For further information, contact Robert Shimek, 218-751-4967 or 877-436-2121 (USA) rshimek@ienearth.org. Tamara Brennan, 521-962-109-4824 (Mexico) tamonearth@hotmail.com. Chief John French, Takla Lake First Nation (British Columbia, Canada) 250-613-9150.
INDIGENOUS WORLD WATER DAY TO BE CELEBRATED MARCH 22
March 20, Bemidji, Minnesota.
Indigenous Communities around the world will celebrate the first annual Indigenous World Water Day on March 22nd. The celebrations are in response to an appeal sent out by the Minnesota-based Indigenous Environmental Network (IEN) for Indigenous communities to take action to protect the water. Honor the Water, Respect the Water, be Thankful for the Water, Protect the Water is the theme of this years activities. Various communities from North America, Asia, and New Zealand will be holding community events to build the awareness to protect local sources of water. “Indigenous communities around the world will be holding a variety of events to mark the first Indigenous World Water Day.” stated Robert Shimek from the IEN national office in Bemidji. “We sent out a call to action earlier this year to encourage Indigenous communities to take action on March 22nd to send the message to all that the water resources of the world continue to be impacted by a variety of contamination and privatization issues, and that we need to take additional action to protect the water. We have had a wonderful response from communities from as far away as India to as close as the Leech Lake Ojibwe reservation here in Minnesota. It is truly an exciting time to see how Indigenous Peoples around the world have embraced this idea.”
A variety of issues are confronting Indigenous communities as this years ceremonies unfold around the world. Agricultural, industrial, human and mining wastes are among the disposal problems that pollute Indigenous community water supplies both in the United States and worldwide. Privatization of public water supplies and sale of bottled water continue to threaten community water supplies in other areas. Mining waste alone contaminates forty percent of the watersheds in the western U.S. Recent efforts to use Submarine Tailings Dumps (STDs) for mine waste hit a road block when the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled in favor of a petition to block the use of a natural lake for a STD at the Kensington Mine in Alaska.
First Nations in Canada haven’t faired as well with STD’s as Northgate Minerals continues to pressure Tse Keh Nay to allow for the destruction of Amazay (Duncan) Lake, a 242-hectare fish-bearing headwater of the Finlay and Peace Rivers in north central British Columbia, Canada. Northgate Minerals has declared this is the only ‘economic’ way to mine at Kemess North gold and copper mine. The mining company plans to destroy Amazay Lake by using it as a dump for over 700 million tons of waste rock. Takla Lake first Nation Chief John French states, "As a Nation we are not opposed to mining or economic development but we have to remember what is important. Gold does not run through our blood. We are all made of water. We have pushed the boundaries too far if we are willing to destroy life itself, water, as a means of getting cheaper gold. The Tse Keh Nay are the true stewards of our land and water. From time immemorial, our laws and principles have compelled us to govern with respect for the lands, water and living things that occupy our traditional territory. We will continue to protect our unextinguished title lands and water, especially when Canada and British Columbia fail to uphold their duty to protect our pristine lakes."
In the Sierra Madre region of Chiapas, Mexico, industrialized forestry has recently caused flooding problems as well as declines in songbird populations. This critical habitat loss has also contributed to the decrease in North American bird populations. Indigenous communities in this region heavily rely on the land and the water to provide for their subsistence. A recent gold mining proposal threatens to exacerbate an already difficult ecological situation. To assure the preservation of Indigenous Peoples’ culture and land base in Chiapis, the Comisión Jurídica para el Autodesarrollo de los Pueblos Originarios Andinos (CAPAJ) and the Organización de Medicos Indígenas de la Sierra are holding celebrations to raise the awareness of the critical role of access to clean water for their communities. “Access to adequate amounts of clean water is a human right that must not be violated,” stated Tamara Brennan, spokesperson for the Sexto Sol Center For Community Action, an organization assisting with the coordinating of events for Indigenous World Water Day in Chiapis. “We will continue to promote the need for clean water for our villages and communities as well as all the ecological functions that sustain the complex web of life.” she went on to say.
The Indigenous World Water Day will be held each year as long as the need exists to protect water for all.
March 20, 2007
Coal company linked to Chiquita death squads
By JAVIER BAENA, Associated Press Writer 17 minutes ago
BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombia's chief prosecutor said Tuesday he will demand the extradition of eight people employed by Chiquita allegedly involved with the company's payments to right-wing paramilitaries and leftist rebels to protect its banana-growing operation.
The prosecutor also said his office had opened a formal investigation into allegations that Alabama-based coal producer Drummond Co. Inc. collaborated with paramilitaries to kill union members. A civil lawsuit in the U.S. makes similar allegations, which the company has denied.
Chiquita Brands International pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. federal court to one count of doing business with a terrorist organization. The plea is part of a deal with prosecutors that calls for a $25 million fine and does not identify the several senior executives who approved the illegal protection payments.
The agreement ended a lengthy Justice Department investigation into the company's financial dealings with right-wing paramilitaries and leftist rebels the U.S. government deems terrorist groups.
Prosecutors say the Cincinnati-based company agreed to pay about $1.7 million between 1997 and 2004 to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, known as AUC for its Spanish initials.
The AUC has been responsible for some of the worst massacres in Colombia's civil conflict and for a sizable percentage of the country's cocaine exports. The U.S. government designated the AUC a terrorist group in September 2001.
In addition to paying the AUC, prosecutors said, Chiquita made payments to the National Liberation Army, or ELN, and the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, as control of the company's banana-growing area shifted.
Chiquita has said it was forced to make the payments and was acting only to ensure the safety of its workers.
