‘Downstream’ Aboriginal Activists Blast the Tar Sands: Nova Scotians Asked to Take Action

"People are dying in my community of rare cancers," Jada Voyageur of Fort Chipewyan told a crowd at a rally on Sunday.

By Jane KirbyBen Sichel, writing for the Halifax Media Co-Op, a project of the Dominion News Cooperative.

More than 100 people came to St. Andrew’s Church on Coburg Rd. Tuesday night to hear two young Aboriginal activists describe the Alberta Tar Sands’ effects on their communities.

“It takes three to five barrels of water to produce one barrel of oil from the tar sands”, explains Jada Voyageur of Fort Chipewyan, a Cree and Dene community near the Sands where residents are experiencing severe health and environmental problems. “ You can just imagine what they are taking out, and worse, what they are putting back into our water system.”

Residents of Fort Chipewyan have found high levels of arsenic, mercury and other toxic chemicals in their water supply that have leaked from tailings ponds downstream. The fish and game that First Nations communities rely upon for their food supply have also been contaminated.

“These are the kinds of fish that my people are finding all the time” says Voyageur, showing an image of a diseased-looking and deformed fish. “And they say there’s no impact”.

Dawkins, Hitchens and Arresting the Pope

In the wake of the latest revelation by abuses by the Roman Catholic Church, again with cases of child abuse and molestation by priests, but this time mostly in the British Isles, several well known atheists, secularists and all-around opponents of religion from the U.K., including Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens (henceforth called Ditchkens), have called for the arrest of the Pope during his upcoming trip to the isles. Ditchkens have even gone so far as to consult lawyers over the matter. Notable in this is that while Ditchkens is no friend of the left, many British leftists have jumped on board with this campaign. However, is this really something that leftists should support? Two British radical bloggers, Liam Mac Uaid and Bristol Red have taken up this discussion.

Presented below are both their articles on the discussion. As usual, posting these articles does not imply endorsement.

Let’s Not Arrest the Pope by Liam Mac Uaid

The largest May Day related workers’ event in this neck of the woods is not going to be organised by a union branch, Respect, the Labour Party or the SWP. Our Lady of the Assumption is having a special mass to celebrate the migrant workers who live in the parish. It will be pretty well attended. Feel free to chastise them for their ideological backwardness but the hard fact is that they get more out of their membership of the Catholic Church than any other organisation they could choose to join.

It would make for an interesting spectacle if a few of the liberal and left secularists demanding the arrest of Pope Benedict tried to rustle up support for their campaign among some of the most exploited workers in London.

Big & Small Apartheids: The Meaning of a Jewish State

By Jonathan Cook. He is a writer and journalist based in Nazareth, Israel. His latest books are Israel and the Clash of Civilisations: Iraq, Iran and the Plan to Remake the Middle East (Pluto Press) and Disappearing Palestine: Israel’s Experiments in Human Despair (Zed Books). His website is www.jkcook.net.

Originally posted on his ZNet page. Below is the text of a talk delivered to the fifth Bilin international conference for Palestinian popular resistance, held in the West Bank village of Bilin on April 21

Israel’s apologists are very excited about the idea that Israel has been singled out for special scrutiny and criticism. I wish to argue, however, that in most discussions of Israel it actually gets off extremely lightly: that many features of the Israeli polity would be considered exceptional or extraordinary in any other democratic state.

That is not surprising because, as I will argue, Israel is neither a liberal democracy nor even a “Jewish and democratic state”, as its supporters claim. It is an apartheid state, not only in the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza, but also inside Israel proper. Today, in the occupied territories, the apartheid nature of Israeli rule is irrefutable — if little mentioned by Western politicians or the media. But inside Israel itself, it is largely veiled and hidden. My purpose today is to try to remove the veil a little.

I say “a little”, because I would need far more than the time allotted to me to do justice to this topic. There are, for example, some 30 laws that explicitly discriminate between Jews and non-Jews — another way of referring to the fifth of the Israeli population who are Palestinian and supposedly enjoy full citizenship. There are also many other Israeli laws and administrative practices that lead to an outcome of ethnic-based segregation even if they do not make such discrimination explicit.

