Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

August 13, 2015

US poisons Navajo river water in scorched earth campaign


After poisoning the river water of Navajos and farmers, the United States immediately began a dirty tricks campaign to get Navajos to sign waivers of liability


By Brenda Norrell

The United States has poisoned the Four Corners river water, and immediately began a dirty tricks campaign, attempting to have Navajos sign 'waivers of liability.'
When the power plants first poisoned the air, water and land of the Four Corners region, the United States declared the Four Corners region -- including this area of the Navajo Nation -- is a "sacrifice zone." 
This is because the electricity produced here is for distant US cities. Power plants, and the dirty coal mining it depends on, use lots of water.
Now, with the poisoning of the Animas River by the US EPA, with water from the Gold King mine -- whether it was intentional or accidental by the US -- the US has once again carried out a scorched earth campaign.
The US EPA has poisoned the water of those with the least financial resources to recover and survive: Navajos and farmers in the Four Corners region who depend on this river for water, livestock and crops. The US EPA admits it is responsible for this spill.
At the same time, the US and Arizona Congressmen have been using every trick possible to get Navajo area river water for power plant use, including trying to secretly steal it, as was revealed in attempts to steal the nearby Colorado River water by the US Interior and Arizona Congressmen for the Navajo Generating Station at nearby Page, Arizona. 
Now the US has poisoned the river water in the Four Corners region.
Not only has the US poisoned the Animas River water in this area of New Mexico and Colorado, but the US EPA immediately began a dirty tricks campaign, attempting to get Navajos to sign waivers of liability to release the US from financial liability, to prevent Navajos and others from recovering.
Already, the US has presented these forms to Navajos in Shiprock, N.M., and Aneth and Oljato in Utah, along the San Juan River, which is being poisoned from the heavy metals in the Animas River spill. These are remote areas where many Navajo elders still speak Dine' (Navajo.)
Navajo President Russell Begaye has warned the people not to sign these waivers of liability in this latest attempt by the US to continue genocide against Native Americans and America's poor.
Navajo President Russell Begaye said, "The U.S. EPA has been seeking signatures from the Navajo People on Standard Form No. 95 which, if signed, will waive future claims against the U.S. EPA.
"The Federal Government is asking our People to waive their future rights because they know without the waiver they will be paying millions to our People. This is simple; the Feds are protecting themselves at the expense of the Navajo people and it is outrageous," President Begaye said.
See President Begaye's statement and warning, with French and Dutch translations provided at Censored News 
http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2015/08/us-epa-tells-navajo-people-to-waive.html

Wikipedia: A scorched earth policy is a military strategy that involves destroying anything that might be useful to the enemy while advancing through or withdrawing from an area. It is a military strategy where all of the assets that are used or can be used by the enemy are targeted, such as food sources, transportation, communications, industrial resources, and even the people in the area. The practice can be carried out by the military in enemy territory, or in its own home territory. It may overlap with, but is not the same as, punitive destruction of the enemy's resources, which is done for purely strategic/political reasons rather than strategic/operational reasons.

Also see: Leaked doc: Interior Sec. Salazar and Arizona Congressman Kyl attempt to steal Navajo water rights http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2012/11/leaked-documents-mainstream-media.html

For permission to republish this article:  brendanorrell@gmail.com

Dine' CARE calls for remediation of historic mine sites


Animas River with toxic spill from Gold King mine

Diné C.A.R.E. Calls for Remediation of Historic Mine Sites


By Dine' CARE
Contacts:
Colleen Cooley    
Carol Davis             

FARMINGTON, NM --Diné Citizens Against Ruining our Environment (Diné C.A.R.E.) applauds the Colorado and New Mexico Delegations for urging the federal government and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to release plans for the cleanup and mitigation of the Gold King Mine incident, and long-term remediation of historic mining sites. On August 11th and 12th, the Delegations sent letters to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and President Obama expressing concern that the Gold King Mine is still leaking contaminated water and sediment into the Animas River.


