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- Published on Monday, 23 July 2012 16:45
Canada: Taseko Mines? Draft Environmental Impact Statement Proves Issues Are Not Being Addressed
CEAA slams document for missing information, inaccuracies, confusing format and poor work
A scathing government review of Taseko Mines Limited?s draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for its second attempt to get approval for its New Prosperity Mine is further proof that the company has no clear plan for this project, the Tsilhqot?in National Government said today.
The Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA) has responded to the draft EIS with nearly 250 comments over 40 pages listing omissions, mistakes, poor figures and shoddy formatting that makes the draft EIS impossible to properly assess. The scathing response slams the draft EIS for being so incomplete on several "aspects that are central to the environmental assessment" that it was not possible to even review those sections. Other deficiencies include complete failure to address critical First Nations' concerns, assess impacts on Aboriginal rights, or consider impacts on First Nations of the certain destruction of Little Fish Lake and the Nabas region.
?This comes as no surprise to us,? said Tsilhqot?in Nation Tribal Chair Chief Joe Alphonse. ?We have said all along that there was no way this plan could work. They should be embarrassed that they handed in a document like this ? they are making a mockery out of the entire Environmental Assessment process as well as all other Mining Companies. They should be penalized for such flippant actions.? Read more about the Tsilhqot'in Nation's response to Taseko mines new draft EIS for the New Prosperity Mine here....
Bangladesh: Rights Groups Demand For Constitutional Recognition Of Indigenous Peoples And Implementation Of CHT Accord Reasserted
On 16 July 2012 rights groups from a number of rights organisations staged a procession and protest song performances, pressing for their four-point demand for protection of the rights of indigenous peoples in the country. The demands include constitution recognition of indigenous peoples, implementation of the CHT Accord, formation of separate Land Commission for indigenous peoples of plain land and putting an end to the recent alarming repression on indigenous peoples.
Presided over by general secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum Sanjeeb Drong, the procession held at Swoparjita Swadhinata on the Dhaka University campus was conducted by Robaet Ferdous, assistant profession of Dhaka University. Dilara Rekha of BNPS read out a declaration of the citizen groups while Dipayon Khisa delivered welcome address.
Workers Party of Bangladesh president and lawmaker Rashed Khan Menon urged the government to withdraw government circular against celebration of the International Day of the World?s Indigenous People on due on August 9. He said that longstanding demand for constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples was ignored in the 15th Amendment to the Constitution. Rather, the government through this amendment has created new debate over the identity of indigenous peoples instead of solving their problem, he said. He reiterated that parliamentary caucus on indigenous peoples would continue its programme for constitutional recognition of indigenous peoples. The government broke its election commitment to the indigenous peoples, he alleged. Read more about indigenous demands for constitutional recognition in Bangladesh here....
Colombia: Serious Violations Of The Civilian And Indigenous Population?s Human Rights And Infractions Of International Humanitarian Law, In Confrontations Between The FARC And The Colombian Army
?We support the indigenous people of Cauca in their peaceful resistance and search for peace?
Oidhaco supports the decision of the indigenous peoples of the Cauca department in the south-west of Colombia who, after suffering renewed serious human rights violations and infractions of IHL, have decided to reject all armed presence in their lands.
Throughout past weeks, hundreds of civilians from the department of Cauca have been injured and thousands displaced, as a consequence of bombardments and armed confrontation between the FARC and the Colombian army. According to figures from the Human Rights Ombudsman?s Office, in Torib?o, at least 14 people were injured and 400 displaced, in the majority indigenous people. And in Argelia, some 1,500 civilians have been displaced, with 74 houses, one school and two community centres seriously damaged.
Because of its strategic location and richness in natural resources, Cauca is one of the areas which has been most affected by the war in Colombia. Multiple attacks have been registered against the civilian population committed by the guerrilla and by the Colombian army and paramilitary groups. This situation affects the whole population, especially women and children, because of their particular vulnerability towards those who carry out the violence, and also indigenous peoples, because of the pressure from different armed actors in the conflict on their land. Read more about the conflict in Cauca, Colombia between indigenous people, the military, and FARC here....
Australia: Lizard?s Revenge - The South Australian Government Ignores Its Founding Document, The Letters Patent From Britain, As Though It Never Existed
The recent demonstrations against expansion of the BHP Roxby Downs uranium mine in South Australia, led by Arabunna Elder, Kevin Buzzacott, highlight how governments and mining companies ignore and completely override the sovereign rights and human rights of First Nations Peoples, writes sovereignty activist, Michael Anderson.
The last survivor of the four founders of the Aboriginal Embassy in Canberra writes: ?The ongoing catastrophe of the Fukushima meltdown in Japan is fresh in our minds and the previous disaster of Chernobyl in the Ukraine still haunts us, but governments are ignoring the warnings and, instead, appear beholden to mining industry, in particular the uranium industry.?
Mr Anderson is the National Coordinator of the interim National Unity Government of the 'Sovereign Union', launched at the 40th anniversary of the embassy in January.
Guatemala: Guatemala?s Highest Court To Hear Landmark Indigenous Challenge Against Mining Law
Today (July 20), Guatemala?s Constitutional Court will hear a case challenging the constitutionality of the 1997 mining law for failure to consult with the country?s indigenous peoples who make up more than half the population. The lawsuit, filed by the Western Peoples Council (CPO), contends that both national and international law require that the government consult with indigenous peoples before approving policies with significant impacts on their territories.
Three weeks ago, President Otto P?rez Molina proposed controversial reforms to the current law, including direct state participation in mining projects. He also lifted the previous administration?s moratorium on the approval of new concessions. The moratorium dates back to 2008 when the Constitutional Court ruled that seven articles in the mining law are unconstitutional, stalling approval of any new licences until national consensus could be reached on mining reforms.
Only six months into its mandate, the administration of P?rez Molina has already approved 68 new exploration and exploitation licences. In total, 387 mining concessions have been granted with another 734 pending, many on indigenous territory. Read more about the landmark indigenous challenge against mining in Guatemala here....
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