Support indigenous people bravely protesting Peru government's give-away of their rainforest homes

Started by B F

http://www.rainforestportal.org/shared/alerts/send.aspx?id=peru_amazon

Resource Boom in Peru's Amazon Threatens Indigenous Peoples' Livelihoods and Their Rainforest Homes

Action Alert: Resource Boom in Peru's Amazon Threatens Indigenous Peoples' Livelihoods and Their Rainforest HomesSupport tens of thousands of indigenous people bravely protesting Peru government's give-away of their rainforest homes to oil, mining and logging industry without their approval; insist peaceful protests are not met with violence by President Alan Garcia's government, and that the focus for Amazonian development be upon benefiting from standing trees and intact rainforest ecosystems.

By Rainforest Portal, a project of Ecological Internet - May 27, 2009

In partnership with Rainforest Rescue (Rettet den Regenwald)

NOTE: This is a protest, not a petition, sending emails to many real decision makers on matters vital to the Earth.

Caption: Awajun indigenous protesters in Bagua, northern Peru, where many were wounded and taken to hospitals on May 10 after armed police attacked their non-violent blockade of the Corral Quemado Bridge (photo courtesy of Global Response and Thomas Quirynen) (link)

Indigenous communities in the Peruvian Amazon are protesting investment laws passed under a free-trade pact with the United States and against concessions granted to foreign energy companies. Some 30,000 indigenous people have blockaded roads, rivers and railways to demand repeal of new laws that allow oil and mining companies to enter indigenous territories without seeking consent or even any consultation. Indigenous communities complain that some 70% of Peruvian Amazon territory is now leased for oil and gas exploration, putting at risk their own lives and the biodiversity of the Amazon.

Protestors have already shut down Peru's state energy company's crude oil pipeline. Peru's President Alan Garcia has said that "small groups" must not stand in the way of "development" of the Amazon. On May 9th, the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency for 60 days and sent in the military and special police to violently suppress the non-violent protests and protect largely overseas corporate interests. There have been several incidents of unprovoked violence against indigenous demonstrators.

The Peruvian rainforest is the biggest stretch of Amazon outside Brazil. As the Earth's largest tropical rainforest, the Amazon plays a critical role in safeguarding global climate. Scientists estimate Peru is home to some 25,000 plant species, 10 % of the world total, and to 1,816 bird species. But this crucial global ecosystem has been threatened in recent decades by the industrial extraction of natural resources. More than 70% of the Peruvian Amazon is now under some sort of foreign resource concession. Between 2002 and 2007, mining grew more than 70 percent. Last year some 4,200 timber permits were granted to local communities, but tons of cedar and mahogany ended up being sold abroad. The new forestry law (Decree 1090), which had been deemed unconstitutional (a previous Ecological Internet campaign success) is again being debated in the Peruvian Congress.

Alberto Pizango, head of the indigenous Amazonian organisation, AIDESEP, said their ancestral territories were being handed over to multinational companies without consultation, and talks with the government had broken down. The government has responded by declaring a state of emergency in the central regions of Loreto, Amazonas, Ucayali and Cuzco, paving the way for military control of these areas. Some fear a harsh crack down in indigenous groups in these regions. Protesters had responded that they would begin an insurgency to defend their rights, a threat later withdrawn. Please add your voice in solidarity with the tens of thousands of indigenous people and their international supporters mobilizing to protect the Peruvian Amazon. Send a letter today to the Garcia Administration demanding respect for the constitutionally guaranteed rights of indigenous peoples, and Amazon development based upon standing forests.

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B F Harmony, ME @ 12:50AM PT Jun 13
Pledge fulfilled May 27, 2009!

Update : 6-13-09

Great news! Protests against Peru's most recent violation of Indigenous land rights have yielded a victory.

Just two days ago, we sent you an action alert about the mounting crisis in the Amazon region of Peru, so I'm thrilled to be able to share this news. The Peruvian government agreed to a key demand of Indigenous protesters. It has suspended two of the laws that allow multi-national corporations to further exploit natural resources on Indigenous territories. The laws were passed to facilitate the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement and protests against them have been with extreme police violence.

Earlier this week, MADRE joined the international Indigenous movement in condemning the Peruvian government's incursions onto Indigenous territories in the Amazon.

To everyone who has already signed on to the petition: THANK YOU! For our friends and partners in Peru who are standing off against heavily-armed police, it means the world to know that they have your support. That support helped fuel their courage this week. It helped win this victory - a victory for Indigenous rights and in the fight to preserve the natural balance of the entire Amazonian ecosystem. So, again, thank you.

If you haven't had a chance to sign the petition, you still can.

It's more important than ever that President Obama hear what we have to say about the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement. Ultimately, trade deals that trample human rights and environmental common sense are a raw deal for everyone. Peru's suspension of these two laws is a first step towards negotiating a better policy.

Thank you again for your support of human rights. I hope that hearing about this victory has made your day like it made mine.

Best,

Vivian Stromberg
Executive Director
Jochen Eisentraut @ 02:43PM PT Jun 06

The rain forest and its indigenous people must be protected for the sake of the whole world, not exploited for the profits of a few.
a k holmen, WI @ 12:18AM PT May 29
Pledge fulfilled May 29, 2009!

It is vital you take part in this ongoing protest alert against Malaysian oil palm interests becoming established in the Heart of the Amazon as they have wherever ancient rainforests remain. PLEASE send (or resend, as it has been updated) this one too!
r s holmen, WI @ 02:20PM PT May 28
Pledge fulfilled May 28, 2009!

Action Alert: Resource Boom in Peru's Amazon Threatens Indigenous Peoples' Livelihoods and Their Rainforest HomesSupport tens of thousands of indigenous people bravely protesting Peru government's give-away of their rainforest homes to oil, mining and logging industry without their approval; insist peaceful protests are not met with violence by President Alan Garcia's government, and that the focus for Amazonian development be upon benefiting from standing trees and intact rainforest ecosystems.
B F Harmony, ME @ 08:44PM PT May 27

Initiated this Pledge!