Shell Oil has plans to start drilling for natural gas this July in a rainforest area that Peru's government set aside as a homeland for so-called "uncontacted" indigenous people, inhabited by the Nahua and Kugakopori in the Urubamba River valley, a biodiversity rich area.
Even if - to avoid any possible charges of environmental damage- Shell has vowed to refrain from causing any negative environmental impact, some charges of environmental damage, like alteration of the water and problems in hunting and fishing have already begun to come in.
Bulletin articles
An enormous pulp mill - PT TEL- is being established in South Sumatra by a syndicate of foreign banks and export credits from Europe, North America and Japan. The agreement for nearly US1billion was signed in March. PT TEL involves a number of Barito Pacific subsidiaries, President Suharto's daughter Tutut and Japanese companies.
A large Mapuche and Pehuenche march took place in Santiago on May 14th against the actions of the Chilean government in order to deny indigenous rights guaranteed by the Chilean law. The present protest was preceeded by the occupation of the headquaters of CONADI (Commission of Indigenous Development) last April and the cancellation by President Frei of the II Conference of the Indigenous Peoples Fund to be held in Santiago on May 14-15th.
David Hathaway (Brazil), has informed us that a volume of the Global Biodiversity Assessment (UNEP), entitled "Cultural and Spiritual Values of Biodiversity" is being prepared. It will include opinions and experiences of indigenous, traditional and local communities. Articles, poems, art works, pieces of music, photos on this issue are welcome to show that biodiversity is a comprehensive concept beyond the narrow economic and institucionally centered dominant point of view. The deadline is June 15th. All who consider that this initiative could be important can contact:
"Indigenous Peoples, Forest, and Biodiversity" is a book published by the International Alliance of Indigenous-Tribal Peoples of the Tropical Forests and the International Working Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA), that brings together statements and interventions made by the former organization at various international fora, included CSD, IPF and CBD. Those interested in the publication, please contact IWGIA.
As we will soon become active in the plantations campaign, we would like to suggest a topic for discussion: the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the certification of wood produced in large-scale industrial tree plantations. As a number of WRM affiliates participate actively within the FSC, it would be important to reach a consensus on this particular issue, to try to push in the same direction, both from within and from outside the FSC. All opinions are welcome. However, the above is only a suggestion.
The forest crisis: clear commitments and accountability
Ricardo went to Ecuador invited by the Third World Ecological Studies Institute (Instituto de Estudios Ecologistas del Tercer Mundo) to deliver a number of conferences and a one week course of forests and plantations. Quito, Riobamba, Esmeraldas and Cuenca were the cities where the conferences were held, with an average of 100 people attending each. The course took place in the Amazonia.