In an open letter addressed to the President of Venezuela, dated May 17, a group of 20 environmental groups and a large number of prominent citizens, have denounced gross abuse of power and deceitful manipulation of public opinion, in order to approve in Cabinet a management plan for Imataca Forest Reserve, a legally protected area since the early 1960s. Imataca, situated at the foot of the Guayana Shield, occupies an area of 3.6 million hectares -the size of the Netherlands- and is covered with rich, pristine tropical forests.
Bulletin articles
The Cold War and the "danger of communism" are over. New tasks are needed for the US Army. What could be better than collaborating in the protection of other countries' environment? According to the Washington Times, June 12, 6200 US soldiers are being prepared to carry-out "eco-protection duties" in Central and South America that may require their services. Surprising as it may sound, Timothy E.
Last February the Colombian Environment Ministry issued an authorization for oil exploration by Oxy, a branch of the US company Occidental, to start in indigenous territory on the border with Venezuela, considered one of the largest oil fields of the hemisphere. To stop the beginning of the activities of the company, about 4,000 members of the U'wa tribe recently threatened to commit mass suicide if oil exploration takes place on their ancestral lands.
Shell Oil has plans to start drilling for natural gas this July in a rainforest area that Peru's government set aside as a homeland for so-called "uncontacted" indigenous people, inhabited by the Nahua and Kugakopori in the Urubamba River valley, a biodiversity rich area.
Even if - to avoid any possible charges of environmental damage- Shell has vowed to refrain from causing any negative environmental impact, some charges of environmental damage, like alteration of the water and problems in hunting and fishing have already begun to come in.
An enormous pulp mill - PT TEL- is being established in South Sumatra by a syndicate of foreign banks and export credits from Europe, North America and Japan. The agreement for nearly US1billion was signed in March. PT TEL involves a number of Barito Pacific subsidiaries, President Suharto's daughter Tutut and Japanese companies.
A large Mapuche and Pehuenche march took place in Santiago on May 14th against the actions of the Chilean government in order to deny indigenous rights guaranteed by the Chilean law. The present protest was preceeded by the occupation of the headquaters of CONADI (Commission of Indigenous Development) last April and the cancellation by President Frei of the II Conference of the Indigenous Peoples Fund to be held in Santiago on May 14-15th.
David Hathaway (Brazil), has informed us that a volume of the Global Biodiversity Assessment (UNEP), entitled "Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversity" is being prepared. It will include opinions and experiences of indigenous, traditional and local communities. Articles, poems, art works, pieces of music, photos on this issue are welcome to show that biodiversity is a comprehensive concept beyond the narrow economic and institucionally centered dominant point of view. The deadline is June 15th. All who consider that this initiative could be important can contact:
"Indigenous Peoples, Forest, and Biodiversity" is a book published by the International Alliance of Indigenous-Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests and the International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), that brings together statements and interventions made by the former organization at various international fora, included CSD, IPF and CBD. Those interested in the publication, please contact IWGIA.
As we will soon become active in the plantations campaign, we would like to suggest a topic for discussion: the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the certification of wood produced in large-scale industrial tree plantations. As a number of WRM affiliates participate actively within the FSC, it would be important to reach a consensus on this particular issue, to try to push in the same direction, both from within and from outside the FSC. All opinions are welcome. However, the above is only a suggestion.
The forest crisis: clear commitments and accountability
Ricardo went to Ecuador invited by the Third World Ecological Studies Institute (Instituto de Estudios Ecologistas del Tercer Mundo) to deliver a number of conferences and a one week course of forests and plantations. Quito, Riobamba, Esmeraldas and Cuenca were the cities where the conferences were held, with an average of 100 people attending each. The course took place in the Amazonia.