Native American and Indigenous Studies Association to SB 1070 in Arizona

NAISA (Native American and Indigenous Studies Association) letter to Arizona Governor Jan Brewer

April 24, 2010

The Honorable Jan Brewer
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007

Dear Governor Brewer,

I write on behalf of the officers of the Native American and Indigenous Studies Association, scheduled to hold our annual meeting in Tucson next month, to join Indigenous leaders throughout the hemisphere and around the globe in expressing in the strongest terms our condemnation of the new immigration bill (SB 1070) you signed into law last week. Your action as chief executive of the state of Arizona will, when the law takes effect, give license to abuse by police and citizens, making ever more murky the possibility of working towards a just future for all people in the Americas.

SB 1070 will have tremendous negative impact on Indigenous people on both sides of the border between the United States and Mexico, and it ought to go without saying that some of the people most impacted by this invidious law are descended from peoples who lived in the Sonoran Desert centuries before anyone even thought of the United States. Regardless of proximity or descent, though, the new law is morally wrong and panders to the worst currents in US politics.

Arizona Resiste: Video on Resistance to SB1070

Arizona Resiste is a video which shows some of the inspiring struggles that took place in Arizona before the anti-immigrant Jim Crow type bill SB1070, was signed into law.

Arizona Apartheid Bill, SB1070, Signed into Law

By James Jordan of Fight Back!

Tucson, AZ – Arizona’s Apartheid bill, SB1070, was signed into law by Governor Jan Brewer, April 23. The law gives local and state police the authority to stop anyone, anywhere, to demand proof of citizenship based only on “reasonable suspicion.” In Arizona, “reasonable suspicion” of being an undocumented immigrant means being Latino and speaking Spanish. The bill also lets citizens sue government institutions for not enforcing immigration law aggressively enough.

Racist Arizona Law Criminalizes Immigrants, Institutionalizes Racial Profiling

By Frank Lara, writing for the Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Protests nationwide for workers rights on May Day

On Fri. April 22, Arizona Governor Janice Brewer signed an extremely racist, anti-immigrant bill into law. The bill, known as SB 1070 or the “Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhood Act,” was passed by the Arizona legislature on April 13, sending shockwaves throughout the working class and around the world.

The racist, anti-immigrant SB 1070 sparked protests even before it was signed into law.

The legislation gives state and local police the power to act as federal immigration enforcers. The lawmakers who wrote and supported this bill said it was necessary to appropriate the tasks of the federal government because the federal government wasn’t doing “enough” on immigration. The already brisk pace of the federal racist anti-immigrant campaign just was not fast enough for the racist ruling class in the state of Arizona.

The law also makes not carrying proper documentation a misdemeanor. It institutionalizes racial profiling, giving the police a racist tool of oppression and the power to detain anyone they consider to have a “reasonable suspicion” of being an undocumented immigrant.

What is “reasonable suspicion”?

As the racist Rep. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.) said on national television, “they will look at the kind of dress you wear, there is different type of attire, there is different type of — right down to the shoes, right down to the clothes.” What Bilbray did not say is that law enforcement will most often be using race and nationality to determine “reasonable suspicion.”

Bolivia: Indigenous Peoples’ Declaration

From the Bolivia: Working Group #7, Indigenous Peoples. Big H/t goes to Censored News for this, so check them out for major coverage of the Bolivian climate conference.

World People’s Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth

Indigenous People’s Declaration

Mother Earth can live without us, but we can’t live without her.

We, the Indigenous Peoples, nations and organizations from all over the world, gathered at the World Peoples’ Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Earth, from April 19th to 22nd, 2010 in Tiquipaya, Cochabamba, Bolivia, after extensive discussions, express the following:

We Indigenous Peoples are sons and daughters of Mother Earth, or “Pachamama” in Quechua. Mother Earth is a living being in the universe that concentrates energy and life, while giving shelter and life to all without asking anything in return, she is the past, present and future; this is our relationship with Mother Earth. We have lived in coexistence with her for thousands of years, with our wisdom and cosmic spirituality linked to nature. However, the economic models promoted and forced by industrialized countries that promote exploitation and wealth accumulation have radically transformed our relationship with Mother Earth. We must assert that climate change is one of the consequences of this irrational logic of life that we must change. The aggression towards Mother Earth and the repeated assaults and violations against our soils, air, forests, rivers, lakes, biodiversity, and the cosmos are assaults against us.

