indigenous peoples

Survival International

Peru approves ‘historic’ indigenous rights law

On Tuesday night, Peru’s Congress unanimously approved a ‘historic’ new law that guarantees indigenous people’s right to free, prior and informed consent to any projects affecting them and their lands. President Ollanta Humala says he supports consultation, and now has 15 days to sign the bill into law. It is a significant step away from the policies of former Peruvian President Alan Garcia, who vetoed a similar bill. The ‘Prior Consultation Law’ complies with commitments set out in ILO (...) read

date of on-line publication : 30 August 2011

Survival International

Peru’s ‘final attempt’ to stamp out uncontacted tribes

Peru’s Indian Affairs Department has revealed plans to open up uncontacted tribes’ reserves to oil companies – just days before the country’s new government takes office. New laws would allow the state to grant oil and gas companies open access to the reserves, despite the extreme risk this would pose to the Indians’ lives. The proposal has generated a wave of criticism from indigenous organizations. Around 15 tribes have chosen to resist contact in the Peruvian Amazon; all face extinction if (...) read

date of on-line publication : 18 July 2011

Suspension of Belo Monte Called For by Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), part of the Organization of American States (OAS), has officially requested the Brazilian Government to immediately suspend the Belo Monte Dam Complex in the Amazonian state of Pará, pending proper consultations with potentially affected indigenous peoples living in the Xingu river basin. Belo Monte would negatively impact indigenous peoples and other traditional communities in the Xingu River basin, particularly those living along a (...) read

date of on-line publication : 18 April 2011

Amnesty blasts Indigenous policies

Amnesty International has launched a campaign to revoke the Northern Territory intervention that discriminates against Indigenous communities, as the Australian government tries to justify its continuation to the United Nations (UN). On August 5, Amnesty said: “Over three years, the Northern Territory Emergency Response has taken away many rights from Aboriginal communities.” It urged people to email the leaders of Australia’s major political parties to “demand that, regardless of the (...) read

date of on-line publication : 16 September 2010

InfoChange News & Features

Govt rejects environment clearance to Vedanta

In a setback to Vedanta Resources, the Indian government has rejected environment clearance to its $ 1.7 billion bauxite mining project in Orissa after accepting the recommendations of a key panel clearing such ventures India’s environment ministry has rejected Vedanta Resources Plc’s proposal to mine bauxite in the eastern state of Orissa. Citing reasons for the denial of clearance, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said “there has been a very serious violation of the Environment Protection (...) read

date of on-line publication : 26 August 2010

Inter Press Service News Agency (IPS)

Native People Demand Autonomy Over Territory

In the view of governments, international bodies and some sectors of civil society participating in negotiations towards new global rules on cutting greenhouse gas emissions, the REDD programme is the last chance to save tropical rainforests. But to the representatives of indigenous peoples who live in the forests in question, REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries) is just one of many superfluous mechanisms devised by governments and (...) read

date of on-line publication : 24 August 2010

Inter Press Service (IPS)

Indigenous People Make Best Forest Custodians

> By Marwaan Macan-Markar

The millions of indigenous people living across Asia and the Pacific are finally gaining recognition for the key role the play in forest conservation. This shift has been a feature of a major conference being held here this week to shape forest management policies in this region for the next 20 years. Activists championing the cause of local communities welcome this sea change, given that forests have been sacred to these people and central to their identity. ‘’Indigenous people have a (...) read

date of on-line publication : 25 October 2007

Progressio

Indiginous communities must have control over their rainforests, not us

You may have noticed that you can now buy acres of land in the Amazonian rainforest as a way of combating global warming. The idea is that you will price the Amazon deforestation industry out of the market, so that carbon stays stored in the trees rather than being released into the atmosphere. This is the solution of one of a number of northern-based charities, including Cool Earth launched last month, to the threat of climate change. Although such organisations are responding to our urge (...) read

date of on-line publication : 26 July 2007

Indigenous people and minorities: a global and historic assault

> IRIN

http://www.irinnews.org/webspecials/ (...)

“In every world region, minorities and indigenous peoples have been excluded, repressed and, in many cases, killed by their governments," said Mark Lattimer, executive director of the nongovernmental organisation Minority Rights Group International (MRG) at a press conference in January 2006. The event was the launch of the first edition of The State of the World’s Minorities Report, compiled by MRG with the assistance of various United Nations agencies.
What faces indigenous people and minorities today is not at all new. Throughout human history, the cultures and livelihoods - even the existence - of indigenous peoples have been endangered whenever dominant neighbouring peoples have expanded their territories or settlers from far away have acquired new lands by force. Despite claims that the world has entered a new era of human rights and democratic representation, this process of attrition and discrimination continues today.  read

date of on-line publication : 21 November 2006