Traditional O'odham leaders support Guarijios battle against Los Pilares dam

 



Guarijio baskets, Sonora, Mexico, Oct 26, 2012
Photo by Brenda Norrell

Statement of the Traditional O’odham Leaders of the O’odham Communities of Sonora, Mexico in Support of the Guarijio against the flooding of traditional lands by the Los Pilares / Bicentenario dam project on the upper River Mayo in southeast Sonora State
French Translation

Traditional O'odham Leaders Sonora, Mexico
Photo by Ofelia Rivas

Cu:Wi I-Gersk, Sonora, Mexico -- The Traditional O’odham Leaders of Sonora, Mexico are again astounded that the Mexican Government at this time of technological advancement has not acquired the basic principles of honesty and civilized decency in existence with the natural world. As within our region time and time again development is being permitted without respect or proper consultation to the local population. Development moves forward without transparent compliance to the cultural, environmental and biological statutes enacted by the government of Mexico.

The Traditional O’odham Leaders of Sonora, Mexico represent the O’odham communities of northern Sonora, Mexico, and are recognized as the official representatives sanctioned by the O’odham community members, and recognized by the State and Federal government of Mexico.

Having discussed the impacts that the proposed LOS PILARES / BICENTENARIO dam project on the upper River Mayo in southeast Sonora state, northwest Mexico the Traditional O’odham Leaders of Sonora support the objections of the Guarijio:

 http://www.chrisp.lautre.net/wpblog/?p=1107

http://chiltepines.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/declaracion-de-los-lideres-tradicionales-oodham-en-apoyo-al-pueblo-guarijio/

Los O´odham y los grupos indígenas de la región noroeste. Fuente: (Felger y Broyles, 2007, p. 134).

1. The Guarijio have not been properly informed or afforded proper consultation with respect to transparent information regarding detailed project plans of the Los Pilares / Bicentenario dam project on the upper River Mayo in southeast Sonora State and the Guarijio have not been properly informed or afforded proper consultation of studies outlining negative impacts that will interrupt their livelihood.
2. The Guarijio have been affected by being targeted with unfair local and regional media (press and television) reports that they are “opposed to development” and the projects reputed benefits. The Guarijio are being judged publicly without the benefit of being properly informed or afforded proper consultation with respect to transparent information regarding detailed project plans of the Los Pilares / Bicentenario dam project on the upper River Mayo in southeast Sonora State.
3. The Environmental Impact Analysis (EIA) fails to include significant social and environmental impacts. The Guarijio were not properly informed or afforded proper consultation with respect to the transparent information regarding detailed project plans of the Los Pilares / Bicentenario dam project to include participation and contribution of the Guarijio in the EIA to assist in the identification of significant cultural, social, biological and environmental impacts that the Los Pilares / Bicentenario dam project twill have on the existence of the population in the region.

 

Identical to the O’odham, the Guarijío as well as Pima and Mayo peoples have populated this region since ancient times. The indigenous culture, traditions and lives depend upon the resources of the region such as the water and associated ecosystems that are essential for the livelihood to survive.
The impacts of the proposed dam include physical displacement of homes and communities gravely impacting historical and cultural heritage. The proposed dam project will destroy the natural resources that provides for food and medicinal resources as well as traditional building materials which are now available to the community.
The Traditional O’odham Leaders of Sonora, Mexico fully support the Guarijío and encourage solidarity with all our relatives of the region to work in unity to protect our rights as indigenous people and our responsibilities to the land and the universe.

Declaración de los Líderes Tradicionales O’odham en apoyo al Pueblo Guarijío

http://chiltepines.wordpress.com/2012/10/26/declaracion-de-los-lideres-tradicionales-oodham-en-apoyo-al-pueblo-guarijio/

Los Líderes Tradicionales O’odham de las Comunidades O’odham de Sonora, México, en apoyo al Pueblo Guarijío, nos han hecho llegar la siguiente Declaración.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Censored News coverage of the Reunion of Spiritual Guides in Sonora

and Comca’ac (Seri) reclaiming land

Video interview: O’odham Ofelia Rivas on Comca’ac land, at the sea

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-oodham-ofelia-rivas-on-comcaac.html

Video Espanol/Spanish/ Guarjios battle dam and relocation
http://bsnorrhttp://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-guarijio-traditional-song-and.html

Sonora’s Indigenous unite to protect Mother Earth

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/sonoras-indigenous-unite-to-protect.html
Photo Comca’ac (Seri) reclaim ancestral land near Kino Bay, Sonora
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/photo-comcaac-seri-reclaim-ancestral.html
SPANISH Video interview Guarijios battle dam and relocation in Sonora, Mexico
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-interview-guarijios-battle-dam.html
Photos of today's Indigenous Gathering of Spiritual Guides in Sonora
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/photos-sonoran-indigenous-spiritual.html
Yaqui battle theft of Rio Yaqui water
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/yaqui-battle-corporate-greed-to-defend.html
Traditional O'odham leaders support Guarijio fighting dam
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/traditional-oodham-leaders-support.html
Seri honored as Pillars of the World
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/comcaac-seri-honored-as-pillars-of-world.html

