DECISION OF BRAZILIAN MINISTRY OF JUSTICE: ONE MORE DISILLUSION Update Tupinikim and Guarani case, March 2007Finally, the Minister of Justice Márcio Thomas Bastos took a decision about the land issue of the Tupinikim and Guarani indigenous peoples. But instead of fulfilling his promise, assumed in February 2006 in a public meeting in the state of Espirito Santo to demarcate their traditional lands ´right and fast’, the Minister decided to return the file to FUNAI (National Foundation on Indigenous Issues), requesting that this governmental Foundation should make studies to reconcile the interests of the indigenous peoples and of Aracruz Celulose S/A. With support of CIMI (Missionary Council for Indigenous Peoples), a protest letter against the decision of the Minister of Justice, has been written, which will be circulated at the National Seminar on Human Rights in Brasilia tomorrow (2nd of March), in search for support. We also want to ask you as supporters of the Tupinikim and Guarani indigenous peoples to sign this letter until tomorrow, 2nd of March, 18 hours (Brazilian time).This short time period is necessary because next Saturday, 3rd of March, a General Meeting of the Tupinikim and Guarani will be held, and we want to take this letter of support to the meeting, because during this Assembly the indigenous communities will evaluate and discuss the next coming steps in the fight for their land. Therefore, it is important that at this moment we, supporters of the Tupinikim and Guarani, show that we are together with them in their struggle! Confirm your signature by sending an email to: [email protected] Warm greetings, Winnie Overbeek – FASE/ES Geertje van der Pas – CIMIOPEN PROTEST LETTER AGAINST THE DESISION OF THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE, AND IN SUPPORT OF THE TUPINIKIM AND GUARANI IN THE STATE OF ESPÃRITO SANTOThe Tupinikim and Guarani who are occupying the Indigenous Tupinikim and Comboios Lands in the state of EspÃrito Santo, are fighting for the demarcation of their traditional territory. These two lands have been identified by studies carried out by a Technical Working Group (GT) of Funai in 1997. In spite of these studies, the company Aracruz Celulose S.A. continued the irregular occupation of 11,000 hectares of indigenous lands. Through a recommendation made by the Federal Public Prosecution Service to the President of the Republic and the State Minister of Justice, Funai decided in 2005 to re-open the administrative procedure for the demarcation of the above-mentioned lands, based on the studies of the GT of Funai.Now, after internal procedures at the Ministry of Justice and more than 120 days passed beyond the legal stated period, the Minister of Justice, instead of signing the Decree to demarcate the indigenous lands, following the recommendations of the Presidency of Funai and the Juridical Consultancy Department of the Ministry of Justice, the Minister decided to return the file to Funai in order to carry out studies to develop a proposal that reconciles the interests of the Tupinikim/Guarani and Aracruz Celulose S.A. The intention of the Minister points to a further delay of the demarcation of the lands, although Funai can also decide to reconsider the limits proposed before by the Technical Working Group (GT) of Funai. If this will happen, both the Minister and Funai are flagrantly insulting the Brazilian Constitution, because the territorial space proposed by the GT to be demarcated, consists of the elements of a traditionally, by Tupinikim and Guarani occupied, territory, in conformity with what is established in the Brazilian Constitution. According to article 231, 4th paragraph, of the Federal Constitution, indigenous lands are inalienable and unavailable. The Constitution forbids that neither the Union, nor the indigenous peoples, transfers this native right of the indigenous people to third parties.Furthermore, all acts that aim the occupation, the domain and the ownership of indigenous lands, by others than indigenous people, are invalid and they do not have any legal consequences, according to article 231, 6th paragraph, of the Federal Constitution.Considering the above, those who sign this protest letter against the decision of the State Minister of Justice demand the following:- the immediate repeal of the decision that returns the administrative file to Funai, based on the above-mentioned arguments and being a decision unfavorable to the constitutional and human rights of the Tupinikim and Guarani;- the immediate edition of the Decrees that recognize and demarcate the lands of the Tupinikim and Guarani, according to the studies realized by the GTs of the FUNAI.At the same time, the undersigned demonstrate solidarity and support to the fight of the Tupinikim and Guarani for the recovery of their traditional territory.Brasil, 2nd of March 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 31, 2007 Indigenous Leaders Arrive in Houston, Call for Suspension of Auction