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WORLD RAINFOREST REPORT ISSUE NUMBER #30
Published by the Rainforest Information Centre
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Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises
March 27, 1995
OVERVIEW & SOURCE (by Rainforest Information Centre)
The publisher of World Rainforest Report, the Rainforest
Information Centre in Australia, has combined forces with
Ecological Enterprises in the U.S. in order to bring you this
electronically-networked version of our magazine. Once again, we
have been somewhat tardy in uploading this edition, number 30, but
you can expect to continue receiving it regularly every 3 months.
The matter of urgency in terms of distribution of WRR is of great
import in regard to the hard-news stories, however the first two
items, by David Comey and Bill Moyer are quality articles of
timeless value and significance. They deserve to be shared far and
wide.
Please remember that RIC's campaign efforts are in part supported
by our sale of snail-mail subscriptions, so please complete and
return the form at the end of this magazine if you are an
activist/researcher/caring person who needs hard copy.
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WORLD RAINFOREST REPORT ISSUE NUMBER #30, MARCH 1995
WRR is published by the Rainforest Information Centre, Lismore
Australia. To Subscribe (ie: for hard copy, by snail mail): send
$25 Australian to RIC, p.o. box 368 Lismore 2480 Australia; ph:+61
66 218 505, fx:+61 66 222 339, email: rainfaus@peg.apc.org
IN this issue:
I. TELL THE TRUTH - David Comey on Successful Propaganda
II. PLAYING TO WIN - Part 2 of Bill Moyer's Guide to Successful
Activism
III. ACTION PAGES - The hard news on what's going down and where;
write a letter of protest!
A. Great News: World Paper Consumption Continues to Rise
B. US: FBI Bomb Drills Preceded Bari Blast
C. BRAZIL: Military Invasion of Indian Lands
D. MEXICO: Denounce Zedillo's Crackdown on Zapatistas
E. Indonesian Govt. Vetoes FoE Environmental Mission to East Timor
F. PAPUA NEW GUINEA : 121,000 Hectares in West Sepik Threatened
G. VENEZUELA: Karina Indians Face Legal Dispossession
H. AUSTRALIA: Anti-Green Violence in Daintree
I. ECUADOR: Leaders condemn Texaco/Ecuador 'settlement'
J. CANADA: Haisla Nation leads Kitlope Victory
K. PHILIPPINES: Villagers Fight Mitsubishi
IV. AUSTRALIA - Woodchips: "It's not jobs or the environment; its
both or neither"
V. Mexico - The Zapatistas and the global implications of their
struggle & STOP PRESS-One Of Mexico's Last Rainforests Under
Siege
VI. The Philippines - Restoration of the Ormoc Watershed
VII. Timber Labelling - Indonesia Gets Ready
VIII. Suriname-Giant Logging Firms Poised to Attack Forests
Editorial
Our apologies for the lateness of this edition. By rights it
should have appeared at the end of last year, but that was not
possible due to staff shortages and other commitments. But you'll
still get your money's worth: when you subscribe, you get four
issues, regardless of the time-frame.
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ACTION PAGES!
BRAZIL: Military Invasion of Indian Lands
On the 7th of January 1995, the military of the state of Roraima,
Brazil, invaded the Indigenous Area Raposa Serra do Sol assaulting
the Indians, burning their houses, and destroying their property
with the sole objective of having the Cotingo Hydroelectric Dam
project continued (see story in "Brazil" section of this
magazine). The Minister of Justice has not taken any action to
solve the conflict or to protect the rights of the Macuxi
population.Moreover, he has voiced no objections to the military
actions of January 7th.
A hearing was held on January 23 to demand that the Minister take
action to resolve the conflicts involving the lands of the
Krikati, in the State of Maranhao, and of the Macuxi, from the
state of Roraima. Only after great pressure by the indigenous
community and affiliated organizations did the Minister agree to
this hearing. Even though no solutions were formulated, the
Indians demonstrated to Minister Nelson Jobim and to his
administration that it will not be easy to continue construction
of the dam in the face of continuing opposition from the
indigenous community and its organizations.
What You Can Do
The CPI-Pro-Indian Commission and CIMI-Missionary Council ask for
your support. Please write letters of concern to: Ministro Nelson
Jobim Ministerio da Justica Esplanada dos Ministerios 70064-900
Brasilia DF Brazil or FAX (0055 61) 224-2448 or 322-6817
Source: Indianist Missionary Council
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MEXICO: Denounce Zedillo's Crackdown on Zapatistas
On February 9, 1995 the government of President Zedillo's
declared war against the Zapatistas in the State of Chiapas (see
"Mexico" section in this Magazine). The Mexican army reportedly
surrounded the city of San Cristobal in Chiapas, and the hospital
in the nearby city of Comitan has been flooded with casualities.