But federal prosecutors noted that from 2001 to 2004, when Chiquita made $825,000 in illegal payments, the Colombian banana operation Banadex earned $49.4 million and was the company's most profitable unit.
In 2001, a Banadex ship was used to unload 3,000 rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition for the paramilitaries, which were officially listed as a "terrorist organization" by the U.S. government two months earlier.
"They should be judged in Colombia, not only for the extortion payments, but also for the transport and safekeeping of 3,000 rifles," chief federal prosecutor Mario Iguaran told RCN radio.
Iguaran did not identify the people he hopes to extradite, and the U.S. complaint did not identify anyone by name — it simply said that 10 people working for Chiquita or its Banadex subsidiary were involved in the illegal payments.
Mike Mitchell, a spokesman for Chiquita, said the company was not aware of any extradition requests.
"As we have previously noted, Chiquita voluntarily disclosed to the
Department of Justice' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Department of Justice and Chiquita also informed the Colombian government of the situation and the payments almost three years ago," Mitchell said.
Iguaran said the arms were used by the paramilitaries to push leftist rebels out of the zone in northern Colombia where Chiquita had its banana plantations.
Chiquita sold Banadex, its Colombian subsidiary, in June 2004 for around $43.5 million.
Drummond officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
"In the case of Drummond, there's a formal investigation. The investigation is well-advanced. Still, a decision has yet to be made," said Iguaran.
A Colombian union, Sintramienergetica, sued Drummond in 2002 in Birmingham, Ala., with help from the United Steelworkers of America, blaming the company for the paramilitary killings of three union leaders at the company's mine in northern Colombia in 2001.
"What we're seeing is some private business that recruit the (paramilitaries), aware of their conduct, to kill," said Iguaran.
Both companies have operated along the northern coast, long a paramilitary stronghold. Colombia is now in the midst of its worst political crisis in decades as evidence emerges of a symbiotic pact between politicians and the paramilitaries, in which the militias intimidated voters into supporting certain candidates in return for cuts of public contracts.
___
BOGOTA, Colombia - Colombia's chief prosecutor said Tuesday he will demand the extradition of eight people employed by Chiquita allegedly involved with the company's payments to right-wing paramilitaries and leftist rebels to protect its banana-growing operation.
The prosecutor also said his office had opened a formal investigation into allegations that Alabama-based coal producer Drummond Co. Inc. collaborated with paramilitaries to kill union members. A civil lawsuit in the U.S. makes similar allegations, which the company has denied.
Chiquita Brands International pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. federal court to one count of doing business with a terrorist organization. The plea is part of a deal with prosecutors that calls for a $25 million fine and does not identify the several senior executives who approved the illegal protection payments.
The agreement ended a lengthy Justice Department investigation into the company's financial dealings with right-wing paramilitaries and leftist rebels the U.S. government deems terrorist groups.
Prosecutors say the Cincinnati-based company agreed to pay about $1.7 million between 1997 and 2004 to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, known as AUC for its Spanish initials.
The AUC has been responsible for some of the worst massacres in Colombia's civil conflict and for a sizable percentage of the country's cocaine exports. The U.S. government designated the AUC a terrorist group in September 2001.
In addition to paying the AUC, prosecutors said, Chiquita made payments to the National Liberation Army, or ELN, and the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, as control of the company's banana-growing area shifted.
Chiquita has said it was forced to make the payments and was acting only to ensure the safety of its workers.
But federal prosecutors noted that from 2001 to 2004, when Chiquita made $825,000 in illegal payments, the Colombian banana operation Banadex earned $49.4 million and was the company's most profitable unit.
In 2001, a Banadex ship was used to unload 3,000 rifles and thousands of rounds of ammunition for the paramilitaries, which were officially listed as a "terrorist organization" by the U.S. government two months earlier.
"They should be judged in Colombia, not only for the extortion payments, but also for the transport and safekeeping of 3,000 rifles," chief federal prosecutor Mario Iguaran told RCN radio.
Iguaran did not identify the people he hopes to extradite, and the U.S. complaint did not identify anyone by name — it simply said that 10 people working for Chiquita or its Banadex subsidiary were involved in the illegal payments.
Mike Mitchell, a spokesman for Chiquita, said the company was not aware of any extradition requests.
"As we have previously noted, Chiquita voluntarily disclosed to the
Department of Justice' name=c1> SEARCHNews News Photos Images Web' name=c3> Department of Justice and Chiquita also informed the Colombian government of the situation and the payments almost three years ago," Mitchell said.
Iguaran said the arms were used by the paramilitaries to push leftist rebels out of the zone in northern Colombia where Chiquita had its banana plantations.
Chiquita sold Banadex, its Colombian subsidiary, in June 2004 for around $43.5 million.
Drummond officials did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
"In the case of Drummond, there's a formal investigation. The investigation is well-advanced. Still, a decision has yet to be made," said Iguaran.
A Colombian union, Sintramienergetica, sued Drummond in 2002 in Birmingham, Ala., with help from the United Steelworkers of America, blaming the company for the paramilitary killings of three union leaders at the company's mine in northern Colombia in 2001.
"What we're seeing is some private business that recruit the (paramilitaries), aware of their conduct, to kill," said Iguaran.
Both companies have operated along the northern coast, long a paramilitary stronghold. Colombia is now in the midst of its worst political crisis in decades as evidence emerges of a symbiotic pact between politicians and the paramilitaries, in which the militias intimidated voters into supporting certain candidates in return for cuts of public contracts.
