Tribunal on Indian Boarding Schools Wisconsin Oct 22 -- 25, 2014

Devastating Effects Of Boarding Schools On Indigenous 

Peoples: Second Annual Tribunal On The Abuse Of 

Indigenous Human Rights

October 22 - 25

AN INVITATION

---

You’re invited to attend our forum focused on the experiences of Native children who were forced at early ages to attend Indian boarding schools.  This Tribunal is scheduled for October 22 through the 25th, 2014, at the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, in Oneida, Wisconsin.

A panel of qualified Native judges will be listening to the witnesses as they provide first hand testimony of the abuse and mistreatment they suffered at the hands of the federal government and religious institutions while being forced to live away from their families and Nations.  At the conclusion of the Tribunal, the Judges will issue an executive summary with their findings and recommendations.  The executive summary will be shared with Native communities.

Spring Statement from Leonard Peltier 2014

By Leonard Peltier

Censored News

Spring Statement from Leonard Peltier:

Greetings my friends, relatives, supporters, and all those who support the cause of freedom, not only for Native Americans, but for all people.

I know it’s sometimes not easy being involved and staying involved, so for all of you that have done just that, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart to the top of my soul. We need more people all over the world who not only care about the freedom of others, but who care about our future generations and what kind of Earth we leave behind.

I know there are prophecies and predictions and beliefs that predict the end times of life as we know it, and I want to say to you that all of these things that have been said are said for our benefit so that we may choose a different path. All over the world there are people who seek to serve God or the Creator or the Great Spirit or whatever name you call that greater power that gives us life, and I want to say to you at this point in time, that our greatest enemy isn't some supernatural being with horns and a long tail or some other goolish spirit; our greatest enemy throughout the world is gluttony, people wanting and taking more than they need. That, is the cause of all the wars, the invasions and the dictatorships and the pollutions that face mankind.

It is the way of our Native people that we should not take more than we need. It is in the teachings of the Christians, it is in the teaching of the Muslims, and of the Buddhists. It is a basic, fundamental teaching of all the major approaches to spirituality throughout the world that we do not take more than we need. It is also a teaching of my people that when you take from the Earth you must give back something back in return. Mankind has built up a great debt to the Earth, and a great debt to Nature and whether we like it or not or recognize it or not, that debt will be repaid one way or another.

When people set off explosions underneath the Earth, this Earth we call our Mother, when they make poisons and radiation and other deadly things and put them within our mother, then they cause birth defects for all of nature, including man. This may not sound very scientific and quite simplistic, but it is a truth and that truth is being born out in obvious ways throughout all mankind. We see it in birth defects in animals and fish of the ocean, birds of the sky and the reptile. We see it in our waters and in our air. We must find a way to stop these corporations whose CEOs live in air-conditioned penthouses and chalets inside an artificial environment that only they can afford.

We must convince them, in whatever way we can, to respect our Earth and to respect us, and not allow them to destroy our Mother the Earth with fracking and oil-filled pipelines crossing the land, and steel platforms in the ocean that spill oil, or pesticides that kill the bees and destroy the food chain of the birds. Our Mother the Earth is a living creation, and we are all part of that life cycle, all dependent on one another. Every time I turn on the television in the day room or pick up an international magazine of some sort, I read about and see the evidence of this destruction.

I know sometimes we feel that there is nothing we can do; but there is, if each one of us does something then together we can and will make a change. It might be doing a demonstration and carrying a sign or it may be writing your Senator or Congressmen or it may be voting for a person who supports natural, renewable energy from the wind and the sun or other sources.

Whatever it is you choose to do, choose something, make a difference, make your life count for something. Right now in various part of the United States and Canada there are people of all ages and all races trying to stop these oil pipelines that will carry sludge, and this fracking that sets off explosions under the Earth which also causes earth tremors and quakes. This is an immediate danger; it is very real, and you can do something about it.

I want to remind you that if it wasn't for people like yourselves that have taken a stand for something, we wouldn’t have the national forests, the redwoods, there wouldn't be animals and various other forms of life, there would be no Yellowstone Park, and there would be a lot more species totally extinct than there are now.

So taking a stand DOES make a difference. How we pray to the Creator for help and how we thank the Creator for what we have is important, but what is truly more important, is that you demonstrate your faith and your belief. You demonstrate it by protecting and respecting this very nature and Earth that we have been given to live upon. Who you are is not defined by what you do when everything is in balance, who you are is defined by what you do when you are faced with imbalance when you are faced with a challenge that requires a sacrifice or some sort of intestinal fortitude, which we call courage. THAT defines you.

