Monthly Archive for March, 2007

31
Mar

Continental Indigenous Summit Concludes

The 3rd Continental Summit of Indigenous Nations and Peoples, which began on March 26 in Iximulew, Guatemala came to an end yesterday…

Continental Indigenous Summit Concludes img_7605

Unfortunately, beyond what’s already posted here (see the links to the right of the page) and what follows below, there has been ZERO coverage of the Summit. As Nations States continue to misrepresent and mischaracterize indigenous people in the Americas, I find this especially disturbing.

Here is everything I’ve been able to find:

(1) There’s a blog by Marc Becker who posted a few articles and uploaded a number of photos from the Summit.

(2) if you know how to read Spanish, there are a number of documents available, including the declaration… (If by chance anyone can translate that into English, please don’t hesitate to do so. People in the North really need to be more aware …


31
Mar

Zimbabwe: Catholic Bishops Warn of Mass Uprising

The bishops of Zimbabwe’s Catholic Church have (apparently unexpectedly) written a letter taking a position on the side of the people and against the current leadership of Zimbabwe.

Among other points, the article states “If our young people see their leaders habitually engaging in acts and words which are hateful, disrespectful, racist, corrupt, lawless, unjust, greedy, dishonest and violent in order to cling to the privileges of power and wealth, it is highly likely that many of them will behave in exactly the same manner. The consequences of such overtly corrupt leadership as we are witnessing in Zimbabwe today will be with us for many years, perhaps decades, to come. Evil habits and attitudes take much longer to rehabilitate than to acquire. Being elected to a position of leadership should not be misconstrued as a licence to do as one pleases at the expense of the will and trust of the …


31
Mar

Chile Explodes

Chile Explodes
from: www.infoshop.org
March 31 2007

Today on the anniversary twenty years ago when two brothers belonging to the MIR, Rafael and Eduardo Toledo, were shot down by the Chilean police, student protesters shut down the center of Santiago Chile and set up barricades in the poor neighborhoods in the southern part of the city.

The government is blaming the movement on guerilla groups like the Frente Patriotico and the GAP and its propaganda is claiming that they are connected to drugs. The police raided the University of Chile and claimed to find a molotov cocktail factory and an arms deposit with many machetes. The rector explained that the machetes belonged to an Afro-American dance troupe and the chemicals discovered belonged to the chemical lab.

Several stations in the Metro of Santiago were closed down and last reports announce more than 533 arrests.

Bus drivers walked off to demand higher wages today and copper …


30
Mar

Sutikalh 7 Year Anniversary Gathering

Sutikalh 7 Year Anniversary Gathering
Saturday May 5, 2007
http://sutikalh.resist.ca

Come to this anniversary gathering on Saturday May 5, 2007 and celebrate 7 years of resistance & sovereignty.

Sutikalh camp is located off Hwy. 99 midway between Mt. Currie & Lillooet.

For more info contact:
Rosalin Sam 604-894-2400 sutikalh2003@telus.net
Ramona Joe 604-894-2462

Sutikalh 7 Year Anniversary Gathering sutikalh

Background: On May 2, 2000, members of the St’at’imc nation and their allies established a permanent camp near Melvin Creek, located off Highway 99 between Mt. Currie/Pemberton and Lillooet, in the southern Interior region of BC.

Known as Sutikalh, the St’at’imc winter spirit of the area, the camp was set up to stop government and corporate plans to build a $500 million all-season ski and recreation resort in an untouched Alpine mountain area.

Part of the Cayoosh Moutain Range, the region is a transition zone from the coast to the Interior. It is habitat to …


30
Mar

Prentice needs to do more than apoligize

Minister trying to silence aboriginal critics, MP says
Winnipeg Free Press
March 30, 2007

WINNIPEG — The federal Liberal critic in charge of First Nations issues is calling on Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice to apologize for letters he wrote to two newspapers.

Winnipeg MP Anita Neville said in a release that some of Prentice’s comments in the letters are “shocking and appalling”.

Prentice wrote to the Winnipeg Free Press on Thursday, saying he was “surprised” by threats made by Grand Chief Ron Evans of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to block development projects.

Chiefs from across Canada have warned native blockades may rise because young people are frustrated by the virtual exclusion of First Nations from the recent federal Tory budget.

But in the letter, Prentice said the budget contains $1 billion in new spending that targets housing, children and families, education and economic opportunities, areas of concern mentioned by Evans.

Prentice said that he hopes $50.8 …


30
Mar

A Cry from the Bottom of a Daughter’s Heart

A Cry from the Bottom of a Daughter’s Heart
from Rights Action
March 19, 2007

We re-circulate this article published by Diana Gómez on the anniversary of the disappearance and eventual extrajudicial execution of her father, Jaime Gómez. (Translated for Rights Action by Rosalind Gil)

Planet Earth

I don’t understand why anyone would try to convince me to stop trying to find out what happened to you, why anyone would tell me that I am just shouting at the wind: why did they kill you? Who gave them permission to do this? Who could they be? What special powers do they have? I don’t understand. I just don’t understand. It has been a whole year with no news whatsoever.

There are days when I ask myself in desperation, why did they kill you? Why do I have to live with such intense grief? Why can’t I enjoy your company and your fatherly advice anymore? …


30
Mar

Indonesia - Stop the Northern Coastal Reclamation Project

Indonesia - Solidarity Needed: Stop the Northern Coastal Reclamation Project
From PH Mobile Infoshop
March 22, 2007

Dear All,

We know that your country had suffered like us, and we also know that it is quite impossible to measure one’s suffering and compare it to the suffering of others, to the fact that we are still in the same earth in which capital power had spread their influence everywhere. We are in this together. Even so, we would like to inform you what we are facing and trying to do down here.

To this year, since the collapse of Soeharto’s Orde Baru Regime, our social and environmental conditions had not yet improved, it is merely getting worst. We know that this new era of ‘democratic leadership’ is another type of regime that will never be a real alternative to this nightmare, and can only function as an administration for global …




Videos

Hosted by May First / People Link