Tourism Destinations Threatened By Global Warming

UCTP Taino News – The OTBeach News site “ProTraveller” has put together a list of 20 popular travel destinations that will change dramatically as the world continues to heat up. The feature notes that while a “few lucky” places may benefit economically from “extra temperature points”, overall a “great number” of places will not be “so lucky”. As many countries around the world depend on tourism to bring in much needed revenue, global warming is set to devastate economies that depend on the allure of their “natural beauty”.

Two Caribbean destinations made ProTraveller’s “list of 20” places set to significantly change due to the current climate crises. The Belize Barrier Reef and the Virgin Islands are identified as being at risk of being lost to the now annual global rise in temperatures.

Designated as a World Heritage Site, the Belize Barrier Reef is the largest in the Caribbean and one of the largest coral reefs in the world second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. It is one of the biggest tourist’s attractions for Belize and it is already suffering climate related damage despite protections.

“The global climate crises is a reality” stated Roberto Mukaro Borrero, a representative of the United Confederation of Taino People. “Our elders have been noting serious changes in the environment for years but most governments are not taking the wisdom of local people seriously or including them in regional plans to mitigate this crisis.”

Borrero was part of a delegation of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples who spoke out on climate change at the United Nations recently during the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Made up of indigenous leaders from Dominica, Barbados, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic, the delegation worked together at the UN under the auspices of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean. In a special session entitled “Climate Change and Biological Diversity: A Caribbean First Nations Perspective” the group highlighted links between climate change and tourism, as well as human rights issues.

As mandated by international frameworks such as the Barbados Plan of Action, the Caucus called for great inclusion of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples in all processes that affect them especially with regard to the environment and climate change.

Photo: The coastal area of Belize is an outstanding natural system consisting of the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, offshore atolls, several hundred sand cays, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons and estuaries.

UCTPTN 05.14.2008

Thousands of Indigenous Peoples Gather at UN Headquarters

United Nations (UCTP Taino News) – In his opening address to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon stated that this year’s session takes place during a “historic crossroads”. Mr. Ban said that with last year’s adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples the two-week Forum takes on a “new role”.

The Declaration outlines the rights of the world’s estimated 370 million indigenous people and outlaws discrimination against them. It sets out rights to culture, identity, language, employment, health, education and other issues.

The Forum’s opening session included a precedent-setting presentation by Bolivian President Evo Morales Ayma, the first indigenous leader of his country. President Morales called on the world body to recognize indigenous cultures and needs, an appeal that he had made on several occasions in the past two years, using his high profile as head of state. The Bolivian President also told the gathering to be wary of transnational corporations and industrialists, denouncing such companies as "exploiters" of his country's natural resources.

Climate change is one of the special themes of this year’s session of the Forum. This is a critical issue for Indigenous Peoples around the world as they are among the first to face the direct consequences of climate change, due to their dependence upon, and close relationship, with the environment and its resources. An important issue to Caribbean Indigenous Peoples, Kalinago Chief Charles Williams of Waitikubuli (Dominica) noted that “Climate Change is a reality.”

In his address on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean (IPCGC) Chief Williams also declared that “Like it or not [climate change] is there for all of us and not some of us, whether we are rich or poor, whether we are weak or powerful, we will all suffer the consequences of climate change”

The IPCGC also addressed agenda items on Human Rights and Indigenous languages. In its collective statement on languages the Caucus addressed the need for the full and effective participation of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples in regional follow-up initiatives.

The IPCGC’s intervention on Human Rights was presented by the Consejo General de Tainos Borincanos. The statement focused on the current situation of Sacred Sites such as Jacanas in Ponce, Puerto Rico as well as the lack of recognition of the rights of Taino People on the island.

Over 2500 participants - including senior UN officials and representatives of States, civil society and academia – are registered for the Forum, which ends on May 2, 2008.

UCTP Photo (1): President Evo Morales Ayma of Bolivia

UCTP Photo (2): Damon Corrie, Charles Williams, and Roberto Mukaro Borrero participating within
the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean

UCTPTN 04.25.2008

Indigenous leaders and human rights advocates to speak on the current status on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Press conference by indigenous leaders and human rights advocates to discuss the United Nations Declaration on the Rights on Indigenous Peoples regarding its significance, status and future. 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, 12 December, 2006 Room S-226, United Nations Headquarters, New York.

more information

Press conference by indigenous leaders and human rights advocates to discuss the United Nations Declaration on the Rights on Indigenous Peoples regarding its significance, status and future.11:00 a.m., Tuesday, 12 December, 2006Room S-226, United Nations Headquarters, New York.

Speakers will include Mr. Roberto Borrero, Indigenous Peoples' Caucus; Ms. Alison Graham, International Service for Human Rights and Mr. Phil Fontaine, National Chief, Assembly of First Nations. Discussion moderated by Ms. Elsa Stamatopoulou, Chief, Secretariat of United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues/DSPD/DESA.

Sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations and the Secretariat of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Highlights:
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was adopted by the Human Rights Council on 29 June 2006 after more than twenty-four years of efforts.

On 28 November 2006, the United Nations Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) adopted Resolution A/C.3/61/L18/Rev 1 in New York. The resolution resulted in the General Assembly deferring consideration and action on the Declaration and allowing for further consultations on the text.

Media arrangements:
Journalists without UN accreditation wishing to attend the press conference should fax a request on company letterhead signed by a supervisor to Mr. Gary Fowlie, Chief, UN Media Accreditation Unit at +1(212) 963-4642. Media accreditation forms and general information can be found at www.un.org/media/accreditation or call +1 (212) 963-6934

For press enquries and information, please contact:Oisika Chakrabarti, Department of Public Information, tel: 212.963.6816, e-mail: mediainfo@un.org

For the Secretariat of the Permanent Forum, please contact: Mirian Masaquiza, Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, tel: 917.367.6006, e-mail:

IndigenousPermanentForum@un.org

UN Recognizes Unique Situation of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples in Official Report

United Nations, NY (UCTP Taino News) – One year ago, back in December 2004, the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 59/174 establishing the Second International Decade of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Although it may not be common knowledge, as a result of this resolution’s adoption, the Second Decade officially commenced on January 1st 2005. This resolution also requested that UN Secretary General Kofi Annan submit a report on a Comprehensive Program of Action for the Second International Decade to the sixtieth session of the General Assembly. The Program of Action was discussed and adopted by the General Assembly on November 21st 2005.

Highlighting the importance of participation within the international system, the program of action was developed based upon comments received from the UN system, governments, indigenous peoples' and civil society organizations. Twenty-two indigenous organizations provided input for the program of action. Among these submissions, the United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) was the only entity representing Caribbean Indigenous Peoples to submit a formal proposal to be considered within this process. As a result of UCTP participation, the efforts of the Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus of the Greater Caribbean was also recognized within the official report. Based on consultations among regional representatives, the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean submitted various interventions during the fourth session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues held in May 2005. The Caucus will reconvene at the next session to be held in May 2006.

UCTP President Roberto Mucaro Borrero stated “our participation within this process should make it clear that our people will not remain silent while governments, academics and others determine what they believe is in our best interest without our input or consent. All Caribbean governments and state-sponsored institutions need to not only respect our regional consultations and aspirations but they need to actively look for ways to work together with us in meaningful partnership as we are the First Nations of the region.”

The plan of action for the Second International Decade will rely on five key objectives which cut across the various areas of the main goal for the Decade established by the General Assembly, namely strengthening international cooperation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people in the areas of culture, education, health, human rights, the environment and social and economic development. Those objectives also cut across the means set by the General Assembly for the achievement of the goals, namely “action-oriented programmes and specific projects, increased technical assistance and relevant standard-setting activities.”

Within the plan of action, a specific reference regarding Caribbean Indigenous Peoples can be found under Section 6 “Social and Economic Development”, item (b) Regional level, number 86. The recommendation suggests that “representatives of Caribbean indigenous peoples should be included in region-specific consultations and conferences in Latin America and the Caribbean, and on steering committees for planning and implementing the programme of activities for the Second International Decade. Serious consideration should also be given to organizing a special regional consultative session focusing on the unique situation of Caribbean indigenous peoples, which would take place in the Caribbean, hosted by a Member State and a local indigenous community.”

“This recommendation derives directly from the UCTP submission, which was based on consultations with regional representatives” stated Borrero. “This is a reference that community representatives can now use to lobby their local and national governments.”

The plan of action is available for review at the website of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in various languages.

Caribbean Native nations join U.N. Permanent Forum

A group of Caribbean indigenous nations gathered for special ceremonies and events in late May during the 4th United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, held in New York City. The indigenous movement in the Caribbean represents one of the lesser-known currents of Native cultural and political resurgence. This spring at the United Nations, the various delegations of Caribbean indigenous peoples coalesced in interesting and welcome ways.

For the first time in many years, Caribbean indigenous representatives were able to meet, share food and culture, and get down to the hard work of U.N. resolutions, interventions and document reaffirmation that marks much of international work. The Taino Nation of the Antilles, with primary bases in Puerto Rico and New York City, organized events for Caribbean delegates. It fund-raised the costs of one delegate from Dominica and coordinated presentations. Roberto Borrero, a Taino who serves on the NGO committee of the Indigenous Permanent Forum, also helped fund delegates to the event and has been active in hemispheric organizing. An Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean has been formed.

Carib cultural activist Prosper Paris, among others, joined the U.N. events. Prosper is from the Carib Territory in the north coast of the small Caribbean island of Dominica. He was one of several presenters on a panel on Indigenous Education and Cultural Survival organized by the Taino Nation. This writer chaired the panel, held at the customary indigenous gathering place in New York City: the United Nations Church Center at 777 United Nations Plaza, where several dozen Taino, Carib, Arawak, Guajiro and other indigenous peoples gathered.