I am not in this prison for anything that I did wrong. I am in this prison because I was a part of a people that tried to right a wrong. I am in this prison as a statement by the corporation controlled government forces that want to say, “Give up your resources, give up your freedom, don’t stand against us” That, is their message in keeping me in here.

I want to tell you sincerely, this is not an easy place to be. It is a terrible place to be, but when I chose to answer the call along with other Native people, many of us took a vow to stand up even unto death if necessary. Some were shot and killed and their lives were taken immediately. My life has been taken one day at a time. But if I had it all to do over again I would still choose to stand up for my people and your people and our future generations to protect our freedoms and our Mother Earth, and in doing that I am honored that you remember me. I want to thank you for that remembrance and of all those before me, and the ones now that do the same and know that there will be others in the future.

I can’t tell you that these choices will always make you feel good, I can’t tell you that these choices won’t hurt or cause moments of depression or sorrow, but I can tell you that there is a closeness with the Creator that is unlike any good feeling you could ever know anywhere else, a closeness with the Creator that no one can take away, and makes it all worth it. I am saying these things at this time because I get a lot of letters and communications now, from groups around the country that are facing crisis within their organizations in trying to stop these pollutions and destructions. As I have in the past, I want to encourage you to do your best to do what is right and right what is wrong and protect what we have and regain what we have lost.

I want to thank you for your support and I want you to know that as long as I walk this earth and have some say, myself and this committee will do the best we possibly can to always do what is right.

In the Spirit of Crazy Horse
Most sincerely,
Leonard Peltier
Mitakuye Oyasin

French translation by Christine Prat, thank you!

LEONARD PELTIER: DECLARATION DE PRINTEMPS

On March 28, 2014, in Leonard Peltier, by Chris P

Déclaration de printemps de Leonard Peltier

Publiée le 27 mars sur Facebook
par Leonard Peltier Defense Offense Committee
Also on Censored News
Traduction Christine Prat

Salutations, mes amis, parents, soutiens et tous ceux qui soutiennent la cause de la liberté, non seulement pour les Autochtones d’Amérique, mais pour tout le monde.

Je sais que quelquefois ce n’est pas facile de s’impliquer et de rester impliqué, alors je veux remercier du fond de mon cœur et de toute mon âme ceux d’entre vous qui l’ont fait. Nous avons besoin de plus de gens encore partout dans le monde, qui se préoccupent non seulement de la liberté des autres, mais aussi de nos futures générations et de la sorte de Terre que nous laissons derrière nous.

Je sais qu’il y a des prophéties, des prédictions et des croyances qui prédisent la fin des temps, de la vie telle que nous la connaissons, et je veux vous dire que toutes ces choses ont été dites pour notre bien, afin que nous puissions choisir une voie différente. Partout dans le monde il y a des gens qui cherchent à servir Dieu ou le Créateur ou le Grand Esprit ou tout autre nom par lequel vous nommez le pouvoir supérieur qui nous donne la vie, et je veux vous dire qu’à ce point des temps, notre plus grand ennemi n’est pas un être surnaturel avec des cornes et une longue queue ni un quelconque esprit malfaisant; notre plus grand ennemi partout dans le monde c’est la gloutonnerie, le fait que les gens veuillent et prennent plus que ce dont ils ont besoin. C’est la cause de toutes les guerres, des invasions, des dictatures et des pollutions auxquelles l’humanité est confrontée.

C’est la voie de nos Peuples Autochtones de ne pas prendre plus que ce dont nous avons besoin. C’est dans l’enseignement des Chrétiens, c’est dans l’enseignement des Musulmans, et dans celui des Bouddhistes. C’est un enseignement de base, fondamental, de toutes les grandes spiritualités dans le monde, que nous ne prenions pas plus que ce dont nous avons besoin. C’est aussi un enseignement de mon peuple, que lorsque vous prenez quelque chose à la Terre, vous devez donner quelque chose en retour. L’humanité a contracté une lourde dette envers la Terre, et une lourde dette envers la Nature, et que çà nous plaise ou non, que nous le reconnaissions ou pas, cette dette sera remboursée d’une manière ou d’une autre.