of Peruvian Amazon Oil Blocks Peru’s New Concessions Could Lead to Human Rights Abuses, Rainforest Destruction, and Risky Investments Interviews, background, photos and maps available on request Houston – Indigenous leaders from the Peruvian Amazon, environmentalists and human rights groups today called on the Peruvian government to suspend its tendering of oil concessions that threaten to devastate a vast swath of pristine tropical rainforest and the native communities that live there. They arrived in Houston today to speak out as Perupetro, Peru’s state-owned oil company, launched its 2007 bidding round and roadshow in Houston timed to coincide with the NAPE Expo, the oil prospecting industry’s semi-annual trade show. Perupetro is hoping to attract US energy companies to the highly controversial drilling concessions. In total, Perupetro plans to tender 11 Amazonian blocks, covering approximately 22 million acres of highly biodiverse, intact primary tropical rainforest. Three of those blocks intrude upon official reserves set up to protect some of the last native peoples still living an isolated and traditional lifestyle anywhere in the Amazon. Three overlap protected areas and nine intrude upon titled indigenous lands. Only one block does not intrude on indigenous lands or protected areas. In none of the blocks has Perupetro obtained Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), an internationally recognized human rights benchmark intended to protect the rights of indigenous communities whose lives and lands stand to be affected by extractive mega-projects such as oil drilling. The new blocks mean that approximately 70 percent of the Peruvian Amazon, one of the largest areas of tropical rainforest anywhere in the world, will be carved into oil concessions. As recently as 2005, before the U.S. Government’s Trade Development Agency gave Perupetro U.S. tax dollars to develop and market its oil concessions, it was under 20 percent. Huge areas of Peru’s rainforest, such as the Lower Urubamba region in the south and the Corrientes River in the north, and the indigenous communities that live there have already suffered severe impacts as a result of 1 AIDESEP • AMAZON ALLIANCE • AMAZON WATCH • DERECHOS AMBIENTE Y RECURSOS • ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE • OXFAM AMERICA • RACIMOS DE UNGURAHUI • SAVE AMERICA’S FORESTS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 31, 2007 Media Contacts: Amazon Watch: Maria Ramos 202.257.8061; Atossa Soltani 202.256.9795; Save America’s Forests: Matt Finer 202.680.2860; Amazon Alliance: Trevor Stevenson 617.679.3474 Environmental Defense: Aaron Goldzimer 202.297.2507 In Peru: Luis Eduardo Cisneros Mendez +511.937.14481 or 222.6837 Indigenous Leaders Arrive in Houston, Call for Suspension of Auction of Peruvian Amazon Oil Blocks Peru’s New Concessions Could Lead to Human Rights Abuses, Rainforest Destruction, and Risky Investments Interviews, background, photos and maps available on request Houston – Indigenous leaders from the Peruvian Amazon, environmentalists and human rights groups today called on the Peruvian government to suspend its tendering of oil concessions that threaten to devastate a vast swath of pristine tropical rainforest and the native communities that live there. They arrived in Houston today to speak out as Perupetro, Peru’s state-owned oil company, launched its 2007 bidding round and roadshow in Houston timed to coincide with the NAPE Expo, the oil prospecting industry’s semi-annual trade show. Perupetro is hoping to attract US energy companies to the highly controversial drilling concessions. In total, Perupetro plans to tender 11 Amazonian blocks, covering approximately 22 million acres of highly biodiverse, intact primary tropical rainforest. Three of those blocks intrude upon official reserves set up to protect some of the last native peoples still living an isolated and traditional lifestyle anywhere in the Amazon. Three overlap protected areas and nine intrude upon titled indigenous lands. Only one block does not intrude on indigenous lands or protected areas. In none of the blocks has Perupetro obtained Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), an internationally recognized human rights benchmark intended to protect the rights of indigenous communities whose lives and lands stand to be affected by extractive mega-projects such as oil drilling. The new blocks mean that approximately 70 percent of the Peruvian Amazon, one of the largest areas of tropical rainforest anywhere in the world, will be carved into oil concessions. As recently as 2005, before the U.S. Government’s Trade Development Agency gave Perupetro U.S. tax dollars to develop and market its oil concessions, it was under 20 percent. Huge areas of Peru’s rainforest, such as the Lower Urubamba region in the south and the Corrientes River in the north, and the indigenous communities that live there have already suffered severe impacts as a result of 2 drilling