, but I didn't even get a copy of the questionnaires. I didn't know anything. They didn't tell me anything. " And how did John Graham's name ever come up? "That's where Ecoffey perjured himself on the Stand." {Robert Ecoffey is the U.S. Marshall who originally brought Looking Cloud's and Graham's names out 10 years ago, and he testified at the trial} "He said Gladys Bissonnette and Al Gates first told him my name in 1994. No. No. It was Pat Janis, his close relative who told Ecoffey. Pat is married to Angie Begay. Angie Begay is a Navajo woman who was married to John Graham back in the 70s. Maybe it was some jealous woman's thing that got all this started, I'm not sure. There's always a lot of gossip around Pine Ridge and Indian Country. Angie was also married to Dennis Banks, did you know that? They had a daughter, Arrow Banks, she's a grown woman now." "Angie Begay also testified in the trial, didn't she? Yeah, she's the one who said she saw Annie Mae tied to a board and carrried out of the Denver house of Troy Lynn Yellow Wood." "Yeah." "But Troy Lynn herself testified she didn't see Annie tied up or anything. She left willingly on her own. And that's when you and John and Theda Clark took Annie to Pine Ridge?" "Yeah, I guess so. I didn't know her or John very well." He just shook his head like it was all bullshit. His lawyer said in court Arlo went to visit a friend Tony Red Cloud in Rapid City and wasn't even with Annie after they dropped her off at a safe house on Pine Ridge, 100 miles away from Rapid City. "I never saw her again, or even John Boy, I don't think. I'm not sure." "You never saw them again, after you dropped Annie off at a house on Pine Ridge?" "No." It was all pretty contradictory to what had come out in court, and he could see I was confused. "Richard Two Elk. Who's he? He has said for years you told him you and John killed her?" "I barely knew him." "He said he was your brother and you grew up on the reservation all your life?" Arlo laughed. "He's lying about everything. I barely knew him. We never grew up together or anything else. I'd run into him in Denver a few times at my Aunt's {Troy Lynn} and we'd go outside and smoke a joint and then go back inside. That was all. We never talked. You know, he was always going around tape-recording everybody, why doesn't he have a tape of me or anybody else? He doesn't know anything." "He testified and said he was with you when you talked to Annie's daughter on the phone, Denise Maloney from Nova Scotia, and told her you killed Annie, you and John Boy killed her?" Arlo shook his head. "I don't even remember that. I couldn't believe it when I heard it in court." "Two Elk said, and Denise testified too, that they called her. Paul Demain called her and said you wanted to talk to her, and he vouched for it and Demain vouched for Two Elk that he was Arlo's trusted brother. So Denise and her sister Debbie got on the phone." Arlo shook his head. "Set-up. Same with John Trudell {a longtime AIM leader who also testified Arlo told him he'd killed Annie}. Me and my Aunt went up to his hotel room {in Denver in 1988} and his bodyguard said, uh, we can go outside and smoke a doob. So we went down to the street, to his car or something. Trudell, you know, in court he looked to me like he was coming down from the morning's high. He was sweating and nervous." Arlo also wanted to tell me about several startling visits he'd had after the trial from FBI agents and other government lawyers. They wanted him to sign affidavits on other suspects but he refused to sign anything. He said he thought one of the lawyers, a tall man in a suit, was the notorious 1970s COINTELPRO double-agent Douglas Durham. "Are you sure it was him?" "Yeah, pretty sure. We'd all seen him around a lot in AIM. He was tall." It all went back, in the end, to that question of "Who". Why did the U.S. Attorney McMahon raise the issue of Leonard Peltier so much in the trial, putting irrelevant witnesses like Kamook Banks on the stand? She last saw Anna Mae Aquash alive in November 1975, well before even the Government said she was killed by Graham and Looking Cloud and Clark on December 12. But Kamook implicated Peltier all over again in the deaths of 2 FBI agents at a famous shootout on Pine Ridge a few months before Aquash turned up dead. The Trial inflamed local anit-Indian and anti-AIM feelings, including in the jury, by bringing up Peltier's name and the whole history of AIM's stormy involvement with the FBI. Local Indian sentiment in South Dakota pretty much agrees with Arlo Looking Cloud's feelings, that he didn't get a fair trial and that justice has not even begun to be served for Anna Mae. They point to the fact that the defense lawyer only called one witness for the defense, and that was an FBI agent; whereas the prosecution called 23 witnesses against Looking Cloud and Graham. Indians wonder why Theda Clark hasn't been charged and arrested too. They wonder why family members weren't called to testify about Arlo's character and heritage, and finally, why Arlo himself was not allowed to testify on his own behalf. "Rensch wouldn't let me talk, Man. He wouldn't let me testify at my own trial."
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They made us many promises, more than I can remember. But they kept but one - They promised to take our land...and they took it. -- Chief Red Cloud Tunkashila, Let us stand Coalition strong in protection of our lands, our beliefs, our Sacred Spirituality, and our traditional Indigenous ways of life. We stand in strong support of Indigenous Rights and the Inherent Allodial title of Dakota, Lakota, and Nakota Lands. Let us reclaim what is ours and work diligently to preserve what we now have. End Dakota/Lakota/Nakota Ethnic Cleansing!This website was created to Honor of our Ancestors, our Traditions, Elders and Children, and to provide a future for our generations to come.That piece of red, white and blue cloth stands for a system and a country that does not honor it's own word...If it stood for honor and truth, it would remember our treaties and give them the appropriate place under international law. But it doesn't. It dishonors its own word and violates its treaties...In Honor of Tony Black Feather (Died August 11 2004)