The press is being excluded from the area. The people being
attacked are the Mayan Indians, and other poor farmers, who've been
oppressed for the last 500 years. There have been international
protests in front of Mexican Consulates and Embassies throughout
the world at the request of the National Commission for Democracy
in Mexico.
What You Can Do
* Organise or participate in a protest at the nearest Mexican
Embassy or Consulate.
* Send messages to the Mexican government or your nearest Mexican
Embassy or Consulate.
Procuraduria General de la Republica (Attorney General) :
Antonio Lozano Gracia tel: (525) 626-4476 fax: (525) 626-4419
Demand that the Mexican Government resist US pressure to eliminate
the Zapatistas that it negotiate peacefully with the Zapatistas
and recognise the validity of their demands.
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PAPUA NEW GUINEA : 121,000 Hectares in West Sepik Threatened
Large scale oil-palm development threatens 121,000 hectares in
the West Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea. The lush, virgin
lowland, coastal, forested landscape is to be cleared and then
planted in an oil palm monoculture.
The Aitape, West Sepik agroforest project continues to move
towards commencement. This is despite the significant opposition
and numerous irregularities in the negotiation process. The
Catholic Womens Association in Aitape report little landowner
support or participation.
The PNG press has reported the anger of major landowning
families in the area. The Times of PNG reports the emotional
response one landowner, Theresa Morupe Haihui, as she sees her
traditional land wrested from her control in the name of
"development." She states she totally rejects the project, and as
one of the only educated women from this very remote area she
would attempt to take out a court injunction against Damansara
Forests Products, a Malaysian logging company, to stop the
project.
What You Can Do
Please take the time to send out the sample letter attached;
preferably with additional thoughts of your own .
Sample letter:
The Honourable Bernard Narakobi
Minister for Agriculture, PO, Parliament House, Waigani, PNG
Dear Honourable Narakobi,
I understand that your Ministry is negotiating with the
Indonesian company DAMANSARA to sell them a major portion (around
100 km along the coast) of the forest between Suain and Aitape,
West Sepik, for industrial logging and promised oil palm
development. I ask you very urgently to stop this project
immediately.
Indications are that the Agro-Forestry deal with DAMANSARA is
just clearcutting the forest in disguise. Many local people of
this area as well as numerous PNG non-governmental organizations
do not see this as true sustainable development; but rather as bad
development, following the economic model of over-development
which has caused suffering in so much of the rest of the world.
Large scale, industrial logging is not development; and oil palms,
if they ever should arrive, can not replace the rain forest. I
would agree with a project that brings good development;
necessarily small scale, community owned, and ecologically
sustainable.
It is possible for village people to cut their own timber,
utilizing wokabaut somils, for local consumption and export as
"ecotimber". There are a number of organizations within PNG
setting up community-based, sustainable forestry operations. I
encourage you and your government to actively seek out Papua New
Guineans working on "home-grown" development that more accurately
reflects the Melanesian culture. Please, cooperate with and
support through your Ministry a reasonable development strategy
that does not impoverish future generations for a brief boom
period as primary resources are shipped elsewhere for processing.
Please say no to exploitative schemes; starting with DAMANSARA's
moves to cut much of the West Sepik Province.
Instead, I respectfully request that you consider community-
based, sustainable development. Such a course has the potential
to provide income for many generations to come. This is
preferable to the present resource liquidation currently occurring
under the guise of development throughout PNG. Cordially,
Please, if possible, copies also to:
- Honourable Sir Julius Chan, Office of the Prime Minister, PO Box
6055, Boroko, NCD Papua New Guinea Fax: 675 27 6696
- The Times of PNG Attn: The Editor, PO Box 1982, Boroko NCD,
Papua New Guinea Fax: 675 25 4433/2579
- The Post Courier Attn: The Editor, PO Box 85, Port Moresby,
NCD, Papua New Guinea Fax: 675 21 2721
Source: Ecological Enterprises, January 20, 1995.
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VENEZUELA: Karina Indians Face Legal Dispossession
Karina Indians of Monagas State of Central Venezuela face the
alienation of their lands for development on the grounds that
they are extinct as a people and their land titles - which date
back to the time of colonial rule -are therefore invalid.
Venezuelan NGOs are calling for international support to put
pressure on the Chairman and members of the Supreme Court of
Justice in Venezuela to rule in favour of the Karina.