for oil and gas. So far, the Peruvian state has shown little sign that it is willing to learn from these disasters. Today’s call for suspension of the auction was led by AIDESEP, an umbrella group representing Peru’s many indigenous Amazonian communities, and Peruvian organizations Derechos, Ambiente y Recursos; and Racimos de Ungurahui. Also backing the call are U.S. environmental and human rights organizations, including the Amazon Alliance, Amazon Watch, Environmental Defense, Oxfam America, and Save America’s Forests. All are calling for an immediate suspension of Perupetro’s current bidding round and a firm commitment from the Peruvian government that it will adhere to the spirit and letter of Peruvian law and respect indigenous land rights and the human rights of isolated and vulnerable populations. Perupetro’s roadshow comes as investors grow increasingly concerned about the high risks of hydrocarbon activities in remote areas of the Amazon. Some oil majors are already giving up because of the huge logistical challenges and the often intense opposition of local communities increasingly aware of the ecological and public health crises caused by oil drilling in other parts of the Amazon. In December, Occidental Petroleum announced that it was withdrawing from its remaining Amazonian concessions, in Peru, for a range of business reasons including the determined and organized opposition of local communities. ConocoPhillips, meanwhile, has placed its three Amazonian concessions, two in Ecuador and one in Peru, “under review†for similar reasons. Quotes Robert Guimaraes, AIDESEP Vice-President: “The Peruvian state should guarantee the territory and land rights of indigenous peoples. Currently, there is a lack of political will. We don’t want petroleum concessions that will impact our lives, environment and culture." Legal expert Alberto Barandiaran, President of Peruvian environmental and human rights organization Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales: "These concessions are the result of a flawed process. Again and again over the last five years, the Peruvian government has issued oil concessions on indigenous lands and protected areas without bothering to meet its basic moral and legal obligations to consult with, and in some cases even inform, local communities, local and regional authorities, and protected areas’ authorities." Lily la Torre, Lawyer and Director of Racimos de Ungurahui: “In compliance with international human rights legal instruments and out of respect for basic human decency, these concessions should not be allowed in areas inhabited by isolated indigenous peoples. These highly vulnerable populations have no immunity to many diseases introduced by outsiders and their physical as well as cultural survival is threatened by these concessions.†Petroleum Engineer Bill Powers, of E-Tech International, a non-profit engineering consultancy: “Investing in upstream activities in the Amazon is high risk. Even if successful bidders use best practices, their presence will create conflict with local communities, who are not given a voice in the process and are strongly opposed to drilling on their lands. Peruvian oil and gas operations have been ruled by good-old-boy ways for too long, unchecked by a weak and corruptible government. It is time for a new approach.†For a fact sheet and map about controversial concessions in Peru, click on www.amazonwatch.org/PE07.pdf For background on the struggle of indigenous peoples to protect their rainforest homelands in the Amazon, visit www.amazonwatch.org. ###AIDESEP • AMAZON ALLIANCE • AMAZON WATCH • DERECHOS AMBIENTE Y RECURSOS • ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE • OXFAM AMERICA • RACIMOS DE UNGURAHUI • SAVE AMERICA’S FORESTS Media Contacts: Amazon Watch: Maria Ramos 202.257.8061; Atossa Soltani 202.256.9795; Save America’s Forests: Matt Finer 202.680.2860; Amazon Alliance: Trevor Stevenson 617.679.3474 Environmental Defense: Aaron Goldzimer 202.297.2507 In Peru: Luis Eduardo Cisneros Mendez +511.937.14481 or 222.6837Feb. 1 2007PLEASE JOINBenjamin Bratt Josh Brolin Michael Ealy Q'Orianka Kilcher Michelle Krusiec Elizabeth Peña Rosie Perez Mark Ruffalo Alfre Woodardmembers of the band OzomatliandAnthony Arnovefor a staged reading ofHoward Zinn and Anthony Arnove's Voices of A People's History of the United States http://www.sevenstories.com/Book/index.cfm?GCOI=583221006669 00directed by Josh Brolin and Anthony Arnove** Scholarship Tickets for Students and Activists, as well as volunteer opportunities, also available. **A benefit for ICUJP: Interfaith Communities United for Justice and Peace, and the launch of the ongoing "Los Angeles Voices Project" which will present readings from the book to the public at little or no costThursday February 1, 2007All Saints Church, Pasadena -- 132 North Euclid StreetVIP Reception 6:00 (Tickets $500, includes performance)Performance 7:30 (Tickets $100)Scholarship Tickets for Students and Activists, as