Quand des gens provoquent des explosions sous la Terre, cette Terre que nous appelons notre Mère, quand ils fabriquent des poisons et des radiations et autres choses mortelles et les mettent dans notre mère, ils causent des malformations congénitales à toute la nature, y compris l’être humain. Ceci peut ne pas paraître très scientifique et un peu simpliste, mais c’est une vérité et cette vérité est en train d’émerger de façon évidente dans toute l’humanité. Nous voyons ces malformations congénitales dans les animaux et les poissons de l’océan, les oiseaux dans le ciel et les reptiles. Nous la voyons dans nos eaux et dans notre air. Nous devons trouver un moyen de bloquer ces grandes entreprises dont les PDG vivent dans des villas et des chalets climatisés dans un environnement artificiel qu’ils sont les seuls à pouvoir se payer.

Nous devons les convaincre, de toutes les façons que nous pouvons, de respecter notre Terre et de nous respecter, et ne pas les autoriser à détruire notre Mère la Terre par la fracturation hydraulique et les oléoducs pleins de pétrole qui traversent les terres, et les plateformes dans l’océan d’où le pétrole fuit, ou les pesticides qui tuent les abeilles et détruisent la chaine alimentaire des oiseaux. Notre Mère la Terre est une création vivante, et nous faisons tous partie de ce cycle de vie, nous sommes tous dépendants les uns des autres. Chaque fois que j’allume la télévision dans la salle commune ou que j’ouvre un magazine international, je lis et vois l’évidence de cette destruction.

Je sais que parfois nous avons le sentiment que nous ne pouvons rien faire ; mais nous le pouvons, si chacun de nous fait quelque chose, ensemble nous pouvons accomplir un changement et nous le ferons. Ce peut être manifester avec une pancarte ou peut-être écrire au Sénateur ou aux membres du Congrès ou peut-être voter pour quelqu’un qui défend l’énergie naturelle et renouvelable, comme le vent, le soleil et autres.

Quoique vous choisissiez, choisissez quelque chose, faites une différence, faites que votre vie compte pour quelque chose. En ce moment même, dans différentes régions des Etats-Unis et du Canada, il y a des gens de tous âges et de toutes origines qui essaient de bloquer ces oléoducs qui transporteront de la boue et cette fracturation qui déclenche des explosions sous la Terre et cause aussi des tremblements de terre. C’est un danger immédiat ; il est très réel et vous pouvez y faire quelque chose.

Je veux vous rappeler que sans des gens comme vous qui ont pris position pour certaines choses, nous n’aurions pas de forêts nationales, de séquoias, il n’y aurait pas d’animaux et autres diverses formes de vie, il n’y aurait pas le Parc de Yellowstone et beaucoup plus d’espèces auraient totalement disparu.

Donc, prendre position FAIT la différence. Prier le Créateur pour demander de l’aide et remercier le Créateur pour ce que nous avons est important, mais ce qui est vraiment plus important, c’est de démontrer cette foi et cette croyance. Vous la démontrez en protégeant et respectant cette nature et cette Terre qui nous a été donnée pour y vivre. Ce que vous êtes n’est pas défini par ce que vous faites quand tout est en équilibre, ce que vous êtes est défini par ce que vous faites quand vous faites face au déséquilibre, quand vous faites face à un défi qui exige un sacrifice ou quelque force intrinsèque, qu’on appelle le courage. C’EST ce qui vous définit.

Je ne suis pas dans cette prison pour avoir fait quoique ce soit de mal. Je suis dans cette prison parce que j’appartenais à un peuple qui a essayé de réparer un tort. Je suis dans cette prison comme affirmation des forces gouvernementales contrôlées par les grandes entreprises qui veulent nous signifier : « Abandonnez vos ressources, abandonnez votre liberté, ne nous résistez pas ». C’est le message qu’ils diffusent en me gardant ici.

Je veux vous le dire sincèrement, ce n’est pas facile d’être ici. C’est un endroit épouvantable, mais quand j’ai choisi de répondre à l’appel avec d’autres Autochtones, beaucoup d’entre nous ont fait le serment de résister jusqu’à la mort si nécessaire. Certains se sont fait tirer dessus et ont été tués, leurs vies ont été ravies immédiatement. Ma vie m’est ravie jour par jour. Mais si je devais le refaire, je choisirais encore de résister pour mon peuple et votre peuple et nos générations futures, pour protéger nos libertés et notre Mère la Terre, et en faisant cela, je suis honoré de ce que vous vous souveniez de moi. Je veux vous remercier de vous souvenir, de moi et de tous les autres avant moi, et de ceux qui maintenant font la même chose et savent qu’il y en aura d’autres dans l’avenir.

