IISD: Indigenous Peoples Reiterate Rio+20 Messages

Article and photograph courtesy of IISD. See ENB on the Side, 21 March 2012 

Indigenous peoples reiterate their key messages for Rio +20 in a side event organized by Tebtebba and the Indigenous Information Network during the 3^rd Intersessional Meeting for Rio +20 held in New York.This event, moderated by Karla General, Indian Law Resource Center, addressed key messages of the indigenous peoples for Rio+20.Joji Cariño, TEBTEBBA, supported the integration of a fourth cultural pillar of sustainable development in the zero draft of the Rio+20 outcomes document to encompass the values of indigenous peoples’ spirituality. She suggested: further integrating references to human rights for sustainable development; and respecting local economies, putting in place regulations to avoid land grabbing and predatory investments.Miguel Palacín Quispe, Coordinator of Andean Indigenous Organizations (CAOI), said a fourth cultural pillar for sustainable development must reflect the way indigenous peoples live in harmony with nature and reflect their views of “good lifGretchen Gordon, Indian Law Resource Center, provided an overview on the implications of including language on human rights in the zero draft, saying this should imply legal obligations for states. She supported, inter alia: reference to indigenous peoples human rights; the recognition of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People as a standard for implementing sustainable development at all levels; and recognizing diverse local economies as the cornerstone of green economies.Marie-Danielle Samuel, Yachay Wasi, highlighted the proposal to strengthen UNEP as a specialized agency, which should operate in partnership with local governments and civil society organizations. Jadder Mendoza, Centro para la Autonomía y Desarrollo para los Pueblos Indígenas (CADPI), supported strengthening the zero draft components on indigenous peoples’ self-determination and self-governance, territoriality and autonomy, as well as traditional knowledge, food sovereignty and economy.In ensuing discussions participants addressed, inter alia : how to broaden support for integrating a cultural or ethical fourth pillar for sustainable development in the Rio+20 outcomes; and the role of local economies as an element of resilience.