nuclear-news

Mona Polacca-13 “Grandmothers” – Talks about Uranium mining concerns at the Grand Canyon

Antonie Frank
Grahamsdaughter.
Journalist/ Film critic
14 july 2013

http://fib.se/reportage/item/3173-varna-naturen-och-manskliga-rattigheter
Mona Polacca is one of 13 “Grandmothers” from thirteen indigenous peoples who have come to Sweden to spread the message of nature and of human rights.

“The international council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers” is in Stockholm to share their wisdom and community. They were formed in the U.S. in 2004. They meet a few times each year to gather for council. Now it’s time for a conference in Stockholm. They recently came from Almedalen where they invited to discuss a sustainable community that is built through respect for future generations and natural rights. We must protect our planet, and on “Mother Earth” they say.

Image source ; http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/03/22/20-year-ban-new-uranium-mining-claims-grand-canyon-holds-court-148319
They are 13 enhanced women full of life experience, several of them have PhDs. Mona Polacca, Arizona in justice issues and is the spokesperson for the indigenous cause in the UN. Jyoti (Jeneane Prevatt) California, one of the founders of the group holds a doctorate in psychology. Flordemayo, New Mexico, lectures at universities and conferences.

During the day they will call the council and protect the lives of future generations. A number of workshops will be held on medicinal plants, indigenous languages ​​and prophecies. There will also be a youth conference called “Burning opinions.”

“13 indigenous grandmothers’ struggle against injustice and committed to the environment.

They discuss mining, water and air pollution and human rights. Our planet will be enough for seven generations ahead, they say. They cherish the knowledge that mothers, grandmothers transmitted through the ages to the next generations. These “Grandmothers” is between 60 and 90 years, and carries over a thousand years of women’s wisdom.

Rita Pitka Blumenstein Yup’ik, “grandmother”, born on a fishing boat and raised in Tununuk Alaska celebrates his 90th birthday on the day I visit the conference. There will be singing with and Grandmother Mona Polacca at the ceremony site. The atmosphere is warm and caring.

Later that evening, I get the opportunity to do an interview with Mona Polacca from Hopi-Havasupai/Tewa from Arizona. She is also the spokesperson of the UN for indigenous peoples.

<img class=”aligncenter” alt=”Mona Polacca ” src=”http://fib.se/images/stories/mona%20polacca_foto_antonie%20frank.jpg&#8221; width=”400″ /
Mona Polacca

She says the 13 Grandmothers have with letters and documents protests against the continued planned uranium mining in the Grand Canyon and the surrounding area Red Butte, a sacred mountain for the Havasupai, one of the plaintiffs in the dispute with the mining company, as well as other tribes, including the Hopi, Zuni and Navajo.<

A Canadian mining company defying President Barack Obama’s decision in 2012 against uranium mining on the eve of the Grand Canyon National Park. Now continue exploration from a previous decision on mining. In a natural area, they will remove all vegetation and building a dam and two mine shafts. The mine will pollute limestone formation Red Wall the main source to supply the Grand Canyon with water in addition to the Colorado River. When this water source is contaminated, there is no turning back, says Mona Polacca.

DE13 Grandmothers struggling with several missions including several letters to the Vatican for the Pope to annul the Bull – Interview Caetera from 1493 that discriminate against indigenous rites and religions. The decree was a way to spread the Christian faith to America. It contains statements that the “barbarous nations be overthrown.” When the 13 Grandmothers arrived in Rome to take part in an audience was suddenly cancelled.

They performed instead a ceremony in St. Peter’s Square and was being driven away but managed to persuade the guards to hold their ceremony. Still, they have not got an audience with the Pope or with the answer to his request that the Pope’s bull lifted.

http://www.indiandogs.com/whitespirit.htm
The 13 Grandmothers have a strong belief in “the spirits” – the ancestral existence. They are with us, protects and guides us in life, they argue. Several indigenous languages ​​are extinct and Grandmother says that many children on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota in the United States alone speaks English. We must educate our children in our language and give them the tools to our culture and religion, she says.

The Grandmothers continue to spread their message at the Clarion Hotel at Skanstull and exercising their ceremonies in a small park nearby. The atmosphere is intense and gathers many people. The smell of incense – “smudging” and herbs is dense over the place. The drum sound makes people stop, curious and ask questions about indigenous peoples.

People here are open and welcome our message says Mona Polacca. She laughs and gets up to run on and convey their message. The days are filled with their mission to preserve “Mother Earth” an important part of indigenous attitude towards life.
http://fib.se/reportage/item/3173-varna-naturen-och-manskliga-rattigheter

July 14, 2013 - Posted by arclight2011part2 | Uncategorized