Je ne peux pas vous dire que ces choix vous ferons toujours vous sentir bien, je ne peux pas vous dire que ces choix ne feront pas souffrir ou ne causeront pas des moment de dépression ou de chagrin, mais je peux vous dire qu’il y a une proximité avec le Créateur qui ne ressemble à aucun des sentiments agréables que vous pourriez connaître où que ce soit ailleurs, une proximité avec le Créateur que personne ne peut vous retirer et qui fait que tout vaut la peine. Je dis ces choses en ce moment parce que je reçois beaucoup de lettres et de communications maintenant, de groupes dans tout le pays qui sont confrontés à des crises dans leurs organisations en essayant de mettre un terme à ces pollutions et destructions. Comme par le passé, je veux vous encourager à faire de votre mieux, à réparer ce qui est mal et à protéger ce que nous avons et regagner ce que nous avons perdu.

Je veux vous remercier pour votre soutien et je veux que vous sachiez que tant que je serai sur cette terre et aurai la possibilité de dire quelque chose, moi-même et ce comité ferons du mieux possible pour toujours faire ce qui est juste.

Dans l’Esprit de Crazy Horse

Sincèrement,

Leonard Peltier
Mitakuye Oyasin

Chief Arvol Looking Horse Honoring Water and Horse Nation March 22, 2014

March 22nd World Water Day Statement by Chief ARVOL LOOKING HORSE - 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe

Welcome Back the Wakiya Oyate (Thunders) Ceremony Honoring the Sunka Wakan Oyate (Horse) Nation

In the past the Welcome Back the Wakiya Oyate - Thunder Ceremony has always been done on March 21st, but because there is an International effort to respect the Mini wic’oni – the Water of Life – it was decided to unite our prayers and our energy, and to hold the event on March 22nd, on United Nations World Water Day.

In the history of our People, this is the time to do our ceremony to Welcome Back the Thunders. This ceremony for our Nation – The Buffalo Oyate (Lakota, Dakota, Nakota), has always taken place in the Heart Of Mother Earth – The Sacred Black Hills at Harney Peak, South Dakota. Russell Eagle Bear and Ben Rodd have been in the forefront for organizing this important ceremony for a long time. Each year many school bus loads of children, along with Elders and the People make this pilgrimage to offer prayers on top of Harney Peak.

As the Keeper of the Sacred Bundle, I would also like to acknowledge the importance of the Sunka Wakan Oyate – the Horse Nation. When I was taught the teachings and history of the Bundle, the Elders told me that the Horse Ceremony came along with the original teachings - 19 generations ago. We pray to the West, the Horse Nation, who attends to this direction in order to bring rain. The main medicine of the rain brings life, health and well being, this is why water is called Mini wic’oni – Water of Life.

Today the Horse Nation is being dismissed as having no worth any longer in this Society. There is no-where for them roam free and in places were they feel they have worth along with humans, they are being dismissed and replaced. Along with the Buffalo, they have been massacred, with no respect for their spiritual energy they give to this turtle island. If the assault of the Horse Nation is allowed to continue: this disrespect can affect the blessings from the Wakiya Oyate.

Today we are faced with many global challenges that affect the Mini Wic’oni in order for its medicine to be pure. We are at the time where these challenges can affect the survival of the generations to come; we need to pay attention.

I humbly ask People of All Nations to open your hearts and minds to this important information of how all things are connected. The future generations and all life upon Mother Earth depend on you to offer your thoughts and prayers on this day with us. I will be in Grandmother Country (Canada) spreading this important information and joining all who hold these issues sacred.
In a Sacred Hoop of Life, where there is no ending and no beginning! Ana-h’opta po
Hear my words!

Chief Arvol Looking Horse
19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe Bundle


Thank you to Raven Redbone and Make No Bones about It for sharing these words
http://ravenredbone.wordpress.com/2014/03/18/please-share-to-get-much-participation-to-bring-about-awareness/
Print and share the beautiful poster to help the horses:
http://www.equiculture.org/SharedFiles/Download.aspx?pageid=154&mid=276&fileid=520

Photos Tucson Peace Fair 2014: Defenders of Human Rights!

