Climate: Back to Basics
Since 1992, the world has had a Convention on Climate Change. The signing and ratification of this convention implies obligations, both legal and moral. Most governments have already ratified it. (Read More)
Bulletin Issue 77 – December 2003
OUR VIEWPOINT
LOCAL STRUGGLES AND NEWS
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Cameroon: Forest policy must respect “Pygmy” forest peoples’ rights
With a population generally estimated to number about 100,000 persons in Cameroon, “pygmies” constitute the best known and the most vulnerable of Africa’s forest peoples. Their lifestyle is closely linked (Read More)
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Congo, DR: The Inga hydropower project, a betrayal of social promises
In a continent still ravaged by more than 20 armed conflicts backed by foreign interests and financed through pillage of the continent’s natural resources –oil, diamonds, gold, timber, copper, cobalt (Read More)
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Kenya: Ogiek forest people fight for their rights
While Kenyans celebrate their forty years of independence, the Ogiek remember the forty years of dispossession and institutional marginalisation. They have suffered systematic oppression, suppression and brutality through a policy (Read More)
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South Africa: Timberrr.! As the plantations go on growing, more South Africans are crying out a warning
A wide range of stakeholders from environment and community groups, research bodies and decision-makers from government and industry came together in Nelspruit, South Africa in mid-November to discuss a burning (Read More)
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Burma: Behind the glitter of rubies, sapphires and jade
Burma is famous for its rich deposits of gemstones which include rubies, sapphires, and jade. The town of Mogok, which is located in the eastern corner of Mandalay Division along (Read More)
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Indonesia: Flood tragedy in Sumatra on account of road project
With more than a year into its construction, the controversial US$1.2 million Ladia Galaska road network project will link the west coast of Aceh with the eastern coast of northern (Read More)
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Philippines: Opposition against mining policy
It is estimated that already 40% of the Philippines territory has been given away under the form of concessions to multinational mining companies. However, this process has not happened without (Read More)
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Thailand: SmartWood suspends FSC certification of two plantations
On 1 December 2003, SmartWood suspended the Forest Stewardship Council certification of two of Forest Industry Organisation’s teak plantations. SmartWood is accredited by FSC to assess whether forestry operations conform (Read More)
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Honduras: Journalist opposing mining murdered
On the night of 26 November 2003, journalist Germán Antonio Rivas was shot and killed. He was the managing director of Corporación Maya Visión television station, which broadcasts from the (Read More)
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Argentina: One year after the Esquel “NO”, a national network against mining is born
On 4 December, thousands of people from cities and villages in the Provinces of Chubut and Rio Negro again marched together with the neighbours of Esquel to say “NO to (Read More)
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Brazil: Plantar counterattacks after receiving award for worst carbon sink project
The Plantar forestry company located in the State of Minas Gerais has large eucalyptus plantations in the zone, established at the expense of evicting the local populations. They were also (Read More)
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Chile: Mapuche question agreement between forestry companies and environmental NGOs
On 12 December, the Matte (CMPC companies), Angelini (Arauco) forestry groups and a number of Chilean and US environmental NGOs signed an agreement (see http://www.wrm.org.uy/countries/Chile/article2.html ) whereby the companies have (Read More)
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Colombia: The uncertifiable plantations of a member of the FSC Board of Directors
In 1998, the author Joe Broderick finished his research on the Smurfit Carton de Colombia company, publishing his book “El imperio de cartón: impacto de una multinacional papelera en Colombia” (Read More)
GENERAL
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Extractive Industries Review calls for limits of World Bank funding of mining activities
As the global economy expands, pressure on indigenous lands to yield up minerals, oil and gas is intensifying, posing a major threat on them, their lands, territories and the resources (Read More)
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Rivers for Life! The Rasi Salai Declaration
On 28 November-4 December 2003, at Rasi Salai, Thailand, the Thailand-based Assembly of the Poor, USA-based International Rivers Network (IRN), and Southeast Asia Rivers Network (SEARIN) from Thailand, organized the (Read More)