Indigenous women push Deutsche Bank for fossil fuel divestment amidst pipeline shutdowns

Indigenous Women’s Divestment Delegation Pushes Deutsche Bank for Fossil Fuel Divestment Amidst Pipeline Shutdowns, a Global Pandemic and the Climate Crisis

Joint press release in collaboration with Divest Invest Protect and The Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International

The Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International
MEDIA CONTACT Katherine Quaid, WECAN International, katherine@wecaninternational.org
Michelle Cook, Divest Invest Protect, divestinvestprotect@gmail.com

SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA, California -- Following recent divestment advancements, a sixth Indigenous Women’s Divestment Delegation— infused with the spirit of their ancestors and unwavering determination to seek accountability and justice— will meet virtually with representatives from Deutsche Bank on July 16th, 2020. The Delegation will highlight human rights and Indigenous rights violations— sharing data, stories and calls for immediate action toward fossil fuel divestment and support of Indigenous self-determination and a just, clean energy future.

Dineh Michelle Cook in Paris: Spiritual Currency in the Age of Capitalism

Photo by Hartman Deetz

Michelle Cook's speech in Paris, Annual Day of Solidarity organized by the Committee in Solidarity with Indigenous in the Americas, CSIA-Nitassinan.

Transcribed by Christine Prat

Censored News

I think in terms of Divest, Invest, Protect, I don’t consider myself so much a lobbyist as a reality check, and someone who is merely delivering facts and truth.
And ultimately, I think that one of the important things we are doing is that we are not there to ask these banks to pity us, we are giving them a very clear warning that their time of dominating this earth is coming to an end.
.

Standing Rock Camp Attorneys Urge DNB Bank of Norway to Divest in Dakota Access Pipeline

Photo copyright Rob Wilson

Red Owl Legal Collective/National Lawyers Guild Urges DNB, Bank of Norway, to Divest from Dakota Access Pipeline

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News

CANNON BALL, North Dakota -- The Red Owl Legal Collective in Standing Rock Camp urges DNB, Bank of Norway, to divest from Dakota Access Pipeline. The attorneys, who are present in the camp of the water protectors at Standing Rock, state that the pipeline is in violation of international laws and Treaties, and responsible for massive human rights abuses being carried out by militarized police.

"DNB must immediately consider the consequences and ramifications of continuing to support the ‘wrong team’, in what is now known and will be remembered as one of the most profound violations of Native American sovereignty to occur in the United States," said Red Owl Legal Collective/National Lawyers Guild.

"The Dakota Access Pipeline presents an unfolding disaster with respect to the rights of indigenous peoples and basic international human rights standards. The heavily-militarized reaction by North Dakota police, supported by officers from surrounding states, as well as by private security contractors working for Dakota Access, has crossed the line with respect to international human rights standards we expect nations and corporations to adhere to," the attorneys said in a statement today.

"Like any other large-scale energy infrastructure project, Dakota Access relies on financial institutions to provide the money it needs to construct its proposed pipeline. In addition to equity investment in the companies behind Dakota Access — which includes Energy Transfer Partners, Energy Transfer Equity and Sunoco Logistics, construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline relies heavily on debt," Red Owl said.

In its report titled “Who’s Banking on the Dakota Access Pipeline?,” Food and Water Watch has done a lot of work putting together the pieces of the financing puzzle for Dakota Access. Among the many financial institutions providing financing for the Dakota Access Pipeline is Den Norske Bank – DNB (The Bank of Norway). On November 7, 2016, DNB announced that it was reconsidering its investment in the Dakota Access Pipeline. The bank stated:

"DNB looks with worry at how the situation around the pipeline in North Dakota has developed. The bank will therefore take initiative and use its position to bring about a more constructive process to find a solution to the conflict … If these initiatives do not give appeasing answers and results, DNB will consider its further involvement in the financing of the project.

In response to DNB’s statement, the Red Owl Legal Collective, an organization formed with support from the National Lawyers Guild to assist in coordinating legal support for the growing resistance to the Dakota Access Pipeline, transmitted a letter to DNB documenting human rights abuses and urging DNB to divest from the Dakota Access Pipeline.

In this letter, DNB is urged to withdraw its funding of the Dakota Access Pipeline because of its violations of international laws and Treaties.

