Indigenous People Demand Voice in Climate Talks

[Thinking Man's Idiot]

Published on Friday, November 28, 2008 by OneWorld.net
Indigenous People Demand Voice in Climate Talks
by Haider Rizvi



UNITED NATIONS - Calls for greater participation of the world's indigenous leaders are on the rise as another round of talks on global climate change opens in the Polish city of Poznan next week.



At the banquet on the first evening of the 2008 World Summit of Indigenous Cultures in Taipei. (flickr photo by davidreid)
"It is incomprehensible how governments believe they can discuss the effects of climate change and agree targets without the input of those who already face [its] impacts," said Mark Lattimer of the London-based Minority Rights Group International (MRG).

In a study released last week, MRG researchers warned that a new climate change agreement would be "seriously compromised" if policymakers continued to shut out the voices of those most affected by global warming.


More than 8,000 delegates from around the world are expected to participate in the meeting at Poznan. The two-week meeting is supposed to hammer out further international commitments to fight climate change, including climate-related financial assistance for developing countries.


UN officials hope the meeting will prove to be a "milestone on the road to success" for the negotiation process launched at past conferences, because it is tasked with setting the agenda for next year's final talks on a climate change treaty.


But in Lattimer's view, the UN process is deeply flawed, because it does not allow the communities that have first-hand experience of dealing with climate change to participate in the negotiations.


For one, official delegates in Poznan are expected to set targets on carbon emissions from deforestation, but forest-dwelling communities who are mostly indigenous people may not be included in those discussions.


According to MRG's new report, the impact of climate change hits indigenous communities hardest because they live in ecologically diverse areas and their livelihoods are dependent on the environment.


To cite some examples of climate change impact on indigenous communities, the report refers to unprecedented levels of ice-melt in the Arctic region, droughts in east Africa, and a rapid fall in crop yields in Vietnam.


Minorities, according to the report, are often among the poorest and most marginalized communities and are most likely to face discrimination when disasters occur during climate changes.


"There has been a lot of attention paid to the damage climate change is doing to the environment and the loss of certain plant or animal species, but we aren't sufficiently recognizing its impact on people," said Farah Mihlar, the report's author.


"There are entire communities that could be lost," she added in a statement. "Cultures, traditions, and languages could be wiped off the earth."


At the climate change conference held in Bali, Indonesia, last December, indigenous rights activists held a series of demonstrations against their exclusion from the official talks.


Among them, many had come from the communities living in the tropical forests of the world. At the conference, they expressed worries about plans by governments and international financial institutions to control forest degradation.


At the conference, they particularly expressed their concerns about the World Bank's Carbon Partnership Facility, which is likely to provide large-scale incentives for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

The tropical and subtropical forest, the subject of the Facility, is home to 160 million indigenous people who are seen by many scientists as custodians and managers of forest biodiversity.


"While the Facility can be a good thing, we are very apprehensive on how this will work," said Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, chairperson of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, "because of our negative historical and present experiences with similar initiatives."


The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recognizes native groups' right to control their lands and resources, including forests, but many governments and corporations continue to abuse the rights of forest communities.


"We remain in a very vulnerable situation," said Tauli-Corpuz, "because most states do not recognize our rights to these forests and resources found therein."


Last year, a report released by an international advocacy group raised similar concerns about the role of governments and corporations.


In its report, London-based Survival International named and shamed countries where the violations of tribal peoples' rights are most egregious, including Botswana, Brazil, New Zealand, Malaysia, Paraguay, Peru, and the United States.


The report entitled, "The Terrible Ten: Key Abusers of Tribal Peoples' Rights in 2007," said tribal people in West Papua were suffering abuses at the hands of the Indonesian army and that their native lands were often exploited by the government and foreign companies.


In Botswana, Bushmen were forcibly prevented from returning to their homes in the country's diamond-producing area, despite a court ruling that declared their 2002 eviction "unlawful and unconstitutional."


According to Survival, Guarani Indians in Paraguay continued to lose their lands as a result of violence perpetrated by cattle ranchers. A number of natives were killed and raped as well.


In the Peru-Brazil border region, which is home to half of the world's about 100 still uncontacted tribes, indigenous populations faced land grabs [1] by oil companies and loggers backed by the government.


And similar cases also took place in other indigenous territories across the world. The UN Permanent Forum's Tauli-Corpuz demanded that governments and corporations obtain the "free and prior" consent of indigenous peoples before taking any initiative on forest protections.


"I imagine that donors and the private sector would not like to put their resources in high-risk projects which will not genuinely involve indigenous and other forest-dwellers," she said. "If there is an acceptance of the Facility, indigenous peoples must have a representation in [its] governance."


