Tribal Solidarity – Page 18

Regional Strike Paralyzes Hydroelectric Project in Colombia

19 January 2012

The Regional Movement for the Defense of the Territory launched a regional strike in Huila, Colombia on Jan. 3 to protest the destructive impacts of the Quimbo Hydroelectric Project and the entering of UK-based petroleum company Emerald Energy into the biodiverse mountaintop moor ecosystem of the Páramo of Miraflores. The movement, compromised of the Association of Affected by the Quimbo Hydroelectric Project (ASOQUIMBO), the Civic Committee of Western Huila, communities from the Páramo of Miraflores and the Regional Indigenous Council of Huila (CRIHU), has blocked the highway and bridge known as Paso del Colegio and has paralyzed the construction of the Quimbo Hydroelectric Project, courageously pushing the diverting of the Magdalena River behind schedule while facing violent evcitions by riot police and the military and a media blackout.

The three main demands of the strike are that the environmental licenses for the Quimbo Hydroelectric Project and Emerald Energy be immediately suspended, public environmental hearings be held for the project in affected communities and for multinational corporation Emgesa to immediately repair the Paso del Colegio Bridge and other highways that have been damaged while working on the Quimbo project. Last week Colombia's Comptroller´s Office responded by opening a “preliminary investigations” against the Ministry of Environment, the Regional Environmental Autonomous Corporation (CAM) and INVIAS- Highway Transportation Authority for violations of the environmental license of the Quimbo Hydroelectric Project. In addition, Govenor Cielo Gonalez of Huila, House Representative Consuelo Gonzalez de Perdomo and Senate Vice President Alexander Lopez have all come out in support of the regional strike and the demands of the movement.

After two weeks of paralyzing construction of the dam, constant confrontations with security from the construction site in blocking the entry of workers from both land and the river, the Minister of Environment finally agreed to meet for an hour and a half with the communities in a meeting mediated by the governor. January 25 through the 31 there will be public assemblies throughout the region where fisherpeople, agricultural workers, cattle ranchers, loggers, pick-up truck drivers, sand diggers and construction workers affected by the Quimbo will be able to present their grievances to representatives from the Comptroller’s Office and the Ombudsmen Offices followed by a day of presenting the environmental and archaeological impacts and the very serious tectonic risk in the area of the dam. Other presentations for the Paso de Colegio Bridge, the Paramo of Miraflores and other regions affected the bridge damage will be held. Furthermore, on Jan. 18 there was a Judicial Review of the Quimbo Hydroelectric Project as a result of Vice President of the Senate Alexander Lopez’s motion to the Ministry of Environment to suspend the diverting of the Magdalena River to prevent an “irreversible catastrophy” until the Ministry of Environment present its review and response to all the cases presented on February 3. If the Quimbo Dam is not suspended, ASOQUIMBO is prepared to risk lives to occupy the Dam Construction site and stop it indefinitely.

The region of the Quimbo is rich in biodiversity, including over 900 ha of Riparian forest ecosystem along the river´s edge, as well as extensive fertile agricultural lands. During the last four years the project has caused ecological destruction, increased cost of living, psychological traumas, and abuses against local communities. Over 2,000 people live in the region that would be covered by the 9,500 ha reservoir, though more than 15,000 people in central Huila depend on this region for employment and food production.

One of the sectors most affected by the Dam is the fishing industry. “The Quimbo construction site dumps a variety of liquid and other pollution into the river, before the Quimbo a family could catch up to 40lb. of fish a day now a family is lucky if they can catch 8 lb. ad there is no way to live with that” described Miriam Restrepo, a local fisherwoman from Hobo at the strike. “The fish we catch can only live and feed in running water and we fisherman do not own land, we live along the sand banks where we fish. Emgesa does not want to compensate us because they say we won´t be affected by the Quimbo.”

