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Honduran Army Kills Indigenous Leader of COPINH Who Resisted Dam in Rio Blanco

16 July 2013 On Monday July 15th, while the Lenca community of Rio Blanco, in Honduras, marked 106 days of resistance to the building of Agua Zarca hydroelectric dam, the Army indiscriminately shot at the demonstrators killing one of the l

Tomas was a Lenca indigenous leader who was part of his community’s Indigenous and Auxiliary Council and of the National Council of the Civic Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH).

The Honduran activist was shot dead while he was walking with other community members to the project’s facilities owned by Desa and Sinohydro companies, while his son, who was seriously injured by a high-calibre bullet, is in hospital and his life is in danger, Berta Caceres, leader of COPINH, told Real World Radio.

Berta described the act as “a desperate and criminal reaction” by the companies that want to build a dam on River Gualcaeque, seriously affecting the communities living there. The Honduran army supports the companies, said Berta, and they even pay for the transportation and maintenance of troops deployed by the Honduran government in Tegucigalpa in Rio Blanco.

On Monday night, COPINH reported of more military troops being deployed in Zacapa, Santa Barbara, and there were fears of new shootings against civilians during the wake of the murdered indigenous leader.

“The community is outraged. We are in great sorrow, also because we believe we have to continue our struggle”, said Berta during a phone interview. “As the elections approach (in November) they want to teach COPINH a lesson”, she explained and said the community decided to continue occupying the access to the dam.

A few hours after the incidents, COPINH had reported that since Friday 12, top executives of the company Desarrollo Energético Sociedad Anónima (DESA)- which is in charge of the project together with the original group Sinohydro – travelled to meet with local hitmen, who are responsible for direct threats against several members of the indigenous council, including Tomas Garcia.

Before they started shooting at civilians, the military made no attempt to talk with the activists, said Berta.

The leader of COPINH was illegally arrested in May and submitted to a trial for purportedly having an illegal weapon, something that the court could not prove and the case was finally dismissed.

The leader highlighted that in the new cases of repression against residents of the community of Rio Blanco, we urgently need international solidarity to report the civic and military authorities and both companies for murder.

“We are aware that we are confronted with an impunity strategy in a context that seems to be worsening”, said Berta. She said the communities’ determination to defend their territory is strengthened in these situations of state and private violence.

In fact, river Gualcarque is considered an essential part of the Lenca spirituality and the communities are confronting the business projects as a tribute to their culture’s symbolic figure: Lempira.

“We continue fighting, we are not afraid, we will not be prey to fear and we will continue this peaceful but strong battle for life”, she concluded.

Daniel McGowan Loses Lawsuit Against Bureau Of Prisons

16 Jult 2013 A federal court has dismissed an environmental activist’s claims against the U.S.

16 Jult 2013 A federal court has dismissed an environmental activist’s claims against the U.S. Bureau of Prisons over a restrictive prison wing he was housed in, but a lawsuit filed by other prisoners against the government over its restrictive communication management units continues.

Daniel McGowan, 39, served seven years in federal prison for arson connected with the Earth Liberation Front, four of them in the secretive communication management units, or CMUs, dubbed “Little Guantanamo” by critics.

Along with dozens of other mostly Muslim inmates, McGowan’s phone calls with the outside world and physical contact with his family were severely limited. Even after he was released to a halfway house, McGowan was briefly tossed back into prison this year for writing a Huffington Post blog entry detailing his case.

McGowan’s lawyers at the Center for Constitutional Rights had argued that his re-jailing proved he was still at risk for re-incarceration in the CMUs. But the judge overseeing the lawsuit disagreed, citing a 1990s-era law that severely restricts the rights of federal prisoners to challenge cruel and unusual punishment.

McGowan’s lawyers at the Center for Constitutional Rights said in a statement that they were “deeply disappointed” by Senior Judge Barbara J. Rothstein’s decision, but that they would push on with the larger lawsuit.