Never giving up, Isabel Garcia, Derechos Humanos, battling for migrants rights

Raging Grannies taking on Obama, singing of Obama's broken promises

Hopi Foundation's 'Owl and Panther' poetry and arts for children victims of torture and exile

Iskashitaa Refugee Network sustainable community: Harvesting Hope, Empowering Dreams
.

'Humanitarian Aid is Never a Crime' No More Deaths rescuing dying migrants in the desert 

ECUADOR Rights of Nature Tribunal hears 8 cases

First Global Tribunal on Rights of Nature hears 8 cases

By Global Alliance

Friday, January 17th, 2014

Censored News

 

FIRST WORLD TRIBUNAL ON RIGHTS OF NATURE
HEARS EIGHT CASES FOR ADMISSIBILITY

GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR RIGHTS OF NATURE
COMMITS TO DEEPEN AND EXPAND THE WORLDWIDE MOVEMENT
QUITO, ECUADOR

The world’s first Tribunal on the Rights of Nature is being held in Quito, Ecuador, today. Headed by Vandana Shiva, physicist and internationally renowned environmental activist, this “Seed” Tribunal is hearing eight cases to determine their admissibility for adjudication at a later Tribunal, which will be held in another city and country later this year. The Tribunal for Rights of Nature will become permanent, hearing cases around the world.

The cases and the persons presenting the factual arguments for admitting them for adjudication under Rights of Nature are:

BP                                            Esperanza Martínez, Ecuador

Fracking                                  Shannon Biggs, United States

Chevron                                  Julio Prieto, Ecuador

Yasuní-ITT                               Carlos Larrea, Ecuador

Great Barrier Reef                 Michelle Maloney, Australia

Minería Condor Mirador      Nathaly Yépez, Ecuador

GMOs                                     Elizabeth Bravo, Ecuador

Climate Change                     Pablo Solón, Bolivia

The international panel of judges sitting on the Tribunal includes:

Alberto Acosta, economist and former President of the Constituent Assembly from Quito, Ecuador

Tantoo Cardinal, actress (e.g., Dances with Wolves) from the Tar Sands of Canada

Blanca Chancoso, Kichwa leader and educator from Cotacachi, Imbabura, Ecuador

Cormac Cullinan, lawyer and author (Wild Law), Earth Democracy Coop, Cape Town, South Africa

Tom Goldtooth, Dine’/Dakota, director of Indigenous Environmental Network from Minnesota, US

Julio César Trujillo, constitutional lawyer for Yasunidos from Quito, Ecuador

Elsie Monge, human rights activist and president of CEDHU y FIDH from Quito, Ecuador

Atossa Soltani, founder and director of Amazon Watch from Washington, DC, US

Enrique Viale, environmental lawyer from Buenos Aires, Argentina

Native rights activist Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca from Oklahoma, US) andPatricia Gualinga, an indigenous of the Amazon and director of Sayaku, will provide expert witness testimony on the critical importance of Rights of Nature.Carlos Pérez will provide testimony as to his recent actions in defense of Mother Earth, the reasons for his actions and its consequences.

Patricia Gualinga, Sarayaku Leader.

The Tribunal begins at 8:30 and concludes at 17:00. Before rendering her judgment at the end of the day, Vandana Shiva will speak to the issues at stake in this Tribunal and the worldwide Rights of Nature movement.

The Tribunal marks the end of a five-day summit of more than 60 global leaders of the Rights of Nature movement who form part of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. The participants hail from Australia, Switzerland, South Africa, United States, Spain, Canada, India, Romania, Bolivia, Argentina, and the United Kingdom, as well as Ecuador.

The Global Alliance for Rights of Nature was founded at a gathering in Ecuador in 2010, two years after Ecuador became the first nation in the world to adopt Rights of Nature in its Constitution. At the summit, the leaders committed to redoubling their efforts to broaden and deepen the movement worldwide over the coming year, with a series of actions that will be detailed in the next months.

The Rights of Nature movement draws on the wisdom and cosmovision of indigenous peoples in positing a new jurisprudence that recognizes the right of nature in all its forms to exist, persist, evolve and regenerate.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Robin R. Milam
1.530.272.4322/Nature@TheRightsofNature.org

Ponca Casey Camp at Rights of Nature Summit Tribunal in Ecuador

Opening Ceremony of Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature – January 14, 2014 - Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca), Osprey Orielle Lake, Elise Garcia, Silver Donald Cameron and Cormac Cullinen.