"We collectively request that DNB immediately withdraw its lending commitments with respect to the Dakota Access Pipeline, as its construction and use violates fundamental human rights, violates treaty-based, customary, 'good faith' international law, policy, and rights of indigenous peoples’ as expressed by the United Nations, is in violation of the 1851 and 1868 Fort Laramie Treaties between the government of the United States and the Great Sioux Nation (the Oceti Sakowin), and and potentially conflicts with numerous other international human rights standards, norms, and principles found in the Vienna Convention, Geneva Conventions, international criminal law, humanitarian law, and the International Climate Agreement (Paris), to which the United States and Norway are signatories."

The attorneys point out that this is unceded traditional territory of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and tribes of the Oceti Sakowin.

"The Pipeline cuts across the unceded traditional territories used and occupied by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and the tribes of the Oceti Sakowin. This area includes numerous sacred sites, burial grounds, and serves as the land base upon which the tribes depend for subsistence, food, water, medicine, culture, religion, and life."

Dakota Access Pipeline construction has resulted in militarized police at Standing Rock.
The attorneys said there are currently over 400 active criminal cases filed against peaceful protesters, known as water protectors, who sought to exercise their voices in opposition to the Pipeline through prayer, acting in good faith under international law.

Currently, there are damages, personal injuries, physical, psychological, and emotional harm being sustained, and perpetrated against the Standing Rock Sioux tribal members, human rights defenders, medics, media, and other communities impacted by the installation of this DNB-funded project.

"Moreover, the actions of the Dakota Access Pipeline are contrary to DNB’s own stated human rights values," Red Owl said in the letter.

The militarized police have used chemical agents, rubber bullets and Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD). There are numerous reports of the reckless deployment of firearms and reports of multiple officers discharging weapons into a crowd and at horses, resulting in multiple injuries of people and horses.

Red Owl said there was "at least one report of an officer aiming a tear gas canister at an individual’s head, striking him in the neck." Further, there was the use of non-lethal or less than lethal firearms at close range.

Militarized police were unprovoked when police fired both bean bag guns and rubber bullets. Multiple flash bang grenades were thrown into a crowd of elderly and vulnerable people. There were numerous reports of police pushing, shoving, clubbing, and knocking people down. Further, the unsafe use of ATVs, resulted in several people being hit by ATVs.
.

Militarized police attack peaceful water protectors Oct. 27, 2016. Photo copyright Rob Wilson.

These egregious human rights violations included the unsafe and excessive deployment of pepper spray against pipe-carrying elders assembled in prayer. The targeted use of excessive force against prominent figures included police grabbing and re-injuring the recently broken wrist (by the police on October 22) of a member of the International Indigenous Youth Council.

This unprovoked violence by police included unnecessary rough apprehension of numerous prayerful and peaceful people, including several prostrate praying women. The improper use of zip ties resulted in the loss of feeling and motion, numbness, and hands turning blue that, in some cases, continued to persist after they were removed. There were multiple reports of peaceful, surrendering individuals being tackled to the ground by groups of law enforcement officers; and numerous reports of the targeting of horseback riders, including the pursuit of a female horseback rider by police on ATVs shooting guns while following a heard of buffalo.

Red Owl has documented these militarized police attacks, including the disruption of prayer and spiritual ceremonies by tribal members, and the taking of sacred items, including pipes and staffs, from Native water protectors.

Elderly arrested during ceremonies. Oct. 27, 2016

The Morton County Sheriff's Department and jail have abused water protectors with unnecessary, inhumane, and unconstitutional treatment after arrest. This includes the use of dehumanizing tactics including marking arrestees’ arms with numbers, cavity and strip searches, cutting piercings off with bolt cutters, and failing to provide food and water to inmates for long periods of time. Water protectors were imprisoned in dog kennels in makeshift conditions.

Attorney Jeffrey Haas was present when Dakota Access security contractors unleashed attack dogs on women and children, resulting in bloody wounds. Another Red Owl human rights observer of the September 3rd dog attacks writes that “several people were bitten by dogs including a pregnant woman. The people were also sprayed with mace.”

As a result of these unacceptable police practices, dozens of water protectors sustained serious injuries, including numerous injuries requiring medical treatment by the volunteer camp. There are 30 victims on file with Red Owl Legal Collective.

Dakota Access Pipeline sicced attack dogs on women and children on Sept. 3, 2016

Besides the egregious human rights abuses by police, the owners of the pipeline company have a long history of environmental damage.

"Energy Transfer Partners, the Texas company behind the Dakota Access Pipeline, and its affiliated entities, have a long history of violations of environmental laws including pending lawsuits by the states of New Jersey, Vermont, Pennsylvania, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the City of Breau Bridge in Louisiana over MTBE contamination of groundwater, as well as citations for releases of hazardous materials from its pipelines and facilities in Ohio, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Missouri, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii."