The Karina point out that their land titles were accorded them
in 1783 and were again registered in 1967 and recognised by the
National Agrarian Institute and the Ministry of Justice. The
regional authorities of the Maturin Municipal Council passed a
Municipal Ordinance declaring the lands unoccupied in 1987 and are
now seeking to reallocate some 10,564 ha. of the Karina's land to
third parties. The Karina have thus filed a case in the Supreme
Court asking that the Municipal Ordinance be declared null and
void.
The case, one of the first in Venezuela to deal with Indian land
claims in the courts, is considered crucial by local NGOs. If the
court finds against the Karina - declaring them extinct as a
people - it will be a major setback to all of the country's
150,000 Indians. As one local NGO points out: `The case is of a
great importance since it deals not only with these people's land
rights but also with the acceptance of the very existence of the
country's indigenous peoples as integral parts of the nation.'
What You Can Do
Fax letters along the following lines to the Chairman (c/o Fax:
+ 582 81 1654 ) and Members of the Supreme Court (Fax: + 582 483
9329)
Suggested text:
Presidente de la Corte Suprema de Justicia Caracas Venezuela
Dear Mr Chairman,
We have been most alarmed to learn of the case of the Karina
Indians of the community of Jesus, Jose y Maria de Aguasay of
Estado Monagas whose land rights have been denied by the Municipal
Council of Maturin on the grounds that they are extinct as a
people.
We understand that the Karina have appealed to the Supreme Court
to secure their legitimate rights to their ancestral lands, which
were recognised over two centuries ago by the colonial
authorities.
We are thus appealing to you to treat this case with the utmost
care and to find in favour of the Karina Indians' whose rights are
recognised in both Venezuelan and international law.
We would remind you that this year is the first in the United
Nations' International Decade of the World's Indigenous Peoples
and there is heightened international attention being paid to
these peoples' fair treatment.
Yours sincerely . . .
For more information: WRM, 8 Chapel Row, Chadlington, OX7 3NA,
England Fax: +44 1608 676 743 or contact UNUMA on Fax:+582 4839329
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ECUADOR: Leaders condemn Texaco/Ecuador 'settlement'
Leaders of indigenous and environmental groups in Ecuador are
denouncing a proposed agreement between Texaco and the Ecuadorian
government for the cleanup and restoration of oil production sites
in the Amazon. What has been revealed of the agreement
shortchanges the needs of rainforest dwellers--who were
deliberately shut out of the negotiations.
"The settlement is inadequate and unfair," warns Shannon Wright,
Rainforest Action Network's Amazon Campaign Coordinator. "If the
plan is finalized, Texaco will get off easy with a partial
cleanup. The people will suffer, the forest will suffer, and
further efforts to promote corporate responsibility will suffer."
When Texaco shut down its Ecuador operations in 1992, the
company made no effort to clean up 20 years of toxic waste or to
restore the vast areas disrupted by its operations. Texaco's own
statements now indicate that restoration of its former oil-
production sites would be minimal.
The proposal would not reforest areas denuded as a result of
roads built for oil production. Texaco's roads have allowed the
deforestation of more than 2.5 million acres of rainforest, as
well as the encroachment of indigenous peoples' traditional
territories by settlers, loggers, and cattle ranchers.
Texaco's operations are also responsible for spilling some16.8
million gallons of crude oil in Ecuador's Amazon region. The
company also intentionally dumped into the region's waterways 20
billion gallons of waste water containing hydrocarbons, toxic
chemicals, and heavy metals.
People who rely on this water are suffering from skin,
respiratory and stomach ailments. They also face increased risks
of cancer and neurological and reproductive problems.
However, Texaco may sidestep paying for a comprehensive health
program by "donating" some health facilities. That maneuver could
give the company a tax write-off in the U.S.
Indigenous people, farmers, and environmentalists have been
fighting for years to force Texaco to clean up its mess and
restore the areas it polluted. They also want the company to
provide health monitoring and treatment for oil-related ailments.
Leaders of umbrella indigenous organizations condemn the closed-
door negotiations that led to the tentative settlement. Neither
Texaco nor the Ecuadorian government consulted the indigenous
people and mestizo farmers most hurt by Texaco's environmental
irresponsibility.The groups demand meaningful participation in
evaluating Texaco's impacts, negotiating a settlement, and
monitoring the cleanup effort once it begins.
The organizations say a settlement between Texaco and the
Ecuadorian government alone is not acceptable.The state-owned oil
company CEPE (now Petroecuador) worked in consortium with Texaco
as a co-polluter and may have to pick up a portion of any
remediation bill.
The Ecuadorian government thus shares financial liability for
the damage, so it has a vested interest to downplay the needs of
its own people. In short, the government is acting as both
defendant and judge, and President Sixto Duran Ballen may sign the
agreement soon.
