Indigenous groups in Costa Rica have reaffirmed their opposition to El Diquis, a hydro-electric project the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) plans to build in the southern province of Puntarenas. The government of Costa Rica recently declared the project a “National interest”.

Ivannia Villalobos explains on her blog that, while El Diquís “was presented publicly by the ICE about two years ago, it’s in fact another version of the so-called ‘Boruca Hydroelectric Project’ which was first proposed in the early 70’s.”

As it’s currently proposed, El Diquis would flood the Traditional Lands of the Terraba and Chinakicha Nations. Forcing their displacement, the project would also compromise and infringe upon both Peoples’ beliefs and cultures. Over 200 historical sites; including Burial Grounds, Sacred Sites, and Ancient Ruins—would all be destroyed by the flood.

The dam would have a further, indirect effect on the Curre, Boruca, Guaymi, Bribi, Ujarras, Cabagra and Salitre Peoples; who together represent nearly one half of Costa Rica’s indigenous population.

Under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and ILO Convention 169 - both of which the …

Luwaran reported on February 23, that a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Central Mindanao has warned Canada about pursuing a gold mining operation in South Upi, Maguindanao. Inhabited by Tirurays, Maguindanaos, and settlers, the situation was described “as a ‘tinderbox’ that could bring about both bloodshed and sufferings to the people.”

The article continues,

The NGO’s spokesman, who requested anonymity, told Luwaran that the Canadian firm, which is still unnamed as of press time, has a tie-up with a powerful politician in Maguindanao, who claimed the town as part of his personal turf.

The spokesman said the Tiruray tribesmen would oppose the mining operation with everything they have, including resorting to the use of force if necessary.

“This is our last habitat and if the rivers are polluted, the trees cut down, and the earth moved usunder, then where will our life’s future be. Our traditional belief is identified with mother nature, especially the forest, mountains, rivers, and the [pristine] environment.”

He said in said town there are armed men belonging to the Lumad Military Force, which used to fight off loggers …

The Canadian-based uranium giant Cameco Resources is attempting to expand their mining operation near Crawford, Nebraska. Last year they submitted a proposal to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), asking permission to use another 2.4 billion gallons of water over the 4.7 billion they currently exploit (per year) from the High Plains aquifer, the largest aquifer in America.

If the expansion is approved as Cameco hopes it could seriously infringe on those who depend on water from the High Plains - and several interconnected aquifers; among them, the People of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and others in eight states from Nebraska to Texas. At the moment, the aquifer is being depleted at a rate of 160 percent above its ability to replenish.

A group of indigenous stakeholders and environmental organizations say this expansion must not happen. Led by Debra White Plume and Owe Aku (www.bringbacktheway.com), Tom Cook of Chadron NE, Slim Buttes Agricultural Development of Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and the Western Nebraska Resources Council - the groups say the mining operation is already having a serious impact on Pine Ridge …

A regional trial court in Nueva Vizcaya served OceanaGold with an injunction last week, halting the company’s demolition activities on Didipio lands. It will only be in effect for 20 days, but it’s nonetheless a great victory for the community. They been trying to stop OceanaGold from destroying their land since 1994.

Members of the Didipio Earthsavers Multi-Purpose Association (Desama) filed for the injunction (Temporary Restraining Order, TRO) on February 27, saying the company was not providing “just compensation” or even relocation sites for the displaced people.

In a statement, Desama said

“The matter is of extreme urgency because (OceanaGold), with about 30 armed members of the police and around 50 other security personnel, and around six bulldozers, is still in or has easy access to Didipio, ready to demolish the other remaining houses and properties.”

You may recall there was another injunction filed against OceanaGold back in January. Aimed at preventing “any further damage to the community,” the petitioners said OceanaGold’s mining project “lacks social acceptability and failed to get the consent of the municipal government.”

Weeks prior to this, the …

The Rural Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) has blockaded eight roads in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This action comes in response to the “violence and abuses” committed against 900 women two days ago.

Organized as part of a “week of mobilization for Agrarian Reform and against the violence of big land-owners”, the women of La Via Campesina decided to occupy a plot of land that was illegally acquired by the Swedish-Finnish company Stora Enso.

According to Via Campesina, Brazilian law states foreigners cannot own land that’s “less than 150 kilometers off the border with other countries.” Stora Enso’s 5,200-acre tree farm lies within that boundary, near the Uruguayan border.

As the regional government did nothing to prevent Stora Enso from setting up its operation, the women decided to take action themselves. In turn, Stora Enso asked government to intervene and remove the protesters.