The movement against the Quimbo dates back to 2007 when the first environmental license for the project was given to the Spanish multinational energy company Emgesa (now a subsidiary of Italian Energy giant Enel) under questionable circumstances. At th time, then-President Alvaro Uribe made business deals with Emgesa and did not include any local government or the legislature from any say in the decision making process. It was then that the Magdalena River was handed over to company as a Public Utility indefinitely by the former president Uribe. Since then, the environmental license for the project has been changed multiple times in negotiations between Emgesa and the Ministry of Environment, always to cater to the demands of the company. When issues such as the numerous sensitive tectonic faults within the region noted by INGEOMINAS (the State Geological Institute) or the unique archeological findsthat were discovered by the Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History (ICANH), this caused the environmental license to be suspended until an accurate archeological survey of the area was completed. Those decisions were subsequently revoked by the President or the Ministry of Environment. In addition,Environmental Laws were changed by former President Uribe with less than 72 hours before his term ended to favor the company over the impacted communities in August 2010.

On November 29, 2011 the Ministry of Environment and Territorial Development through Resolution 123 revoked its prior suspending of the license through Resolution 1096 of June 14 which had been suspended for not appropriately compensating landowners and for displacing workers from productive farms. The new license was granted stating that prior violations had been rectified without the Ministry of Environment visiting the region to verify what actions Emgesa reported to the Ministry. The License states that Emgesa cannot buy out farms that are currently in production, though “numerous farms that we worked on such as La Virgina, La Güipa and others are abandoned in disarray when they previously employed up to 30 workers each,” explained farmworker Harold Segura, a resident from La Jagua.

During the last four years the farmers who grow tobacco, coffee, cacao, day laborers, fishermen, artisans, loggers, and other inhabitants of the region have grown and unified into ASOQUIMBO, recognized both regionally and nationally as a determined, effective and coherent social movement and as an example of community resistance against a hydroelectric dam project whom many believe will set precedents for other anti-dam struggles in Colombia and elsewhere. As part of National Movement for the Defense of Territories of theMovement Rios Vivos, ASOQUIMBO has grown to build ties with other communities affected by dams, such as Urra I & II en Cordoba, Hidrosogamoso in Santander and Hidroituango in Antioquia.

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos has placed mining and energy production as a vital “locomotive” of development for the country that seeks to be pivotal in the region´s infrastructure creation and resource extraction. Caught in the path of this locomotive are hundreds of indigenous, Afro-descendent and peasant communities whose territories rich in gold and other metals, coal, oil, hydrological resources and rich soils for agro-fuel production are caught in the middle of a battle between the State resource extraction policies and their human right to self-determination. In Colombia, the struggle against the Quimbo is the struggle against gold in Suarez, Cauca, which is also the struggle against oil Palm in the Montes de Maria, as it is the struggle against the Cerrejon Coal Mine in la Guajira.

Please Support the Regional Movement for the Defense of the Territory by contacting Colombian Minister of the Environment Dr. Frank Pearl of the Republic of Colombia and inform him that you support the Regional Strike and call for:

Minister Frank Pearl
fpearl@minambiente.gov.co
011 57 332 3400

-Immediate suspension of the Quimbo Hydroelectric Project´s Environmental License. Yes to Agro Ecological Food Security Campesino Reserve!
– Immediate suspension of the Emerald Energy´s Environmental License in the Cerro Paramo de Miraflores.
– Emgesa immediately repair of the Paso del Colegio Bridge and the highways connecting La Plata-Garzón, La Plata-Tesalia-Íquira and La Plata-Leticia.

For more information about the Quimbo Hydroelectric Project:
Damming Magdalena: Emgesa Threatens Colombian Communities
The History of the Quimbo in Colombia: Dammed or Damned?
Protests against the Quimbo Dam
Polinizaciones Blog

Indigenous Elders & Supporters Occupy ALEC Member Salt River Project Headquarters

2.12.11

Indigenous Dine’ (Navajo) and O’odham elders and supporters are taking direct action by occupying Salt River Project (SRP) headquarters today at 10am. This action is occurring while the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) holds their “States & Nation Policy Summit” in Scottsdale, AZ. SRP is on ALEC’s corporate board.

