Today, 11 February 2009 marks the 18th Anniversary of the founding of the UNPO and also the annual UNPO International Day of Action. This year we mark the UNPO Day of Action with the launch of a new campaign called “Earth, Exploitation and Survival” which aims to raise awareness of the myriad of problems related to the environmental exploitation and degradation that many of our Members face on a daily basis.
This year is devoted to theme “Earth, Exploitation and Survival” (EES), to coincide with a year long campaign we are launching to raise awareness of the problems many of our indigenous Members face each and every day. Protection of the environment represents a special challenge to UNPO Members, as degradation and exploitation is often most severe in communities which suffer the additional costs of marginalisation and discrimination. Indigenous peoples around the world share an integral association with nature both economically and culturally. As such, our members often talk not of living “off” the land, but “with” the land. Any exploitation of natural resources present in their lands not only poses a threat to their local environment but is an affront to their culture and livelihoods. Despite this, many indigenous groups lack the voice and representation in domestic and international decision-making processes to protect and defend their resources, land rights and cultural heritage tied to their environment.
It is for this reason that this year’s UNPO Day of Action also marks the renewal of the campaign for wider ratification of the International Labour Organization Convention 169, Concerning Indigenous and tribal Peoples in Independent Countries. The Convention confers a wide catalogue of obligations on governments to coordinate systematic action to protect the rights of indigenous peoples but has been ratified by only 20 nations to date [February 2009].
This week we publish an article focusing on the poisoned roots of the Ethiopian flower industry – just in time for Valentine’s Day!
Please click here for the EES Article of the Week: “Blossoming Trade Conceals Roots of Exploitation” by Maggie Murphy
http://www.unpo.org/content/view/9211/262/
Please click here for the EES webpage
http://www.unpo.org/content/category/15/134/262/
Please click here to sign our petition for the wider ratification of ILO Convention 169
http://www.unpo.org/content/view/8278/236/
Please click here for the text of the ILO Convention 169
http://www.unhchr.ch/html/menu3/b/62.htm
We at the UNPO believe that solidarity and unity is important if progress in human rights is to be possible. We ask all our Members, associates and friends to disseminate this message throughout their networks and to sign our petition for the wider ratification of ILO Convention 169. It is this act of support and solidarity that is at the core of the UNPO Day of Action and we thank you for your continued support and interest in these issues.
Your contribution is of the utmost importance to the survival of UNPO and its members. On this UNPO International Day of Action, please consider making a small donation to assist us in raising awareness of the plight of our members. You can find the relevant details on our website: http://www.unpo.org/content/view/6572/59/. We thank you for your ongoing support.
Best wishes,
The UNPO Secretariat
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Email: unpo@unpo.org
Tel.: +31(0)70 3646504
Fax: +31(0)70 3646608
www.unpo.orgP.O.Box 85878
2508 CN The Hague
The Netherlands