The notable event, ably organized by Vanessa Pastrana, Inarunikia, among other volunteers from the Taino Nation, featured a dance presentation from young Taino people and recitations in the Taino language that are the product of a vigorous reconstruction and relearning of the insular Arawak language by members of that nation since the 1980s.

"From Cuba, in the mountains of the Sierra, from Dominican Republic, from our own Boriken [Puerto Rico], we have met relatives, holding on to our identity and retaking our indigenous roots,'' said Cacique Cibanakan, of the Taino Nation. ''Our hearts pound with excitement that our people are coming together."

Indigenous delegates from all over the world arrive in New York City every spring for the now-permanent U.N. forum on Indigenous peoples' issues. There are always dozens if not hundreds of important and fascinating stories - both positive and negative - on the conditions of tribal peoples and on the always tortuous and troubled trajectory in the world of highly exploitative industries, with their rapacious hunger for indigenous lands and natural resources.

In too many cases, the political contentions of land and resources are accompanied by attacks on Native leaders and political and social structures. Quechua and Aymara from Bolivia and Ecuador, Kuna from Panama, Maya from Guatemala, northern Canadian Cree leaders, Lakota treaty chiefs and Haudenosaunee traditionalists from the United States and Saami from Norway, among many others, sustained a necessary dialogue on human rights and development through the work of U.N. gatherings.

In New York representing the Arawak community at Joboshirima in Venezuela, Chief Reginaldo Fredericks found a not-so-distant relative in Daniel Rivera, Wakonax, one of the active leaders in the Taino movement in Puerto Rico and the diaspora. The Arawak chief, who is Onishido Clan and lives mostly in the rain forest, was very happy to meet Taino relatives.

Among the messages carried by Fredericks from his people is the need to preserve and restore indigenous language. He commended the Taino language recovery program, developed by the nation's elder language advocate, Jose Laboy, Boriquex, and offered to help bring together the Arawak (Lokono) peoples wherever possible. ''It is wonderful we are more and more recognizing each other; we have a lot to offer each other,'' Rivera, who made an intervention at the United Nations on behalf of Caribbean Indian peoples, responded.

Of the many currents of indigenous movement across the Western Hemisphere, the Caribbean is the most hidden and marginalized. As communities, clans and nations coalesce, however, encounters such as the one at the United Nations in New York, provide common ground for exchange and mutual education. The shared cultural history is fascinating.Fredericks narrated stories of his people to the Taino Nation elder, which tell of six original Lokono (later Arawak) nations, which the chief called ''clans.'' Of the six ''clans,'' three are unaccounted for while Taino is in the process of vigorous cultural and social recovery.

According to Fredericks, the ancient Lokono tribes or clans were called Oralido, Cariafudo, Onishido ''rain people,'' Gimragi, Way'u, and the ''good people'' from the great islands (Taino). Today, ''as far as we know,'' the chief reported, only Onishido and Way'u survive on the mainland. The chief was most intrigued that hundreds and perhaps thousands of Taino descendants from the islands of the Greater Antilles are reaffirming themselves. The chief pointed to his headdress, which shows six feathers, symbolizing the six tribes or clans of the Lokono. ''The good island people, the Taino, are one of the six feathers,'' Fredericks reminded the other Caribbean delegates.

From La Guajira, Colombia, Karmen Ramirez represented the Way'u Morerat ORJUWAT organization. She pointed out not only her Native Way'u nation, but also four tribes from Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta as Arawaks who originate with the Way'u of the Guajira Peninsula. It was another instance of people from common ancestors and linked contemporary identities meeting and recognizing each other as a result of an indigenous international movement. The Way'u, who also reside in neighboring Venezuela, are one of those peoples hurtfully divided by an international border.

Caribbean indigenous delegates, in the shadows for decades if not centuries, put their statements into the record at the annual U.N. event. The Caribbean indigenous caucus signaled the following major goal: ''That the collective rights of the indigenous peoples of the Greater Caribbean to lands, territories, resources, and traditional knowledge be enshrined in the Constitution of all Greater Caribbean countries and in other states where indigenous peoples exist.''

Author: Jose Barreiro
Source: Indian Country Today

Taino Attend OAS Meeting in Washington DC

Washington DC (UCTP Taino News) - UCTP representatives, affiliates and other Caribbean Indigenous leaders gathered in Washington D.C. last week to participate in the meetings focusing on the Organization of American States (OAS) draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This is an ongoing process and the participation of Caribbean community leadership via the Caribbean Indigenous Caucus has increased the visibility of Caribbean Indigenous Peoples with this international forum. Country representation within the caucus included St. Lucia, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Dominica, St.Vincent and the Diaspora.