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I notice the mainstream media is covering only the protesting at WTO,
not the WHY of the protesting. Here is some info on what is happening in
Seattle that you may not hear in mainstream press.Indigenous Peoples Protest WTO Policies
Forums highlight impacts on Treaty Rights, Biodiversity, Intellectual
Property Rights, Forests, Agriculture, Border Justice & Human RightsSEATTLE - Indigenous Peoples from the Arctic to the Amazon to Asian have
gathered here to join protests against the WTO and to call attention to
the impacts of WTO policies on Native communities that are at the forefront
of environmental and cultural destruction.Organizers say that economic globalization policies endanger their
cultures, communities and traditional subsistence lifestyles by clear-cutting
forests, destroying fisheries, displacing populations and undermining Indigenous
Peoples power over their land and natural resources."The liberalization of trade policies and mining laws allows the free
entry of corporations to take over Indigenous lands, evict Indigenous peoples
and claim the rights over their resources," said Victoria Tauli-Corpuz of
the Indigenous Peoples Network for Policy Research & Education, based in the
Philippines. Representatives from Columbia and other South American
countries say that the current WTO policies have encouraged murder,
genocide and the dislocation of Indigenous populations.In the U.S. and Canada, Indian tribes fear WTO trade policies will
trample long-standing treaty rights and erode tribal sovereignty to protect
Native land and peoples. The Clinton Administration's position on advanced
tariff liberalization will increase forest destruction worldwide and destroy
homelands and cultures of many Native Nations."This isn't just about trade and economic development. It goes beyond
that," said Tom Goldtooth, coordinator of the Minnesota-based Indigenous
Environmental Network. "We have grave concerns regarding free trade and
its impacts on the environment, food safety and our treaty rights. The
rights of all people to have a say in their destiny must be respected. We're
concerned about the domination provided to corporations by the WTO that
commodifies our water, forests, our genes, and theft of our intellectual property rights.""We're issuing a call to action to all our tribal leaders to learn about
these issues and to assert our inherent rights to protect those things
that are sacred to our people," Goldtooth added.On Wednesday evening, the Indigenous Environmental Network and the
Seventh Generation Fund are co-hosting an Indigenous Peoples Forum at Seattle
University focusing on Indigenous Peoples' rights to self-determination,
cultural integrity and sovereignty.Speakers included Chief Ed Moody, Nuxalt Nation, British Columbia;
Priscilla Settee, Nuclear Free Independent Pacific,Canada; Chris Peters, Seventh
Generation Fund; Sharon Venne, attorney, Cree First Nations; Debra
Harry, Indigenous Peoples Council on Bio-Colonialism; Victoria Tauli-Corpuz,
Indigenous Peoples Network for Policy Research and Education; Esther
Nahgahnub, Anishinabeg Treaty Office; Taira Stanley, Movimiento de la
Juventud Kuna, Panama; Cipriano Jurapo, Border Justice Campaign, Cuidad
Juarez, Mexico and Chief Stewart Phillip, President, Union of British
Columbia Indian Chiefs.Position statements from an array of Indigenous groups are available and
several North and South American Indigenous delegates are available for interviews.
Contact: Tom Goldtooth in Seattle or Valerie Taliman at 206/296-2288,
for more information or to schedule interviews.The Indigenous Peoples Networking Office has been
established at Seattle University, 900 Broadway, Lemieux Library, Room 108,
206/296-2288, 2289.
Save Ward Valley
107 F Street
Needles, CA 92363
ph. 760/326-6267
fax 760/326-6268
See also