Anti-nuclear Power Protesters ‘Drop Dead’ on 700th day of Kudankulam Stir

15 July 2013 On the 700th day of their protest against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KNPP), villagers of Idinthakarai in Tamil Nadu “dropped dead” on the roads in a symbolic gesture, an anti-plant activist said Monday

Several villagers who were walking on the roads suddenly fell down ‘dead’. After some time, they got up. A public meeting was also held today (Monday),” S.P. Udayakumar, coordinator of the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) told IANS over phone from Idinthakarai.

The ‘drop dead’ gesture was an enactment of the impact the power plant would have on people. The protest was held against the clearance granted by the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) to KNPP’s first 1,000 MW unit to start nuclear fission.

On Saturday night, the KNPP’s first reactor attained criticality or began nuclear fission.
The villagers in the vicinity of the KNPP have been protesting against the nuclear power plant for the past 700 days, fearing for their lives in the wake of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, Japan, in 2011, under the PMANE banner.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) is building two reactors of 1,000 MW each. The reactors are supplied by Russia.

Refuting rumours that the protest would take a violent turn, Udayakumar said: “Ours is a peaceful protest. We don’t believe in violence. We will not cooperate. A plant of this nature would need the cooperation of the locals.”

“It is a genuine struggle of the working class. But it is not being recognised. We had knocked several doors — government, experts, courts — but no door was opened to us,” M. Pushparayan, another PMANE leader, told IANS.

Udayakumar questioned the urgency for giving the “first approach to criticality” clearance even before the apex court had the time to go through the reports filed by AERB, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) and the union ministry of environment and forests.

He said the fight against KNPP would continue — legally, scientifically and politically.
Udayakumar said a case had been filed in the Madras High Court Monday, challenging the AERB’s clearance for the first KNPP unit to go critical.

New Tree Sit in Tasmanian Old Growth

15th July Anti-forestry activists have erected a tree sit to halt logging in Tasmania’s far south.

Huon Valley Environment Centre’s Jenny Weber says the wood from the old growth is destined for timber processor Ta Ann Tasmania.

”The tree sit structure is attached to the logging machines, halting them from continuing logging today,” Ms Weber said.

The protest again involves members of the Australian Student Environment Network who also shut down Ta Ann’s Smithton mill on Friday.

The Smithton action was condemned by peak environment groups who negotiated the forestry peace deal which will lead to 504,000 hectares of forests being protected.

However, it is up to the Legislative Council to approve a protection order for the future reserves. MLCs will make their decision after considering how effective the legislation has been, including the impact of ongoing protests on Tasmania’s wood markets.

Ta Ann Tasmania has repeatedly denied using wood from old-growth forests.

Midnight Confiscation of Drilling Equipment at New Brunswick Anti-Fracking Protest

15 July 2013 Elsipogtog First Nation, New Brunswick – ”We’ve taken it to the next level,” said Grand Elder Ray Robinson of last night’s events. “The bubble is about to burst, if it hasn’t already been burst.”

At approximately 12 midnight last night, locals began hearing booming sounds characteristic of the Southwestern Energy (SWN) seismic testing trucks, or ‘thumpers,’ as well as other less familiar industrial sounds nearby. After an online call-out expressing concern that SWN might be attempting to begin drilling under the cover of darkness, locals and camp members began to search for the source of the sounds.

Local Elsipogtog warrior Jason Okay recounts what followed: “We stopped to ask for directions from a lady’s house that was near the sounds. We told her where we thought the sounds were, and she said ‘No way! That’s my [privately owned] land!’ We said ‘sorry ma’am, but your land’s getting drilled.’”

Camp members and locals entered the forest on the woman’s property to find a crowd of RCMP officers and private security forces protecting two SWN trucks. Protesters confronted the RCMP, stating that SWN was operating on private property without consent and must leave immediately.

According to Okay and other camp sources, protesters were followed onto the site by a group of individuals identifying themselves as UN independent observers, who proceeded to talk with the RCMP. Following discussion, it is reported that the “observers” convinced the RCMP to escort SWN officials off the property, abandoning the trucks. Elsipogtog residents confiscated the trucks, towing them onto the Elsipogtog reserve where they are still being held.