“We are concerned by the ongoing pollution and threat posed by historic mining sites in the upper Animas watershed that have never been adequately remediated,” says Carol Davis, Diné C.A.R.E. Coordinator. “We echo the Colorado and New Mexico Delegations in asking for federal support for the reclamation of these ongoing sources of pollution.”
The Gold King Mine’s toxic release has flowed into the Animas and San Juan Rivers, impacting many communities in Southern Colorado, Northern New Mexico, and Southeastern Utah, including the Navajo Nation. Farmers, livestock, and many residents who live along the San Juan River have been heavily impacted by this toxic mine spill. Residents have been warned not to utilize the river for any domestic or livestock purposes. Pumping and irrigation pumps have been shut off, and there are still many unknowns to this devastating spill. Fortunately, some Diné communities including the Shiprock community are coming together to assist with delivering water and supplies for those in need, but more support is needed from the federal government.
“This tragedy underscores the danger posed to our communities when mining companies continue to walk away from mining operations without proper reclamation and remediation,” says Colleen Cooley of Diné C.A.R.E.  “All the mining companies that are currently operating and who have a stake in these abandoned mines should pay their fair share of cleanup costs.”
A copy of the letter to President Obama from the Colorado and New Mexico Delegations is available here, and the letter to the EPA is available here.



About Diné C.A.R.E.


Diné CARE is located on the Navajo Nation and is a non-profit organization that works with many Navajo communities affected by energy and environmental issues. Since the late 1980s, community people have stood up and demanded for environmental protection and sustainable development practices, bringing systemic changes in tribal politics and making the grassroots voices evident in the realm of energy development.

August 12, 2015

Mohawk Nation News 'Tug of War'

TUG OF WAR

mnnlogo1

Please post & distribute. Nia:wen.
MNN. Aug. 12, 2015. If you don’t want to play their tug of war game, just drop the rope. They’ll still keep playing. But no one will be on the rope. The matrix is designed to keep everybody playing this game.
Joke Norton: "Wish I could help. See ya later!"
Joke Norton: “Wish I could help. See ya later!”

Joke Norton of Kahnawake plays this game by getting us on each end pulling and tugging, dividing our community. This monetization and class system allows the 1% to control the 99%.
Joke Norton's dream
Joke Norton’s dream for Kahnawake.

To confuse us, the well programmed incorporated chiefs talk about us and the history of our struggle like a salesman and a politician, “It’s not us that’s illegal. It’s them”. Then they proceed with their plans for our assimilation and legalization of genocide. They tell us how it’s going to be good for all of us. Joke Norton wants to be just like his mentors that he looks up to, like Donald Trump.
So it's over our burial ground!
So it’s over our burial ground!

In the Kahnawake Highway 30 dispute, Joe has two sides playing tug of war, us and the town of Chateauguay. In the meantime, he plans to personally develop a shopping mall, in partnership with a number of outside developers. Joe is privatizing Kahnawake, using our sovereignty and funds to enrich himself and his partners. He wants a Joke Norton Shopping Mall of Kahnawake, a Joke Norton Tower, streets named after him, with all the whistles and commercials. The Joke Norton casino floating off the shore of Joke Norton Mall, just like Donald Trump, his mentor. A shuttle will take customers to the casino, where he will smile and collect the money, all of which will go into his pocket and then into his off-shore accounts.
Joke Norton: "Just think. You can get a job dancing at the casino"!
Joke Norton: “Just think. You can get a job dancing at the casino”!

Joe Norton has already left Kahnawake and kaianerehkowa in his own mind. All of his tug of war, divide and conquer stragegies will fail when the people stop playing the game and let go of the rope. Joke Norton wants to swim with the big fish in the Admiralty waters. Joe, they’re gonna eat you up and shit you out!
Lets end this whole tug of war strategy by dropping the rope.
Yes, Joe, all criminals are gonna get it.
Yes, Joe, all criminals are gonna get it.
As Frank Zappa brilliantly reminds us of the tug of war strategy imposed upon us through the media: “So I’m watchin and I’m waitin, hoping for the best! Even think I’ll go to prayin everytime I hear them saying there’s no way to delay that trouble coming every day”. Drop the rope, people!

MNN Mohawk Nation News kahentinetha@mohawknationnews.com more news, books, workshops, to donate and sign up for MNN newsletters, go towww.mohawknationnews.com  More stories at MNN Archives.  Address:  Box 991, Kahnawake [Quebec, Canada]J0L 1B0 Thahoketoteh@mohawknationnews.com

Warning! U.S. EPA tells Navajo People to Waive their Rights - Gold King spill

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Navajo President warns Navajos not to sign US EPA Waivers of Liability -- the US EPA was responsible for the massive gold mine spill

By Navajo Nation
Censored News
English with French and Dutch translations

WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. - The U.S. EPA has been seeking signatures from the Navajo People on Standard Form No. 95 which, if signed, will waive future claims against the U.S. EPA.
"The Federal Government is asking our People to waive their future rights because they know without the waiver they will be paying millions to our People. This is simple; the Feds are protecting themselves at the expense of the Navajo people and it is outrageous," President Russell Begaye said.