well as volunteer opportunities, also available. Please send an inquiry to [email protected] online at https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=6964for more information: http://www.icujp.org or 626-683-9004 Religious Communities Must Stop Blessing War and Violence!Jan.27/07 Women for Peace has asked me to stand with Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon and a host of other powerful women to ask/demand the TROOPS withdrawal from Iraq. I will be flying to Washington DC on Friday 1/26/2007 and be part of a press conference and Join CODEPINK and many others in a national march organized by United for Peace and Justice on Washington, D.C., on Saturday, January 27, to call on Congress to take immediate action to bring the troops home.Join me and Jane Fonda, Susan Sarandon, Eve Ensler and all the CODEPINK Co-Founders and leaders of our co-sponsors for a fun and powerful gathering!here is a link:http://www.codepink4peace.org/article.php?list=type& ;type=182BRAZIL : VIOLENCE AGAINST Tupinikim and Guarani Tribe!!!!If you want to get involved ... message me...so I can put you on the "emergency list" we are planning to support the Tupinikim and Guarani in 2007 and will need lots of PR and other support !ARACRUZ CELULOSE PROVOKES CONFLICT BETWEEN WORKERS AND INDIANS Tradeunion leaders and workers of Aracruz Celulose, with support of the company, practice acts of violence against the Tupinikim and Guarani IndiansMore than 1,000 workers, easily liberated from work today by Aracruz Celulose and its out-sourced companies such as Plantar, went this morning around 10am to the harbour of Aracruz with the aim to take out the 300 Tupinikim and Guarani Indians who occupied yesterday the harbour for export of cellulose, with the aim to demand from the Minister of Justice Márcio Thomas Bastos a guarantee that the lands that traditionally belong to them, identified by the Funai since 1994, get demarcated this year, according to his own promises in a meeting with indigenous leaders in February 2006.The Aracruz and outsourced workers, inflated by Davi Gomes (president of the trade union Sintieama, alley of the company) broke the gate of the harbour and entered in the area, practicing agression against the Indians, and also against several supporters of the Indians such as the state member of parliament Cláudio Vereza and one of the coordinators in Espirito Santo of the MST, Ronaldo. The military police at the spot is trying to keep the workers distant from the Indians to prevent more physical aggressions against the Indians. The situation continues extremely tense. It is good to remember that yesterday, the workers in the harbor applauded the Indians and the Indians declared yesterday in the press that their movement is not against the workers, on the contrary.Several meetings in BrasÃlia are dealing with the situation. According to several sources, the Minister of Justice is meeting with assistants and might give a pronunciation until the end of the afternoon. At the same time, the Human Person Rights Council (CDDPH), part of the Special Secretary on Human Rights of the Brazilian Republic, is discussing at this very moment the issue in a meeting where Tupinikim leader Paulo de Oliveira is participating.We, supporters of the Tupinikim and Guarani struggle are extremely concerned with a major violent agression against the Indians at this moment. We want to make an appeal to all of you to help putting pressure on the brazilian government, so that it urgently demarcates the Tupinikim and Guarani lands. Further delay will only make the conflict continue for more time and worsen it more.At the same time, we hold Aracruz Celulose responsible once again for stimulating and colaborating with acts of violence against the Tupinikim and Guarani indigenous peoples, and throwing workers against other workers (the Indians are also workers!) in order to 'solve' the situation. Several eaders of social movements and free trade unions in Espirito Santo declared they have never seen this situation before in history of the workers struggle in our state.If you want to get involved ... message me...so I can put you on the "emergency list" we are planning to support the Tupinikim and Guarani in 2007 and will need lots of PR and other support !OLD WORKING LAPTOPS NEEDED URGENTLY !Hi there ! I have been working with some indigenous university students from Iquitos ,Peru who have been supporting the protests of the Achuar against OCCIDENTAL PETROLIUM and PLUS PETROL enviromental crimes . Since Iquitos university gets "kick backs ' from the oil companies... the recent protests and Victories against the OIL GIANTS have caused University officials to retalliate against all these great young students, who come from remote regions of the peruvian Amazon to study , by denouncing them as troublemakers and prohibiting them to use the universities Computers. they also banned them from the food program. This is almost like expelling them... since they