Following the abandonment of the site by SWN security and the RCMP, locals went deeper into the forest and discovered what are reported to be unmanned SWN drilling trucks. Upon investigating the surrounding area, a series of large holes in the earth were discovered. Warriors and protesters remain camped out in the area awaiting means to transport the equipment to the reserve.

“Everything should halt,” said Okay of the significance of last night’s confrontation. “SWN should realize we don’t want them here … [If we wouldn't have confiscated the equipment] they’d be drilling right now.”

Police remain camped out near the entrance to the site of the drills, blocking any attempts by protesters to transport the equipment off-site. Unmarked police vehicles dot the highway near the camp site, and SWN security vehicles have been sighted driving past the camp frequently. A Global News crew attempted to set up without consent in front of the camp at approximately 5:00am this morning, but were evicted by camp members before filming began.

Questions about UN observers

Chief Aaron Sock of Elsipogtog states that he contacted the UN last weekend to request UN observation, in order to maintain peace between the RCMP and locals due to recent security concerns. Two individuals identified by themselves and local leadership as UN Independent Observers have been present on camp for two days since, conducting interviews with camp members, collecting information, and last night, providing a mediating role in confrontations.

However, upon contacting Wilton Littlechild, Chairperson of the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP), Littlechild stated that while he was contacted by Chief Sock in regards to security concerns at the camp, he had not directly deployed any observers as of yet.

Meanwhile, a source in the office of the spokesperson for the Secretary-General of the UN confirmed to rabble.ca that there are currently no UN observers anywhere in Canada.

Despite this lack of clear verification, camp members and First Nations leadership hold that the individuals have a relationship with the UN, pointing to the RCMP’s respect for the observers’ role as mediators in last night’s confrontation as further evidence.

Update – 11:45pm EST: Upon further discussion with local leadership and the individuals identified as ‘UN Independent Observers,’ it has been made clear that the term ‘Independent Observer’ was intended to communicate that the individuals were not directly employed by the UN. They have been appointed by local leadership to maintain a peacekeeping role in the camp, and compile a report based on their observations of the situation to be independently submitted on behalf of the community to the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (which has been confirmed by the UN via Wilton Littlechild, Chairperson of EMPRIP). The titles of the individuals have been switched to ‘Peacekeepers’ to avoid future confusion.

Claire Stewart-Kanigan is a writer from Montreal currently reporting from the anti-fracking protest camp. See her first dispatch here.

Photo: Jason Okay

Road Block to Stop Theft of Water from Yaqui Peoples

14 July 2013 Vícam, Sonora, México – Traditional Authorities and the Yaqui people remain firm more than a week after the start of their road block of the international highway 15 (Mexico-Nogales) near the community of Vícam, announcing that they will take stronger actions. The action is in response to the state government’s refusal to stop the operation of the Independence Aqueduct that has illegally extracted the first volumes of water from the El Novillo dam.

Extraction began in early May, even though the state government did not have permission from the National Water Commission (CONAGUA) to transfer the water. There is also a Supreme Court (SCJN) resolution that ratified protection for the tribe pending the Environmental Impact Assessment (MIA), which is required to legally begin taking the water.

On May 8, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the traditional authorities of Vícam, citing the dossier 631/2012 for violation of their right to consultation by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). However, neither the Sonora state government nor federal authorities have complied with the Supreme Court’s decision to stop construction of the Independence Aqueduct. On the contrary, they have concealed the continual operation of the water pumps that CONAGUA helped to install to suck water from the Rio Yaqui near the dam El Novillo.

Since the announcement of the construction of the project through the media – the Yaqui were never directly consulted – the tribe has denounced the theft of water necessary for its existence, the illegality of the work and, above all, what they consider an effort to exterminate them by the Governor of Sonora, Guillermo Padres Elias. Elias was backed by then-President Felipe Calderon and now has the tacit support of President Enrique Peña Nieto, who has not spoken out or visited the state despite his campaign promises.

