Bicycling for peace across America: former Congresswoman and former Black Panther

Bike4Peace press statement
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Photos by Scott, thank you!

SOUTHERN UTAH -- She spent twelve years in the US Congress and a week in an Israeli jail. Now she's spending two months on a bicycle trip across North America. Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party's 2008 nominee for President, is riding with Bike4Peace 2010 to demonstrate the bicycle as a solution to Climate Change, Oil Wars, the Health Crisis, and Economic Malaise.

Malik Rahim, the 62-year-old former Black Panther and Veteran for Peace, who helped to create Common Ground Relief in response to the post-Katrina disasters in New Orleans, is also riding his bicycle to demonstrate his commitment to a way of life that respects our common need for a healthy environment.

Cynthia and Malik plan to meet with other cyclists from all parts to celebrate World Car-Free Day in Washington, DC, on Wed-22-Sept. They will rally on their bicycles in front of the US Capitol at 10:00 AM. While rides from several parts of the country have been planned for this convergence, many cyclists are expected to arrive by train and bus with their bicycles to join this celebration.

Bike4Peace 2010 began at The House of Common Sense in Oakland, CA, on Sat-24-July and has already involved some seventy bicyclists. Some have ridden across their town, some across their state, and others are committed to crossing the continent. The ride builds upon Bike4Peace experiences from previous years since it began in 2005. Riders have ranged in age from 18-mo--old twins Grace and Willow Darr-Hipp, who rode 4500 miles in a bicycle trailer to Ethyl MacDonald, an 84-yr-old woman who cycled across the continental divide in Montana.

Bike4Peace cyclists stress that local hosts are as vital a part of Bike4Peace as the bikers. "When a community comes together for a potluck to share with the bike riders," says organizer Vernon Huffman, "it builds our hope for national recovery through responsible choices. We've been excited to see how many communities are building sustainable alternatives to corporate disasters."

Donations can be made through PayPal at http://b4p.bbnow.org/donate.php and will be used to defray the costs of travel for those cycling across the continent. Your support will be greatly appreciated.

As of this writing in the first week of August, Ms. McKinney is crossing southern Utah, while Mr. Rahim is in Georgia and planning to visit each state capitol on his ride to DC. As they look forward to their great convergence, they are also excited to meet and share with people in every small town through which they pass. More information is at http://b4p.bbnow.org/ and http://www.bikeforthegulf.org/

Navajo Environmental Activist Earl Tulley Announces Candidacy for Navajo Vice President

Navajo environmental activist Earl Tulley announces candidacy for vice president with Navajo Presidential hopeful Lynda LovejoyBy Brenda Norrell
copyright Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com/
Photo copyright Brenda Norrell.

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. -- Longtime Navajo environmental activist Earl Tulley announced Monday that he will run for vice president with Navajo Nation Presidential hopeful Lynda Lovejoy, the top vote getter in the Navajo primary election.

"I believe that the Lovejoy-Tulley ticket would like to awaken and bring to life the phrase 'Walk in Beauty,'" Tulley said during an interview at a Window Rock restaurant Monday afternooon.

While some Navajo say a woman should not serve as the leader of the Navajo Nation, Tulley sees it differently. "Leadership is not relative to gender, but the capacity to lead, that is what I see Lynda Lovejoy possess."

Tulley pointed out that 17,000 Navajo voters endorsed Lovejoy's role to be the president of the Navajo Nation in the primary.

Tulley, from Blue Gap, Ariz., on the Navajo Nation, served previously as the chairman of the board for Navajo Technical College in Crownpoint, N.M., and as a Navajo Housing Authority community developer, providing affordable housing to Navajo families.

Tulley was the vice president of Dine' Citizens Against Ruining our Environment for 22 years. Dine' CARE has fought to protect the Navajo forests from the clear cut logging of old growth pines and to protect the environment from the destruction of coal mines and power plants.

"I believe everyone is looking for sustainable development that will not impair the resources and health of the Navajo people, but that would give quality economic life for all."

When asked about this decision to run in the Navajo election, Tulley said one has to be prepared to serve when one is called to serve, whether it is to gather a load of firewood or to serve as vice president.