Native Roots and Rhythms Concert, August 17, Santa Fe

CONTACT: Melissa L. SanchezP.O. Box 93095 Albuquerque, NM 87199

Phone: 505 620 8539 Fax: 505 212 0074
melissa@emergenceproductions.info

13th Annual Native Roots & Rhythms Festival

The Native Roots & Rhythms Festival is recognized as one of the nation’s top venues for contemporary and traditional Native American performing arts. Over the past 12 years, the event has provided an exciting variety of entertainment for regional, national and international audiences of all ages. Held during the prestigious Santa Fe Indian Market weekend, this year’s program continues the ambitious scope and caliber of previous productions. The event will showcase music, dance, storytelling, comedy, poetry and multimedia imagery. Between acts, film segments will be projected onto large on-stage screens. Please see the attached performers’ profiles sheet. Funded in part by the NM Department of Cultural Affairs


Show Information:
Date: Friday, August 17, 2007
Time: Gates open at 6:30 PM; Show at 7:30 PM
Where: Paolo Soleri Amphitheater, 1501 Cerrillos Rd. Santa, NM (Santa Fe Indian School campus)
Tickets: 505 988-1234, www.ticketssantafe.com, Lensic Box Office
Prices: $23 General Admission, $38 Reserved, $45 Premium Seating
- Students with ID $15 and 12 & under Free (must be accompanied by parent or guardian)
Web: www.nrrfestival.com Myspace: nativerootsandrhythms Email: info@nrrfestival.com
Flyers: down load flyers at www.nrrfestival.com

• NR&R is working with the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) to provide performers for the Santa Fe Plaza Stage during the days of Indian Market on Saturday, August 18 and Sunday, August 19.

• NR&R worked the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences & contributed to the 2001 establishment of a Native American category for the Grammy Awards.

• NR&R has featured over 500 of the best contemporary, traditional and mainstream performing artists of Native America, including Grammy Award and Native American Music Award winners/nominees: Black Eagle, R. Carlos Nakai Quartet, Buffy Ste. Marie, Joanne Shenandoah, Robert Mirabal, Bill Miller, Primeaux & Mike, Mary Youngblood, Randy Wood, Native Roots, Jim Boyd, and Keith Secola.


PERFORMER PROFILES

JAMES AND ERNIE
Performance: Comedy www.jamesandernie.com

The hardest working and hottest comedy act in Indian Country, James & Ernie are the first ever Native American comedy duo and they are “serious about comedy!” They entertain with musical antics, unique reservation humor, and an array of props. Along with sidesplitting comedy, the pair delivers a positive message promoting healthy lifestyle choices such as saying no to drugs, alcohol and domestic violence. Their material is an experience for all ages. James and Ernie stole the show at the American Indian Film Festival and the Native American Music Awards (Seminole Hard Rock Casino Hotel, FL). They have also performed at conferences, tribal fairs and casinos. James & Ernie have also released a DVD and star in the independent film “Milepost 398.”