Before, we used to ask for permission for everything. Now, coming from developed countries, it is presumed that Mother Earth must ask us for permission. Our territories are not respected, particularly those of peoples in voluntary isolation or initial contact, and we suffer the most terrible aggression since colonization only to facilitate the entry of markets and extractive industries.

The Other Alternative: NDFP 12 Point Program

This, as well as the post All Efforts Towards Building the People’s Army and Advancing the National Democratic Revolution to a Higher Stage!, is from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines on the occasion of its 37th anniversary, which was two days ago on April 24. The NDF is the mass front of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Ever since I first learned about the situation in the Philippines I have been a supporter of the efforts of revolutionary forces there. However, I do have major disagreements with the largest and most internationally well known force, the Maoist-oriented CPP and its armed forces in the New Peoples’ Army. Most notably I strongly disagree with, and have spoken out against its violently sectarian approach to the rest of the Filipino left (see here and here). This practice has included the murder of leaders and cadres of other parties, such as the Revolutionary Worker’s Party of the Philippines and Revolutionary Workers Party of Mindanao (of which the former is a permanent observer, and the latter is a full section of the Fourth International). This has also extended to the threatening of specific individuals with death and injury, including noted author, academic, political analyst and director of Focus on the Global South, Walden Bello.

So, with that said, the posting of this article should be taken as a full endorsement of the CPP-NPA and the NDF.

Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, Spokesperson National Democratic Front of the Philippines-Mindanao

The National Democratic Front in Mindanao (NDF-Mindanao) wishes to congratulate and salute the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP), as it celebrates its 37th anniversary, today, April 24. We wish to give also our highest honor to all the revolutionary martyrs who unselfishly offered their lives for the greater interest of the Filipino People.

All Efforts Towards Building the People’s Army and Advancing the National Democratic Revolution to a Higher Stage!

This, as well as the post All Efforts Towards Building the People’s Army and Advancing the National Democratic Revolution to a Higher Stage!, is from the National Democratic Front of the Philippines on the occasion of its 37th anniversary, which was two days ago on April 24. The NDF is the mass front of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

Maria Malaya, Spokesperson NDF-North-Eastern Mindanao Region

Today we celebrate with utmost joy the Filipino people’s gallant struggle for national liberation and genuine democracy under a united front. Thirty seven years ago on April 24, in the face of the fascist Marcos dictatorship, revolutionary organizations came together to form the National Democratic Front (NDF). Through the years the NDF has proven its commitment in advancing the revolutionary struggle of the Filipino people to overthrow the semi-colonial, semi-feudal system which oppresses, deprives and exploits majority of the masses.

Open Letter Protesting the Presence of Anti-Native “Militia” Leaders at the May 5th Aboriginal Policy Forum

Please add your signature  and circulate widely. Thanks to Solidarity with Six Nations for this.

An Open Letter Protesting the Presence of Anti-Native “Militia” Leaders at the May 5th Aboriginal Policy Forum at Mount Royal University

As scholars, students and concerned citizens we are deeply troubled by the invitation of grass roots anti-Native organizers and leaders of the “Caledonia Militia” to the New Directions on Aboriginal Policy Forum to be held on May 5th, 2010 at Mount Royal University. Dr. Frances Widdowson personally invited Mark Vandermaas and Gary McHale to be discussants on a panel entitled “Aboriginal Sovereignty and the Rule of Law.” McHale and Vandermaas are leading figures in grassroots anti-Native organizing against the Six Nations people of the Grand River Territory in south-western Ontario; they have played key roles in the formation of a non-native “militia” aimed at repressing Indigenous land protests and they have also organized a variety of anti-Native protests, a number of which have attracted the support of neo-Nazis and far right racists. While Vandermaas and McHale claim to speak for Caledonians, their activities have consistently increased tensions in this community facing a well documented land claims dispute.