___
Katrina: Twisted relief went to Blackwater mercenaries
American Indian Tribes in California, New Mexico and elsewhere donated millions to the Red Cross after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita for Indian victims.
None of the money ever reached the largest tribe, the Houma Indians, hit on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, according to the tribe's leaders. The Red Cross was a no-show.
The Red Cross used some of its incoming donations to hire Blackwater mercenaries "to protect" the Red Cross.
Remember all those people standing on their roofs waiting, day after day to be rescued? Remember the people floating on mattresses?
The US didn't have the money or time to rescue them, but the US did hire mercenaries:
"Blackwater Rising"
Guerilla News Network
Excerpt from Jeremy Scahill's book "Blackwater, the Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army"
"In 2005 after Hurricane Katrina its forces deployed in New Orleans, where it billed the federal government $950 per man, per day—at one point raking in more than $240,000 a day. At its peak the company had about 600 contractors deployed from Texas to Mississippi. Since Katrina, it has aggressively pursued domestic contracting, opening a new domestic operations division. Blackwater is marketing its products and services to the Department of Homeland Security, and its representatives have met with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The company has applied for operating licenses in all US coastal states. Blackwater is also expanding its physical presence inside US borders, opening facilities in Illinois and California."
Comment posted to article:
Blackwater mercenaries "guard" Red Cross in Katrina Relief
"Yesterday I drove to the Algiers Red Cross distribution point which is located in the southern section of the Algiers neighborhood near the middle-class white section of town. As soon as I walked in, I noticed a frowning young man in a khaki shirt and black hat with a sidearm and corporate logo prominently displayed.
Blackwater Security is now providing security to the Red Cross! That’s right, you heard correctly. Armed mecenaries are providing security to a (supposedly) humanitarian relief organization. I spoke with three Red Cross volunteers about what was going on with their distribution and pointed out that Blackwater is a group of armed mercenaries – corporate contractors who have a very bad reputation. I offerred the question – who are they accountable to?”
A well meaning volunteer from Vermont said that the Blackwater guys were very nice and they offered protection. I asked, “Who do you need protection from?” The conversation ended.
So if you donated money to the Red Cross, you are supporting extra-legal armed mercenaries who were observed shooting people out of French Quarter windows following Katrina. Hurricane relief at gunpoint. Aren’t you proud?"
None of the money ever reached the largest tribe, the Houma Indians, hit on the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, according to the tribe's leaders. The Red Cross was a no-show.
The Red Cross used some of its incoming donations to hire Blackwater mercenaries "to protect" the Red Cross.
Remember all those people standing on their roofs waiting, day after day to be rescued? Remember the people floating on mattresses?
The US didn't have the money or time to rescue them, but the US did hire mercenaries:
"Blackwater Rising"
Guerilla News Network
Excerpt from Jeremy Scahill's book "Blackwater, the Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army"
"In 2005 after Hurricane Katrina its forces deployed in New Orleans, where it billed the federal government $950 per man, per day—at one point raking in more than $240,000 a day. At its peak the company had about 600 contractors deployed from Texas to Mississippi. Since Katrina, it has aggressively pursued domestic contracting, opening a new domestic operations division. Blackwater is marketing its products and services to the Department of Homeland Security, and its representatives have met with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The company has applied for operating licenses in all US coastal states. Blackwater is also expanding its physical presence inside US borders, opening facilities in Illinois and California."
Comment posted to article:
Blackwater mercenaries "guard" Red Cross in Katrina Relief
"Yesterday I drove to the Algiers Red Cross distribution point which is located in the southern section of the Algiers neighborhood near the middle-class white section of town. As soon as I walked in, I noticed a frowning young man in a khaki shirt and black hat with a sidearm and corporate logo prominently displayed.
Blackwater Security is now providing security to the Red Cross! That’s right, you heard correctly. Armed mecenaries are providing security to a (supposedly) humanitarian relief organization. I spoke with three Red Cross volunteers about what was going on with their distribution and pointed out that Blackwater is a group of armed mercenaries – corporate contractors who have a very bad reputation. I offerred the question – who are they accountable to?”
A well meaning volunteer from Vermont said that the Blackwater guys were very nice and they offered protection. I asked, “Who do you need protection from?” The conversation ended.
So if you donated money to the Red Cross, you are supporting extra-legal armed mercenaries who were observed shooting people out of French Quarter windows following Katrina. Hurricane relief at gunpoint. Aren’t you proud?"
Scahill's interview with Democracy Now's Amy Goodman:
Blackwater in the Caspain Sea, now opening operations near Chicago and San Diego:
Desert Rock, dirty air and dirty tricks
Navajos at Desert Rock Vigil
Navajos struggling to halt the proposed Desert Rock power plant have had two victories. Their efforts helped remove appropriations from the Navajo Nation Council's agenda and the New Mexico Legislature ended its session without granting huge tax breaks.
However, Sithe Global and Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr., are vowing to build the power plant anyway.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration and colleagues from the Skull and Bones group of corporate international powermongers are pushing for a massive and dirty buildup of coal-fed power plants throughout the US.
Navajos in northwest New Mexico, already surrounded by two dirty power plants, hundreds of oil and gas wells and scattered radioactive rocks and unreclaimed uranium mines from the Cold War, continue their fight.
This is the region of Dinetah, the sacred place of Navajo origin, where the air is so fouled with pollution that persons with respiratory ailments are in danger:
http://www.desert-rock-blog.com
Navajos struggling to halt the proposed Desert Rock power plant have had two victories. Their efforts helped remove appropriations from the Navajo Nation Council's agenda and the New Mexico Legislature ended its session without granting huge tax breaks.
