From: Hayduke Rocks! <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Earth First! Media and Action Network - Hayduke Rocks! web site: http://www.efmedia.org List-Subscribe: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2000 15:21:08 -0800 Subject: [Earth First! alert] U'wa Day of Solidarity Feb 3! From: Hayduke Rocks! <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] From: Patrick Reinsborough <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: U'wa Day of Solidarity Feb 3! Fidelity invests in Genocide Date: Sat, 08 Jan 2000 22:04:55 -0800 Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] please forward FEBRUARY 3 TAKE ACTION! DAY OF SOLIDARITY AND ACTION TO SUPPORT THE U'WA RESISTANCE TO OIL DRILLING ON THEIR ANCESTRAL LANDS TARGET OCCIDENTAL'S MOST IMPORTANT SHAREHOLDER - FIDELITY INVESTMENTS JOIN THE GLOBAL CRUSADE TO DEFEND LIFE! In this post 1. Call to action for Feb 3(and beyond) 2. sample letter to Fidelity/phone zap info 3. U'wa communique of Nov 17 4. Background on the U'wa struggle +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ #1 FIDELITY INVESTMENTS : INVESTING IN GENOCIDE "...we ask that our brothers and sisters from other races and cultures unite in the struggle that we are undertaking...we believe that this struggle has to become a global crusade to defend life.” - Statement of the U’wa people, August, 1998 The U'wa people of Colombia are now six weeks into their peaceful occupation of Occidental (Oxy)Petroleum's proposed drill site. Despite the FARC's (left wing guerillas) pre-Christmas attack on the nearby town of Cubara things remain peaceful at the occupation. 200 U'wa remain continually at the site and preparations have been made for thousands more to join them at the first sign of activity. Occidental could move in at any time. The U'wa have pledged their lives to defend their ancestral lands. They need our support. We must show the transnational corporations that we will not tolerate their profiting off the destruction of indigenous lands and cultures. The uncompromising U'wa resistance speaks to us all whether we work to protect the environment, defend human rights, promote democracy, challenge imperialism or defend the dignity of working people. Whatever our issue we are all a part of the "global crusade for life". One of the best ways to pressure Oxy is to hold their major shareholders accountable. One of Oxy's largest shareholders is Boston-based financial giant Fidelity Investments which controls more than 30 million Oxy shares valued at approximately $700 million. Fidelity's stake in Oxy rises and falls quarter to quarter but they are always either the largest shareholder or among the top three controlling between 8% and 12% of the company. Fidelity's parent company, Fidelity Research and Management Corporation (FMR corp), is the world's largest investment management organization and the world's second largest discount stockbroker. Fidelity controls over $1 trillion in customer assets. They have over 70 offices in the U.S. as well as offices in Canada, Europe, and Asia. Ironically Fidelity's slogan is "We help you invest responsibly". A coalition of human rights and environmental groups sent Fidelity a letter just before Christmas warning them that we will hold them accountable for Oxy's actions in Colombia. The letter gave Fidelity a deadline of March 1 to either convince Occidental to cancel the project or to show that they will not invest in genocide by dumping all their Oxy stock. If Fidelity decides to address the issue of U'wa lands then Oxy will listen. It is up to us grassroots activists around the world to make Fidelity address this issue. We must show Fidelity that we will not tolerate their profiteering off the destruction of the U'wa culture. We need to demonstrate at their stores, educate their customers, flood them with emails, phone calls, faxes and do whatever is necessary to make Fidelity take action on behalf of the U'wa. Organize a vigil, demonstration or direct action at the nearest Fidelity office. If Fidelity is not in your area organize something at a Colombian consulate/embassy or an educational event in your community. Highlight America's role in financing the Colombian military. Reprint and circulate the communique or background article below. Make your local press cover this issue by writing letters, articles and organizing solidarity actions. Harass Al Gore when he makes campaign appearances about why he is accepting campaign contributions from Occidental. Get local associations, governments, unions or faith groups to pass a resolution in support of the U'wa. Please let Patrick at Rainforest Action Network know if you are organizing something. Rainforest Action Network can provide hard copies of materials (they can also be downloaded from our website at www.ran.org) and copies of a 10 minute video on the murder of U'wa activist Terry Freitas. Additional information can be found at www.amazonwatch.org and www.moles.org. NOTE ON COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE U'WA Communications with the U'wa have been difficult as the one phone line to the U'wa office in Cubara has been repeatedly cut off. Fortunately the U'wa Defense Working Group has raised the funds for a satellite phone that will