In Sept. 2011 and Nov. 2012, the tribe exercised its right to protest, intermittently blockading roads. As time passed with no response from any authorities or responsible parties, the blockades became semi-permanent on the highways, local roads and trails that connect the south and north of the state.

Currently, the blockade is on a highway located in an area recognized as Yaqui territory by presidential decrees in 1937 and 1940. The roads that connect to it pass through privately leased land, but the territory remains in the hands of the tribe.

Protests south of Sonora began with the mega-march on May 28 in Ciudad Obregon, called “Respect for the rule of law” and led by the Tribe and the citizen movement “No to Novillo”. Ending the march, the tribe and supporters began the roadblocks in the municipality of Cajeme to demand restoration of the rule of law due to the constant violations committed by the governor of Sonora. After holding assemblies to discuss continued civil resistance in the Vícam Traditional Guard, the tribe announced the installation of a camp with the roadblock in case CONAGUA does not turn off the pumps at the Novillo dam.

The “Defense Brigades of the Yaqui River” called to protest near the 47-kilometer point on the highway, visible from the pedestrian bridge. They issued a statement and invitation, calling on, “All members of the Yaqui tribe, traditional authorities and people in general…to participate in the protest on the road in Vícam as Guillermo Padres illegally connects a pipe to the Novillo dam, stealing water that belongs to us. This is water that is lacking in our territory that is used to irrigate our lands, and to consume without getting sick. It is very, very important for us to revive the Yaqui River that is completely dry now. ”

The statement also emphasized that, “They have already stolen a lot of our water, so we shouldn’t allow them to continue to divert it to someplace else; it is here where we need it. They have caused us a great deal of damage, so let us join our efforts and together rescue the water for all Yaquis who inhabit this territory. You don’t need to be a governor, captain, commander or secretary to defend your right to a dignified life. We are Yaqui and that’s enough to make your voice heard and to act.”

From the footbridge, where the tribe has set up tarps to maintain the protest, there is a long line of trailers, trucks, buses and private cars waiting for the military to give the order to pass. But given the absence of dialogue with the federal government, a solution appears far off. Meanwhile, ambulances are allowed to pass.

The Yaqui remain alert. In 2011 the state and federal police suppressed a similar demonstration. Recent statements by the state attorney general, Carlos Navarro Sugich, threatened intervention of the police; state Secretary of Government, Roberto Romero, has ignored the authorities of the Tribe; and the delegate of the Sonora Department of Communications and Transportation, Javier Hernández Armenta has indicated the possibility of filing against protesters before the Attorney General’s Office under Article 533 of the Law of General Means of Transit (Ley de Vías Generales de Comunicación).

The Yaqui are confident that the only lawbreakers are Governor Guillermo Padres, the “YES Sonora Capital Fund” (Fondo de operaciones Sonora SÍ) that is the financial force behind the project and federal agencies. In the fight to save their water, the Yaquis are achieving what years of government intervention has sought to avoid: the unity of the “Eight Traditional Peoples”. The Yaqui authorities of Guamúchil Loma who have been pro-government in recent years (known as “torokoyoris”) have joined the blockades.

Social networks are also serving to expose and report what happens in Vícam, compared to little or no information reported in local media. The media has focused on sensationalist aspects such as violence, extortion, insecurity, and economic losses. They generally ignore the Yaqui perspective.

In the heat of summer with the high temperatures of the Sonora desert, day and night, women and men of all ages concentrate on the side of the road. They will announce stronger measures if they receive no answer. They say in the Jiak language: “Namakasia achaim kaabe amau tawabaane” (stay strong, friends. Nobody should stay behind). Women fix meals, people come in from other Yaqui villages, and the tribal flag waves, announcing that autonomy is lived every day and it is defended every moment.