2.12.11

Louise Benally, a resident of Black Mesa impacted by SRP’s operations, is delivering a letter to SRP that outlines critical concerns of her community. She expressed that “My community is heavily impacted by Salt River Project’s coal and water extraction activities. SRP has extensive ties to Peabody Energy’s massive mining operations and the Navajo Generating Station which they co-own. Coal mining has destroyed thousands of archeological sites and our only water source has been seriously compromised. Their operations are causing widespread respiratory problems, lung diseases, and other health impacts on humans, the environment, and all living things.”

“…We demand that SRP & Peabody meaningfully involve the indigenous communities they are impacting, and that they convert to non-fossil fuel based energy sources and address the health impacts on our communities.”

“…ALEC, acting in the corporate interests of SRP & Peabody Energy, continues policies & operations that are not only devastating whole communities and ecosystems, but greatly de-stabilizing our planet’s climate for the profit of a few, the so-called 1%.” stated Benally.

Ofelia Rivas, an elder and activist of the O’odham, Indigenous Peoples on the border of Arizona and Mexico, states “As indigenous people we understand that the balance of the land is actually the balance of our people and any disturbance of that is very devastating not only to our spiritual health but our overall physical health, as well as all living things. As indigenous people we are not separated from our environment. We’re deeply connected to everything in the universe: the land, the mountains, water, air, and all plant and animal life.”

“…The proposed loop 202 freeway extension that threatens South Mountain and the continuing construction of the US and Mexico border and it’s militarization. Trade policies such as NAFTA and CANAMEX alter our way of life and threatens our Him’dag. We will no longer accept the violence the state attempts to enforce on us along their border. Especially the aggressive legislation of ALEC. We demand you recognize the declaration of universal indigenous rights as well as the rights of our mother earth. Enough is enough, it ends now!”

The massive canals constructed before colonial invasion of O’odham lands are now being utilized by Salt River Project. O’odham culture is deeply rooted throughout this area, which is as far north as the Phoenix Valley, as far west as the coast of Mexico in what is now Rocky Point, east as the San Pedro river and as far south as Hermosillo and the Sierra Madres Mountains.

Ray Aguilar stated that “the air conditioning and power we enjoy and water we drink comes at the suffering caused by SRP and Peabody’s exploitation of the land and people. When will we realize that our privileges our based on this? We must take further action. I just spent one week doing direct, on-land support with Black Mesa residents assisting with basic essential human needs. That’s why I’m here today. This critical situation would not exist if not for these greedy corporations.”

Peabody Energy, also an ALEC member, is the world’s largest private-sector coal company. With 2010 sales of 246 million tons and nearly $7 billion in revenues, Peabody creates 10 percent of U.S. power and 2 percent of worldwide electricity.

Since 1974 more than 14,000 Dine’ families have been forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands due in large part due to U.S.-backed tribal councils and cola mining.

Photos, videos and what happened next at http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/

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ALEC Background, call-out etc

The convergence to expose and shut down the American Legislative Exchange Council's policy meeting has begun in Scottsdale, AZ. ALEC's tentacles reach into almost every one of the environmental and social justice struggles we work on. Exposing ALEC is difficult because of the massive amount of information we have about them and the broad range of issues they effect. As wikileaks has been the platform for a vast amount of information bringing light to corruption, Alecexposed.org is a treasure trove information exposing ALEC. I'm looking for help posting to independent media websites and blogs about the ALEC protest in AZ, and links to ALECs regional impacts. We need a few people around the country posting to both english and spanish language indymedia sites.

There are press releases in english and spanish and a call to action (including information about the action to "Occupy the Phones") see attachment and azresistsalec.wordpress.com

websites: azresistsalec.wordpress.com - for general information about the convergence to shut down alec Shutdownalec.org - We are posting media (foto/video) directly by tagging flickr photos and video with the hashtags: #occupyALEC, #shutdownALEC and/or #ALECexposed

The AZ Resists media team is posting video on youtube.com <http://youtube.com> on channel: shutdownalec. Crowd sourced video on shutdownalec.org

Please pass on this email to anyone you think might be interested in supporting!

In Solidarity

AZ Resists ALEC Media Team azresistsmedia@gmail.com 530-598-1670 <tel:530-598-1670>

SHUT DOWN THE AMERICAN LEGISLATIVE EXCHANGE COUNCIL

This document includes informations about:

-OCCUPY THE PHONES ! IMMEDIATE CALL TO ACTION

-Call for National Solidarity

-Suggested Actions to help expose ALEC!