Standard Form No. 95 states the following:

I CERTIFY THAT THE AMOUNT OF CLAIM COVERS ONLY DAMAGES AND INJURIES CAUSED BY THE INCIDENT ABOVE AND AGREE TO ACCEPT SAID AMOUNT IN "FULL SATISFACTION AND FINAL SETTLEMENT OF THIS CLAIM"

All signors will be limited to the specific claims filed, and any future claims for injuries caused by the Gold King Mine will be waived.

"The U.S. EPA has admitted they are at fault and stated this disaster will last for decades. This is unacceptable. The damages to our People will be long term and the Navajo Nation will not settle for pennies. I have consistently stated that the Navajo people deserve to be compensated for every penny lost. I will not allow fine print to let U.S. EPA off the hook. The Navajo people deserve better from the United States government," President Begaye said.
The U.S. EPA has been attending local public hearings across the Navajo Nation, in Shiprock, Aneth and Oljato and passing out Standard Form No. 95 to participants urging them to sign the form. The Navajo Nation Attorney General has advised that Form No. 95 will settle for current claims and preclude all future claims from the spill.
"We are also concerned for our neighbors, and whether this Standard Form No. 95 is being circulated in other communities. This is not just hurting the Navajo People but all those in the Four Corners Region. Think twice before you sign this form, we must hold U.S. EPA fully accountable for their negligence," Vice-President Nez said.

French translation by Christine Prat

ATTENTION! L’AGENCE DE PROTECTION DE L’ENVIRONNEMENT DES ETATS-UNIS DIT AUX NAVAJO DE RENONCER A LEURS DROITS DANS L’ACCIDENT DE LA MINE GOLD KING

On August 12, 2015, in Activités minières, Navajos, by Chris P
Par la Nation Navajo [c.-à-d. le Gouvernement Navajo – NdT]*
12 août 2015
Traduction Christine Prat
WINDOW ROCK, Arizona – L’Agence de Protection de l’Environnement des Etats-Unis (EPA) a tenté d’obtenir des signatures du Peuple Navajo sur le formulaire standard No. 95, lequel, s’il est signé, fera renoncer à des réclamations futures contre l’Agence Fédérale.
image« Le Gouvernement Fédéral demande à notre Peuple de renoncer à ses droits pour le futur, parce qu’ils savent que sans ce renoncement ils devront payer des millions à notre Peuple. C’est simple: les instances Fédérales se protègent aux dépens du peuple Navajo, et c’est scandaleux » dit le Président Begaye.
Le Formulaire Standard No. 95 dit ce qui suit :
« JE CERTIFIE QUE LE MONTANT RECLAME COUVRE SEULEMENT LES DEGATS ET LES BLESSURES CAUSES PAR L’INCIDENT SUS-MENTIONNE ET JE SUIS D’ACCORD POUR ACCEPTER LADITE SOMME EN « TOUTE SATISFACTION ET COMME REGLEMENT FINAL DE CETTE RECLAMATION »
Tous les signataires devront se limiter aux réclamations spécifiques déjà déposées, et devront renoncer à toutes réclamations futures pour des blessures ou problèmes de santé causés par la mine Gold King.
« L’Agence de Protection de l’Environnement des Etats-Unis a admis être en tort et a déclaré que la catastrophe durerait des décennies. C’est inacceptable. Les dommages pour notre Peuple seront à long terme et la Nation Navajo n’acceptera pas d’arrangement pour quelques sous. J’ai systématiquement déclaré que le peuple Navajo mérite des compensations pour chaque sou perdu. Je n’autoriserai pas les petits caractères à épargner l’EPA des Etats-Unis. Le peuple Navajo mérite mieux de la part du Gouvernement des Etats-Unis » dit le Président Begaye.
L’EPA a assisté à des audiences publiques locales dans la Nation Navajo, à Shiprock, Aneth et Olijato, et distribué le Formulaire Standard No. 95 aux participants, en insistant pour qu’ils le signent. Le ministre de la Justice de la Nation Navajo a prévenu que le Formulaire No. 95 réglera les réclamations actuelles et empêchera toute réclamation future pour les suites de la fuite.
« Nous sommes aussi inquiets pour nos voisins, et nous demandons si le Formulaire Standard No. 95 est également distribué dans d’autres communautés. Ceci ne touche pas seulement le Peuple Navajo, mais tous ceux de la Région de Four Corners [‘Quatre Coins’, la frontière entre l’Utah, le Colorado, le Nouveau-Mexique et l’Arizona, qui a été tracée à la règle sur une carte – NdT]. Réfléchissez bien avant de signer ce formulaire, nous devons tenir l’Agence de Protection de l’Environnement des Etats-Unis pour entièrement responsable de sa négligence » dit le Vice Président Nez.
* ‘La Nation Navajo’ peut avoir plusieurs significations: géographiquement, il s’agit du territoire de la Réserve actuelle, politiquement, il s’agit du Gouvernement Navajo, qui ne représente pas toujours l’ensemble de la population concernée…