Fernando, a Yaqui from the Yoeme group and a firm defender of water rights, makes a sign to remember the ancestors who died defending Yaqui territory. “The smell of rebellion fills the air here in Vícam. In the faces of my fellow brigade members, you can see the signs of our future victory. Namakasia ” he concludes.

Activists Form Human Pipeline on Flatbush Avenue to Protest Natural Gas Pipeline

Activists say they’re concerned wildlife would be impacted if something went wrong with the pipeline being built in Brooklyn. (July 14, 2013)

Dozens of activists formed a human pipeline on Flatbush Avenue today in protest of a natural gas pipeline that’s being built through parts of Brooklyn.

Parts of the pipeline are already under construction to connect Brooklyn with a pipeline that goes up and down the East Coast. Activists say they’re concerned about the impact the underground flowing gas could have on the borough, wildlife and the environment.

A representative from Transco, the company behind the project, argued that opponents are overlooking the fact that the environmental benefits of natural gas are exactly what is driving the project. It is also the primary reason why the mayor specifically cited this project as key to helping the city achieve its clean air goals, Transco says.

The spokesperson added that Transco has been safely providing natural gas to New York City for more than 50 years without incident.

A public comment period will be held to discuss the project further.

Tasmanian Lockdown Halts Work at Mill

13 July 2013 Activists have vowed to continue to target timber processor Ta Ann Tasmania, after two people were arrested for chaining themselves to equipment at its Smithton mill yesterday.

The protest was condemned by the state government and frustrated peak environment groups involved in the forestry peace process.

About 40 people, including members of the Australia Student Environment Network from across Australia, forced the mill to grind to a halt yesterday.

Still Wild Still Threatened spokeswoman Miranda Gibson said the forestry legislation had failed to protect Tasmania’s forests.

Although the legislation passed Parliament in April, the Legislative Council must still approve a protection order for more than 500,000 hectares of forests.

A durability report, assessing whether the forestry legislation is working since it was passed in April this year, will form the basis of its deliberations.

Ms Gibson said it would be better off to “start again and find something better”.

“This agreement isn’t going to work: what we still see is forests falling every day,” she said.

A joint statement from the three environmental signatories to the forestry agreement described the protest as “uncalled for, unnecessary and counter to the creation of new reserves in Tasmania”.

“It is difficult to see the environmental benefit of this action given that Ta Ann Tasmania supports the protection of half a million hectares of new forest reserves and the recent World Heritage extension,” the statement said.

The company said: “The protest is based on false claims about the Tasmanian Forest Agreement by radical groups that have been outside the process. Ta Ann Tasmania has committed to only purchase timber sourced from production zones authorised by the forest peace legislation.”

Within hours of environmental activists storming Ta Ann at Smithton, pro-development group Unlock Tasmania had organised a protest of its own – against the protest.

More than 100 people joined the march down Smithton’s main street to show their support for the workers at Ta Ann.

Spokesman and Liberal candidate for Braddon Joan Rylah said fly-in activists had no place in Tasmania.

“Tasmanians have a stark choice between political groups using law-breaking attacks or supporting law-abiding groups who support law-abiding companies employing Tasmanian people,” Mrs Rylah said.

China Cancels Uranium Plant One Day After Protest

13 July 2013

China has abruptly canceled plans to build its largest uranium processing plant in a southern Chinese city, a day after hundreds of protesters took to the streets demanding the project be scrapped, a local government website said on Saturday.

The proposed 230-hectare complex in the heart of China’s Pearl River delta industrial heartland in Guangdong province had also sparked unease in neighboring Hong Kong and Macau.

Authorities in the gambling enclave had formally raised the issue with their Guangdong counterparts, the South China Morning Post reported.

A one-line statement published on the Heshan city government’s website said that “to respect people’s desire, the Heshan government will not propose the CNNC project”.

State-run China National Nuclear Corporation and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corp (CGNPC) had planned to build the 37 billion yuan ($6 billion) project.

Officials from both companies could not be reached for comment.