However, Sithe Global and Navajo President Joe Shirley, Jr., are vowing to build the power plant anyway.
Meanwhile, the Bush administration and colleagues from the Skull and Bones group of corporate international powermongers are pushing for a massive and dirty buildup of coal-fed power plants throughout the US.
Navajos in northwest New Mexico, already surrounded by two dirty power plants, hundreds of oil and gas wells and scattered radioactive rocks and unreclaimed uranium mines from the Cold War, continue their fight.
This is the region of Dinetah, the sacred place of Navajo origin, where the air is so fouled with pollution that persons with respiratory ailments are in danger:
http://www.desert-rock-blog.com
UPDATE: School District tables Desert Rock finance plan http://www.daily-times.com/
Photo: Alice Gilmore, land rights owner for the site where the Navajo Nation plans to build the power plant without her permission/Photo Dooda Desert Rock
CERD presses for passage of Indigenous rights at UN
Confederacy of Treaty Six First NationsSuite 204 , 10310 - 176 Street EDMONTON , AB T5S 1L3 ,Tel (780) 944-0334; fax (780) 944-0346
INTERNATIONAL INDIAN TREATY COUNCILAdministration Office Information Office456 N. Alaska Street 2390 Mission St. Suite 301Palmer, AK 99645 USA San Francisco CA 94110 USATel. (907) 745-4482; fax 745-4484 Tel. (415) 641-4482; fax 641-2198
Email: andrea@treatycounci l.org Email: alberto@treatycouncil.org
Press Release, March 8, 2007The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination calls upon Canada to immediately endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples In a ground breaking finding, the CERD Committee today called upon Canada to reverse its position at the General Assembly and support the United Nations Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. The United Nations Treaty Monitoring Body also voiced concerns that trans-national mining companies, registered in Canada negatively impact on the rights of Indigenous Peoples outside of Canada and urged Canada to “take measures” to ensure accountability of Canadian transnational mining companies with regard to Indigenous Peoples human rights in other countries. The CERD Committee examined Canada ’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) at its 70th session, in Geneva , Switzerland , on February 20th and 21st. Their findings were released today. Canada , like all countries that have ratified this legally-binding International Convention, is required to report on its compliance with the Conventions’ provisions. In its Conclusions and Recommendations, embargoed for a day on account of objections citing “factual errors” by the Canadian government, the CERD Committee noted Canada’s past support “and positive contributions” to the Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, stating that it “regrets” the recent change in Canada’s position. The Committee called upon Canada to “support the immediate adoption of the Declaration at the United Nations General Assembly. NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) “Shadow reports” were submitted by the Indigenous Nations and organizations calling attention to the discriminatory position and actions of Canada in its opposition to the Declaration’s provisions upholding Free, Prior and Informed Consent, Rights to Land and Resources, Self-Determination and Treaty Rights. They pointed out that Canada was one of only two countries which voted against the Declaration when it was adopted last year by the UN Human Rights Council. Canada continues to actively lobby against its adoption at the UN General Assembly unless changes are made to seriously weaken its provisions. This would create "second class rights" for Indigenous Peoples in Canada and around the world. “ Canada has continued to insist on the inclusion of discriminatory language in the Declaration as a requirement for its approval”. This was one of several charges presented to the CERD by the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) and the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations (CT6FN), representing 18 First Nations in Alberta . IITC is an Indigenous Organization with Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council. They were among several organizations representing First Nations of Canada which filed “shadow” or parallel reports to the CERD, challenging the Canadian government’s report. The reports submitted by these organizations as well as the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the British Columbia First Nations Leadership Council and the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) addressed a range of policies and practices violating Indigenous Peoples' human rights in and outside of Canada . Indigenous Peoples’ submissions were considered along with the Canadian Government’s report when CERD conducted its review of Canada on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 20th and 21st 2007.In addition to Canada ’s position on the UN Declaration, these submissions addressed a range of other urgent concerns for Indigenous Peoples. Of particular concern of many First Nations and their organizations is Canada ’s “modification” and “non-assertion” policies, demanding that First Nations relinquish aboriginal rights to land and natural resources in the settlement of land claims. The Committee voiced concern that these rights are being settled primarily through litigation at a disproportionate cost to Indigenous Peoples. The Committee urged Canada , “to engage, in good faith, in negotiations based on recognition and reconciliation” of Indigenous rights. Other concerns raised by Indigenous Peoples and addressed by the CERD Committee included institutional racism and discrimination within the criminal justice and court systems, Treaty violations, a range of inequities in social services and living conditions, gender discrimination and lack of protection against violence in particular towards Indigenous women, youth and children. On these issues the CERD Committee also called upon Canada to comply with its internationally binding human rights obligations under the CERD Convention.The complete findings of the CERD Committee can be found at their official website, http://www.ohchr. org/english/ bodies/cerd/ cerds70.htm. For more information please contact the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, Edmonton Canada , Mr. Ron Lameman at (780) 944-0334; or the International Indian Treaty Council, Alberto Saldamando, at (415) 641-4482.