In contrast to the UN negotiation process on climate change issues, indigenous communities enjoy relatively participation in international discussions on preserving biodiversity. The secretariat of the UN treaty on biodiversity has established a working group to ensure for this.


Meanwhile, MRG has gathered a series of testimonies from the world's indigenous leaders in which they express "deep frustration" at their exclusion from the negotiations on climate change.


In a statement, the group called for the United Nations to set up a mechanism, similar to that of the treaty on biological diversity, so that indigenous communities could be able to have their voices heard at the international level.


"Indigenous peoples have for centuries adapted to changing environments and would be able to contribute substantially to adaptation strategies the UN is trying to include in a new climate change treaty," said Lattimer.

© 2008 One World


Article printed from www.CommonDreams.org
URL to article: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2008/11/28-0

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Name:Amazon Alliance for Indigenous and Traditional Peoples of the Amazon Basin
Address:1367 Connecticut Ave, N.W Suite 400, Washington DC 20036, USA. Telephone: 1-202-785-3334
Fax:1-202-785-3335 Web:http://www.amazoncoalition.org
Email:amazon@amazonalliance.org
Description:The Amazon Alliance works to defend the rights, territories, and environment of indigenous and traditional peoples of the Amazon Basin. Category:Indigenous Peoples

Name:American Indian Movement Web:http://www.aimovement.org
Email:AIMGGC@worldnet.att.net
Description:Intend to raise questions in the minds of all, questions that have gone to sleep in the minds of Indians and non-Indian alike ...
Category:Indigenous Peoples

Name:Black Mesa Indigenous Support Address:PO Box 23501, Flagstaff, Arizona 86002. USA.
Telephone:(voice mail)+1 9287738086
Web:http://www.blackmesais.org
Email:blackmesais@yahoo.com
Description:Supporting the sovereignty of the indigenous people affected by mining activities on Black Mesa, who face forced relocation, environmental devastation, and cultural extinction.
Category:Indigenous Peoples

Name:Bristol ISM Web:http://www.bristol-ism.org.uk
Email:info@bristol-ism.org.uk
Description:Non-violent direct action against the occupation carried out by Palestinian communties wth support from Israelis and Internationals.
Category:Anti-Racism; Human Rights; Indigenous Peoples

Name:Centre For World Indigenous Studies Address:PMB 214, 1001 Cooper Point Rd, SW Suite 140, Olympia WA 98502-1107, USA.
Telephone:+1 360 754 1990
Web:http://www.cwis.org
Description:Non-profit research and education organization dedicated to wider understanding and appreciation of the ideas and knowledge of indigenous peoples Category:Indigenous Peoples

Name:ChiapasLink Address:PO Box 79, 82 Colston St, Bristol, BS1 5BB. Telephone:
Web:http://www.chiapasnews.ukgateway.net
Email:chiapaslink@yahoo.com
Description:Chiapaslink hopes to provide a link between the Zapatista struggles in Chiapas, Mexico and in the UK. Category:Anarchism; Anti-Capitalism; Indigenous Peoples

Name:Dark Night Press Address:P.O. Box 3629, Chicago, IL 60690-3629, USA Telephone:207 839 5794
Web:http://www.darknightpress.org
Email:darknight@igc.org
Description:Under-reported news and unheard voices from indigenous struggles worldwide.
Category:Indigenous Peoples; Media - Overseas

Name:Ejercito Zapatista de Liberacion Nacional (EZLN) Address:
Telephone:
Web:http://www.ezln.org
Description:The EZLN web provides reliable information on the Zapatista uprising and serves as the mouthpiece for the Zapatistas in cyberspace.
Category:Indigenous Peoples; Anti-Capitalism

Name:Environmental Rights Action (ERA)
Address:International Secretariat:
#214, Uselu-Lagos Road, Ugbowo
P.O. Box 10577, Benin City, Nigeria
Telephone:+234-52-600 165
Web:http://www.eraction.org/
Email:eraction@infoweb.abs.net
Description:A Nigerian advocacy non-governmental organisation founded on January 11, 1993 to deal with environmental human rights issues in Nigeria.
Category:Energy; Environment; Indigenous Peoples

Name:Free Tibet Campaign Address:1 Rosomon Place, London, EC1R 0JY Telephone:020 7833 9958 Fax:020 7833 3838
Web:http://www.freetibet.org
Email:mail@freetibet.org
Description: An independent membership organisation campaigning in support of the rights of the Tibetan people to freedom and independence.
Category:Human Rights; Indigenous Peoples