Home » Nieuws » * WAARSCHUWING! US EPA ZEGT NAVAJO’S DAT ZE HUN RECHTEN MOETEN OPBERGEN- GOLD KING SPILL



Dutch translation by Alice Holemans, NAIS Gazette


* WAARSCHUWING! US EPA ZEGT NAVAJO’S DAT ZE HUN RECHTEN MOETEN OPBERGEN- GOLD KING SPILL
Navajo President waarschuwt de Navajo’s “ontheffing van aansprakelijkheid” van de US EPA NIET te onderteken en. – de US EPA was verantwoordelijk voor het enorme goudmijn-l ek.

Door Navajo Nation
Vertaald door NAIS: www.denaisgazet.be

WINDOW ROCK, ARIZONA – De US EPA probeert handtekeningen op het Standard Form.N° 95 los te krijgen van het Navajo volk. Wanneer zij dit ondertekenen verspelen ze hun rechten en toekomstige schadeclaims tegen US EPA.

“ De federale regering vraagt onze mensen om hun toekomstige rechten op te bergen omdat zij weten dat zij ons anders miljoenen schadevergoeding moeten betalen. Dit is zo simpel; de Feds beschermen zichzelf ten koste van het Navajo volk en dit is schandalig,” zei President Begaye.

Op Standard Form N° 95 staat het volgende:
Ik verklaar dat het bedrag van de vordering enkel de schade zal dekken die door het bovengenoemde incident veroorzaakt zijn en akkoord te gaan met het bovengenoemde bedrag in “volle tevredenheid en definitieve afwikkeling van deze vordering”
Alle ondertekenaars zullen beperkt worden tot de specifieke claims die ingediend werden, en daarmee zullen alle toekomstige claims voor toegebrachte schade, veroorzaakt door de Gold King Mine van de tafel geveegd kunnen worden.

“ De US EPA heeft toegegeven dat zij in fout waren, en verklaard dat deze ramp nog tientallen jaren gevolgen zal hebben. Dit is onaanvaardbaar. De schade aan ons volk zal nog vele jaren voelbaar zijn en de Navajo laten zich niet met een aalmoes afschepen. Ik heb consequent verklaard dat het Navajo volk het verdient om voor elke cent verlies vergoed te worden.
Ik zal niet toestaan dat de US EPA ermee weg kan door ‘de kleine lettertjes’.
Het Navajo volk verdient meer respect van de regering van de Verenigde Staten,” zei President Begaye.

De US EPA was aanwezig bij de lokale hoorzittingen doorheen de Navajo Nation, in Shiprock, Aneth en Olijato, en telkens deelden zij hun Form.N°95 rond aan de deelnemers terwijl zij aandrongen om dit meteen te tekenen.
De Attorney General van de Navajo Nation heeft duidelijk gesteld dat Form.N°95 de huidige schadeclaims zal afwikkelen en alle toekomstige schadeclaims veroorzaakt door het drama zal uitsluiten.

“Wij maken ons ook zorgen over onze buren en of deze Standard Form.N° 95 ook in andere gemeenschappen rondgaat. Dit kwetst niet alleen het Navajo volk maar iedereen in de Four Corners Regio.
Denk twee keer na voor u dit formulier ondertekend, we moeten US EPA aansprakelijk houden voor hun nalatigheid.”