The groups that McHale and Vandermaas are involved with falsely describe Indigenous people resisting the ongoing theft of their land and the abrogation of treaty rights as “organized criminals”, “terrorists”, “lawless” and continually refer to Six Nations people protesting as “Native thugs.” McHale and Vandermaas describe themselves as ‘non-violent’ ‘human rights activists’ inspired by the vision of Martin Luther King, working to dismantle a “two-tiered justice system” that benefits Indigenous people. On March 21st 2010, the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, McHale organized an ‘anti-racist’ rally claiming that white people in the area are oppressed by ‘race-based policing’ and “Canadian Apartheid.” These alarming appropriations are an insult to the histories of anti-racist and anti-colonial struggles and to all who uphold anti-racism. The re-naming of anti-Native organizing as anti-racist struggle is an affront to the struggles of Indigenous peoples and peoples of color across the globe who have survived and continue to struggle against genocide, apartheid, and colonialism.  As scholars, students and people of conscience we need to expose the violence of this appropriation by McHale and Vandermaas, not legitimize it.

Speaking Out Against Israeli Apartheid

Queers Against Israeli Apartheid asked queers in their city to tell us why they are against Israeli apartheid.  Here’s what they said:

Cuban VP in Cochabamba: To Defend Life We Must Abolish Capitalism

Speech by Esteban Lazo Hernández, vice president of Cuba’s Council of State, at the closing session of the People’s World Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth, at the Félix Capriles Stadium, Cochabamba, Bolivia, April 22, 2010.

Translation by Granma International. H/t to Climate and Capitalism for this piece.

Viva the struggle of the peoples of Latin America and of the world! (Exclamations of “Viva!”)

Viva the struggle for Mother Earth! (Exclamations of “Viva!”)

Dear brother Evo Morales, president of the Plurinational State of Bolivia and today, before this great event, we must say, from the bottom of our hearts, the undisputed leader of this noble and heroic people of Bolivia (Applause);

Compañeros of the Bolivian government;

Other authorities present at this historic event;

Participants in the conference that concludes today;

Brother and sister defenders of Mother Earth, of Pachamama committed to the survival of the human species;

President Evo’s initiative to convene this Conference in order to initiate a direct, frank and constructive dialog with the social, indigenous, scientific and world people’s movements and organizations, with the aim of analyzing the real causes that provoke climate change, is an act of extraordinary importance and exceptional human meaning.

A few minutes ago, we heard the reading of the excellent and profound document drawn up as a result of this first summit, and I can assure all of you of our firm and resolute support for that document, which was read out in the afternoon of today. (Applause and exclamations)

Western Shoshones, Mohawk Youth Arrive at Bolivia Climate Conference

By Brenda Norrell of Censored News. For lots more news about the conference in Bolivia, as well as the indigenous delegations from North America and elsewhere be sure to check out her awesome site at http://www.bsnorrell.blogspot.com

COCHABAMBA, Bolivia — After being stranded in Peru all night at the airport, Timbisha Shoshone Chairman Joe Kennedy and Western Shoshone elder and freedom fighter Carrie Dann arrived in Cochabamba, Bolivia, for the World Peoples Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth. Chairman Kennedy is traveling on his sovereign Western Shoshone passport.

The Shoshones are among a grassroots group of Native Americans from North America participating in the conference. Elouise Brown, director of the Dooda (NO) Desert Rock, fighting a third power plant on the Navajo Nation, is also here. Brown joins Indigenous Peoples from throughout the Americas exposing the uranium mining, coal fired power plants and oil and gas drilling that have left a trail of death and disease in the homelands of Native Peoples.

Jose Matus, director of the Indigenous Alliance without Borders and Yaqui ceremonial leader, came in support of the Rights of Mother Earth, Indigenous rights of mobility and to assist with translations. The Alliance, based in Tucson, Arizona, and Sonora, Mexico, is a voice for Indian people in their home territories who are abused by the US Border Patrol and US immigration officials.

Native grassroots youths bringing powerful voices include Michelle Cook, Navajo activist and scholar now in Maori territory in New Zealand, who arrived after an overnight in Chile. Mohawk youth Chibon Everstz arrived from Canada after many flights delays on the same flight with the Shoshones.

Indigenous Peoples Rights in the Americas

Robert Coulter talks about the State of Indigenous Peoples Rights in the Americas and recent developments in Human Rights and International Law.

Winona LaDuke on Food, Energy and Sustainability

Anishinaabe Activist, Author and Orator Winona LaDuke talks about food sovereignty, renewable energy, sustainable development and indigenous paradigms. Recorded in Vancouver Washington in February 2010.