Alejandro summarizes gathering of Indigenous spiritual leaders

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/11/video-alejandro-summarizes-indigenous.html

Comcaac (Seri) honored as 'Pillars of the World'

Article, photo and video by Brenda Norrell
Censored News copyright
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

BE' CHUK' (HERMOSILLO, Sonora, Mexico ) -- Today, Amalia Astorga and Adolfo Burgos, Comca'ac (Seri) were honored as Pillars of the World during the Second Reunion of the Spiritual Guides of the Region.
Indigenous People in Sonora are struggling to maintain their language and culture. The discussions center on the spiritual well being of Sonora, including water, land, medicines, and all that is part of the culture, said Sonoran Studies Professor Alejandro Aguilar Zeleny.
The issues include water diversion of Rio Yaqui; the dam project that will relocate the Guarijios, drug trafficking impacting the Los Pimas; gold mining and mega agricultural development in the O'odham ceremonial community of Quitovac; and tourism development along the sea coast of the Comcaac (Seri.)
 Indigenous Peoples of Sonora, located south of Arizona,  are Yoeme (Yaqui,) Yoerme (Mayo,) Los Pimas, Guarijios, Comcaac ( Seri,)  O'odham, Cocopah (Cucapa,) Kickapoo, and Raramuri (Tarahumara.)
Seri Amalia Astorga celebrates with dance, to the Sonoran Indigenous music,
during the Second Reunion of Spiritual Guides, Friday, Oct. 26, 2012.

Censored News coverage of the Reunion of Spiritual Guides in Sonora

and Comca’ac (Seri) reclaiming land

Video interview: O’odham Ofelia Rivas on Comca’ac land, at the sea

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-oodham-ofelia-rivas-on-comcaac.html

Video Espanol/Spanish/ Guarjios battle dam and relocation
http://bsnorrhttp://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-guarijio-traditional-song-and.html

Sonora’s Indigenous unite to protect Mother Earth

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/sonoras-indigenous-unite-to-protect.html
Photo Comca’ac (Seri) reclaim ancestral land near Kino Bay, Sonora
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/photo-comcaac-seri-reclaim-ancestral.html
SPANISH Video interview Guarijios battle dam and relocation in Sonora, Mexico
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/10/video-interview-guarijios-battle-dam.html
Photos of today's Indigenous Gathering of Spiritual Guides in Sonora
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/photos-sonoran-indigenous-spiritual.html
Yaqui battle theft of Rio Yaqui water
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/yaqui-battle-corporate-greed-to-defend.html
Traditional O'odham leaders support Guarijio fighting dam
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/traditional-oodham-leaders-support.html
Seri honored as Pillars of the World
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.mx/2012/10/comcaac-seri-honored-as-pillars-of-world.html

Alejandro summarizes gathering of Indigenous spiritual leaders

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/11/video-alejandro-summarizes-indigenous.html

Bolivia enacts Law of Mother Earth and GMO ban

Pachamama Law enacted and GMO ban in Bolivia!
Reposted from
http://www.eldeber.com.bo/nota.php?id=121015233320
Censored News

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

 

President Evo Morales enacted the Law of Mother Earth and Integral Development to Live Well. Morales issued the Law of Mother Earth in an emotional ceremony at the Palacio Quemado.

The Law of Mother Earth and Integral Development to Live Well promulgated by President Evo Morales provides for the elimination of the concentration of landownership or landlordism and other components in the hands of landowners and companies, and prohibits the introduction, production, use, and release of genetically modified seeds in the country.

The most outstanding new rule also created the Public Defender System, Climate Justice Fund, which provides that public lands should be distributed to mostly women and indigenous peoples, and orders regulating foreign ownership and control of the property, access and use of the components of Mother Earth.

 

Ley elimina el latifundio y veta a los transgénicos

El presidente Evo Morales promulgó la Ley de la Madre Tierra y Desarrollo Integral para Vivir Bien. Crearán la Defensoría del Sistema y los sectores están sorprendidos

Extracto del discurso del presidente Evo Morales - Promulgación Ley de la Madre Tierra

Henrry Ugarte A.