++++++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ ++Alyssa Macy
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs , Oregon
Indigenius Mediahttp://www.indigeni usmedia.com
INTERNATIONAL INDIAN TREATY COUNCILAdministration Office Information Office456 N. Alaska Street 2390 Mission St. Suite 301Palmer, AK 99645 USA San Francisco CA 94110 USATel. (907) 745-4482; fax 745-4484 Tel. (415) 641-4482; fax 641-2198
Email: andrea@treatycounci l.org Email: alberto@treatycouncil.org
Press Release, March 8, 2007The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination calls upon Canada to immediately endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples In a ground breaking finding, the CERD Committee today called upon Canada to reverse its position at the General Assembly and support the United Nations Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. The United Nations Treaty Monitoring Body also voiced concerns that trans-national mining companies, registered in Canada negatively impact on the rights of Indigenous Peoples outside of Canada and urged Canada to “take measures” to ensure accountability of Canadian transnational mining companies with regard to Indigenous Peoples human rights in other countries. The CERD Committee examined Canada ’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD) at its 70th session, in Geneva , Switzerland , on February 20th and 21st. Their findings were released today. Canada , like all countries that have ratified this legally-binding International Convention, is required to report on its compliance with the Conventions’ provisions. In its Conclusions and Recommendations, embargoed for a day on account of objections citing “factual errors” by the Canadian government, the CERD Committee noted Canada’s past support “and positive contributions” to the Declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, stating that it “regrets” the recent change in Canada’s position. The Committee called upon Canada to “support the immediate adoption of the Declaration at the United Nations General Assembly. NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) “Shadow reports” were submitted by the Indigenous Nations and organizations calling attention to the discriminatory position and actions of Canada in its opposition to the Declaration’s provisions upholding Free, Prior and Informed Consent, Rights to Land and Resources, Self-Determination and Treaty Rights. They pointed out that Canada was one of only two countries which voted against the Declaration when it was adopted last year by the UN Human Rights Council. Canada continues to actively lobby against its adoption at the UN General Assembly unless changes are made to seriously weaken its provisions. This would create "second class rights" for Indigenous Peoples in Canada and around the world. “ Canada has continued to insist on the inclusion of discriminatory language in the Declaration as a requirement for its approval”. This was one of several charges presented to the CERD by the International Indian Treaty Council (IITC) and the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations (CT6FN), representing 18 First Nations in Alberta . IITC is an Indigenous Organization with Consultative Status to the UN Economic and Social Council. They were among several organizations representing First Nations of Canada which filed “shadow” or parallel reports to the CERD, challenging the Canadian government’s report. The reports submitted by these organizations as well as the Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the British Columbia First Nations Leadership Council and the Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) addressed a range of policies and practices violating Indigenous Peoples' human rights in and outside of Canada . Indigenous Peoples’ submissions were considered along with the Canadian Government’s report when CERD conducted its review of Canada on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 20th and 21st 2007.In addition to Canada ’s position on the UN Declaration, these submissions addressed a range of other urgent concerns for Indigenous Peoples. Of particular concern of many First Nations and their organizations is Canada ’s “modification” and “non-assertion” policies, demanding that First Nations relinquish aboriginal rights to land and natural resources in the settlement of land claims. The Committee voiced concern that these rights are being settled primarily through litigation at a disproportionate cost to Indigenous Peoples. The Committee urged Canada , “to engage, in good faith, in negotiations based on recognition and reconciliation” of Indigenous rights. Other concerns raised by Indigenous Peoples and addressed by the CERD Committee included institutional racism and discrimination within the criminal justice and court systems, Treaty violations, a range of inequities in social services and living conditions, gender discrimination and lack of protection against violence in particular towards Indigenous women, youth and children. On these issues the CERD Committee also called upon Canada to comply with its internationally binding human rights obligations under the CERD Convention.The complete findings of the CERD Committee can be found at their official website, http://www.ohchr. org/english/ bodies/cerd/ cerds70.htm. For more information please contact the Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations, Edmonton Canada , Mr. Ron Lameman at (780) 944-0334; or the International Indian Treaty Council, Alberto Saldamando, at (415) 641-4482.
++++++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ +++++++++ ++Alyssa Macy
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs , Oregon
Indigenius Mediahttp://www.indigeni usmedia.com
Buffalo in Yelowstone Alert: Call Congessman
BFC SPECIAL ALERT! * Spring into Action for Wild Buffalo!
PLEASE CALL YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE TUESDAY, MARCH 20!
Dear Buffalo Friends,Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 20, BFC's Josh Osher and Darrell Geist will present testimony to the House Subcommittee for National Parks, Forests and Public Lands at the Oversight Hearing on Yellowstone National Park Bison.BFC will demonstrate that the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) is failing the last population of wild bison in the U.S., the Yellowstone herd, which currently numbers fewer than 3,600 animals. The IBMP, signed in 2000, is a state-federal agency plan responsible for the harassment, capture, slaughter and quarantine of wild Yellowstone buffalo. Since the IBMP's inception, 1,912 Yellowstone bison have been killed by Yellowstone and Montana.
The hearing will begin at 10 AM (est) and can be viewed live by going to: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=36.
We have waited a very long time for an opportunity like this. Tomorrow's hearing marks an amazing chapter in the buffalo's story and they need your help to make it as powerful as possible.PLEASE TAKE ACTION! Call the House Parks Subcommittee & your House Representative on Tuesday!
1) If you live in the home district of one of the Subcommittee members please contact her/him on behalf of the last wild buffalo because it is especially critical that they hear from you! Urge them to do whatever it takes to stop the harassment and slaughter of the wild Yellowstone bison. Contact information for each member of the House subcommittee is listed below or here at this link: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newcommittee.cgi?site=ctc&lang=&commcode=hresources_parks
2) Don't see your Representative listed? Use the following contact info to get your message to the subcommittee membership: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, 1333 Longworth House Office Building, Phone: (202) 226-7736, Fax: (202) 226-2301
Email: parks.subcommittee@mail.house.gov (Entire Committee)
3) If your House representative is not on the Subcommittee, please contact them anyway and urge them to take a leadership role in protecting the Yellowstone bison, the United State's last continuously wild herd (use link below).
