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Indigenous at UN consider climate change, conflict, their very existence

Indigenous at UN consider climate change, conflict, their very existence – China View  by William M. Reilly 22 May 09 “………………….The annual meeting of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is under an urgent mandate to activate the 2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through national legislation around the world.

    Many are focusing that discussion on the land rights issue which has been brought to the fore by climate change, namely over oil, gas and mineral exploitation and forestation of northern lands……………………………….The annual meeting of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is under an urgent mandate to activate the 2007 Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through national legislation around the world.

    Many are focusing that discussion on the land rights issue which has been brought to the fore by climate change, namely over oil, gas and mineral exploitation and forestation of northern lands…………………….. This is a problem for Pacific Islanders in general, she said.

    “What will happen with something like the islands of Tuvalu (which) will sink in about 40 years. Then what about the nationals? Is it still Tuvalu?” .Pelpina Sahureka of the Malucca Islands of Indonesia asked. “Where will the people go?”

    “Will they go to Australia, for instance?” Sahureka asked. “There will be a community of Tuvalu in Australia but how will they be called? Still Tuvalus or are they still Australians? They will say they have their own country but how or when can they come back to the country when there is nothing because it has totally sunk.”

Indigenous at UN consider climate change, conflict, their very existence_English_Xinhua

May 22, 2009 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Uncategorized