1. Call the WESTIN KIERLAND RESORT & SPA.

2. Tell them you do not approve of their decision to host the American Legislative Exchange Council's (ALEC’s) States and Policy summit.

3. Be friendly, don't take your anger out on the hotel workers who are not responsible, but make sure your message gets across.

4. Hang up, and call again.

Use these numbers to occupy their lines!

general contact: 480.624.1000 <tel:480.624.1000>

resort reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>, 800.354.5892 <tel:800.354.5892>

dining reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>

spa reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>

tee time reservations: 480.624.1202 <tel:480.624.1202>

resort activities: 480.624.1268 <tel:480.624.1268>

media contact: 480.624.1315 <tel:480.624.1315>

special events: 480.624.1332 <tel:480.624.1332>

meetings and events: 480.624.1220 <tel:480.624.1220>

Background info:

The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa is built to host conventions. Tucked away in Scottsdale, and less than one mile from Scottsdale Executive Airport, well-funded organizations can meet in a comfortable, secretive environment without setting foot outside the luxurious hotel grounds. This is where ALEC has chosen to bring together legislators and corporations to draft model legislation that exempts corporations from environmental and labor laws, pushes for Three Strikes and mandatory minimum sentencing, and targets, criminalizes and incarcerates communities of color, among other profit-driven laws (more info: alecexposed.org.

Call the Westin Kierland today to shame them for their part in allowing the sale of local and national legislation to the highest bidder.

More info: azresistsalec.wordpress.com .

Be the media! www.shutdownalec.org

Here are a few suggestions for actions, share your creative ideas with us and keep in touch on N30.

azresistsmedia@gmail.com

http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/

#occupyALEC, #shutdownALEC and/or #ALECexposed

-Hold a Teach-In or other educational outreach event (an informative power point and other resources are available: http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com/more-info-on-alec/)

-Shut down the 1% ! Occupy an ALEC corporation near you…too many to choose from? Focus on the board of directors http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Boards_and_Task_Forces)

-Bring your message to an ALEC legislative member near you. What’s your local connection to ALEC? – In AZ we are focusing on the ongoing colonization and exploitation of Native land and ALEC’s connection to immigration and the private prison industry. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Politicians

-Street theater exposing corruption – Remember Billionaires for Bush? - Form a “business suit bloc” and March! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAv8Mv9tzoA)

-Literally “Expose” ALEC – two letters per butt cheek...just sayin’... Or get a trench coat and hide ALEC’s sample bills inside…show people what’s under your coat…

Go to the website and see “Find ‘Find Model Bills’ here” http://www.alecexposed.org/wiki/ALEC_Exposed

-Twitter and Blog about ALEC on N30- get the word out far and wide!

-So many issues! Can’t decide? Focus on how private prisons affect your community.

http://www.thenation.com/article/162478/hidden-history-alec-and-prison-labor

-Got a projector? Have a guerilla movie night to expose ALECs major funder the Koch brothers.

http://kochbrothersexposed.com/thepress/2011/05/13/guerrilla-drive-in-at-lincoln-center-shames-koch-brother/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vykr06dMwY&feature=player_embedded

Lots more information can be found at:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Corporations

http://www.alecexposed.org/

______________________________________________________________________

Take Action on N30!SHUT ALEC DOWN!

From November 30 to December 3rd, 2011,some of the most powerful corporations and thousands of state legislators will be bringing Wall Street politics and greed to Scottsdale, AZ. The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), will be having their States and Nations Policy Summit where they can continue their drive for profits, and to control and destroy our communities and the earth.

Most of us learned about ALEC, a secretive nation-wide organization, when they were exposed for their relationship with private prisons and their role in SB1070 and its copy cat laws, although they've been involved in various efforts to criminalize people through such things as the mandatory minimum sentencing and three strikes laws. They were also involved in the creation of the animal enterprise terrorism act (AETA), they support companies (including BP) involved with energy extraction across the world (including Tar Sands), as well big pharmaceutical companies.