A Beijing-based nuclear power expert said he was surprised local authorities had taken the decision as the project designed to produce 1,000 tonnes of uranium fuel annually by 2020 was hotly contested by local governments.

“Compared to a nuclear power plant, a uranium processing facility is way more safer, as there is no fusion or reaction taking place in the production process,” said the official with close knowledge of the project. He declined to be identified as he was not authorized to speak to the press.

The surprisingly swift decision to cancel the project came after hundreds marched to city offices on Friday that forced officials to pledge an extension of public consultation by 10 days. Locals had planned more protests on Sunday.

Chinese authorities are becoming increasingly sensitive to local protests over environmental issues, having canceled, postponed or relocated several major petrochemical and metals plants.

The planned conversion and enrichment plant had been meant to supply fuel for China’s expanding nuclear power capacity, likely to reach 60-70 gigawatts by 2020 from the current 12.6 GW.

China currently produces 800 tonnes of uranium fuel at its plants in southwestern Sichuan province and north China’s Inner Mongolia. China sources uranium both from domestic mines and imports from Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia, said the expert.

Guangdong is one of the country’s largest nuclear power bases, already running five nuclear reactors and building another dozen, incorporating technologies from companies like French Areva and Westinghouse, a unit of Japan’s Toshiba Corp.

FBI Calls Destruction of GMO Sugar Beets in Oregon ‘Economic Sabotage’

12 July 2013 In a breaking development, the FBI confirms that 1,500 GM Sugar Beet plants were destroyed this month in Oregon, in what they are calling an act of “Economic Sabotage.”

When GM pollen blows into a non-GM farmer’s fields and irreversibly contaminates his crop with ‘biopollution,’ who does the law side with? Historically, Monsanto. Also, it’s not called ‘economic sabotage’ but rather ‘copyright infringement,’ and the victim not the aggressor is threatened with economic ruin.

When Monsanto’s unapproved and therefore illegal GM wheat is found years after open field trials growing freely in an Oregon wheat field, the entire state crop’s export fate is held in limbo, jeopardizing the present and future living of thousands of farmers and their dependents, with Monsanto receiving little more than a reprimand, followed by rapid USDA assurance that despite a lack of approval their GM wheat is “safe.”

Given the unfair rules of the game, no wonder some folks in Oregon, having been treated much like feudal peasants lately, are taking things quite literally into their own hands.

So, when the FBI investigates the destruction of genetically modified sugar beets from two fields in Southern Oregon’s Jackson County this month, the act is immediately labeled “economic sabotage,” presumably against the multinational corporation who owned the plants.

How fitting an FBI description, considering that Monsanto already planted these ‘evil seeds’ of doubt by suggesting their unapproved GM wheat in Oregon was a result of sabotage, and not negligence (orintentional contamination) on their part.

According to the Spokesman Review, “The agency [FBI] said in a statement Thursday that about 1,000 sugar beet plants were destroyed on June 8, and more than 5,000 plants were destroyed on a different plot three nights later.”

The article went on to explain that the plants were owned by the Swiss-based biotech company Sygenta, and that the FBI spokewoman, Beth Anne Steele, would not comment on the manner in which the crops were destroyed “…because we don’t want to encourage copycats.” However, an article published on OregonLive.com demystified the FBI’s account, quoting Paul Minehart, head of corporate communications in North America for Syngenta: “It doesn’t look like a vehicle was used. It looks like people entered the field and destroyed the plants by hand.”

When multinational corporations like Monsanto have already succeeded in genetically modifying the political system, splicing in their ex-executives and ex-lawyers into positions of great power within the government [see image above], how can folks rely on these Monsanto, Dow and Sygenta-influenced regulatory agencies, and the enforcement arms within their control, to make decisions in the interest of their health or basic civil rights?

Some resort to pulling up, burning and otherwise destroying the plants themselves. Are they terrorists or freedom fighters? And if you answer affirmatively to the latter definition, will you yourself be defined as sympathizers to these “economic saboteurs,” or terrorists?