La ley de la Madre Tierra y Desarrollo Integral para Vivir Bien, promulgada por el presidente del Estado, Evo Morales, prevé la eliminación de la concentración de la propiedad de la tierra o latifundio y otros componentes en manos de propietarios agrarios y empresas, y prohíbe la introducción, producción, uso, liberación al medio y comercialización de semillas genéticamente modificadas en el territorio nacional.
En sus partes más sobresalientes la nueva norma también crea la Defensoría del Sistema, un Fondo de Justicia Climática, que establece que las tierras fiscales deben distribuirse con preferencia a mujeres y pueblos indígenas, y ordena la regulación y control de la extranjerización en la propiedad, acceso y aprovechamiento de los componentes de la Madre Tierra.
Mas, more
http://www.eldeber.com.bo/nota.php?id=121015233320


 

California endangers Indigenous Peoples with carbon trading scam

Indigenous leaders rejecting California REDD hold governor responsible for their safety

 

Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples

Censored News

http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

 

As California lawmakers prepare to launch the state’s cap and trade program as part of its Global Warming Solutions Act, or AB32, indigenous leaders traveled to Sacramento to urge officials not to include an international forest-based carbon offset mechanism, known as REDD, in the law.

REDD, which stands for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation, is a controversial market-based policy mechanism that proposes to protect tropical forests in order to capture and store carbon dioxide pollution. But REDD-type projects have led to serious human rights violations, and many indigenous leaders have denounced REDD projects as a false solution to climate change, the delegation charged.

Members of the Global Alliance of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities on Climate Change against REDD and for Life traveled from Mexico, Brazil and Ecuador to Sacramento last week to testify before the California Air Resources Board and meet with officials from Governor Jerry Brown’s office and the state Environmental Protection Agency. Alliance members have experienced persecution and threats for speaking out against these programs, the group’s spokespeople said.

According to Tom Goldtooth, executive director of the Indigenous Environmental Network, “REDD is a perverse forest offset scam that allows polluters like Chevron to keep destroying the environment. The United Nations recognizes that REDD may result in ‘the lock-up of forests,’ the majority of which are on Indigenous Peoples’ land. REDD is potentially genocidal.”

In 2010, California signed agreements with Chiapas, Mexico; Acre, Brazil, and other states that may bring REDD into AB32, linking California’s climate policy to these tropical regions. The visitors to Sacramento told lawmakers that they are suffering harassment, intimidation and vandalism of their homes and offices for rejecting REDD-type projects.

José Carmelio Alberto Nunes (Ninawá), president of the Federation of the Huni Kui people of Acre, Brazil, says he and his wife have received anonymous phone calls warning them, “be careful what you say and who you talk to, or you may have an accident."

“I think my coming to California threatens those interests that hope to make money from REDD,” the Huni Kui leader said. “Anyone who speaks out against REDD in Acre is persecuted.”

As the policy moves forward, Ninawá says he is not afraid to speak out. “If I am assassinated for resisting REDD and defending my land, other Ninawás will continue the struggle.”

Despite voluntary safeguards, REDD-type projects are already resulting in deaths, violent evictions, forced relocation, imprisonment, armed guards and prohibitions to access and use land essential for the survival of Indigenous Peoples and forest-dependent communities.

Rosario Aguilar, a health promoter from Chiapas, Mexico, and a member of the delegation to California, said, “Even before California has established its market, the REDD-type project being implemented in our communities is causing conflict and displacement. As part of their plan to move indigenous people off the land, the government cut off medical services to the village of Amador Hernández in the Lacandon Jungle. This is why we say that REDD is promoting death, not life.”

The State of Chiapas itself notes in its Climate Change Action Program that 172 communities have already been “relocated” as part of its avoided deforestation efforts, another name for REDD.

“Given California’s REDD agreements, we hold the State of California and Governor Jerry Brown responsible for the moral and physical safety of those who speak out against REDD,” said Goldtooth.

Michelle Chan, director of economic policy for Friends of the Earth, reported that in the delegation’s meeting with Cliff Rechtschaffen, Brown’s senior advisor on climate change, “Friends of the Earth specifically requested that if any of the participants, as a result of meeting with the governor’s office, experience increased harassment or threats upon returning home, that the governor do whatever he can to help remedy the situation.”

Rechtschaffen replied that the governor’s office would endeavor to do whatever would be appropriate.

The California Air Resources Board is expected to decide in 2013 on whether or not to continue pursuing REDD credits as part of California’s cap and trade program.

Marlon Santi, a K’ichwa leader from the Sarayaku community in Ecuador, renowned for resisting oil development and speaking out against REDD, said that Indigenous Peoples are not just holding the Governor’s office responsible. “We are taking our case to the United Nations. We must stop REDD from threatening the survival of our peoples.”

Contact:Tom Goldtooth, Indigenous Environmental Network, 218-760-0442
Jeff Conant, Friends of the Earth, 575-770-2829

Tom Goldtooth, Executive Director
Indigenous Environmental Network/IEN-TI
PO Box 485
Bemidji, MN 56619 USA
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