We are calling for a *national day of action*on November 30 to demonstrate against ALEC during their conference.

Join us in Scottsdale, AZ on occupied Onk Akimel O’odham lands, to expose, confront, and resist ALEC and what they represent.

ALEC is everywhere. If you can't make it, find one or more representatives of ALEC (corporate, government, or non-profit org) in your area to expose, confront, and resist!

Please spread the word!

http://azresistsalec.wordpress.com

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=ALEC_Corporations

http://www.alecexposed.org/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some Messaging:

“We want ALEC to be so transparent they don’t exist anymore”

“ALEC is the 1% ”

“Corporations write legislation?!? This is corrupt and should stop!”

“People over Profits! No more profiting of the misery of others”

Xstrata mining stormed by Occupy London protestors + global anti-Xstrata protests

30.11.11

An action took place in London against a union-busting earth-trashing Swiss/British coal and metal mining company – for a selection of the global protests against them, see below the main article. There's various footage: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5. Part of the N30 mass strike (timeline).

#OccupyLSX had announced an action at 3pm at Piccadilly Circus. They set off with the samba band and minutes later a flare was set off inside Panton House, Haymarket, whilst a banner was hung from the roof. Outside protestors challenged some plainclothes cops in the crowd, after which a 'bubble' or kettle was set up, apparently with more plain clothes cops trapped inside it.

Occupy London – part of the global movement for social and economic justice – today highlighted the corporate greed endemic in the UK and called for a change within society.

About 60 protestors gained entry into the offices of mining company Xstrata, a ‘leading light’ of the FTSE 100 and British industry to highlight the fact that CEO Mick Davies was the highest compensated CEO of all the FTSE 100 companies in the last year, when his companies had losses and the economy collapsed. He received £18,426,105 for his efforts. [1]

This comes in a year when the average pay rise of executives across FTSE 100 companies was 43%, with ‘top’ directors at 49%. [2]

Led by a samba band to the building from Piccadilly Circus, the protesters entered the HQ at 25-7 Haymarket, London, with the protesters chanting against the corporate greed of Mick and other executives, in support of all those striking for fair pensions for all today. The protestors also unfurled a banner saying “All power to the 99%” from the roof top.

There are currently about 20 protesters inside – being held down on knees, of which many are women. There are a few hundred people kettled outside.

The protesters today are making the connection between the slashing of private and public sector pensions, while supposed ‘top’ executives cash in by increasing their own pay levels, leaving many without pensions. These CEOs like Mick Davies lavishly secure their own futures while ignoring the security and wellbeing of their own workers.

Mines have closed in Australia, South Africa and Spain within the last decade resulting in hundreds of workers in the last decade being laid off.

Karen Lincoln, supporter of Occupy London said: “Mick Davies is a prime example of the greedy 1 per cent, lining their own pockets while denying workers pensions. In this time when the government enforces austerity on the 99 per cent, these executives are profiting. The rest of us are having our pensions cuts, health service torn apart and youth centres shut down.

“We refuse to stand by and let this happen. We call on others to join us in the fight for a more just society. Today we have taken this to one of the offices of the 1 per cent. This is only the beginning. Come and join us on 15th December for Occupy Everywhere.”

Occupy London will unveil details of Occupy Everywhere soon. Be ready.

Notes

[1] According to the Income Data Services, Mick Davies from Xstrata (mining company) was the highest paid executive in the FTSE 100. His company has recently taken severe hits as FTSE 100 companies face drop in value (£104 billion off FTSE 100 companies). He was paid £18,426,105. LONDON OFFICE: Registered Office, 4th Floor 25/27 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4EN

Highest paid executives in the FTSE 100:

1. Mick Davies, Xstrata, £18,426,105

2. Bart Becht, Reckitt Benkiser, £17,879,000

3. Michael Spencer, ICAP £13,419,619

4. Sir Terry Leahy, Tesco £12,038,303

5. Tom Albanese, Rio Tinto £11,623,162

6. Sir Martin Sorrell, WPP Group £8,949,985

7. Todd Kozel, Gulf Keystone Petroleum £8,913,223

8. Don Robert, Experian £8,601,984

9. Edward Bonham Carter, Jupiter Fund Management £8,003,641

10. Dame Marjorie Scardino, Pearson £8,003,641

[2] http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/business-as-usual-top-directors-get-49-per-cent-pay-rise-2376929.html