AMOKURA
Music Style: Traditional Maori Song and Dance

AMOKURA is a traditional Maori performing arts group from Aotearoa (Land of the Long White Cloud), otherwise known as New Zealand. AMOKURA is a pan-tribal group with members affiliating from many different tribes throughout Aotearoa. The group’s members also have an affiliation with AMO Inc., a national leadership development program inspired by the Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) Ambassador Program based in New Mexico. AMOKURA will be presenting a variety of traditional Maori performances including traditional chants, action songs, implement medleys and “haka.” Experience AMOKURA - Experience Aotearoa!


JOHN TRUDELL & BAD DOG
Musical Style: A combination of spoken word with traditional Native music and Rock & Roll. www.johntrudell.com

John Trudell is an acclaimed poet, national recording artist, actor and orator whose creative work is rooted in an indigenous perspective and integrates contemporary themes ranging from love to politics to the environment. Trudell released his first album, Tribal Voice, in 1983 and then joined with legendary Kiowa guitarist Jesse Ed Davis to produce three other albums. Following Davis ’s untimely death, Trudell formed his current band and has released six additional works. His last two albums, Blue Indians and Bone Days, were executive produced by Jackson Browne and Angelina Jolie, respectively. Trudell will release a new album in the summer of 2007 entitled Madness and The Moremes. In addition to his music career, Trudell has published two books of poetry and appeared in a number of major motion pictures, including Thunderheart and Smoke Signals. He lectures throughout the year at colleges and universities nationally on his philosophy of life and coherent thinking. The documentary TRUDELL, which premiered in 2005, tells the story of John’s life and evolution from an activist with Indian of All Tribes and the American Indian Movement to an artist today.

DISCOGRAPHY
“DNA, Descendant now Ancestor” (spoken word only), 2002
“Bone Days”, 2002
“Blue Indians”, 1999
Box set collection of digitally re-mastered cassettes from 1983-1992, including “Tribal Voice”, “But This Isn’t El Salvador”, and the original “AKA Graffiti Man”, 2003

DARREN GEFFRE
Musical Style: Pop/Rock www.darrengeffre.com

Darren Geffre, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe, is a top-40 pop/rock artist from South Dakota whose stage presence is distinguished by vibrant and endless energy! Notable music achievements include: A 2001 Native American Music Award Best Independent Recording nomination for the single "If I Ever”, 2003 First Americans in the Arts "Outstanding Musical Performance", "Uncivilized" album has sold over 9,000 copies, resulting in a 2004 entry level Grammy nominations for "Best New Artist" and "Album of the Year”, 2004 "Award of Distinction" Indian Summerfest Music Video Award and nominee "Best Pop album". Notable interviews include: LA's Pacifica Radio, NPR (National Public Radio), National Native News, The American Indian Cable Network (Comcast), and XM Satellite Radio. Also on his talent resume: featured in Men's Health Magazine, Native Peoples Magazine, APTN (Aboriginal People's Television Network), TNT's "Into the West" and ABC Family's "Wildfire" pilot. In 2003, Darren's music landed #1 on 9 different CMJ College Radio stations with radio play on 180 radio stations across the United States and Canada. Currently, Darren is working on a new album with artist and producer “Def Jef” who has previously worked with artists such as Nas, Snoop Doggy Dogg and Tupac Shakur.