have no means to do research, work on papiers and all other tasks .... the president of the indigenous student organisation OEPIAP just contacted me and told me that 2 students failed the deadline for midterm finals , due to being banned from retrieving their files from the Universities computer lab !!!!!!!!!! these students are great Leaders to their communities and have come to Iquitos to study Law , Medicin etc.... so they can help their communities. Since computers are quiet more expensive over there and many of these students dont even have adequate living quarters , I am buying 3 Laptop Computers today and will be sending them shortly... ... I thought.....SINCE AROUND 50 INDIGENOUS STUDENTS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS ... I COULD USE SOME HELP !IF ANYONE RECENTLY UPGRADED TO A NEW COMPUTER ... AND WANTS TO DONATE THEIR OLD ONE TO THE INDIGENOUS STUDENT ORGANISATION OEPIAP , PLEASE CONTACT ME SO WE CAN TALK !LOVE, Q'oriankaYou might wonder what I have been up to lately… So I would like to give you this short update…and share this Los Angeles Times article with you... As you might know , have been focusing on re-directing all my Publicity towards pressing Human rights and environmental issues... especialy in my country Peru . While promoting my film “the New World†in Peru, I took the opportunity to highlight the case of Occidental Petroleum’s 35 year long history of pollution in the pristine northern Amazon forest … the Home of the Achuar peoples. Since 1971, Los-Angles-based Occidental Petroleum, using practices outlawed in the U.S., pumped an average of 850,000 barrels a day of toxic wastewaters containing lead, cadmium, mercury and many other heavy metals, into local rivers on Achuar territory. The Achuar depend on this river for ALL their drinking, fishing and bathing. The last 5 months I have been trying to bring 35 years of crimes against the environment and Human Rights of the local Indigenous Peoples has finally come to the attention of the international community!!! Traveling back and forth to the United Nations, San Francisco and many other Places, I have been actively speaking out on the behalf of the Achuar, denouncing Occidental Petroleum in Peruvian mainstream media …as well as on an international level.As Youth Ambassador for Amazon Watch and spokesperson for IDESEP (the organization of indigenous federations of the Peruvian Amazon) I am proud to announce that we have an incredible Victory! Occidental petroleum is pulling out of the Peruvian Amazon and is leaving Peru for good! (Read attached article about our Dez. 6th Press conference, here in Los Angeles) It takes tremendous Courage to stand up against multinational oil companies and lead a peaceful, diplomatic but firm protest and resistance, especially in a country like Peru. I thank the Achuar People for taking that initiative ... and fighting this fight for all of us…so our children may have a healthy world to live in!And while I applaud Occidental Petroleum’s decision to withdraw entirely from the Peruvian Amazon, and finally respect the Achuar Rights to life … I want to remind everybody that the struggle to hold Occidental Petroleum accountable for what they did in the northern Peruvian Amazon for 35 years is far from over. We must continue to pressure Oxy to not only make good on their promise to leave Peru, but also to promote higher environmental and human rights standards among their partner companies who remain in Peru. I also want to and to remind OXY that we will hold them accountable for the billions of barrels of toxic waste they dumped. They need to take responsibility for cleaning up the toxic mess they left behind! They are NOT OF THE HOOK! This is an Incredible Victory and I hope you feel just as inspired and empowered as I do. We all have a unique way we can be involved… and I truly hope that you stay in touch and get involved … We all need to demand positive change for our future generations, because if we don’t act now, it will be to late!also ,here are some links you may want to visit: http://amazonwatch.org/view_news.php?id=1279 http://amazonwatch.org/newsroom/view_news.php?id=1277 http://amazonwatch.org/view_news.php?id=1290 http://amazonwatch.org/newsroom/view_news.php?id=1289 http://amazonwatch.org/newsroom/view_news.php?id=1287Also, Please come and visit the alternative Vehicle expo this weekend at the Santa Monica Airport Hanger, where you can see many alternative energy vehicles in Action and learn about environmentally smart solutions! Renewable energy is a must! Make a difference… Get involved… See you there! Love, Q’oriankaDez 7,2006 Los Angeles Times !