Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

August 23, 2016

Standing Rock Resistance Radio Legal Team's Carol Raffensperger



Standing Rock Resistance Radio, Spirit Radio, is live on the air in camp at 87.9 FM

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers altered the flow of the river here, where the Missouri and the Cannon Ball rivers come together. A whirling current here once created smooth stones, sacred stones, before the river was altered. -- Carol Raffensperger, environmental engineer

(Sorry, there are almost two silent minutes at the beginning of this interview.) Article by Brenda Norrell
Censored News
CANNON BALL, North Dakota -- Carol is with the Science and Environmental Network. Carol describes the 'Precautionary Principle,' reflects the Indigenous Peoples protection of future generations. This principle is for the protection of the earth, river and future generations. The public health community has grasped this concept of health prevention. This principle means taking action to prevent harm. She talks about alternatives to moving oil through pipelines through rivers. She describes how the U.S. Corps of Engineers did not carry out an environmental impact statement on the Dakota Access Pipeline, which is an argument within the Standing Rock Sioux's legal case in federal court on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2016. She describes how in Iowa land owners are fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline from seizing their land by way of eminent domain.
Carol says one day there will be a plaque here for this movement which has unified the people.
"This historic gathering happened here.: She said this place will be remembered, when fossil fuels are replaced with something that is sane and reverent.
Recorded by Govinda of Earthcycles live at Standing Rock camp in the mobile 87.9 FM radio van.
Carolyn Raffensperger, M.A., J.D.
Carolyn is executive director of the Science and Environmental Health Network. In 1982 she left a career as an archaeologist in the desert Southwest to join the environmental movement. She first worked for the Sierra Club where she addressed an array of environmental issues, including forest management, river protection, pesticide pollutants, and disposal of radioactive waste. She began working for SEHN in December 1994. As an environmental lawyer she specializes in the fundamental changes in law and policy necessary for the protection and restoration of public health and the environment.
Carolyn is co-editor of Precautionary Tools for Reshaping Environmental Policy published by M.I.T. Press (2006) and Protecting Public Health and the Environment: Implementing the Precautionary Principle, published by Island Press (1999). Together, these volumes are the most comprehensive exploration to date of the history, theory, and implementation of the precautionary principle. Carolyn coined the term "ecological medicine" to encompass the broad notions that both health and healing are entwined with the natural world. She has served on editorial review boards for several environmental and sustainable agriculture journals, and on USEPA and National Research Council committees. She wrote a bimonthly column for the Environmental Law Institute's journal Environmental Forum from 1999 until 2008.


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