Name:Iraq Solidarity Campaign Address:The Iraq Solidarity Campaign (UK).
PO BOX 202, Manchester, M21 7WD, The UK
Telephone:07946 783 801
Web:http://www.iraqsolidaritycampaign.blogspot.com
Email:iraqsolidarity@lycos.com
Description:Founded in 1997 as the Coalition Against Sanctions and War on Iraq and transformed in 2003 into the Iraq Solidarity Campaign (UK), for the past several years we have worked tirelessly to assist the Iraqi people in their struggle for self-determination. Category:Anti-War; Human Rights; Indigenous Peoples; Workers' Rights

Name:La Petroleuse Address:OILWATCH SECRETARIAT – Casilla 17-15-246-C Quito, Ecuador
Web:http://www.oilwatch.org.ec
Email:ivonne.yanez@oilwatch.org.ec
Description:Oilwatch is a resistance network that opposes the activities of oil companies in tropical countries.
Category:Energy; Environment; Indigenous Peoples

Name:No New Oil Telephone:01865 241097
Web:http://www.nonewoil.org
Email:jo@risingtide.org.uk
Description:Oil, war and climate change gathering - Dismantling the Oil Economy. Category:Energy; Environment; Indigenous Peoples

Name:OPM Support Group (Free Papua Movement) Address:c/o 43 Gardner St, Brighton, BN1 1UN
Telephone:
Web:http://www.eco-action.org/opm
Email:opmsg@eco-action.org
Description:Direct action network to support Papuan peoples struggle for freedom. Videos talks and publications available to help start new groups.
Category:Indigenous Peoples

Name:Palestine Solidarity Campaign Address:Box BM PSA, London WC1N 3XX. Telephone:020 7700 6192
Web:http://www.palestinecampaign.org
Email:info@palestinecampaign.org
Description:Aim to build an effective mass campaign, organising protests, political lobbying and raising public awareness.
Category:Indigenous Peoples

Name:Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign Address:Peace & Justice Centre,
Princes Street,
Edinburgh EH2 4BJ
Telephone:0780 324 4739
Web:http://www.scottishpsc.org.uk
Email:secretary@scottishpsc.org.uk
Description:The Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign started in autumn 2000 in Edinburgh, Scotland, in response to the Palestinian second Intifada (uprising against Israeli occupation). Our main aim is to accelerate the massive shift already under way in favour of support for the human rights of the Palestinian people living under Israeli occupation or languishing in refugee camps around the region. With the appointment of the most extreme government in Israel's history the need for effective political pressure from outside is greater than ever.
Category:Anti-Racism; Anti-War; Human Rights; Indigenous Peoples; Refugees

Name:Solidarity South Pacific Address:c/o SDEF!,
Prior House,
6 Tilbury Place,
Brighton
E. Sussex
BN2 2GY
UK
Telephone:+44 (0)1273 695505
Web:http://www.eco-action.org/ssp/
Email:ssp@eco-action.org
Description:In active solidarity with indigenous and radical ecological struggles in the Pacific. Category:Indigenous Peoples

Name:Survival International Address:6 Charterhouse Buildings, London, EC1M 7ET Telephone:020 7687 8700
Fax:020 7687 8701
Web:http://www.survival-international.org
Email:info@survival-international.org
Description:Survival International is a worldwide organisation supporting tribal peoples. It stands for their right to decide their own future and helps them protect their lives, lands and human rights. Category:Indigenous Peoples

Name:Taiga Resue Network (TRN) Address:Box 116, Ajtte, S-962 23 Jokkmokk, Sweden,
Telephone:+46 971 17039
Fax: 46-971-55354
Web:http://www.taigarescue.org
Email:info@taigarescue.org
Description:The TRN is an international network of non-governmental organisations and indigenous peoples working for the protection and sustainable use of the world's boreal forests.
Category:Indigenous Peoples; Forests & Woodlands

Name:TAPOL, The Indonesia Human Rights Campaign Address:111 Northwood Rd, Thornton Rd, Surrey, CR7 8HW
Telephone:020 8771 2904
Fax:020 8653 0322
Web:http://www.gn.apc.org/tapol
Email:tapol@gn.apc.org
Description:TAPOL - which means political prisoner in Indonesian - is an English language authority on the human rights situation in Indonesia and East Timor. Category:Human Rights; Indigenous Peoples

Name:Tibet Foundation Address:1 St. James's Market, London SW1Y 4SB. Telephone:020 7930 6001
Fax:020 7930 6002
Web:http://www.tibet-foundation.org
Email:enquiries@tibet-foundation.org
Description:Non-political organisation working to preserve Tibetan Culture, and assist the Tibetan People across the world.
Category:Indigenous peoples