Photo by Sister Patricia Siemen, OP

Update: Rights of Nature Tribunal hears 8 cases on Friday, Jan. 17, 2014:
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2014/01/ecuador-rights-of-nature-tribunal-hears.html

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

The Rights of Nature Summit and Tribunal is now underway in Ecuador. It follows the Rights of Mother Earth Conference in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in 2010, and brings together Indigenous Peoples from around the world in defense of Mother Earth. Casey Camp, Ponca, is among those present.

Sister Elsie Garcia is providing news coverage of the summit and tribunal, which ends Friday, in Ecuador. Ecuador was the first country to enact the Rights of Nature as law.

“In our language, the word ‘rights’ doesn’t exist,” said Blanca Chancoso, a Kichwa leader from Cotacachi, Ecuador. “For us it translates to the power to live.” Read more of today's coverage http://ncronline.org/blogs/eco-catholic/indigenous-peoples-work-save-land-extinction

The Global Alliance for the Emergent 'Rights of Nature' movment announced the international summit and tribunal being held in Otavalo and Quito, Ecuador, Jan.. 13 -- 17, 2014. This statement was issued:

Key leaders of the emergent nature rights movement are holding an international summit in Ecuador on January 13-17, 2014. Its twofold purpose is to analyze the experiences of communities in Ecuador, Bolivia, and United States that have already implemented “Rights of Nature” laws and to devise a unified global strategy for advancing the Rights of Nature movement around the world.

Rights of Nature Summit and Tribunal in Ecuador this week

GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE EMERGENT “RIGHTS OF NATURE” MOVEMENT  
TO HOLD ITS FIRST INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT  

FOLLOWED BY A PUBLIC TRIBUNAL OF ACTUAL CASES  OTAVALO & QUITO, ECUADOR: JANUARY 13‐17, 2014 

By Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature
Censored News
Tantoo Cardinal and Margot Kidder at the White House Keystone Tarsands Protest Before Being Arrested Photo: Milan Ilnyckyj

Key leaders of the emergent nature rights movement are holding an international summit in Ecuador on January 13‐17, 2014. Its twofold purpose is to analyze the experiences of communities in Ecuador, Bolivia, and United States that have already implemented “Rights of Nature” laws and to devise a unified global strategy for advancing the Rights of Nature movement around the world.

The summit will conclude on Friday, January 17, with a public Tribunal in Quito where key Rights of Nature cases will be heard, including the Chevron/Texaco case in Ecuador, the oil exploitation of
Yasuní‐ITT in Ecuador’s rainforest, and the threats to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Drawing on
precedents established in other successful Rights of Nature cases – such as the one finding that
the rights of the Vilcabamba River had been violated by pollution – the Tribunal will model how to
adjudicate the rights of nature in courts of law.

The four‐dozen principals attending the summit represent diverse disciplines, cultures, nations,
and bioregions as part of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. Among the attendees are
Indian physicist Vandana Shiva, South African lawyer and author Cormac Cullinan, North American
indigenous leader Tom Goldtooth, former Bolivian U.N. ambassador Pablo Solón, Canadian
aboriginal actress Tantoo Cardinal, and U.S. community rights attorney Thomas Linzey. The group
as a whole is comprised of economists, lawyers, scientists, indigenous leaders, community
activists, nuns, actors, authors, and public officials hailing from Australia, Switzerland, South Africa,
United States, Spain, Canada, India, Romania, Bolivia, Argentina, and England, as well as Ecuador.

The summit marks the first time leaders of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature are coming
together since 2010 when they created the organization as a vehicle to help advance the cutting
edge work that each was carrying out in his or her home country. The historic 2010 gathering that
forged the Global Alliance also was held in Ecuador, the first nation in the world to adopt Rights of
Nature in its Constitution, in 2008.

The Tribunal will be held on Friday, January 17, at Hotel Quito, in Quito, where the Global
Alliance will also host a Press Conference to report the results of the summit and next steps for
the Rights of Nature movement. The Press Conference is at 10:30 am. The Tribunal will consider
seven cases and run from 8:30 am to 17:00 pm. Press kits for the Tribunal will be available.