DISCOGRAPHY
“Uncivilized”, produced by Pete Amato and Duncan Pain, 2004
“Audiobiography”, was produced by Tim Andersen and Def Jef, 2006

TAMARA PODEMSKI
Musical Style: A world-music fusion within the folk/rock genre www.tamarapodemski.com

WINNER OF 2 ABORIGINAL MUSIC AWARDS: BEST FEMALE ARTIST & SONGWRITER
WINNER OF THE SPECIAL JURY PRIZE FOR ACTING AT THE SUNDANCE FESTIVAL

After starring in the Broadway production of RENT, Tamara Podemski launched her singing career by fronting the Los Angeles-based, World Music band, SPIRIT NATION, as the lead singer and Ojibway-lyricist. In 2001, their album, "Winter Moons," was released internationally under the Triloka/Karuna Music label, distributed by BMG, and later by KOCH Entertainment.In 2003, Tamara recorded, SPIRIT VOICES under the pseudonym Ceshia Anaquod, this time writing both the music and Ojibway lyrics. The album was released worldwide under the Somerset Entertainment label. Launching her own record label in 2005, Tamara wrote and co-produced her first video, "Meegwetch," in cooperation with BravoFACT!, and had famed Canadian director, Bruce McDonald, bring her vision to the screen, garnering several awards.Tamara always infuses spirituality, passion and pride into her music. She challenges her audiences to look in the mirror and question themselves. Her lyrics provoke, her voice empowers, her presence on stage inspires. In a time of social unrest, distorted media images and human disconnectedness, Tamara is an important voice to be heard.Discography”Winter Moons”, Spirit Nation (2002 Karuna Music)”Spirit Voices”, Ceshia Anaquod [pseudonym] (2003 Reflections)”Tamara”, Tamara Podemski (2005 Mukwa Music)

FILM CLIP
“Four Sheets to the Wind” A 2007 Sundance Film Festival feature by Director/screenwriter Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Creek)
When Cufé Smallhill finds his father dead, he keeps his promise and sinks his body in the family pond. In the midst of mourning and organizing a phony traditional funeral to satisfy the community, Cufé realizes that he must explore life outside the reservation. His sister invites him to visit her in the big city of Tulsa, opening the door to a world of possibilities. Infused with a warm sense of humor, director Sterlin Harjo’s delightful first feature creates a rich Oklahoma atmosphere with easy country rhythms, while Cody Lightning and Tamara Podemski (winner of the Special Jury Prize for Acting) give compelling performances.
The Pueblos of New Mexico
Member’s of the 19 Pueblo’s of New Mexico will begin the night with a grand entry colorful presentation, welcoming visitors to the Native Roots & Rhythms Festival, their homelands and the State of New Mexico! The beautiful Pueblo song and dance presentation will be followed by a traditional Pueblo “throw” in which “goodies” will be thrown to audience members. A Pueblo “throw” is a form of celebration through giving.

Tehran Times: Leonard Peltier, Remembering victims of reign of terror

http://www.tehrantimes.com/Description.asp?Da=7/2/2007&Cat=2&Num=003
Remembering the victims of the reign of terror
By Leonard Peltier
For the past thirty-two years supporters have gathered at Oglala to honor the lives that were lost on June 26, 1975 and in the “reign of terror”. This year will be the eighth year that the Oglala Commemoration Committee has sponsored the gathering. For those of us who were unable to physically attend the gathering at Oglala, we each honor and remember this day in our own special way. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all the victims from the “reign of terror”. In Memory Of:
Frank Clearwater, Buddy LaMont, Sandra Wounded Foot, Leo Wilcox, Clarence Cross, Priscilla White Plume, Julius Bad Heart Bull, Melvin Spider, Philip Black Elk, Aloysius Long Soldier, Phillip Little Crow, Allison Fast Horse, Edward Means, Jr., Edward Standing Soldier, Roxeine Roark, Dennis Lecompte, Jackson Washington Cutt, Robert Reddy, Delphiene Crow Dog, Elaine Wagner, Floyd Bianas, Yvette Loraine Lone Hill, Leon L. Swift Bird, Martin Montileaux, Stacy Cortier, Edith Eagle Hawk, Jeanette Bissonette, Richard Eagle, Hilda R. Good Buffalo, Jancita Eagle Deer, Ben Sitting Up, Kenneth Little, Leah Spotted Elk, Joseph Stuntz, James Brings Yellow, Andrew Paul Stewart, Randy Hunter, Howard Blue Bird, Jim Little, Olivia Bianas, Janice Black Bear, Michelle Tobacco, Carl Plenty Arrows, Frank LaPointe, Anna Mae Pictou Aquash, Lydia Cut Grass, Byron Desersa, Lena R. Slow Bear, Hobart Horse, Cleveland Reddest, Betty Jo Dubray, Marvin Two Two, Julia Pretty Hips, Sam Afraid of Bear, Kevin Hill, and Betty Means. You will always be in my prayers. Do what you can, where you can, from where you stand and -- to quote Sitting Bull – let’s see what kind of nation we can make for our children. I don’t say I love you easily but I want you to know that I love you -- my heart is with you and never, never, never give up!
Leonard Peltier # 89637-132 U.S.P. Lewisburg,
P.O. Box 1000, Lewisburg, PA USA 17837
Leonard Peltier Defense Committee
www.leonardpeltier.net