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. Pick up the LA Times and go to the Bussiness section ...on the 3rd . page you will find an Article about Oxidental Petrolium leaving peru !... Also ... there is a big Picture of my Achuar Friends and me. The Achuar Leaders Photo is also on page 1 of the bussiness section in color.... we had such a great fund raiser and press conference.... so I am all exited!!! If you want info on how to get involved... several of the Native Leaders and their Legal team are currently being denounced and need support. go to : http://amazonwatch.org/view_news.php?id=1279 love , Q+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++DEZ 6TH , 11 pm.We just finished our press and fundraising event here in LA.... together with Amazon Watch....and 3 Amazing Achuar Leaders and Elders from the remote northern peruvian Amazon ... We originally were planning to celebrate the Achuars recent landmark agreement with Plus Petroll...but..... !!!!!!!!!! unexpectedly ,today we had a 2dn GREAT Victory to announce... ! Los Angeles based Oxidental Petrolium , one of the Biggest Poluters in the entire Amazon , just anounced that they are pulling out entirely out of the Peruvian Amazon ...never to return... I guess with the Achuars recent Victory things got to shacky for them... just when they were planing several hundert oil wells in various prestine rainforrest regions !!!!!!!we congratulate them and are thrilled to be celebrating this 2nd victory with the Achuar and Amazon Watch at our event !!!!!! but while I applaud Oxidental Petrolium’s decision to withdraw entirely from the Peruvian Amazon , and finaly respect the the Achuars Rights ……. I want to remind OXY that we will hold them accountable for the billions of barrels of toxic waste they dumped .35 long years of their corporate greed have left behind severe health and environmental problems.They are NOT OF THE HOOK !we are working on holding OXY accountable for all the toxic waste they have yet to clean up in Block 1AB ...and our struggle is far from over.It is such a amazing honor to use my VOICE to speak out on behalf of the Achuar .It takes tremendous Courage to stand up against multinational oil companies and lead a peacefull , diplomatic but firm protest …..paralyzing more than 50% of all oil production in Peru ! thats what the Achuar federation did .....I am so Proud of their achievements ! The Achuar have set an example through their dedication, courage , and diplomatic approach in their negotiations with Plus petrol …. to achieved this historic agreement with PlusPetrol and the Peruvian Government is a true Victory !!However while we celebrate such victories we have to stay alert to upcoming challenges… A dozen Achuar leaders and their legal team now face criminal charges arising out of that peaceful protest !!!!! I am working closely with Amazon Watch and in partnership with the Achuar to ensure that these victories we celebated tonight ,are lasting ones … We must pressure Oxy to not only to make good on their promise to leave Peru, but also to promote higher environmental and human rights standards among their partner companies who remain in Peru and to take responsibility for their Toxic legacy and the enviromental and Health Impacts their Greed caused during 30 years of opperations in Peru.If you fell inspired and want to help us , please visit : WWW.AMAZONWATCH.ORG AND SIGN OUR URGENT ACTION LETTER !I WILL SOON POST PICTURES AND MAYBE SOME VIDEOS OF OUR EVENT ...love, Q ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ************************************************************ ********************************************************MEDI A ADVISORY December 5, 2006AMAZON WATCH CONTACTS: Leila Salazar: 202.674.5576 Simeon Tegel or Zach Hurwitz: 415.487.9600 Amazon Leaders to Call on Oil Industry to Stop Destruction of RainforestLeaders Arrive in Los Angeles to Make Major Announcement Regarding Occidental Petroleum’s Drilling on their LandsPress Conference and Photo Op. with Achuar Leaders and Q'orianka KilcherInterviews on request in Los Angeles on Monday through Thursday. Photos/ B-Roll footage available upon request ____________________________________________________________ ________________WHAT: Press Conference and Photo OpportunityWHO: Jorge Fachin, Gonzalo Payma Carijano and Marcial Huaman Sandi, leaders of the Achuar indigenous nation of the northern Peruvian Amazon Lily la Torre, leading human rights lawyer, Racimos de Ungurahui, Peru Q’orianka Kilcher, award-winning actress, “The New Worldâ€, Amazon Watch Youth Ambassador Atossa Soltani, Executive Director, Amazon Watch WHEN: 10.30am, Wednesday, December 6, 2006WHERE: Greg Gorman Studio, 8275 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048 (corner of N. Sweetzer Ave.) BACKGROUND: The Achuar have come to Los Angeles to make a major announcement regarding Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), the Los Angeles-based company which holds oil drilling rights to the Achuar’s rainforest homelands.Currently, they are asking Oxy to remediate the billions of barrels of toxic waste it dumped on their rainforest homelands over 30 years and to leave the new drilling concessions. Oxy also holds rights to new drilling concessions on other parts of Achuar territory (concession blocks 64, 101, and 103) covering 