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15th
DEC
Maori asked to stand with the Pacific @ Cop15
Posted by karere under Maori News
Te Ata Tino Toa Press Release
Grass roots organisations from around the world today strongly condemned negotiators at the Copenhagen climate summit for removing key content from a draft agreement aimed at protecting the world’s rainforests, and downgrading language protecting local communities and Indigenous Peoples in the text.
“Using a free market solution to fix climate change problems created by the free market is intellectually unsound, why has the New Zealand government passed an emission trading scheme that has condemned the Pacific?” asks Sina Brown-Davis ( Ngapuhi / Samoa ) referring to the recent Emission Trading Scheme passed by the National Party with support from the Maori Party.
“Why would some Maori support the Dairy industry that has been irresponsibly polluting our rivers and environment before the lives of our cousins in Tuvalu, Kiribati, Tokelau and the other many small island communities in the Pacific?”
Sina Brown-Davis is participating in The Social & Climate Justice Caravan which has been travelling Europe and is now in Copenhagen for Cop15.
The caravan wants to link the protests against the WTO with the protests against the climate summit. Representatives from global movements from the South drove two routes from Geneva to Copenhagen. With public meetings, discussions and actions planned, the caravan drew attention to the consequences of trade liberalisation and climate change on people in the global South.
“Putting the interests of the dairy industry and tribal capitalists out to make a quick buck before the lives and homes of small island communities should be condemned around the Pacific and by Maori who believe in the values of whanaungatanga and whakapapa”. continued Sina
There has been wide support within the global indigenous community that Indigenous Peoples rights needed to be protected in any negotiations that come out of Copenhagen.
This was articulated by the Indigenous Peoples caucus at the lead up meeting in Bangkok when they said
‘The recognition of our rights must be in accordance with international human rights law and standards including the UNDRIP and ILO Convention 169, among other human rights instruments. If there is no full recognition and full protection for Indigenous peoples’ rights, including the rights to resources, lands and territories, and there is no recognition and respect of our rights of free, prior and informed consent of the affected indigenous peoples, we will oppose REDD and REDD+ and carbon offsetting projects, including CDM projects.’
Previously the Maori Party had supported the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The New Zealand Governments position to date has been to oppose the inclusion of the Declaration in the agreements being negotiated at Copenhagen.
How do they intend to deal with this contradiction?
ENDS
Contact: Sina Brown-Davis
Ph +41 793 427 025
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December 15, 2009 -
Maori News -
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Maori as leaders of indigenous rights in the Pacific have an opportunity to stand up for some very fundamental principles. What is at stake for our whanaunga of the island states in our region is their very survival as distinct peoples as distinct nations. The reality for them is if something is not done then there will be significant populations requiring placement and manaakitanga from their neighbours. One has absoute sympathy with the pleas that have managed to even infiltrate the world television moguls that their struggle is a struggle to prevent genocide and that is why many nation states are reflecting carfefully on the value of even being part of the United Nations if they cant through these policy initiatives guarantee their ongoing existence.
Maori leaders should be urging New Zealand and Australia and other neighbouring nations to guarantee some priority of relocation if the climate change effects that are predicted do indeed result in the decline if not the demise of some of our neighbourts. What I have seen is no discussion at all on these important questions. One has to ask the value of a forum like the United Nations if at its most basic it can not guarantee the ongoing right of existence of its member nations.
Naku noa
Annette
Maori are not leaders of Indigenous rights in the Pacific, they are the house niggers for the neoliberal colonial setter state of NZ.
A lot of Maori are uneasy with the ETS deal the Maori Party has cut with National. Many do not know what the deal really means but feel that its one bargain too many that has been bargained in exchange for the foreshore act repeal. I agree with you in part Ana, in that I believe that most so called Maori leaders around the country are kupapa to the state and to their pockets, not their own people. Most of our people live in cities and our voices are not listened to.
Ae Tautoko Kelly