Pan Left, truth-telling with art and video

(Photo: Backpacks left behind in the desert by migrants. More than 4,000 people, including many Indigenous Peoples from Mexico and Central America, have died in the Southwest desert. Photo 2: Pancho Medina faces off with his work. Photos Brenda Norrell)

TUCSON -- The Third Annual Rasquacho Art Show, a fundraiser for the video collective Pan Left Productions, was held at the Splinter Brothers and Sisters Warehouse on Saturday night. A video was shown of the work of the Indigenous Alliance Without Borders, revealing how U.S. borders dissected Indigenous communities and resulted in border agents now harassing and abusing Indigenous Peoples in their homelands. Artwork on display included the work of Pancho Medina, Gail Contreras, Tanya Alvarez, Valarie James, Raquel Mogollon, and Barbara Tesso.

Article at Tucson Weekly:
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/gbase/CityWeek/Content?oid=97777

Pan Left Productions:
http://www.panleft.org/

Zapatistas gather in Oventik, Morelia and La Realidad in July

(Marcos and Comandantes in Magdalena, Sonora, Mexico, south of the Arizona border in 2007. Below: Marcos in Sonora. Photos Brenda Norrell)

Narco News

http://www.narconews.com/

II Encounter of the Zapatista Peoples with the Peoples of the World

II Encounter of the Zapatista Peoples with the Peoples of the World
Communiqué of the Indigenous Revolutionary Clandestine Committee—General Command of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation
June of 2007

