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UN document would give 'Mother Earth' same rights as humans

whit — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 11:04:49 +0100

UNITED NATIONS — Bolivia will this month table a draft United Nations treaty giving “Mother Earth” the same rights as humans — having just passed a domestic law that does the same for bugs, trees and all other natural things in the South American country.

The bid aims to have the UN recognize the Earth as a living entity that humans have sought to “dominate and exploit” “ — to the point that the “well-being and existence of many beings” is now threatened.

The wording may yet evolve, but the general structure is meant to mirror Bolivia’s Law of the Rights of Mother Earth, which Bol

Anishinabek commit to completing constitutional work

whit — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 14:36:33 +0100

ALDERVILLE, FN – Anishinabek Chiefs in Assembly have overwhelmingly approved the traditional values underlying Ngo Dwe Waangizid Anishinbaabe — the Constitution of the 39 member First Nations.

Created in Anishinaabemowin – the Ojibwe language – by a group of Elders meeting on Manitoulin Island, the document says “The Creator placed the Anishinaabe on the earth”, describing as “sacred gifts to guide them” the Seven Grandfather Teachings of Love, Truth, Respect, Wisdom, Humility, Honesty and Bravery.

It adds: “The Creator gave us sovereignty to govern ourselves.” The words were inscribed

Western Shoshone Carrie Dann: Civil disobedience one way to protect Mother Earth

whit — Sun, 13 May 2012 09:37:02 +0100

TUCSON — Western Shoshone Carrie Dann spoke of the sacredness of all living things and how gold mining is continuing to destroy the land, water and sacred places of the Western Shoshone.

During testimony to the UN Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples, Dann stressed the importance of ancestral lands of the Western Shoshone in Nevada and southern Idaho, in regards to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“Think as an Indigenous Person, how it must hurt our Mother to have her ripped apart by gold mining companies and others that drill for things under her skin and throug

Tribes Add Potent Voice Against Plan for Northwest Coal Terminals

whit — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 08:49:02 +0100

FERNDALE, Wash. — At age 94, Mary Helen Cagey, an elder of the Lummi Indian tribe, has seen a lot of yesterdays. Some are ripe for fond reminiscence, like the herring that used to run rich in the waters here in the nation’s upper-left margin, near the border with Canada. Others are best left in the past, she said, like coal.

The Westshore coal terminal in British Columbia.

Australia - Raiders Of The Rock Art

whit — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 10:42:55 +0100

Gina Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting has a greenlight to explore a huge swath of Cape York, home to ancient Aboriginal rock art – and minerals. The indigenous custodians are not happy.

“I feel I’ve been kicked in the guts,” says Stephen Doughboy, as he meets with more than 30 fellow Aboriginal clan members in the tiny remote Queensland town of Laura.

Laws Needed to Enforce U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Legal Experts

whit — Tue, 12 Nov 2013 17:47:45 +0000

[Editorial comment – The comments about FPIC not stopping projects below is not necessarily correct as research elsewhere on this site shows a number of cases where it has. Also although it is true, with regard to the first line about governments needing to live up to the provisions of the Declaration, there are countries that have incorporated it into their national legislations, including the Philippines and Bolivia.

Melanesian land issues: The Lelepa Declaration 2014

whit — Mon, 31 Mar 2014 13:39:58 +0100

Vanuatu graciously hosted two very important and interrelated meetings pertaining to common issues within the Melanesian region from 10-14 March 2014 on the island of Lelepa to the Northwest of Efate.

Guatemala: Mayan people seek to end the Controversy

whit — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 08:26:18 +0100

Guatemala – In the third of September, 2013, the Mayan People’s Council (CPO) filed a petition with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

USA - San Carlos Apache Battle Against ‘Christian Discovery’

whit — Mon, 23 Feb 2015 09:33:49 +0000

The San Carlos Apache battle cry, sounded by San Carlos Apache Chairman Terry Rambler to prevent the hostile takeover over of Apache lands by the United States and Rio Tinto mining corporation, goes to the core of U.S. neo-colonialism against Native nations.

The current attack on Apache lands arises from a law recently passed by the U.S. Congress, the “Southeast Arizona land exchange and conservation Act.” The title of the act conceals its true purpose. The law has nothing to do with conservation.

The Lizard's revenge on BHP Billiton

whit — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 17:03:28 +0100

BHP Billiton’s gigantic Olympic dam mine has long been the focus of protest. We have long covered the legal actions of local Arabunna elder ‘Uncle’ Kevin Buzzacott to stop the expansion of the mine, which aims to make it the biggest uranium mine in the world. (See: Aboriginal elder loses bid to overturn expansion of BHP Billiton’s Olympic Dam – http://www.minesandcommunities.org//article.php?a=11658)

Kevin Buzzacot tells the story of an old lizard known as Kalta, who sleeps under the ground.