Dear friends, Following the Rio + 10 conference in Canberra (details: http://www.foe.org.au), Friends of the Earth will be hosting three international speakers at a number of events in Melbourne. Long and short details on a public meeting on the 18th April are attached below. These people are all inspirational activists; working on a cross section of 'big picture' environmental issues. Coming from such diverse political situations, their personal stories are also remarkable. In the light of this past weeks announcements by the USA and Australian governments on the Kyoto Protocol, their message of climate justice is more relevant than ever before. If you would like further information, please contact me on (03) 9482 1509, 0419 338 047, or via this email address). Many thanks. I hope this is of interest to you. Regards Cam Walker PUBLIC MEETING � SHORT VERSION: Three inspiring international speakers Wednesday 18th April, 7pm. Storey Hall, RMIT. Tickets $10. Environmental protection in an era of globalisation. Friends of the Earth Australia and the Community Advocacy Unit at RMIT are proud to present an evening forum with three inspiring international speakers, talking about climate justice, ecological debt, and environmentalism in the countries of the South. Featuring: Ricardo Navarro, of the Salvadorian Centre for Appropriate Technology and chairperson of Friends of the Earth International (El Salvador); Nnimmo Bassey, chairperson of Environmental Rights Action (Nigeria); Patrina Dumaru, the Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (Fiji). Further details available from Friends of the Earth. 9419 8700, http://www.foe.org.au PUBLIC MEETING � LONG VERSION: Global Environmentalism � Ecological Debt & Climate Justice International campaigners to visit Melbourne Following the Rio+10 conference in Canberra (April 12-13) international activists will travel to Melbourne to take part in events focussing on Ecological Debt and the global dimensions of environmental politics. In Australia, environmentalism is often seen as being about biodiversity and quality of life. However, in many parts of the world, it is inextricably linked with human rights, social justice and the impacts of transnationals corporations and first world lifestyles on local communities and landscapes. As a federation with member groups in 68 countries, Friends of the Earth (FoE) International is unique in the global environment movement. Its democratic structure means that FoE's politics reflects an internationalist perspective of environmentalism: one that is based on social justice and solidarity. In an era of globalisation, first world environmentalists cannot continue to campaign from a first world perspective alone. We need to learn from, and actively support our colleagues in other parts of the world. This tour will provide an insight into the global perspectives that are required for first world environmentalism to remain relevant in the 21st century. APRIL 18TH � PUBLIC MEETING: ECOLOGICAL DEBT & CLIMATE JUSTICE Guest speakers: Ricardo Navarro � Friends of the Earth (El Salvador)/ Chair of Friends of the Earth (International) Ricardo is often described as 'the best known Latin American Environmentalist' and is one of the founders of the Salvadorian Centre for Appropriate Technology (CESTA/ FoE El Salvador). Ricardo is an inspirational speaker, on climate justice, the impacts of climate change on Southern countries, peace and militarism issues. He will also talk about the current situation in El Salvador following the earthquakes in January and February 2001. Centro Salvadore�o de Tecnologica Apropiada (CESTA) CESTA was founded in El Salvador in 1980 and joined FoE International in 1991. Today CESTA has some 3,100 members spread among 27 local groups. It runs a number of EcoCentres, teaching farmers sustainable agriculture and helping local communities develop appropriate renewable energy and technology. The organisation participates in the FoE International campaigns of Climate Change, Forests, Ecological Debt, Sustainable Societies Program and Wetlands. www.tao.ca/~cesta (Spanish only) www.foei.org/members/Members_El_Salvador.htm Nnimmo Bassey - Friends of the Earth (Nigeria) Nnimmo had planned to visit Australia in 1998 when FoE Australia hosted the FoE International meeting, but was refused permission to leave Nigeria. In 1996 he was imprisoned by the Nigerian government as he left the country to attend a West African FoE meeting. Nnimmo is the chairperson of Environmental Rights Action (ERA/ FoE Nigeria). ERA is a remarkable organisation, operating in very difficult circumstances. Five years on from worldwide condemnation about the activities of Shell and other oil producing companies, the situation in the oil production regions of Nigeria remains as desperate as ever. Nnimmo will talk about the impacts of the oil industry of the people and ecosystems of Nigeria. Environmental Rights Action (ERA) ERA was founded in 1993 as an environmental pressure group and joined FoE in 1996. The organisation is dedicated to the defence of human rights and ecosystems, and the promotion of environmentally responsible governmental, commercial, community and individual practice in Nigeria through the empowerment of local people. The group works locally, nationally and internationally on the following campaigns: Forests and Development, Community Resource Centres, Oilwatch, Energy and Climate Change, Savannah, Dams and Desertification. In addition it hosts the Environmental Information Service. Much of their effort has been concentrated on multinational oil companies and the protection of the Niger Delta. www.essentialaction.org/shell/era/era.html Patrina Dumaru - Pacific Concerns Resource Centre, Fiji Patrina is an experienced campaigner in the areas of climate change and the transport of nuclear waste through the South Pacific. Patrina spoke at the Climate Justice Forum at The Hague in November 2000 as part of the alternative activities around the CoP6 climate talks. Many Pacific Islands will be amongst the first human communities to be impacted by sea level rise associated with human induced climate change. Pacific Concerns Resource Centre The Pacific Concerns Resource Centre (PCRC) is the Secretariat of the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) Movement with a membership of one hundred and fifty non-government indigenous and grassroots organisations in the Pacific islands, Pacific Rim and internationally. PCRC / NFIP works in support of, respects and upholds the basic human rights of all people in accordance with the UN Declaration of Human Rights. Details: Venue: RMIT Storey Hall Lecture Theatre (~250 capacity) Date: Wednesday, April 18th, 2001 Time: 7pm Cost: $10 (FoE members, activists, community groups), $25 others. This event is co-hosted by the Community Advocacy Unit, RMIT. Other events: *FoE will also be hosting a lunchtime event on Thursday, April 19th for interested people from associated organisations to come along and discuss campaign issues with Ricardo, Nnimmo and Patrina. * There will be a climate justice action during the day of Wednesday the 18th April. Contact Al Hoban (0407 324 743) for details. * For media interviews, please contact Cam Walker (0419 338 047). Ricardo, Nnimmo and Patrina will be in Australia from the 11th April. * Further details at <http://www.foe.org.au> __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
