Copenhagen brings indigenous climate change issues to world stageBy Terri Hansen, Today correspondent
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‘Tuvalu’s strong plea’
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There’s little question on the part of those “on the ground” that
not only is climate change happening, it is happening now and it is
happening fast.
What folks don’t understand is, “it’s really about human beings, not
just animals or the land,” said Cochran. “In our area there’s hardly
a person who hasn’t lost an uncle or a grandfather who’s fallen
through the ice and is never seen again. So for us climate change
really is a very serious reality, it’s not just a theoretical
discussion.”
It’s not only an Arctic issue, “but it’s so very real here,” says
Gwichi’in Arctic Village leader Sarah James. The Global Gender and
Climate Alliance is filming James’ efforts to call attention to the
climate changes and industrial development that is affecting the
ecology of the Arctic. “The permafrost just melts away now, drains
the lakes, leaves a fire hazard.”
The Gwichi’in so far count 18 vanished lakes, entire ecosystems
perished. Then fire sweeps through and burns the lichen that can
take decades to grow and which the caribou depend on. “It’s
displacing and disorienting the animals. It confuses people even,”
said James.
And it’s poised to get worse. The intent of the UNFCCC proposals
known as ‘Reduced Emissions from Reforestation and Forest
Degradation’ is to halt deforestation by having governments of
developing nations agree to protect forestlands designated a carbon
sink to help stabilize the system thrown off-kilter by industrial
emissions. REDD is expected to play a key role in the post-Kyoto
agreement.
Supporters say that properly designed policy offers unprecedented
opportunities to create sustainable livelihoods for forest people
while safeguarding biodiversity and services provided by healthy
forest ecosystems.
But a new report by Survival International says too little attention
is given to the impacts these measures are having or will
potentially have on indigenous peoples. REDD makes it easier for
governments, corporations and others to lay claim to, exploit and,
“in some cases,” destroy indigenous lands under the guise of climate
change, says the report. Activists already report increased human
rights violations such as forced evictions.
A growing chorus of environmental scientists and educators including
Forests and European Union Resource Network say that allowing
nations to trade designated carbon sinks for added carbon emissions
would only justify more emissions by putting fossil fuel users over
their allowance under the Kyoto Protocol. Environmental groups say
linking REDD with emissions trading allows industrial nations to
find novel places to bury their emissions rather than cut back.
The position of the International Forum of Indigenous Peoples on
Climate Change is that REDD schemes “threaten our rights and our
very existence.” Consultations often take the form of simply
informing their communities. Instead, IFIPCC said they “need to
include all affected and involved indigenous peoples, and our
representative organizations.”
The agendas of indigenous delegations included a discussion of REDD
during a special Indigenous Peoples’ Day symposium Dec. 12 inside
the Denmark National Museum in downtown Copenhagen. Dinner, a film
presentation by Conversations with the Earth, and a mingling of
indigenous people from around the world followed the long and
strenuous day of talks. Later that evening Nobel Peace laureate
Desmond Tutu gifted those present with a harvest origin story.
Tebtebba organized the event to allow indigenous people to speak in
more depth about the issues related to climate change. “They are
victims of impacts from climate change but at the same time
indigenous peoples are also the solutions to the problems that we
face,” explained Tauli-Corpuz.
The U.S.-based Indigenous Environmental Network met early on “to
discuss our actions strategy,” said tribal campus climate organizer
Kandi Mossett. She said IEN was looking into doing five direct
actions. One, a massive march from downtown Copenhagen to the Bella
Center, the site of the talks, coincided with Indigenous Day Dec.
12. A demonstration at the Canadian Embassy was also in the works,
she said.
IEN’s youth delegate Gemma Givens, also part of SustainUS: The US
Youth Network for Sustainable Development, said all the
international youth delegations were crafting their goals into one
cohesive statement. “Our futures are being negotiated and we have to
make sure we are heard in this process.
Givens said the U.S. has a lot to lose from a weak agreement “and a
lot to gain from the transition to clean and safe energy and a
stable environment. We’re asking the U.S. to re-engage as a leader
and put together a meaningful and just binding treaty to demonstrate
the power and dedication of the U.S. youth climate movement.”
The climate talks continue through Dec. 18.
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