(This article may be republished only in full with full credits to Brenda Norrell/Censored News.)

Armed Chilean Forces Set to Annihilate Hundreds of Unarmed Indigenous Rapanui

Armed Chilean forces set to annihilate 100s of unarmed indigenous Rapanui people

Update Wednesday: Chilean special forces sent to Easter Island; 500 Indigenous Peoples reclaiming land reported safe on Tuesday, read breaking news article: http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100811/NEWS/8110350/-1/SITEMAP

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: August 9, 2010
Santi Hitorangi (845) 596-5403
Susana Hito (845) 371-2100

Pacific Islanders non-violently take back Easter Island
At 12 noon today Chile’s armed forces set to annihilate 100s of unarmed indigenous Rapanui people
At 12 noon today armed Chilean forces (navy marines) and intelligence officers (dando vueltas) are set to crush 100s of unarmed Pacific island natives of Rapanui, aka Easter Island, who are staging a non-violent retaking of their ancestral land through occupation.

Since last week hundreds of unarmed islanders had moved into government buildings, the museum and the privately-owned Hanga Roa hotel.

The Rapanui families have filed for protective orders to be issued (a constitutional action or recurso de amparo preventivo). Yet, today the Chilean forces are on the verge of attack without the world knowing of the Rapanui’s plight.

The Hanga Roa Hotel, which during the Pinochet dictatorship was sold to private multinational investors. The Hito family is now occupying the Hanga Roa Hotel their ancestral legacy. Santi Hitorangi, a member of the Hito family, who is currently living in upstate New York says:

“The Rapanui people were left no choice but to take action. I have been unable to return to my country because when I started to construct traditional agricultural structures “manavai” on my land, a warrant for my arrest was issued, for “criminal trespass” on my own land.

For the past two years I have been fighting the Hotel’s relentless persecution to detain, charge and jail me. After my family retook the Hanga Roa Hotel, a condition of negotiation, is that all criminal charges against me dismissed.”

The root of the current revolution is based in the Chilean’s continued occupation and systematic abuse of the Rapanui people, in violation of the United Nations laws on political decolonization and today also the International Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, to which Chile became a signatory in 2007. Chile’s actions also violate Chile’s own Indigenous Laws, which make it illegal for non-Rapanui people to own land on the island. The Chilean government has continued to condone abuses relating to health, usurpation of lands, and endangerment of the fragile environment and eco-system of the island by unrestricted immigration of foreigners and Chilean nationals.

In August 2009, the Rapanui people took over the international Mataveri Hanga Roa airport for three days, at which time the Chilean government agreed to start giving control over immigration through a constitutional amendment. To date the Chilean government has not fulfilled its agreement and the fragile ecosystem of the island is endangered. Chile has only delayed political decisions which are needed, such as the intervention of the Committee on Decolonization of the United Nations, return of usurped state owned lands, and restrictions on immigration.

BACKGROUND:
For nearly 2000 years the Rapanui civilization flourished in isolation the middle of the Pacific Ocean, The Rapanui developed a written language and performed engineering feats considered impossible. The Rapanui are not an ancient, extinct people, but today the are very much alive and vibrant.

Yet most of the world does not even know the Rapanui people exist, and believe Easter Island to be a deserted, mysterious island with the monolithic rock statutes, known as the Moai, seen in advertisments and movies such as, “Night at the Museum”. In the mid 1990’s UNESCO declared Rapanui a “patrimony to humanity”, a human heritage site.

In 1888 when the Chilean navy claimed Rapanui only 110 Rapanui remained, today the resilient Rapanui number nearly 5,000 despite abuses and attempted genocide.
The alleged “treaty” between the Rapanui and Chile was written in both Spanish and transliterated Rapanui, only 110 Rapanui remained. Each side of document has completely different meaning and intent. The Rapanui side establishes a relationship of FRIENDSHIP between Rapanui and Chile, whereas the Chilean side states that the Rapanui CEDED all their rights in the island.

It is unthinkable for the Rapanui people could ever hand over their island to a foreign power, since they had no where else to go, being 3,800 miles from their closest neighbor.