What You Can Do
Please write or fax Texaco immediately, and send a copy of your
letter to RAN. Sample letter:
Alfred C. DeCrane, Jr. CEO and Chairman of the Board Texaco, Inc.
2000 Westchester Ave,White Plains, NY 10650, USA. Fax: +914-253-7753
Dear Mr. DeCrane:
I am concerned that Texaco and the Ecuadorian government
excluded indigenous and farmer organizations from participating in
the settlement to restore areas Texaco damaged during 20 years of
operations. I respectfully urge you to make this process
democratic, meeting the demands of those most affected by the
environmental destruction. It is their health, way of life and
future that are at stake.
I am requesting Texaco to restore the damaged areas with a full
cleanup, planned with and approved by the affected communities and
their representative organizations. Until this is done, I will not
purchase any Texaco products and will encourage others to do the
same. Sincerely,
Source:From Action Alert #102, November 1994. Rainforest Action
Network 450 Sansome St., Suite 700 San Francisco, CA, 94111,
U.S.A.
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CANADA: Haisla Nation leads Kitlope Victory
"We have a solemn, sacred duty to keep faith with those who came
before us, who guarded and protected this land for us: we must do
no less for ourselves and for those who come after."
--Haisla Nation, Kitlope Declaration, 1991
The Haisla Nation of British Columbia led indigenous peoples and
environmentalists to a great victory in 1994. Their work saved
most of the million-acre Greater Kitlope Ecosystem, the world's
largest known, intact, coastal, temperate rainforest watershed.
The Haisla and Henaaksiala people have worked for years to
ensure protection of the cultural and ecological integrity of the
Kitlope. They achieved a critical first step when West Fraser
Timber voluntarily relinquished logging rights to 800,000 acres of
the Kitlope without seeking compensation.
On August 16, the Haisla Nation and B.C. Premier Mike Harcourt
announced permanent protection of the Kitlope Valley, three-
fourths of the Greater Kitlope Ecosystem.
The Kitlope wilderness extends from estuarine marshes to lower,
riparian, old-growth, spruce and cedar forests to alpine meadows.
It provides habitats for all six species of Pacific salmon and
populations of North America's largest vertebrates--black and
grizzly bears, mountain goats, moose, and wolves.
The area is also the last part of traditional Haisla territory
to remain intact and is a continuing source of cultural and
spiritual inspiration for them. In this spectacular wilderness
setting, children can see traces of old village sites,
pictographs, and still-living cedar trees from which bark and
planks were harvested. They can also visit the sites of legends--
the ancient teachings that guided the way that people lived here.
The Haisla Nation Rediscovery Society holds camps in the Kitlope
to help children from Canada, the U.S., and other countries to
gain self-esteem and cultural and cross-cultural awareness.
To protect the Kitlope, the Haisla worked with Ecotrust, a
nonprofit organization dedicated to conservation-based development
in North America's coastal rain forests. Together, they focused
scientific attention on the Kitlope, developed a wilderness-
planning framework, established the Nanakila Institute to foster
protection and stewardship, and held public workshops. The Haisla
also met repeatedly with the provincial government and West Fraser
Timber.
Instead of creating a provincial park, the Haisla are taking an
innovative approach. They are managing the Kitlope jointly with
the B.C. government. The Nanakila Institute is already developing
programs of cientific research and nature- and culture-based
tourism, and it will monitor the effects of these activities.
-- Erin Kellogg, Ecotrust
What You Can Do
Rainforest Action Network is asking you to take positive action
this holiday season by thanking the Haisla for a job well done.
Sample letter:
Chief Councillor Rob Robinson Kitamaat Village Council Haisla P.O.
Box 1101 Kitamaat Village, British Columbia V0T 2B0, CANADA
Dear Chief Robinson:
I would like to express my appreciation for the leadership the
Haisla Nation has taken in protecting part of the world's largest,
coastal, temperate rainforest ecosystem. I am greatly inspired by
the courage and resolve of the Haisla and Henaaksiala to protect
the integrity of your traditional territory. You have set an
example for the world and helped to sustain a vital part of the
planet we all share.
Source: Action Alert #103, December 1994. Rainforest Action
Network 450 Sansome St., Suite 700 San Francisco, CA, 94111,
U.S.A.
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###RELAYED TEXTS ENDS###
You are encouraged to utilize this information for personal
campaign use; including writing letters, organizing campaigns and
forwarding. All efforts are made to provide accurate, timely
pieces; though ultimate responsibility for verifying all
information rests with the reader. Networked by:
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