“The Rights of Nature movement is a response in the order of magnitude necessary to end the
legalized plundering that is ravaging our planet and imperiling our young and the young of all
species,” says Robin R. Milam, Administrative Director of the Global Alliance for Rights of Nature. GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR THE RIGHTSOFNATURE

“By recognizing nature’s right to exist and thrive, people can assert those rights on nature’s behalf,
rejecting actions that permit harmful, unwanted development in their communities.”

Rights of Nature: Background
The Rights of Nature movement draws on indigenous wisdom in positing a new jurisprudence that
recognizes the right of nature in all its forms to exist, persist, evolve and regenerate.

“A 40‐year regime of environmental laws in the United States and other industrial nations has
failed to protect against the escalating ravages evident around the world, including decimated
species, depleted forest reserves, water shortages, and record‐breaking hurricanes,” says Robin R.
Milam, Administrative Director of the Global Alliance for Rights of Nature. “An entirely new
approach is needed.”

Recognizing the rights of nature, which humans would have standing to enforce, reflects a shift in
consciousness away from a legal system that treats nature as property for human use. “It is akin to
the shift in consciousness – and change in laws – that took place when people said we should stop
treating women, enslaved, or indigenous people as property,” Milam said. “And it is foundational:
Human rights are meaningless without fresh water to drink, clean air to breath, safe food to eat.”

Local municipalities in the United States were the first to adopt laws establishing legal structures
that recognized Rights of Nature, beginning in 2006 with Tamaqua Borough in Schuylkill County,
Pennsylvania. Since then more than two‐dozen U.S. communities have adopted local laws
recognizing Rights of Nature, including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which in November of 2010
became the first major municipality in the United States to do so.

In September 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to recognize Rights of Nature in
its constitution and Bolivia enacted a law that recognizes rights of Mother Earth.

Nearly 100 grassroots organizations in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe are
members of the Global Alliance for Rights of Nature, advancing the Rights of Nature movement in
their municipalities, counties, provinces, and countries.

The Rights of Nature movement is grounded conceptually in an understanding that humans are
one part of an interdependent community of life on Earth. Human existence—in all its social,
economic, industrial, cultural, and governmental manifestations—is wholly dependent on the
health of rivers, plants, animals, oceans, forests, atmosphere, microbes, and other ecosystems and
beings that with us comprise our living planet.

Beyond enlightened self‐interest, the Rights of Nature movement also emerges philosophically
and spiritually out of a sense of the wonder and awe that the natural world has inspired in humans
for millennia, captured in art, music, and poetry—and our sense of the sacred.

For more, see Global Alliance for Rights of Nature at www.therightsofnature.org

CONTACT: Robin R. Milam
Immediate Release: January 8, 2014      530.272.4322/Nature@TheRightsofNature.org
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

AUSTRALIA'S GREAT BARRIER REEF TO FEATURE IN WORLD FIRST 'RIGHTS OF NATURE' PEOPLE'S TRIBUNAL AT INTERNATIONAL SUMMIT, ECUADOR

OTAVALO and QUITO, ECUADOR: JANUARY 13-17, 2014

Key leaders of an emergent legal rights movement are holding an international summit in Ecuador on January 13-17, 2014. Its twofold purpose is to analyze the experiences of communities in the United States, Ecuador and Bolivia that have already implemented “Rights of Nature” laws and to devise a unified global strategyfor advancing the Rights of Nature movement around the world.

The summit will conclude on Friday, January 17, with a public Tribunal in Quito where key Rights of Nature cases will be heard, including the Chevron/Texaco case in Ecuador, the oil exploitation of Yasunni-ITT in Ecuador’s rainforest and the threats to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Drawing on precedents established in other successful Rights of Nature cases, such as Ecuador’s Vilcabamba River case, which found that the rights of the river had been violated by pollution, the Tribunal will model how to adjudicate the rights of nature in courts of law.

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is being featured in one of the hearings, as government sanctioned coal port expansion and other industrial developments along the Queensland coast threaten the world’s largest reef system. In 2012 and 2013, UNESCO issued warnings to the Australian government that if these developments continue, the reef might have to be added to the ‘World Heritage in Danger’ list. The Federal Government, and Queensland State Government, have continued to approve development plans along the Queensland coastline. The Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA), an Australian based NGO and founding member of the Global Alliance, will lead the hearing at the public Tribunal in Quito, Ecuador.

