Posted by [EMAIL PROTECTED] : via LISN Subject: Post "dated" update Date: Mon, 06 Dec 1999 12:16:58 +0000 From: Indigenous Environmental Network <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] CC: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] This report from one of our delegates just came in. It is outdated but provides some background on the work and particpation of the Indigenous delegation at the WTO. As you know, the networking of Indigenous Peoples at the WTO resulted in the drafting of a DECLARATION that is getting support from all over the world. Tom Goldtooth Indigenous Environmental Network >Subject: thank yews >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Priscilla Settee) > >my report follows >please distribute wherever. P.S. >************** > >December 3, 1999 > >Seattle and the World Trade Organization >~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > It is estimated that over fifty thousand of people >converged on >Seattle for the World Trade Organization meeting. > > "Established in 1995, the WTO is a powerful new global >commerce >agency, which transformed the General Agreement on Tariffs >and >Trade (GATT) into an enforceable global commercial code. > > The WTO is one of the main mechanisms of corporate >globalization. The WTO's 700-plus pages of rules set out a >comprehensive system of corporate-managed trade. Under the >WTO's >system of corporate-managed trade, economic efficiency, >reflected >in short-run corporate profits, dominates other values. >Decisions >affecting the economy are to be confined to the private >sector, >while social and environmental costs are borne by the >public". > > First Nations and Native Americans from Canada and United >States >through the sponsorship of the Indigenous Environmental >Network, >and the Seventh Generation, in partnership with the >Indigenous >Women's Network and other Indigenous organizations spent 5 >days >in sessions educating their members and the broader public >about >ways that the WTO and international trade agreements will >impact >the globe's Indigenous Peoples. > > While they were left out of formal >representation,Indigenous >peoples wasted no time in educating others present. They >were >also joined by Indigenous peoples from Central and South >America and Asian Pacific. > > Front and center of the Indigenous agenda are such issues >as >Forestry, Biodiversity and Biopiracy, Persistent Organic >Pollutants, Self-determination and Treaties, Militarization >of >Indigenous lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Human >Rights/Indigenous >rights, and Lands and territories. > While some Chiefs of communities were present it is clear >that Indigenous >community >issues were not part of formal WTO talks. This is >particularly >disturbing as the majority of the world's valuable natural >resources >exist on Indigenous lands. > > Organizers of the parallel Indigenous event say that >economic >globalization policies endanger Indigenous cultures, >communities >and traditional subsistence lifestyles by clear-cutting >forest, >destroying fisheries, displacing populations and undermining >Indigenous Peoples power over their land and natural >resources. > > "The liberalization of trade policies and mining laws >allows the >free entry of corporations to take over Indigenous lands, >evict >Indigenous peoples and claim the rights over their >resources," >said Victoris Tauli-Corpuz of the Indigenous Peoples >Network for >Policy Research & Education, based in the Philippines. > Representatives from Colombia and other South American >countries say that the current WTO policies have encouraged >murder, genocide and the dislocation of Indigenous >populations. > > The rally of November 30, was attended by an estimated >50,000 people and brought Indigenous peoples, trade >unionists, >environmentalists, nationals from Tibet, Philippines and >Vietnam >together. > > Youth from all parts of the nations dominated the rally. > > As we were marching next to Lynda Chavez, the daughter of >United >Farm Workers of America (leader) Cesar Chavez, another >trade unionist >was heard to say, "This march brings a lump in my throat; >it is >just an amazing show of solidarity among the world's >people, all >colours all races, it's just amazing". > > The one thing that united all the ralliers was that the >WTO must >be stopped until the interests of ordinary citizens are >considered. > > It is felt by all of the "unofficial" members of the WTO >meeting >that further 'behind closed doors meetings' by the world's >leaders must stop as the consequences of the decisions made >by >WTO members will greatly impact all of the world's >citizens. > > These feelings were evidenced when the WTO official >meeting was >prevented from happening and many official delegates were >prevented from entering and leaving their hotels and other >places. > > The rally turned violent when police fired gas canisters >on many >innocent bystanders and marchers. Demonstrations went long >into >the night and by morning over 300 people had been arrested. >Large areas of Seattle's downtown area had been cordoned >off by >the police and the national Guard as a state of civil >emergency >was declared by the City of Seattle and the Governor of the >State >of Washington. > > Police used the unruly behaviour of some people to shut >down >through aggressive measures the voices and presence of all >people. Unfortunately many of the pictures which media >focused on >were of broken windows and mayhem, rather than issues - >issues >which united the people. > > A large area around the WTO convention centre was under >National Guard presence where no one was allowed to pass. >Towards >the end over 500 people had been arrested. > > What is evident is that from all of this is that ordinary >citizens want a say into how events impacting their >communities, >jobs and lands will unfold. > >-Reported by: >Priscilla Settee, >Indigenous Women's Network Canada and National Council member of the Indigenous Environmental Network ><[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > -- ================================================================ League of Indigenous Sovereign Nations of the Western Hemisphere mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] LISN Web Site: http://www.lisn.net