To the People of Mexico:To the Peoples of the World:To the Adherents of the Zexta Internazional:To the Adherents of the Sixth Declaration:
Compañeros and Compañeras:Brothers and Sisters:
As was announced at the First Encounter of Zapatista Peoples with the Peoples of the World (held in January of this year), the Second Encounter will be held in the coming month of July. The objective of this encounter is that persons, groups, collectives, and organizations that struggle against neoliberalism, in Mexico and all over the world, hear directly the word of the EZLN’s bases of support on the process of the construction of autonomy in the Zapatista indigenous communities of Chiapas. For this reason, the EZLN, through its Intergalactic and Sixth Commissions, convokes:
The Second Encounter of Zapatista Peoples with the Peoples of the World.
To be held in Zapatista territory July 20 through 28 of the year 2007, with the following characteristics:
First. Taking into account the difficulties that the rainy season provokes at this time in the state of Chiapas, the locations of the Encounter will not be the 5 caracoles (as was previously announced), but rather 3 caracoles (Oventik, Morelia, and La Realidad), following the schedule that we here detail:
Friday, July 20: Caracol of Oventik, Zona Altos [Highlands Zone] of Chiapas. Welcome and Inauguration.
Saturday, July 21: Caracol of Oventik, Zona Altos of Chiapas. Plenary roundtables with presentations by the Zapatista bases of support of the Autonomous Municipalities of the Altos of Chiapas, and sessions for questions, observations, and proposals by attendees.
Sunday July 22: Transfer to the Caracol of Morelia, Zona Tzotz Choj. Welcome.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, July 23, 24, and 25: Caracol of Morelia, Zona Tzotz Choj. Plenary roundtables with presentations by the Zapatista bases of support of the Autonomous Municipalities of the Tzotz Choj Zone (Caracol of Morelia), the Northern Zone of Chiapas (Caracol of Roberto Barrios), and the Selva [Jungle] Tzeltal Zone (Caracol of La Garrucha), and sessions for questions, observations, and proposals by attendees.
Thursday, July 26: Transfer to the Caracol of La Realidad, Zona Selva Fronteriza [Jungle/Border Zone]. Welcome.
Friday, July 27: Caracol of La Realidad, Zona Selva Fronteriza. Plenary roundtables with presentations by Zapatista bases of support of the Autonomous Municipalities of the Zona Selva Fronteriza, and sessions for questions, observations, and proposals by attendees.
Saturday, July 28: Caracol of La Realidad, Zona Selva Fronteriza. Final Plenary and Closing.
Sunday, July 29: Return.
Second. The themes of the plenary roundtables are:
Health: Presentation given by the Health Promoters of the Zapatista communities.
Education: Presentation given by the Education Promoters.
Organization of the Communities: Presentation given by the municipal commissioners and officials.
Collective Work: Presentation given by the local, regional, and municipal collectives and coordinators of each zone.
The Struggle of Women: Presentation given by the women of the bases of support on their forms of organization at different levels, as “the women that we are.”
Autonomy: Presentation given by the autonomous authorities on the struggles and problems faced in the areas of work, health, education, trade, civil registry, justice, projects, etc.
Good Government: Presentation given by members of the Good Government Councils on their function in the construction of autonomy.
Evaluation of the Process of the Construction of Autonomy: Presentation given by members of the political directive of the EZLN (CCRI) on advances and problems in the 13 years of existence of the Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities in Rebellion (MAREZ) and the 4 years of the Good Government Councils (JBG).
Third. The method of work in the plenary roundtables will be: Presentation of the theme, followed by a session of observations, questions, and answers.
Fourth. In this Second Encounter the EZLN will have as special invitees the compañeros and compañeras of the Landless Movement in Brazil, of the Campesino Movement of Korea, of the Campesino Movement of Madagascar, of the Campesino Movement of the United States, and of other compas of the “Via Campesina” organization in Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. Given this, there will be a special space for the participation of these compañer@s.
Fifth. Inscriptions and accreditations will begin by internet on July 2, 2007, at the following webpages:
www.zeztainternazional.org and enlacezapatista.ezln.org.mxEmail: encuentrojulio@ezln.org.mx
Accreditations will be distributed starting Monday, July 16, 2007, in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas, at:
The office of Enlace Zapatista: Avenida Ignacio Allende 22-A, Barrio de San Antonio, San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas.Telephone: (01) 967 6781013
Additionally, there will be a place for inscription and accreditation in each of the caracoles where the plenaries will be held.
Sixth. It is recommended that those attending bring the necessary items to spend the night. In the caracoles there will be affordable food stands, but attendees can also bring their own food.
We invite all honest, noble, and committed persons of Mexico and the World to attend.
From the mountains of the Mexican Southeast.Indigenous Revolutionary Clandestine Committee—General Command of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos.Sixth Commission.
Teniente Coronel Insurgente Moisés.Intergalactic Commission.
Mexico, June of 2007.
(Thanks to El Kilombo intergalactico for the translation)

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US Social Forum: Native Americans speak out

RIGHTS-US: Native Americans and Immigrants Share Common Struggle

Article By Jonathan Springston
IPS News

http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38388

(File photos by Brenda Norrell)

ATLANTA, Jul 1 (IPS) - One group has lived here for millennia, while the other has just arrived. But Native Americans and immigrants have much in common, particularly the alienation and oppression they experience in U.S. society, activists and community leaders said on day three of the U.S. Social Forum (USSF) Friday.The USSF, which concludes Sunday, has drawn about 10,000 civil society activists from around the United States to discuss their work on issues like gender, native and gay rights, immigration, and the anti-war movement.


"Indigenous rights are the foundation of human rights in this country and we have to come to terms with that," said Julie Fishel of the Western Shoshone Defence Project at a Plenary Session on "Indigenous Voices: From the Heart of Mother Earth." Fishel joined Native American and indigenous speakers who spoke of indigenous heritage, gradual encroachment on indigenous land, and the lasting ill effects of U.S. oppression of indigenous peoples.


"We have experienced many things that have been passed down through generations," said Patty Grant-Long of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. "Because of our spirit, our relationship with our creator, and our relationship with our ancestors, we are still here." Grant-Long was born to parents brought up in Native American boarding schools where they were forced to give up their identities.