[3] Facebook page for Occupy London’s Stock Exchange site just by St Paul’s (OccupyLSX) is https://www.facebook.com/occupylondon. Overall Occupy London twitter Occupy Londonhastag is #occupylondon. OccupyLSX Twitter is https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyLSX ; hashtag#occupylsx. Twitter for the new Finsbury Square site is https://twitter.com/#!/OccupyFS; hastag #occupyfs. Twitter for Bank of Ideas is http://twitter.com/bankofideas and facebook is http://facebook.com/bankofideaslondon

——

What happened next (& photos) – ejection, kettling (with new added 'info screens'), arrests and arrestee-coach blocking.

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Oct.'07: Xstrata, criticized heavily by a growing number of Chileans opposing the Swiss mining company’s plan to build a large hydroelectric dam in northern Patagonia (Region XI), is no stranger to controversy – especially when it comes to rivers. More

Oct.'06: THE traditional Aboriginal owners of land near the Gulf of Carpentaria are travelling to Darwin to protest against the mining company Xstrata's decision to expand a zinc and lead mine by diverting the McArthur River. More

Jan.'08: Communist rebels have attacked a $2 billion copper and gold mine owned by Xstrata in the Philippines. More

May '11: Peru – Xstrata halts activities at Las Bambas due to protests More

Nov.'11: Workers of the mining group Xstrata are to demonstrate in Johannesburg on Tuesday to demand the right to take part in industrial action…."This march will be taking place amid the impromptu arrest of Numsa members by [the] SA Police Service under the instruction of one of Xstrata's key executives." More

Nov.'11: Vehicles torched in job protest at Xstrata mine More

Occupy Shellanaboy set up at refinery gates in Erris (& solidarity with Ogoni 9)

November 11, 2011

About 40 Shell to Sea campaigners blocked the Aughoose compound this morning – all Shell employees prevented entering compound 7.30 to 9.30. The road was kept open to local traffic by the campaign. There was no Garda presence. Just after 10 Shell to Sea activists started setting up an Occupy Shell Corrib Camp at the gates of the refinery in a show of solidarity with the global Occupy movements!

At 9.30 campaigners started moving from the Aughhoose compound to the refinery site where there will be meet up at 10. This action was part of the day of solidarity called both to remember the execution of Ken Saro Wiwa and for people from around Ireland to stand in solidarity with the local community in Erris, Mayo.

Local residents and their supporters will gather at 10am at the gates of Shell’s inland refinery. From there they will walk to Bellanaboy Bridge to commemorate a baton charge by Gardaí on November 10th, 2006. The baton charge resulted in numerous injuries to campaigners and is one of the low points of the 11-year struggle against the inland refinery and high pressure pipeline. They will also be marking the 16th anniversary of the execution of nine activists in Ogoniland, Nigeria. Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight others were hanged by the Nigerian government on November 10th, 1995 for their opposition to Shell’s environmental destruction in the Niger delta. The walk which is now (11.20) underway is lead by people carrying the 9 crosses to commemorate the Ogoni 9 executed on this day in 1995. Over 100 people are taking part

Earth First! Winter Moot 2012 – 24-26th February 2012. Updated: location & what to expect

A weekend of discussion and networking for those taking direct action against ecological destruction.

Please note date & location change (due to date clash & venue problems):

24-26th February 2012, near Glasgow

Nearest train station: Lanark.

A weekend of discussion and networking for those taking direct action against ecological destruction.

Please note date & location change (due to date clash & venue problems):

24-26th February 2012, near Glasgow

Nearest train station: Lanark.

See earthfirstgathering.org.uk for further information about location, programme and contact details

Update:

Where – this years Earth First Winter Moot will take place in Glespin Village Hall, South Lanarkshire. Glespin is a small village about 14 miles south of Lanark, and 35 miles south of Glasgow. South Lanarkshire also has many beautiful areas with rivers, hills, forests and peat bogs. Full directions

What to expect – this years Earth First! Winter Moot takes place in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In a months time environmentalists from across the UK and beyond will converge to discuss and debate. Below is an update from the organising collective who are working on the program.