Today the Rapanui people have reclaimed their land rights to their ancestral home. Piru Huke, a woman leader whose family has taken over the governor’s residence, states that, “Rapanui is inextricably the land, the language and the people. None of which can be separated or sold. This togetherness confirm the unbreakable link between the Rapanui people and their land.”

Donations for a legal defense funds of Rapanui may be made, to Te Pito Productions, a not-for-profit corporation. An auction of Rapanui petroglyph rubbings will be announced shortly. For more information please inquire anamaeha@aol.com, or tepitoproductions@mac.com.

AIM WEST: San Francisco Indigenous Peoples Day

San Francisco Indigenous Peoples Day Films
and Events
By AIM-WEST
Censored News
http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com
Photo: Hopi Thomas Banyacya, among those who led the struggle for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
UPDATE:
All My Relations! Aho!
Thank you, and da Mayor of San Francisco (protocol!) for attending AIM-WEST's celebration of UN proclamation, August 9th "International Day of the World's Indigenous People". Your presence makes all the difference!

The occasion acknowledged the passing of Annie Oakes, and the impact of Oakes family toward Indigenous movements world-wide.

Leonard Peltier also was mentioned, in prison but not forgotten, urging the President for his immediate release. And, we called loudly for the US to sign and adopt the 2007 resolution by the United Nations General Assembly "Declaration on the Rights of the World's Indigenous People."
AIM High!!
Antonio Gonzales
AIM-WEST Director
Www.aimwest
415-577-1492

SAN FRANCISCO -- The public is invited to attend the observance of the “International Day of the World’s Indigenous People” at San Francisco Civic Center, on Monday August 9, 2010 from 11 am to 3 pm. It is organized by the American Indian Movement-WEST, a community based human rights advocacy organization promoting the rights of Indigenous peoples and the United Nations “Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007. The occasion will serve to coincide with activities scheduled at the United Nations in New York.

The day’s activities will include a press conference to include solidarity statements from Individuals, organizations and governments. There will be special guest speakers, traditional dancers, drummers and singers, and performers of all Indigenous nations in solidarity to share their culture and spiritual beliefs. Special invited guests will include Indigenous peoples who are faced with critical challenges and opposition by city and government policies that affect their rights to Self-determination on a daily basis.

A special moment of silence and prayer will be made to commemorate the life of ANNIE OAKES, a member of the Kashaya Band of Pomo Nation, who passed to spirit world on August 1, 2010. ANNIE OAKES, now joins her soul mate Richard Oakes, both promoted the fundamental idea that Native Peoples have a right to sovereignty, justice, respect and control over their own destinies. They dedicated their spirit of resistance against colonization, and for the return of their sacred traditional homelands.

The United States, and Canada, the only two countries in the world who have yet to adopt the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples are urged to sign and ratify the Declaration currently being reviewed by the U.S. State Department. On 23 December 1994 the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People and later also during the extended Second Decade, in New York, Geneva and other offices of the United Nations. This will be the fourth year AIM-WEST has sponsored the event with the cooperation of San Francisco, where the UN Declaration on Human Rights was signed in 1948.

In keeping with the UN proclamation, and theme for the International Day, “Indigenous Peoples and Film Making” AIM-WEST will show films and photos of regional and local Indigenous people’s struggles to protect their inherent and sovereign rights to land, food and spiritual and cultural practices, including participatory democracy. Join us for an evening of solidarity and commitment to justice, peace and dignity. The evening program include the following information:

Time: 6- 9 pm
Location: Freedom Archives, 522 Valencia Street/16th near BART STATION (http://www.freedomarchives.org/
Donation: $ 5.00 at door, no one turned away! Bring food to share! Snacks and refreshments will be served.
Drummers and singers welcome! Raffle!!

A special showing of the film “Reclaiming their Voice: The Native American Vote in New Mexico” starting at 7 pm. Also a slide show on the Fort Bragg demonstration against the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative held July 21-22, and footage of the recent security provided by AIM-WEST members and others for the Winnemum Wintu ceremonial rights of passage held on the McCloud River in Shasta County. Special guest speakers are invited to present issues and provide the public with information on how we can all help and support Indigenous people’s rights, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People.