6.3 million acres of some of the largest areas of intact primary tropical rainforest anywhere in the world.The Achuar have been fighting to protect their rainforest home land and their rights in the face of oil “development†for more than three decades. One part of their lands, former Oxy concession 1AB, has already been devastated by oil-related contamination. Local communities now face a public health crisis with a recent government report revealing dangerous concentrations of lead and cadmium in blood samples taken from the Achuar. Another neighboring area of Achuar lands, covering pristine primary tropical rainforests, is now threatened by new drilling concessions held by Oxy, Amerada Hess and ConocoPhillips, issued by the Peruvian government against the Achuar’s clearly-stated wishes.The press conference in LA marks the latest leg of the Achuar’s speaking tour of the U.S., visiting New York, Washington D.C., San Francisco and Houston, in a bid to persuade the oil industry to respect the Achuars' wishes and stay out of their rainforest territories.It also comes just over a month after a historic victory by the Achuar against Pluspetrol, the Argentine-company that took over Oxy’s former concession. As part of that landmark agreement, the dumping, which continues to this day, is due to be phased out over the next 18 months. The deal was struck with Pluspetrol and the Peruvian government after 800 Achuar peacefully blockaded a Pluspetrol facility for two weeks in October, bringing oil production to a standstill. Several Achuar leaders, including Mr. Payma Carijano, and their lawyer, Ms. la Torre, now face criminal charges arising out of that peaceful protest in a move which human rights advocates have condemned as setting a disturbing precedent against the right to peaceful protest in Peru and which has flagged doubts about the commitment to democracy of the administration of recently-elected President Alan GarcÃa.Q’orianka Kilcher, who starred as Pocahontas opposite Colin Farrell in the Terrence Malick film “The New Worldâ€, recently visited Achuar communities in the northern Peruvian rainforest. She is of Peruvian Amazonian ancestry and was recently named Amazon Watch’s Youth Ambassador.# # # # # # Right now I am actively advocating for indigenous peoples' issues at the international level. Here I am focusing my energies on the vote scheduled to take place the day before Thanksgiving on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which would protect the traditional territories and diverse cultures of the world's estimated 350 million indigenous peoples. I just got back from NY where I was lobbying US Ambassador John Bolton, United Nations, New York, on Nov. 17, 2006 in re to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In what may be USAmbassador Bolton's last vote as an official US Ambassador (since he was never approved by the US Senate), he and a handful of countries who are engaged in the trade of "blood diamonds" are trying to undermine the UN Declaration in the eleventh hour, after 22 years of campaigning by indigenous peoples. My friend Jaguareté came to New York to raise awareness about his Tupinikim peoples' fight to win back their land stolen by Force . Military helicopters recently were shooting at villagers from 40 villages ,driving them out of their territory. Many people died and got injured . Global paper company Aracruz Celulose, which is currently on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index even though they have planted tree farms on land that Brazil's Indian Agency designated to demarcate as indigenous.Please support the crucial vote the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Wednesday, at 2pm EST (11 am PST) in the UN’s “Third Committee†on Human Rights. Letter of support attached for your signature. after signing please fax to United nation permanent forum on indigenous rights: fax # 917-367-5102FOR MORE INFO ON THE DECLARATION AND ITS PURPOSE ,CLICK HERE!.
Q'orianka Kilcher and Jaguarete pressing their case to US Ambassador John Bolton, United Nations, New York, Nov. 17, 2006.Me and Indigenous delegation and members of UN Indigenous Peoples' Caucus, United Nation, New York, Nov. 17, 2006.Ecuadroean Presidential Candidate, Luis Macas; International Forum onGlobalzation, Victor Menotti; Senior Advisor to Bolivia's Foreign Minister, Felix Villca; Jaguarete; Q'orianka Kilcher; exiting meetings with government delegations about indigenous peoples rights, United Nation, New York, Nov. 17, 2006.Senior Advisor to Bolivia's Foreign Minister,Felix Villca; Ecuadroean Presidential Candidate, Luis Macas, Jaguarete; Q'orianka Kilcher, in front of the United Nations.Chief Vilson Benedito de Oliveria (Jaguarete) of the Tupinikim/GuaraniCommission and Q'orianka Kilcher pressing their case to US Ambassador John Bolton, United Nations, New York, Nov. 17, 2006.If you want to do me a great favor , here is a letter you can sign and fax directly to the UN at fax # 917-367-5102 