The Moot 2012 collective has felt that at previous EF! Gatherings groups have primarily attended to recruit for their respective campaigns. Yet those who attend EF! Gatherings are predominantly already active, making them good places for networking, but not necessarily for outright recruitment. We recognise the effort gathering organisers put into planning agendas but often the more discursive aspects of the gatherings focus on larger, abstract questions and debates have often been framed by self-appointed experts. We feel that these discussions ineffectively attempt to find answers or reach consensus where this is inappropriate.

For example at the first EF! Gathering 20 years ago the question was asked: 'What is EF!?' 20 years later in 2011 at the last Moot the same question was still being asked . . .

The answer is EF! is what we make it, and this year we are going to make it a space in which we can approach our campaigns both critically and analytically by asking more specific and practical questions. Our activism should be constantly evolving not stuck in a rut asking the same questions again and again.

The agenda will be designed to ask questions around four key issues: the tactics we use; the strategies that we employ in our campaigns; community solidarity; and sustainable activism. There will be no attempt to reach conclusions or consensus especially about what EF! is. Instead we want to have discussions that lead to new ideas that could evolve ongoing campaigns or give creative inspiration to ones that are just getting started.

A free space will be provided in which campaigns will be able to hold meetings and have further discussions if they wish, and there will also be some space given for campaign updates with an emphasis on honest analysis rather than promotion.

For updates and more info check the website or email us.

efwintermoot@noflag.org.uk

Defending the Xingu River basin from the Belo Monte Dam

Last week, on October 27 in Altamira, Brazil, the Belo Monte Dam construction site was occupied by 400 indigenous people, fishermen and community members intending to permanently occupy the site and calling allied organizations and movements to join them. The occupation was a collective decision made by 700 representatives from local communities who attended a seminar against the Belo Monte Dam held the week before in Altamira.

Protesters notified the Brazilian government about the occupation and participating groups released a statement saying: “In the face of the Brazilian government’s intransigence to dialogue and continuing disrespect, we occupied the Belo Monte construction site and blocked the Trans-Amazon highway. We demand a definitive cancellation of the Belo Monte Dam.”

Juma Xipaia, a local indigenous leader, explained, “We only demand what our Constitution already ensures us: our rights. Our ancestors fought so we could be here now. Many documents and meetings have already transpired and nothing has changed. The machinery continues to arrive to destroy our region.”

After 15 hours, protesters were disbursed from the construction site with the arrival of two justice officials and three lawyers from Norte Energia (the dam-building consortium), who carried an injunction in favor of the consortium. Upon informing the protesters about the judicial order, officials threatened that “Shock Troops” were surrounding the area, ready to act.

This was a substantial change from the Monday prior, when a federal judge in Brazil stated that the environmental licensing of the controversial Belo Monte Dam was illegal given the lack of consultations with affected indigenous communities.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS) also requested explanation from the Brazilian Government regarding the rights of indigenous peoples affected by the dam, in April. According to the OAS, the Brazilian Government is obligated to consult indigenous peoples who will be affected by the dam, before construction begins.

On October 26, the day prior to the occupation and blockade, Brazilian government officials refused to attend a closed hearing convened by the IAHCR intended to foster dialogue toward resolving this conflict.

A statement by groups participating in what they called “#Occupy Belo Monte Dam” said this of the blockade: “The unprecedented occupation of the Belo Monte construction site was a direct result of an autonomous and sovereign decision by indigenous people and fishermen from the Xingu River basin and is considered the landmark of a new alliance in the struggle against the Belo Monte Dam. The mutual recognition and partnerships sealed this week among the segments that will suffer the most with the destruction of the Xingu River marks a new, stronger level of the fight against Belo Monte. Such unprecedented partnership between indigenous people and fishermen shows that the people from Xingu are united to defend the river, nature and their traditional way of life.