The four-dozen principals attending the summit represent diverse disciplines, cultures, nations, and bioregions as part of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature. Among the attendees are Indian physicist Vandana Shiva, South African lawyer and author Cormac Cullinan, North American indigenous leader Tom Goldtooth, former Bolivian U.N. ambassador Pablo Solón, Canadian aboriginal actress Tantoo Cardinal, and U.S. community rights attorney Thomas Linzey. The group as a whole is comprised of economists, lawyers, scientists, indigenous leaders, community activists, nuns, actors, authors, and public officials hailing from Australia, Switzerland, South Africa, United States, Spain, Canada, India, Romania, Bolivia, and England, as well as Ecuador.

The summit marks the first time leaders of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature are coming together since 2010 when they created the organization as a vehicle to help advance the cutting edge work being carried out in their home countries. The historic 2010 gathering that forged the Global Alliance also was held in Ecuador, the first nation in the world to adopt Rights of Nature in its Constitution, in 2008.

The Tribunal will be held on Friday, January 17, at Hotel Quito, in Quito, where the Global Alliance will also host a Press Conference to report the results of the summit and next steps for the Rights of Nature movement. The Press Conference is at 10:30 am. The Tribunal will consider seven cases and run from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Press kits for the Tribunal will be available.

“The Rights of Nature movement is a response in the order of magnitude necessary to end the legalized plundering that is ravaging our planet and imperiling our young and the young of all species,” says Robin R. Milam, coordinator of the summit and Administrative Director of the Global Alliance for Rights of Nature. “By recognizing nature’s right to exist and thrive, people can assert those rights on nature’s behalf, rejecting actions that permit harmful, unwanted development in their communities.”

RIGHTS OF NATURE - BACKGROUND

The Rights of Nature movement draws on indigenous wisdom in positing a new jurisprudence that recognizes the right of nature in all its forms to exist, persist, evolve and regenerate.

“A 40-year regime of environmental laws in the United States and other industrial nations has failed to protect against the escalating ravages evident around the world, including decimated species, depleted forest reserves, water shortages, and record-breaking hurricanes,” says Robin R. Milam, Administrative Director of the Global Alliance for Rights of Nature. “An entirely new approach is needed.”

Recognizing the rights of nature, which humans would have standing to enforce, reflects a shift in consciousness away from a legal system that treats nature as property for human use. “It is akin to the shift in consciousness – and change in laws – that took place when people said we should stop treating women, enslaved, or indigenous people as property,” Milam said. “And it is foundational: Human rights are meaningless without fresh water to drink, clean air to breath, safe food to eat.”

Local municipalities in the United States were the first to adopt laws establishing legal structures that recognized Rights of Nature, beginning in 2006 with Tamaqua Borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Since then more than two-dozen U.S. communities have adopted local laws recognizing Rights of Nature, including Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, which in November of 2010 became the first major municipality in the United States to do so.

In September 2008, Ecuador became the first country in the world to recognize Rights of Nature in its constitution and Bolivia is in the process of implementing laws recognizing these rights.
Nearly 100 grassroots organizations in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe are members of the Global Alliance for Rights of Nature, advancing the Rights of Nature movement in their municipalities, counties, provinces, and countries.

In Australia, the Australian Earth Laws Alliance is working with local communities to explore the potential of locally based Rights of Nature frameworks in the local context.

The Rights of Nature movement is grounded conceptually in an understanding that humans are one part of an interdependent community of life on Earth. Human existence—in all its social, economic, industrial, cultural, and governmental manifestations—is wholly dependent on the health of rivers, plants, animals, oceans, forests, atmosphere, microbes, and other ecosystems and beings that with us comprise our living planet.

Beyond enlightened self-interest, the Rights of Nature movement also emerges philosophically and spiritually out of a sense of the wonder and awe that the natural world has inspired in humans for millennia, captured in art, music, and poetry—and our sense of the sacred.

CONTACT - Michelle Maloney, National Convenor, Australian Earth Laws Alliance (convenor@earthlaws.org.au)

For more information, see the Global Alliance for Rights of Nature atwww.therightsofnature.org and the Australian Earth Laws Alliance atwww.earthlaws.org.au

Also see Declaration on Rights of Mother Earth, Cochabamba, Bolivia 
http://therightsofnature.org/universal-declaration/

Democracy Now

Indigenous Groups Win Right to Seize Chevron’s Canadian Assets over $18 Billion in Amazon Pollution