Arresting hundreds and injuring close to fifty - the government did just that. Mainstream reports suggest there were no injuries (except to the police) however the MST say the abuses have been documented …

The following article is an opinion piece featured in the most recent edition of the World Rainforest Movement’s Monthly Bulletin. If you would like to read or download the entire Bulletin, please visit www.wrm.org.uy (it’s available in English, Spanish , Portuguese and French)

Aridity and death vs diversity and fertility: a women’s view of plantations

International Women’s day is around the corner and we would like to pay homage to the countless women struggling for their rights by sharing parts of a recent research (1) carried out by two women in Brazil which, on the one hand, provides a broad account of women’s struggles against plantations in that country and on the other hand provides testimonies from local women on how those plantations have impacted on their lives and livelihoods.

The authors’ opening paragraph explains that “On 8 March 2006, International Women’s Day, before the break of dawn, 2,000 women from Via Campesina occupied the Aracruz Celulose corporation’s tree nursery in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil [article]. Their faces hidden by purple scarves, the women waged a …

It was pretty much ‘business as usual’ for the month of February. Corporations continued acting as innocent third parties while Governments continued to demand indigenous People allow the theft of their lands and destruction of their cultures without question. “It’s in your best interests,” we’re told. “It’s for the greater good.”

Amidst this however, there was one important shift in the world this month–one that we can only hope will catch on in greater force. Governments began pulling back the reins of development, and a few corporations and Shareholders started withdrawing from and speaking against development projects because of the dangers they pose to indigenous people and the environment. This happened more in February than in the last 6 months combined.

Considering how schizophrenic the government-backed development industry is, it’s doubtful this shift will develop into something substantial any time soon. After all, change cannot happen in a vacuum and it cannot happen on its own.

If we were to really start pushing though… I mean, if we were to start working together regardless of our desires, beliefs, and fears; and if we were …

Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation (KIFN) Chief Donnie Morris and five other members of the community will soon find out if they, like Ardoch Algonquin spokesperson Robert Lovelace, will be fined and incarcerated for asserting their own rights—that is, for attempting to stop a molestation by walking away from Canada’s so-called consultation process and refusing to accept unsanctioned development on their land as “a given.”

According to a recent Press Release by KIFN, which you can find below, sentencing will take place on March 17 at the Superior Court of Justice, 277 Camelot Street in Thunder Bay at 10:00 a.m.

If you would like some background about this case, there are several articles available on Intercontinental Cry. You can also visit www.kitchenuhmaykoosib.com for more news and to learn how you can support the KIFN.

First Nation Leaders to be Sentenced on March 17 For ongoing Protest over Mining Claims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 27, 2008

Thunder Bay, ON – Leaders of a First Nation community in northern Ontario will learn on March 17 whether they will be going to jail for contempt …

After meeting with the Chief and Council of Norway House, representatives from Manitoba’s Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy and Mines announced they will be suspending a drilling permit issued to Victory Nickel for their Minago Nickel Project. To date, the Manitoba government has issued three permits to Victory Nickel, however they did not consult or notify Norway House Cree doing so.

In a Press Release dated Feb. 22, Norway House Chief Marcel Balfour points out that under section 35 of the 1982 Constitution Act, “governments are required to consult First Nations when they are contemplating conduct that may adversely impact aboriginal or treaty rights.”

Chief Balfour stated, “We made it clear to the representatives from Manitoba that they had broken the law by issuing those permits without properly consulting us. We are very pleased that Manitoba has suspended the drilling as this is a good first step towards developing our relationship with the Crown on mining issues.”

Further discussions are planned between Norway House Cree Nation and Manitoba towards development of an appropriate consultation and accommodation process on mining in …

In their plans to build a jumbo pipeline across unceded Lubicon territory, TransCanada’s failure to consult and address the concerns of the Lubicon Cree has begun ricocheting back at the company.

According to a Press Release by the Friends of the Lubicon dated February 26, TransCanada shareholders have learned of the failure and are now “taking the company to task for mismanaging the issue of aboriginal land rights and rightly raising the possibility of delays and/or cancellation of the project if Lubicon land rights are not properly addressed by the company.”

In a letter to letter to the Chairman of the Board of TransCanada (pdf), one investor writes:

“As shareholders, we are deeply concerned with [the Lubicon Statement of Intent to Participate] as well as with management’s handling of this situation.

“At minimum, it constitutes an undisclosed and poorly managed risk to our investment, including potential negative impacts on TransCanada’s financing, insurance, public image or anticipated regulatory decisions. It could also lead to legal or political challenges and serious delays in company plans and projections, which could …