please remember that we need the letter there by 6 am Nov. 22 (9 am NY time ) so do it asap ! tonight! and if you want please forward this bulletin to as many initiative takers possible !LETTER:Dear US Ambassador John BoltonAs a member of the film industry, I urge you to support the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the UN General Assembly, as recommended by the Human Rights Council.As you may know, Indigenous Peoples and states have been working on the Declaration for over 20 years .The Declaration is long overdue . The Declaration affirms that Indigenous peoples make a unique contribution to the diversity and richness of civilizations and cultures, which constitutes the common heritage of humankind.One of the most important decisions of your term of office may well be the recognition of the rights of the indigenous peoples of the earth to be allowed to exist within their native environments. The United States government protects endangered plants and animals—even insects—from extinction. Surely, preserving the habitats of 350 million indigenous peoples is as important as preserving the nesting ground of a butterfly.At present, the United States, New Zealand, Canada, Australia and Botswana and others are attempting to derail the adoption of the Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the General Assembly. These rights are as important as the Geneva Convention.If the Draft Declaration on Indigenous Peoples' Rights is struck down, a few wealthy countries around the world will be denying fundamental human rights to 350 million people - more than the population of the United States.Please support our concerted efforts in helping to preserve cultures, which are under attack by the industrialized world. Let history remember your term of office, not as a promulgator of war, but as an emissary of hope for much of the world.My Hope is that all of our nations leaders have the wisdom to see the need to come together to adopt this universal Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples…So that we, as human beings, re-capture the true meaning of the word evolution compassion and justice.Signed,……………………………….Please fax to : 917-367-5102 ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------A NEW DAY !...Here are the results of the Vote !November 28, 2006 Importance: HighI AM Troubled By Today's Vote at the United Nations ! The Vote on Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is Inexcusable !!! After two decades of discussion and development, the slow pace of approval of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples came to a halt today at the current session of the UN General Assembly in New York. A resolution put forward by the Namibian delegation - in effect, a non-action motion on the Declaration - was supported by a majority with 82 Nation States voting in favour, 67 Nation States voting not in favour and 25 Nation States abstaining.Grand Chief Ed John, First Nations Summit Executive member, who is in New York on behalf of the Assembly of First Nations and working with the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus, stated "Today is a very sad day for the United Nations and a very serious setback for the integrity of the newly formed Human Rights Council who urged the General Assembly to formally adopt this historic document. It now appears that the most likely outcome will be that the United Nations never formally adopts the Declaration. This is a remarkable and bizarre development.""Canada was positioned to play a significant role in supporting the Declaration but Canada chose to actively oppose the Declaration as a member of the Human Rights Council and at the General Assembly," commented BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Shawn Atleo. "We share the deep frustration of all those who worked long and hard to get the Declaration to this point. We sincerely hope that the Declaration is not lost and that we can find a way in which to revitalize this important work."Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, stated "Canada no longer enjoys a 'blue beret' reputation at the United Nations. Canada's disgraceful and disgusting conduct against Indigenous People at both the national and international levels is being noted.It is simply shameful that as a Council member of the Human Rights Council, Canada pretends to espouse the highest standards and protection of Human Rights. It is those countries who have lived with the ravages of colonialism now speak for continuing colonialism for all Indigenous Peoples."The Declaration was adopted by the UN Human Rights Council this past June and was recommended for adoption by the General Assembly. Canada was one of few countries to vote against the Declaration in June.- 30 -FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Union of BC Indian Chiefs, (250) 490-5314 Colin Braker, First Nations Summit, (604) 926-9903 or (604) 328-4094 Heather Gillies, BC Assembly of First Nations, (604) 837-6908