Red Owl said is clear that DNB is a major funder of the pipeline.

"Background on DNB and the Dakota Access Pipeline DNB is part of the lending syndicate that has provided a US$2.5 billion credit facility for construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. DNB portion of that commitment is US$120 million. Additionally, DNB Bank provides revolving credit lines in the approximate amount of US$340 million to Energy Transfer Partners and its related companies, Energy Transfer Equity and Sunoco Logistics."

"DNB must immediately consider the consequences and ramifications of continuing to support the ‘wrong team’, in what is now known and will be remembered as one of the most profound violations of Native American sovereignty to occur in the United States. The history being created in the unceded traditional territories of the Great Sioux Nation in America’s Upper Great Plains continues to be written at this moment. DNB has a choice to stand on the right side of history, with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and the tribes of the Oceti Sakowin and the world in saying “No to the Dakota Access Pipeline,” and to adhere to international and national laws in accordance with human rights. Absent divestment and cancellation of financing commitments, DNB risks being documented and remembered as a supporter of human rights violations against the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, indigenous peoples, human rights defenders, and their supporters."

Police spray chemical agents on water protectors in the river as they try and reach desecrate burial places on Nov. 2, 2016

For extensive documentation on the violations of the U.N. Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, other international laws, and Treaties, please see the full letter from Red Owl.

http://martinezlaw.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/20161108-DNB-Bank-Divestment-Letter-ROLC.pdf

For more information -- Red Owl Legal Collective Media Contact:

Michelle Cook cookmichelle7@gmail.com


Copyright 2016 Brenda Norrell, Censored News

Standing Rock: River of Support Pours in from Indian Nations and Researchers

Standing Rock camp 

Photo: Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe headed to Washington today for the case in federal court to halt the Dakota Access Pipeline. Photo by Robin LeBeau.

Standing Rock receives resolutions and letters of support from 87 Indian Nations

By Brenda Norrell

Censored News

Resolutions of support:

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_19.html

CANNON BALL, North Dakota -- The resolutions from Indian Nations have come in from the Four Directions, with the Tlingit and Haida in Alaska among the latest to send support to the Standing Rock Sioux Nation. Standing Rock is battling the crude oil pipeline of Dakota Access, with construction threatening the Missouri River. This river is the source of water for the Dakotas and Lakotas.

There are 28 Native American Tribes living along this river.
Now, the Standing Rock Sioux Nation said it has received letters and resolutions of support from 87 Indian Nations. The Kickapoo in Mexico are sending a delegation.

Further, environmental engineer Renee Matlock proves that the environmental assessment failed to list an endangered species present, the Poweshiek Skipperling.

This tiny endangered butterfly has the power to halt the construction of the pipeline -- a pipeline now endangering the people, their water source, and their burial places.
The permit process for the Dakota Access Pipeline was a fraud, deeply buried in secrecy and political and corporate manipulations of the public trust. With the potential of poisoning the water supply throughout the heart of America, Dakota Access Pipeline and its U.S. government partners are constructing a pipeline of genocide. In Iowa alone, the pipeline would cross rivers 60 times.

Environmental engineer Renee Matlock shows how the failure to list the tiny butterfly can halt the pipeline, if the United States adheres to its laws.
Matlock tells Censored News that the failure to list the endangered butterfly invalidates the permit.
“There are two ways the permits can be invalidated. Either through Federal Court action or through forcing the agencies that approved the permits to cancel the permits.  In this instance, there is a hearing on 24 August, 2016 in Federal Court and another on 25 August 2016 related to DAPL being allowed to continue." (Article at Censored News.)

The endangered whooping crane, gray wolves and many more endangered species are already listed as impacted through this beautiful scenic heart of this country.

Researchers join Indian Nations and the water defenders in a wall of resistance to halt this pipeline. Currently, a campaign of divestment, boycott and sanctions is underway, with the investors in the pipeline named, including the dirty tar sands pipeline corporation Enbridge in Calgary, Alberta, along with Marathon and Phillips 66.

In its documents to the Dept of Energy, Dakota Access Pipeline reveals that this pipeline was already in the works in June of 2014 when Obama was in Standing Rock. During the permit process in 2014, the pipelines states: "Petitioners emphasize that all interested parties had an opportunity to participate in the Open Season, which commenced on March 12, 2014, and ended at 12:00 p.m. (CT) on May 23, 2014." (Photo of Obama in Standing Rock in June of 2014, by Bismarck Tribune.)