Our resistance against this destructive project called Belo Monte remains unshakable. The occupation has sent a clear message to President Dilma Rousseff’s administration that the fight for the Xingu is more alive than ever. If the Brazilian government continues to insist on violating our rights, other resistance actions shall come.”

The statement was signed by the following groups:

-Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira – COIAB
-Comissão Pastoral da Terra – CPT
-Conselho Indigenista Missionário – CIMI
-Movimento Xingu Vivo para Sempre – MXVPS

Hundreds of international solidarity action have also occurred around the world in recent months.

For more information, check out:

BHP Billiton – Dirty Energy protests

Campaigners from London Mining Network, Kick Nuclear, Colombia Solidarity Campaign, London Rising Tide, Occupy London and other groups gathered outside and inside Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP Billiton's central London AGM to protest the company's record of environmental damage and forced displacement of indigenous communities in Colombia, Australia, Indonesian Borneo and elsewhere, due to its extraction of dirty fuels, including coal and uranium.

Some of the group later visited the Australian High Commission, demanding to speak to an official about BHP's uranium mining activities and exploration on aboriginal lands in South and Western Australia. The 'diplomatic protection' police were called by the High Commission. When the police arrived, the protesters were ordered to leave the building.

See also the following reports on the AGM and demo here and here.

Tirúa, Chile: Incendiary attack against tourist resort

October 13th, 2011

We, organs of Lafkenche Territorial Resistance of the Arauco Malleco Coordinator, declare before the national and international public opinion the following:

October 13th, 2011

We, organs of Lafkenche Territorial Resistance of the Arauco Malleco Coordinator, declare before the national and international public opinion the following:

Kiñe: On October 6th, at dawn, we attacked and destroyed the tourist resort of the businessman Pedro Durán Faundez, husband of the governor of Arauco Flor Waisse, located by the shores of Butako Lake.

Epu: We denounce the political and economic engagement between businessmen and government’s political operatives in our Wallmapu.

Küla: We demand the immediate release of our Mapuche political prisoners and the immediate end to national and transnational capitalist investments in our area (forestry, mining, energy, etc.).

We reaffirm our commitment to our Mapuche people, consistent with the resistance to our enemies.

We call the communities to continue recovering the territories and keep on resisting.

With our heroes Leftraru, Pelantaru, Lemún, Catrileo, Collío and others we advance towards Mapuche national liberation.

Organs of Territorial Resistance – Arauco Mapuche Coordinator
ORT-CAM

source

Bolivia suspends road project after indigenous protest

29.9.11

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales has suspended plans to build a major highway through indigenous peoples’ land in the Amazon rainforest.

29.9.11

Bolivia’s President Evo Morales has suspended plans to build a major highway through indigenous peoples’ land in the Amazon rainforest.

His decision follows a 40-day protest march, which was brought to an abrupt halt on Sunday, when police used tear gas and truncheons to dispel 1,000 protesters.

Morales faced pressure from within his government to use less force. His Defense Minister Cecilia Chacon resigned in protest at plans to intervene in the march.

There are also reports the teargas caused a baby to die of asphyxiation.

Morales said on Monday his decision to suspend the road was made in the ‘midst of this national debate’ and that he would ‘let the people decide’.

The proposed 300-kilometer highway would cut across the heart of the Isiboro Sécure national park. It is home to Chiman, Yurucare and Moxos Indians.

On Sunday protesters were near to completing their 500km march from the northern town of Trinidad to Bolivia’s capital, when police used teargas to disperse them.

Prior to this crackdown, a police blockade detained indigenous protesters for several days, allegedly to prevent clashes between angry colonists and the marchers.

Brazilian company OAS has been contracted to construct the road with funding from the Brazilian Development Bank.

new EF! Action Update

In an end of the summer compact EF!AU, find news about kicking shell in the teeth in Rossport again and then some more, solidarity with the community at Dale Farm, and anti-GM resistance – Spuds you Don’t Like demo in England, sabotage in Germany, France and Scotland.

On top of the usual contacts and dates, read about solidarity with jailed Swiss nanotech activists, resistance against steel plants, mobile phone masts, mining and energy projects here & across the world – stay angry and don’t carry on as usual!

The quarterly EF!AU, August 2011