4) Please contact your Senators and urge them to hold a similar hearing in the Senate (use link below).
Urge the Subcommittee (and all of Congress) to provide clear direction to our National Forests and Parks that wild bison belong, and are our top priority on public lands and ask them to fund the purchase of wildlife conservation easements including winter range and corridors for bison to migrate through private lands in the Yellowstone area. BFC will be visiting with Congressional offices over the next two weeks and your calls will make a huge difference! To contact non-Subcommittee members as well as your Senators use this link (scroll down to the bottom of the page): http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/politicians.html
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS & PUBLIC LANDS:*Majority Membership:Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) [Chairman], 202-225-2435, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Dale E. Kildee (D-MI), 202-225-3611, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), 202-225-2726, neil.abercrombie@mail.house.govDonna M. Christensen (D-VI), 202-225-1790, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Rush Holt (D-NJ), 202-225-5801, http://holt.house.gov/contact.shtmlDan Boren (D-OK), 202-225-2701, http://www.house.gov/boren/emailsignup.shtmlJohn P. Sarbanes (D-MD), 202-225-4016, http://sarbanes.house.gov/IMA/issue_subscribe.shtmlPeter A. DeFazio (D-OR), 202-225-6416, N/AMaurice D. Hinchey (D-NY), 202-225-6335, http://www.house.gov/hinchey/contact/zipauth.shtmlRon Kind (D-WI), 202-225-5506, http://www.house.gov/kind/contact.shtmlLois Capps (D-CA), 202-225-3601, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Jay Inslee (D-WA), 202-225-6311, http://www.house.gov/inslee/contact/email.html
Mark Udall (D-CO), 202-225-2161, http://markudall.house.gov/HoR/CO02/Contact+Mark/Contact+Mark.htmStephanie Herseth (D-SD), 202-225-2801, stephanie.herseth@mail.house.govHeath Shuler (D-NC), 202-225-6401, http://www.house.gov/writerep/*Minority Membership:Rob Bishop (R-UT) [Ranking Member], 202-225-0453, http://www.house.gov/robbishop/contact/John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), 202-225-5435, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Christopher Cannon (R-UT), 202-225-7751, http://chriscannon.house.gov/email.htmTom Tancredo (R-CO), 202-225-7882, http://tancredo.house.gov/contact/contact_contacttom.shtmlJeff Flake (R-AZ), 202-225-2635, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Rick Renzi (R-AZ), 202-225-2315, http://www.house.gov/renzi/email.shtmlSteve Pearce (R-NM), 202-225-2365, http://www.house.gov/formpearce/emailtemplate.htmHenry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC), 202-225-3176, http://brown.house.gov/writebrown/Louie Gohmert (R-TX), 202-225-3035, http://gohmert.house.gov/contact_louie.htmTom Cole (R-OK), 202-225-6165, http://www.house.gov/cole/contact.htmDean Heller (R-NV), 202-225-6155, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Bill Sali (R-ID), 202-225-6611, http://sali.house.gov/contactform/Doug Lamborn (R-CO), 202-225-4422, http://www.house.gov/writerep/MORE INFORMATION:Also invited to testify are representatives from the National Park Service, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, the Humane Society of the United States, Montana Stockgrowers Association, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, National Parks Conservation Association, and Utah State University. An eclectic crew, to say the least. We will make BFC's testimony available to you as soon as possible.Read BFC's press release from Monday, March 19, 2007:http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/press0607/pressreleases0607/031907.html
THANK YOU for taking action for the last wild buffalo! Your "endless pressure, endlessly applied" is paying off! Save the herd... spread the word!
BUFFALO FIELD CAMPAIGN (BFC)
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070 (phone)
406-646-0071 (fax)
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
PLEASE CALL YOUR HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE TUESDAY, MARCH 20!
Dear Buffalo Friends,Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 20, BFC's Josh Osher and Darrell Geist will present testimony to the House Subcommittee for National Parks, Forests and Public Lands at the Oversight Hearing on Yellowstone National Park Bison.BFC will demonstrate that the Interagency Bison Management Plan (IBMP) is failing the last population of wild bison in the U.S., the Yellowstone herd, which currently numbers fewer than 3,600 animals. The IBMP, signed in 2000, is a state-federal agency plan responsible for the harassment, capture, slaughter and quarantine of wild Yellowstone buffalo. Since the IBMP's inception, 1,912 Yellowstone bison have been killed by Yellowstone and Montana.
The hearing will begin at 10 AM (est) and can be viewed live by going to: http://resourcescommittee.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=36.
We have waited a very long time for an opportunity like this. Tomorrow's hearing marks an amazing chapter in the buffalo's story and they need your help to make it as powerful as possible.PLEASE TAKE ACTION! Call the House Parks Subcommittee & your House Representative on Tuesday!
1) If you live in the home district of one of the Subcommittee members please contact her/him on behalf of the last wild buffalo because it is especially critical that they hear from you! Urge them to do whatever it takes to stop the harassment and slaughter of the wild Yellowstone bison. Contact information for each member of the House subcommittee is listed below or here at this link: http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/cgi-bin/newcommittee.cgi?site=ctc&lang=&commcode=hresources_parks
2) Don't see your Representative listed? Use the following contact info to get your message to the subcommittee membership: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands, 1333 Longworth House Office Building, Phone: (202) 226-7736, Fax: (202) 226-2301
Email: parks.subcommittee@mail.house.gov (Entire Committee)
3) If your House representative is not on the Subcommittee, please contact them anyway and urge them to take a leadership role in protecting the Yellowstone bison, the United State's last continuously wild herd (use link below).