The International Day of the World’s Indigenous People is officially commemorated annually on 9 August in recognition of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in 1982.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
(9 August)
On 23 December 1994, the General Assembly decided that the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People shall be observed on 9 August every year during the International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (resolution 49/214). By its resolution 59/174 of 20 December 2004, in which the Assembly proclaimed the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People (2005-2014), it also decided to continue observing the International Day of Indigenous People every year during the Second Decade, in New York, Geneva and other offices of the United Nations. The Assembly asked the Secretary-General to support observance of the Day from within existing resources, and to encourage Governments to observe the Day at the national level. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/Reference_Paper_No_47.doc.htm
UNIS/SGSM/207
4 August 2010
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/en/pressrels/2010/unissgsm207.html
"Indigenous Peoples Still Experience Racism, Poor Health and Disproportionate Poverty"
Message on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, 9 August 2010
VIENNA, 9 August (UN Information Service) - The world's indigenous peoples have preserved a vast amount of humanity's cultural history. Indigenous peoples speak a majority of the world's languages, and have inherited and passed on a wealth of knowledge, artistic forms and religious and cultural traditions. On this International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, we reaffirm our commitment to their wellbeing.
The landmark United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, adopted by the General Assembly in 2007, lays out a framework for governments to use in strengthening relationships with indigenous peoples and protecting their human rights. Since then, we have seen more governments working to redress social and economic injustices, through legislation and other means, and indigenous peoples' issues have become more prominent on the international agenda than ever before.
But we must do even more. Indigenous peoples still experience racism, poor health and disproportionate poverty. In many societies, their languages, religions and cultural traditions are stigmatised and shunned. The first-ever UN report on the State of the World's Indigenous Peoples in January 2010 set out some alarming statistics. In some countries, indigenous peoples are 600 times more likely to contract tuberculosis than the general population. In others, an indigenous child can expect to die twenty years before his or her non-indigenous compatriots.
The theme of this year's Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples is indigenous filmmakers, who give us windows into their communities, cultures and history. Their work connects us to belief systems and philosophies; it captures both the daily life and the spirit of indigenous communities. As we celebrate these contributions, I call on Governments and civil society to fulfil their commitment to advancing the status of indigenous peoples everywhere.
Media centre
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/Media.aspx?IsMediaPage=true
“No room for complacency, indigenous peoples continue to suffer,” says UN human rights chief
The following statement has been issued by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay,
to mark the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples (9 August 2010)
GENEVA– “We have cause to celebrate the progress made in turning human rights into a reality for indigenous peoples, but this International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is also an occasion to recall that there is no room for complacency. The continuing violations of the rights of indigenous peoples, in all regions of the world, deserve our utmost attention and action.
The gap between the principles of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples* and the reality remains wide, as indigenous peoples continue to suffer discrimination, marginalisation in such fields as health and education, extreme poverty, disregard for their environmental concerns, displacement from their traditional lands and exclusion from effective participation in decision-making processes. It is particularly disconcerting that those who work to correct these wrongs are, all too often, persecuted for their human rights advocacy.
In a number of countries, new tools have been created to give voice to indigenous peoples in decision-making and to stamp out human rights violations. We are also encouraged by the fact that support for the Declaration keeps expanding, including in the countries that originally voted against this remarkable document.
However, we should redouble our efforts to build a true ‘Partnership in action and dignity’ – the theme given by the General Assembly to the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous People – as we work together towards full application of the rights affirmed in the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples of the world.
We need to bring the rights and dignity of those who are suffering most to the centre of our efforts. This requires changes in practices, but we also need improved laws and institutions, without which advances are not sustainable.
On this International Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to translate the words of the Declaration into effective action. Keeping this promise is our obligation.”
(*) Check the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: http://daccess-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/N06/512/07/PDF/N0651207.pdf?OpenElement
Learn more about the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/AboutUs/Pages/HighCommissioner.aspx
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - Media Unit
Xabier Celaya, Information Officer: + 41 22 917 9383 / xcelaya@ohchr.org