I'm new on the WWW and I want to tell the people something about me and the
organisation I'm a member of.
As you can see we are planning 'Indigenous Peoples Uranium
Speaking Tour in Europea' in 1997, if someone is interested pleace contact us.
1. History FOR MOTHER EARTH
Introduction and history of 'FOR MOTHER EARTH'
FOR MOTHER EARTH (FME) is a non-violent, international,
non-profit citizens organisation, which takes initiatives to
promote human rights, disarmament and protection of the
environment and all creatures, from the premise of an
understanding that the Earth is a creation to be honored and
respected as our Mother.
FOR MOTHER EARTH has active groups in Belarus, Belgium,
Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Rumania, Slovakia, Ukraine
and the USA.
1989 - 1990
At the end of 1989 some people gathered in Gent -Belgium- to
organise a Walk across America in 1992, 500 years after
Columbus landed on the shores of Turtle Island, nowadays known
as America.
The vision came from the non-profit 'European Peace
Pilgrimage' from the Netherlands. They made an appeal to have
several small bands of people walking from different points
from the East coast of the USA to converge at the Nevada
Nuclear Test Site on October 12th 1992. In Nevada the USA
tested over 800 nuclear weapons since 1951... according to the
Treaty of Ruby Valley the land of the Western Shoshone Indian
Tribe.
1991
After an overwhelming response in Belgium, it was decided in
1991 to create an independent grass-roots non-profit
organization. William Rosse Sr., a Western Shoshone elder
wispered us the name : FOR MOTHER EARTH. In July 1991 an
second office of FOR MOTHER EARTH opened in the USA.
1992
Walk across America for Mother Earth
On January 31st 1992 around 100 people started an unusual
journey across America. Walkers from Belgium, the USA and
different Indian Nations walked together. They faced snow,
rain and freezing cold, or the heat of the desert as they
moved their feet slowly in their trail for human-rights, the
environment and disarmament.
It became a wonderful experience, where close to 500 people
joined their 'feet' on their effort to raise consciousness
around the violation of Indigenous People's landrights and
nuclear developments worldwide. And when the walkers reached
Nevada they could read in the newspaper that their effort was
fruitful : on October 1st 1992 President Bush had declared a
moratorium on nuclear testing. On October 12th 1992 over 2000
people joined in a non-violent protest, and eversince it has
been silent on the Nevada Test Site.
1993 - 1994
The walk had empowered people and created strong links. In
1993 it was decided to continue our walking. In 1993 and 1994
'shorter' walks were initiated across Belgium
1995
Walk across Europe for a Nuclear Free World
In 1995 FOR MOTHER EARTH launched an international campaign
and petition to halt nuclear testing, outlaw nuclear weapons,
phasde-out nuclear power, and promote energy savings and
renewable energies. An average of 80 people from 25 different
countries joined for that purpose the 'Walk across Europe for
a Nuclear Free World', and stepped 5.500 km from Brussels to
Moscow.
This walk generated new FOR MOTHER EARTH groups in the
Netherlands, Germany, Slovakia and Belarus.
At the end of 1995 FOR MOTHER EARTH was actively campaigning
and spreading the call for boycott of French products from the
Indigenous Maoho in Polynesia as protest against resumption of
French nuclear testing.
1996
Walk for a Nuclear Free Future
In April 1996 nearly eighty people participated in the Walk
for a Nuclear Free Future. FME activists walked through
inhabited contaminated postChernobyl wastelands to mark the
tenth anniversary of the largest industrial disaster ever. On
April 26th the railroad and the main road leading to the still
operating Chernobyl NPP were blocked.
In autumn 1996 FME is organising a training seminar for FME
activits in Slovakia. The purpose is to share our experience
and skills on how to organise and campaign effectively.
1997
In fall 1997 FME is planning an 'Indigenous Peoples Uranium
Speaking Tour in Europe' to inform the public of the
consequences of our nuclear power plants for Indigenous
Peoples worldwide. Uranium is often mined on Indigenous
Peoples Sacred lands, and 'imported' for use in our atomic
power stations. Can we talk about clean energy when Indigenous
Peoples lands are turned into wastelands, and their
health is effected by radiation?? And what about the nuclear
waste which is exported to their 'reservations'??
Video materials and slide shows are available on the Walk
across America, the Walk across Europe and the Walk for a
Nuclear Free Future.
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*FOR MOTHER EARTH INTERNATIONAL OFFICE*
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* Lange Steenstraat 16/D, 9000 Gent *
* BELGIUM *
* *
* Tel/fax +32-9-2338439 *
* Danni Vounckx *
* Statiestraat 81 3290 Diest *
* Belgium *
* Tel/fax +32-13-313505 *
************** E-MAIL *****************
* gerrydan@tornado.be *
* int@fme.knooppunt.be *
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* FOR MOTHER EARTH homepage: *
* http://www.knooppunt.be/~fme *
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-end-
Danille Vounckx en Gerry Vandermaesen
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* E-mail: gerrydan@tornado.be *
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