4) Please contact your Senators and urge them to hold a similar hearing in the Senate (use link below).
Urge the Subcommittee (and all of Congress) to provide clear direction to our National Forests and Parks that wild bison belong, and are our top priority on public lands and ask them to fund the purchase of wildlife conservation easements including winter range and corridors for bison to migrate through private lands in the Yellowstone area. BFC will be visiting with Congressional offices over the next two weeks and your calls will make a huge difference! To contact non-Subcommittee members as well as your Senators use this link (scroll down to the bottom of the page): http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/actnow/politicians.html
HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL PARKS, FORESTS & PUBLIC LANDS:*Majority Membership:Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) [Chairman], 202-225-2435, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Dale E. Kildee (D-MI), 202-225-3611, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), 202-225-2726, neil.abercrombie@mail.house.govDonna M. Christensen (D-VI), 202-225-1790, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Rush Holt (D-NJ), 202-225-5801, http://holt.house.gov/contact.shtmlDan Boren (D-OK), 202-225-2701, http://www.house.gov/boren/emailsignup.shtmlJohn P. Sarbanes (D-MD), 202-225-4016, http://sarbanes.house.gov/IMA/issue_subscribe.shtmlPeter A. DeFazio (D-OR), 202-225-6416, N/AMaurice D. Hinchey (D-NY), 202-225-6335, http://www.house.gov/hinchey/contact/zipauth.shtmlRon Kind (D-WI), 202-225-5506, http://www.house.gov/kind/contact.shtmlLois Capps (D-CA), 202-225-3601, http://www.house.gov/writerep/
Jay Inslee (D-WA), 202-225-6311, http://www.house.gov/inslee/contact/email.html
Mark Udall (D-CO), 202-225-2161, http://markudall.house.gov/HoR/CO02/Contact+Mark/Contact+Mark.htmStephanie Herseth (D-SD), 202-225-2801, stephanie.herseth@mail.house.govHeath Shuler (D-NC), 202-225-6401, http://www.house.gov/writerep/*Minority Membership:Rob Bishop (R-UT) [Ranking Member], 202-225-0453, http://www.house.gov/robbishop/contact/John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-TN), 202-225-5435, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Christopher Cannon (R-UT), 202-225-7751, http://chriscannon.house.gov/email.htmTom Tancredo (R-CO), 202-225-7882, http://tancredo.house.gov/contact/contact_contacttom.shtmlJeff Flake (R-AZ), 202-225-2635, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Rick Renzi (R-AZ), 202-225-2315, http://www.house.gov/renzi/email.shtmlSteve Pearce (R-NM), 202-225-2365, http://www.house.gov/formpearce/emailtemplate.htmHenry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC), 202-225-3176, http://brown.house.gov/writebrown/Louie Gohmert (R-TX), 202-225-3035, http://gohmert.house.gov/contact_louie.htmTom Cole (R-OK), 202-225-6165, http://www.house.gov/cole/contact.htmDean Heller (R-NV), 202-225-6155, http://www.house.gov/writerep/Bill Sali (R-ID), 202-225-6611, http://sali.house.gov/contactform/Doug Lamborn (R-CO), 202-225-4422, http://www.house.gov/writerep/MORE INFORMATION:Also invited to testify are representatives from the National Park Service, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, the Humane Society of the United States, Montana Stockgrowers Association, Animal & Plant Health Inspection Service, National Parks Conservation Association, and Utah State University. An eclectic crew, to say the least. We will make BFC's testimony available to you as soon as possible.Read BFC's press release from Monday, March 19, 2007:http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org/media/press0607/pressreleases0607/031907.html
THANK YOU for taking action for the last wild buffalo! Your "endless pressure, endlessly applied" is paying off! Save the herd... spread the word!
BUFFALO FIELD CAMPAIGN (BFC)
P.O. Box 957
West Yellowstone, MT 59758
406-646-0070 (phone)
406-646-0071 (fax)
bfc-media@wildrockies.org
http://www.buffalofieldcampaign.org
Leonard Peltier West Coast Forum
March 28, 2007: Justice for Leonard Peltier Justic for Leonard Peltier West Coast Tour Forum Featuring: Bob Robideau, Co-director of the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee and co-defendant in the incident at Oglala
Wednesday March 28th
Capilano College12:30pm
Ceader Theater Room 148
The Capilano Students Union and the Indigenous Rights and Action Project (IRAP) are coordinating the ‘Western Canada Justice for Leonard Peltier’ tour, featuring Rob Robideau.This tour will focus on Leonard’s case, the recent developments, and re-energizing the campaign for his freedom. There is much work being done on this issue in the US and it is our job to build the solidarity and support from people within Canada. As you know, the Canadian government collaborated with the FBI to have Leonard extradited from Canada using manufactured evidence. This case is a strong issue for people on both sides of the border.:::
West Coast Tour Dates:
Wednesday March 28th Capilano College12:30pm
Ceader Theater Room 148Thursday March 29th
University of Victoria7:00pm
Elliott Building Room 168
Friday March 30thUniversity of B.C.12:00pm
SUB Room 207
Saturday March 31st
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Center6:00pm1607 E.Hastings:
WHO IS LEONARD PELTIER? Leonard Peltier -- a great-grandfather, artist, writer, & indigenous rights activist -- is a citizen of the Anishinabe and Dakota/Lakota Nations who has been unjustly imprisoned since 1976.A participant in the American Indian Movement, he went to assist the Oglala Lakota people on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the mid-70s where a tragic shoot-out occurred on June 26, 1975. Accused of the murder of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Peltier fled to Canada believing he would never receive a fair trial in the United States.On February 6, 1976, Peltier was apprehended. The FBI knowingly presented the Canadian court with fraudulent affidavits, and Peltierwas returned to the U.S. for trial.Key witnesses were banned from testifying about FBI misconduct & testimony about the conditions and atmosphere on the Pine Ridge Reservation at the time of the shoot-out was severely restricted. Important evidence, such as conflicting ballistics reports, was ruled inadmissible. Still, the U.S. Prosecutor failed to produce a single witness who could identify Peltier as the shooter. Instead, the government tied a bullet casing found near the bodies of their agents to the alleged murder weapon, arguing that this gun had been the only one of its kind used during the shootout, and that it had belonged to Peltier.Later, Mr. Peltier’s attorneys uncovered, in the FBI’s own documents, that more than one weapon of the type attributed to Peltier had been present at the scene and the FBI had intentionally concealed a ballistics report that showed the shell casing could not have come from the alleged murder weapon. Other troubling information emerged: the agents undoubtedly followed a red pickup truck onto the land where the shoot-out took place, not the red and white van driven by Peltier; and compelling evidence against several other suspects existed and was concealed.At the time, however, the jury was unaware of these facts. Peltier was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms. He is currently imprisoned at the U.S. Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Co-organized by:Capilano Students Union - Social Justice Committee778.885.5361 - http://us.f330.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=csusjc@capcollege.bc.ca
Indigenous Rights and Actions Project -IRAP604.339.7103 - http://us.f330.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=irap_vancouver@yahoo.ca Endorsed by:Capilano - Global Stewardship ProgramCapilano - Indigenous Independant Digital Film Making Program Capilano - Department of Anthropology
=+=+=+=+=+=LPDC WEBSITE:http://www.leonardpeltier.net/IPF WEBSITEhttp://users.skynet.be/kola/index.htm andhttp://www.myspace.com/leonardpeltierisinnocent e-mail LPDC:http://us.f330.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=info@leonardpeltier.nete-mail IPF:http://us.f330.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ipforum@skynet.be
Wednesday March 28th
Capilano College12:30pm
Ceader Theater Room 148
The Capilano Students Union and the Indigenous Rights and Action Project (IRAP) are coordinating the ‘Western Canada Justice for Leonard Peltier’ tour, featuring Rob Robideau.This tour will focus on Leonard’s case, the recent developments, and re-energizing the campaign for his freedom. There is much work being done on this issue in the US and it is our job to build the solidarity and support from people within Canada. As you know, the Canadian government collaborated with the FBI to have Leonard extradited from Canada using manufactured evidence. This case is a strong issue for people on both sides of the border.:::
West Coast Tour Dates:
Wednesday March 28th Capilano College12:30pm
Ceader Theater Room 148Thursday March 29th
University of Victoria7:00pm
Elliott Building Room 168
Friday March 30thUniversity of B.C.12:00pm
SUB Room 207
Saturday March 31st
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Center6:00pm1607 E.Hastings:
WHO IS LEONARD PELTIER? Leonard Peltier -- a great-grandfather, artist, writer, & indigenous rights activist -- is a citizen of the Anishinabe and Dakota/Lakota Nations who has been unjustly imprisoned since 1976.A participant in the American Indian Movement, he went to assist the Oglala Lakota people on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the mid-70s where a tragic shoot-out occurred on June 26, 1975. Accused of the murder of two agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Peltier fled to Canada believing he would never receive a fair trial in the United States.On February 6, 1976, Peltier was apprehended. The FBI knowingly presented the Canadian court with fraudulent affidavits, and Peltierwas returned to the U.S. for trial.Key witnesses were banned from testifying about FBI misconduct & testimony about the conditions and atmosphere on the Pine Ridge Reservation at the time of the shoot-out was severely restricted. Important evidence, such as conflicting ballistics reports, was ruled inadmissible. Still, the U.S. Prosecutor failed to produce a single witness who could identify Peltier as the shooter. Instead, the government tied a bullet casing found near the bodies of their agents to the alleged murder weapon, arguing that this gun had been the only one of its kind used during the shootout, and that it had belonged to Peltier.Later, Mr. Peltier’s attorneys uncovered, in the FBI’s own documents, that more than one weapon of the type attributed to Peltier had been present at the scene and the FBI had intentionally concealed a ballistics report that showed the shell casing could not have come from the alleged murder weapon. Other troubling information emerged: the agents undoubtedly followed a red pickup truck onto the land where the shoot-out took place, not the red and white van driven by Peltier; and compelling evidence against several other suspects existed and was concealed.At the time, however, the jury was unaware of these facts. Peltier was convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms. He is currently imprisoned at the U.S. Penitentiary in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Co-organized by:Capilano Students Union - Social Justice Committee778.885.5361 - http://us.f330.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=csusjc@capcollege.bc.ca
Indigenous Rights and Actions Project -IRAP604.339.7103 - http://us.f330.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=irap_vancouver@yahoo.ca Endorsed by:Capilano - Global Stewardship ProgramCapilano - Indigenous Independant Digital Film Making Program Capilano - Department of Anthropology
=+=+=+=+=+=LPDC WEBSITE:http://www.leonardpeltier.net/IPF WEBSITEhttp://users.skynet.be/kola/index.htm andhttp://www.myspace.com/leonardpeltierisinnocent e-mail LPDC:http://us.f330.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=info@leonardpeltier.nete-mail IPF:http://us.f330.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=ipforum@skynet.be
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