"It is an amazing testament to resilience that indigenous people are still here," noted Ikaiki Hussey of the Aloha Anina Society based in Hawaii. "That says a lot about strength and the ability to withstand in the face of all those struggles." Hussey spoke of the militarisation of Hawaii, which has lasted for so long and become so prevalent that many visitors do not even recognise it as a problem. The Aloha Anina Society is leading a charge to demilitarise Hawaii "because it helps the people of Hawaii and because it is part of taking apart the U.S. empire," Hussey said.

Faith Gemmill of the REDOIL Network in Alaska said 95 percent of indigenous land there is open for oil and gas mining. "It is my hope that in my lifetime I will see our land returned to its rightful owners," Gemmill said. "People must change the way they are living. We must give Mother Earth time to repair and heal itself."

"Our Mother Earth is not for sale," Enei Begaye of the Black Mesa Water Coalition told the audience. Begaye's organisation is a collective of Navajo and Hopi Native Americans that fight to keep corporations from destroying their land to extract natural resources and from polluting the water. "There is a path toward peace," she said. "It will take all of us... stand[ing] together." Native American perspectives were also shared in several of 900 workshops offered throughout the USSF.

"Ninety-eight percent of indigenous people died during the East to West movement," said Carrie Dann, a Western Shoshone Native American. "Why doesn't America want to talk about it?" Dann spoke at a workshop called, "Where Have All the Indians Gone?", where attendees learned more about the plight of Native Americans as pioneers moved west during the 19th Century. The Western Shoshone still own land in Nevada where there have been 1,000 nuclear bomb tests and where companies conduct dangerous and destructive strip mining for gold. "They are destroying the land while exploiting it for money," Dann said.

"The Earth should be taken care of and it isn't happening." "So little attention is paid to indigenous peoples," agreed Ward Churchill, whose family is Cherokee. It is important people have their attention drawn to the destructive practices that are destroying the Western Shoshone land, Churchill said.

"We take a lot of people to the United Nations because rallying indigenous people internationally is important," Alberto Saldamando, General Counsel for the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC), told attendees at a workshop about international efforts to mobilise indigenous peoples. The workshop was called, "Holding the U.S. accountable for discrimination against Native Americans."

The IITC works on all levels to build grassroots participation from indigenous peoples in order that they might address their concerns and work together to achieve their goals. "We're all oppressed, just in different ways," Shauna Larson of the Indigenous Environmental Network said. "It takes everybody working together to achieve our goals." The IITC is interested in working with groups who focus on environmental justice and women's rights because those issues overlap, Salamando said.

During "Defending Immigrant Rights," a workshop conducted in Spanish and English, presenters discussed the history of immigration in the United States, positive and negative immigration legislation, and activists' efforts in Florida to mobilise Spanish-speaking immigrants. One presenter spoke of a five-part, three-year plan to move from defensive to offensive organising strategies focusing on local and state levels. Hispanics should work with African-Americans because of their history of struggle and oppression, she added.

"There is one objective: to respect all human beings as human beings," said Herman Martinez of the American Friends Service Committee. "The only way to forge lasting alliances is to understand each other," said Gerald Lenoir of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration during the Immigrant Rights Plenary Session Friday. "African-Americans can no longer look at civil rights as a black and white issue."

"We are the testing ground for all the repressive issues you all face at home," said Alexis Mazon of the Coalicion de Derechos Humanos. It is crucial for trade unions to include immigrants in the fold of organised labor and that both groups should work together to achieve their rights, said Ed Ott of the New York Central Labour Council.

"We have shown the power of people in the streets," Ruben Solis of the Southwest Workers Union said. "We want a world where everybody can fit." "We are making history because we are making a new world," noted Glory Kilanko of Women Watch Afrika. "We want to build a network that challenges the oppressors." "If we begin to allow the oppressors to build walls, then we are allowing them to win," Kilanko said.

Photo 1: Julie Fishel, third from left, with friends on Mount Tenabo. Photo Brenda Norrell
Photo 2: (L) Enei Begaye, Navajo, with Caleen Sisk-Franco, Winnemem Wintu from Northern California at the Cocopah Climate Conference. Photo Brenda Norrell