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Studies show serious mercury poisoning of indigenous peoples in Caura, Venezuela

23 April, 2013

Recent research carried out by scientific research bodies in Venezuela shows that 92% of indigenous women of the Caura river, a major affluent of the Orinoco, have levels of mercury poisoning higher than internationally agreed permissible levels. Over one third of those tested have such high levels of mercury poisoning that they have a 5% risk of their newborn children having neurological disorders. The researchers note that the ongoing contamination of rivers, which results from the continuing illegal gold mining in the lands of the Ye'kuana and Sanema peoples, is getting worse and will lead to progressive bio-accumulation, posing an ever growing risk. 

Documentary about Terusan village in West-Kalimantan (Indonesia): Mapping Our Future

18 April, 2013

Terusan village in West-Kalimantan (Indonesia) on the island of Borneo is completely surrounded by oil palm. The villagers grow rice and rubber on their ancestral lands. Recently, an oil palm company made Terusan an offer to convert their village land to an oil palm plantation. The people of Terusan have to make a choice about their future. They decided to map their lands first.

NGOs call on World Bank to adopt policies and take actions to uphold land rights, April 2013

18 April, 2013

A coalition of NGOs, including Forest Peoples Programme, have written to the President of the World Bank, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, to encourage the World Bank to elevate secure community land rights as a priority, and to ensure that all assistance, advice, and investments promote development models that fully respect local peoples’ human rights.

Video: Rethinking Foreign Direct Investments in Agriculture in South East Asia

18 April, 2013

This video, produced by the UNDP-UNEP Poverty-Environment Initiative (PEI), includes interviews with individuals from various NGOs, including FPP and Sawit Watch, during the Public Forum on Inclusive, Sustainable Foreign Direct Investments in Agriculture in South East Asia which took place in Bangkok in March 2013. 

Samuel Nguiffo (CED) opinion piece in Al Jazeera: 'Quick-fix' development gives away more than it gets back

16 April, 2013

The "land grabbing" in Africa and elsewhere often triggers conflict, an underreported financial risk.

Samuel Nguiffo is the Secretary General of the Centre for Environment and Development (CED), Cameroon. He is currently being sued by the government of Cameroon for tarnishing the state's reputation when he advocated against an oil palm plantation concession.

« Le gouvernement de la RDC doit respecter les droits des femmes autochtones dans le cadre des réformes en cours » déclare le CAMV à la Commission africaine

11 April, 2013

Le Centre d’Accompagnement des Autochtones Pygmées et Minoritaires Vulnérables (CAMV) a fait part de ses préoccupations quant à la situation des femmes autochtones de la RDC à la Commission africaine des droits de l’homme et des peuples lors de sa 53ième Session ordinaire qui s’est tenue du 9 au 23 avril à Banjul, Gambie. 

Amazonian Indigenous Peoples oppose government mining expansion plans

10 April, 2013

In a public statement the indigenous organisation COIAM, representing all the most active indigenous peoples' organisations in the Venezuelan Amazon, have expressed their opposition to government negotiations with foreign companies to open up their ancestral territories to mining without consultation or sharing of information. There are especially concerned by the advanced plans of a Chinese Corporation named as Citic Group with prospecting camps in a number of strategic locations in the indigenous peoples' heartlands.

Video produced by AIPP: Indigenous Peoples and REDD+

4 April, 2013

This community friendly animation video explains the basic concept of climate change and its disproportionate impacts to Indigenous Peoples (IP). It elaborates on the international agreement to mitigate the impacts of climate change, particularly Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) and the key concerns of indigenous peoples. The video also highlights the collective rights of indigenous peoples enshrined in United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Another highlight of the video is on the roles and contributions of indigenous women in the natural resource management.

Les ONG congolaises se mobilisent pour préparer un rapport alternatif sur la situation des femmes autochtones en RDC au Comité pour l’élimination de la discrimination à l’égard des femmes

30 March, 2013

En février et mars 2013, de nombreux représentants d’ONG travaillant avec les femmes et peuples autochtones ainsi que des chefs autochtones se sont réunis à Béni, Bukavu, Goma et Kinshasa afin de préparer un rapport alternatif au Comité pour l’élimination de la discrimination à l’égard des femmes (Comité CÉDEF). 

Philippines: ALDAW Petition against oil palm expansion in Palawan

25 March, 2013

Please read the following News Update from ALDAW Indigenous Network:

PALAWAN: STOP OIL PALM EXPANSION NOW!!!

Dear ALDAW friends in the Philippines and abroad,

Greetings from Palawan!

My people, the indigenous communities of southern Palawan URGENTLY NEED YOUR HELP.