The Dakota Access Pipeline is part of a new larger pipeline systems that goes all the way from the Alberta tar sands to the Gulf of Mexico.
While the movement to halt the Keystone XL pipeline grew, this new pipeline system was quietly being permitted in segments to avoid detection.

The Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska’s Executive Council unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline.

“As stewards of the air, land, and sea, who have respect for nature and property, Central Council stands in solidarity with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe who have been peacefully protesting to protect their way of life, water, people and land.”

“The drilling required for the construction of the pipeline would disturb burial grounds and sacred sites on ancestral treaty lands.

“The Dakota Access Pipeline violates Article 2 of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty which guarantees that the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe shall enjoy the ‘undisturbed use and occupation’ of their permanent homeland.”

As the resolutions arrive from the Four Directions, so do the announcements that more donations are on the way. Today, there was an announcement that a cow had been donated to feed the people, a car dealer had donated an SUV to deliver supplies, and truckloads of buffalo and water are on their way. Buses were also on their way from as close by as Rosebud, while supporters were traveling by car to Standing Rock from across America today.

The Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas also sent its support for the protection of Missouri River water rights of 28 Indian Nations. The Kickapoo point out the failure of the US Corps of Engineers and the lack of a real environmental assessment.

Indian Nations point out in their resolutions the failure of the US Corps of Engineers to consult with Native American Tribes before rapidly permitting the pipeline; failure to adhere to federal laws protecting historic sites and burial places, including the National Historic Preservation Act; and failure to provide an adequate environmental assessment of the impacts.

Hoopa Valley in California answered the call for support. Hoopa Valley is sending donations and giving employees time off to go to North Dakota and support Standing Rock. Further, Hoopa Valley will be seeking alternative energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels in support of the struggle.

The Northern Cheyenne in Lame Deer, Montana, sent their support  in a resolution unanimously passed by the Tribal Council. The Northern Cheyenne Nation said its villages and burial sites -- which shows their peoples footprint -- are threatened by the pipeline.
Standing Rock Resistance Radio is now live in camp, at 87.9 FM and will soon be live online, when more equipment arrives, necessary because of failed cell service.
Govinda of Earthcycles, live grassroots radio, drove from northern California for days with little sleep, and Michelle Cook, Dine' (Navajo) drove from southern Arizona to help Govinda with Standing Rock Resistance Radio. Michelle is a recent law graduate which also points out the need for more legal observers to come to the camp and join the efforts.
In camp, cooks and security are hard at work serving the people.

These are some of the latest, in a long list of supporters for the water defense of the Missouri River by Standing Rock Sioux Nation along the Missouri River.

View many resolutions here at Censored News

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_19.html

A list of Indian Nations support:

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe

Crow Creek Sioux Tribe

Santee Sioux Tribe

Lower Brule Sioux Tribe

Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Oglala Sioux Tribe

Yankton Sioux Tribe

Flandreau Santee Sioux

Spirit Lake Nation

Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribe

Meskwaki Nation

Omaha Tribe of Nebraska

Anishinaabe Nation

Menominee Nation

Blackfeet Nation of Montana

San Carlos Apache

Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska

Northern Arapaho Tribe of Wyoming

Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe of Nevada

Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, MT

Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma

Nez Perce Tribe of Idaho

Ponca tribe of Oklahoma

Gwich'in Nation of Alaska

Hoopa Valley Tribe of California

Comanche Tribe of Oklahoma

Jatibonicu Taino People of Puerto Rico

Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley, Idaho

Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas

Swinomish Tribal Community of Washington

Mauna Kea Ohana of Hawaii

National Congress of American Indians

Siletz Tribe

Kickapoo Tribe

Cheyenne Arapoho of Oklahoma

Spirit Lake Nation

• ... and more flowing in

Fracking the Mi'kmaq: Guess who owns Southwestern Energy

Fracking the Mi'kmaq

Police assault on Mi'kmaq anti-fracking camp, Elsipogtog, New Brunswick Thursday

Investors in Southwestern Energy urged to dump stocks!

By Brenda Norrell
Censored News Exclusive
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Dutch translation NAIS

Southwestern Energy, targeting the Mi'kmaq, has already been sued in Arkansas and Pennsylvania, where fracking resulted in cancers from carcinogens in drinking water. The Ottawa Citizen didn't do its homework last week and promoted Southwestern Energy's fracking, calling it "safe." Taking the typical white privilege stance -- and ignoring Southwestern Energy's cancer alleys -- the Ottawa Citizen promoted fracking in poor and First Nations communities. 

A look at Southwestern Energy's board of directors reveals they have a long history of work exploiting energy resources around the world in Indigenous areas, from Southern Africa to Australia and New Guinea. And this exploitation of Indigenous Peoples means big money for oil and gas executives.

The investors in Southwestern Energy are being urged to divest in this Houston, Texas, corporation that is now targeting the land of Elsipogtog, resulting in Canadian police attacking Mi'kmaq First Nation at a a peaceful anti-fracking camp. The heavily armed SWAT team, with police dogs and pepper spray, attacked women and elderly on Thursday, Oct. 17, 2013. 

Some Mi'kmaq from the camp remained in jail on Oct. 27, awaiting bail hearings. Tyson Peters, Mik'maq, risks losing his leg after being shot with a rubber bullet during the predawn raid by Canadian police, RCMP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police. The RCMP denied they had shot rubber bullets. 

Corporations are urged to dump stocks -- and disassociate from those investing in Southwestern Energy and their partners -- including Phillip Morris, Verizon, ATT, Century Link, Comcast (Capital Research Global); Facebook, Google, Nike, Starbucks (Sands Capitol Management) Exxon, Chevron, Walmart, McDonalds, Walt Disney, Apple, Microsoft, (Vanguard) Goldman Sachs, more. 

Southwestern Energy has already been sued in Arkansas and Pennsylvania for fracking and causing cancer due to poisoning the drinking water.
http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/title/southwestern-energy-faces-two-arkansas-fracking-lawsuits-1

In Pennsylvania, 13 families sued Southwestern Energy. "The mining has resulted in chemicals loaded with heavy metals and carcinogens infiltrating the ground water and residents’ well water, the lawsuit states." http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/pennsylvania-lawsuit-hydro-fracking-water-contamination-12848/#sthash.FgaShBP7.dpuf

The Ottawa Citizen didn't do its homework on the cancer alleys resulting from Southwestern Energy's fracking and took the editorial stance last week of promoting fracking as safe. Taking the typical position of white privilege, the Ottawa Citizen rallied behind fracking in poor and First Nation communities. 
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/fracking+help+poor+provinces/9084486/story.html

Southwestern's board of directors, selected in May, reveal that Southwestern Energy is composed of those who have a long history of exploiting Indigenous Peoples and their lands around the world. The board of directors include John D. Gass, former vice president of Chevron, who was responsible for exploration in Angola and Southern Africa, and Chevron upstream activities in Australian and Papua New Guinea. 

Destruction of the land and poisoning of the water means dollars for those behind it. Board member Greg Kerley made 1.2 million -- which includes a $105,000 bonus -- in his position at Southwestern Energy last year. http://www1.salary.com/Greg-D-Kerley-Salary-Bonus-Stock-Options-for-SOUTHWESTERN-ENERGY-CO.html
The board is listed here: http://biz.yahoo.com/e/130524/swn8-k.html

Edward C. Johnson, of Fidelity Management and Research Company in Boston, Mass., is identified as principal owner of stocks in Southwestern Energy, in this document: http://apps.shareholder.com/sec/viewerContent.aspx?companyid=SWN&docid=5733524

The Heinz Endowment was thrown into controversy over its support of fracking. It has investments in Southwest Energy. http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/policysocial-context/23080-fracking-down-the-house-heinz-endowment-president-resigns.html

Corporations and investors, are urged to be the first to divest in stocks of Southwestern Energy and disassociate with its investors. Let us hear from you at Censored News, and we'll place your name on our honor roll as a corporation who stands with Indigenous Peoples to protect the land, water and air and uphold the right to protection of Indigenous women and elderly.

Censored News will honor you as the first corporations to divest and stand firm with Indigenous women against police violence, and the first to stand firm with Indigenous Peoples against fracking and violations of Indigenous rights.

See more investors, tell them to divest of stock and disassociate with investors. Dump Southwestern Energy: http://stockzoa.com/ticker/swn/
Map of the 2.5 million acres in New Brunswick that Southwestern Energy is targeting: 
http://www.swn.com/operations/Pages/nb.aspx

Source
http://stockzoa.com/ticker/swn/

Update June 25, 2015: Who Owns Southwestern Energy Company:
http://stockzoa.com/ticker/swn/
.

Mi'kmak attorney Amy Sock punched in face and kicked during police assault Thursday.

Mi'kmaq women pepper sprayed.

Mi'kmaq shot with these bullets. Mi'kmaq Tyson Peters risks losing his leg after being shot.

For permission to repost the article: brendanorrell@gmail.com
Please share the link!