provide a direct link to the occupation site. Unfortunately satellite phones are enormously expensive with calls running up to $5 a minute. Funds will be desperately needed to pay the bill. If you would like to contribute send donations (marked "U'wa phone") to Amazon Watch 200110 Rockport Way Malibu CA 90265 USA. In solidarity for the Earth and all her peoples, Patrick Reinsborough, Grassroots Coordinator, Rainforest Action Network 221 Pine St Suite 500 San Francisco CA 94104 phone - 415-398-4404/1-800-989-RAIN fax - 415-398-2732 www.ran.org +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ #2 WRITE/FAX BLAST/PHONE ZAP FIDELITY! Edward C. Johnson III Chairman and CEO Fidelity Investments 82 Devonshire St. Boston, MA 02109 Telephone: 800-544-6666 Fax: 617-476-4164 SAMPLE LETTER : Dear Mr. Johnson III, I recently learned that Occidental Petroleum is moving forward with the Samore Block oil project on the traditional territory of the U'wa People of Colombia. As you probably know, the U'wa are adamantly opposed to Occidental's drilling plans and are willing to die to stop this project. Fidelity is one of the largest shareholders of Occidental stock, and as such has unrivaled power to influence Occidental's decisions. I urge you to do everything in your power to stop this human and ecological tragedy before it takes place. If the Samore Block project goes forward, it will jeopardize the lives of five thousand people and the health of a fragile forest ecosystem. The project will also have repercussions that extend far beyond Colombia, as the U'wa have overwhelming international support. As one of Occidental's primary shareholders, Fidelity has a responsibility to take a stand on this highly controversial and potentially deadly project. Please let me know what steps you plan to take to resolve this issue. Sincerely, Your Name ALSO CONTACT Occidental and the Colombian government directly : Dr Ray Irani, President and CEO Occidental Petroleum Corporation 10889 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90024 or Via fax: (310) 443 6922 Presidente Andres Pastrana Casa Presidencial Bogota, Colombia Colombian Embassy Washington D.C. Fax:(202)387-0176 Phone : (202)-387-8338 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ #3 Association of U'wa Traditional Authorities November 17, 1999 Cubara, Colombia COMMUNIQUÉ TO THE INTERNATIONAL PUBLIC Approximately 200 members of the U'wa indigenous tribe of northeastern Colombia assembled in a permanent settlement on part of our ancestral lands yesterday, November 16. This area, which has been colonized by farmers, is the site where the multinational company Occidental Petroleum (Oxy) wants to drill the oil well "Gibraltar 1," an action which threatens life and our ancient culture. With this permanent presence and with the support of the local farmers of Sarare, we are claiming our ancestral and constitutional rights to life and to our traditional territory. We demand that the Colombian government and Oxy leave us in peace and that once and for all they cancel the oil project in this area. We U'wa people are willing to give our lives to defend Mother Earth from this project which will annihilate our culture, destroy nature, and upset the world's equilibrium. Caring for the Earth and the welfare of our children and of future generations is not only the responsibility of the U'wa people but of the entire national and international society. We reject the violence perpetrated by the armed actors in the region. We also urge indigenous peoples worldwide, national and international non-governmental organizations, and the general public to work in solidarity with us, rejecting this project planned by the Colombian government and Oxy. We urgently request that you support us with your physical presence in our territory. In addition, we ask people around the world who value the Earth and indigenous peoples to speak out against the multinational oil company Oxy through protests, letters and other actions of solidarity. Signed, Roberto Perez, President of Tribal Council U'wa Traditional Authorities ### ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ #4 BACKGROUND ON THE U'WA PEOPLE AND THEIR CAMPAIGN "We will in no way sell our Mother Earth, to do so would be to give up our work of collaborating with the spirits to protect the heart of the world, which sustains and gives life to the rest of the universe, it would be to go against our own origins, and those of all existence." - Statement of the U'wa People, August 1998 The U’wa of the Colombian cloud forest are in a life-and-death struggle to protect their traditional culture and sacred homeland from an oil project slated to begin on their land at anytime. The U’wa are adamantly opposed to the drilling and warn that the project will lead to an increase in violence as seen in other oil regions of Colombia. Despite this, Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum and the Colombian government continue to move forward with plans to drill. The U’wa have made a call for international support; now is the time for us to answer. The U’wa’s opposition to the oil project is so strong that they have vowed to commit collective suicide if Occidental Petroleum and the Colombian government proceed with the project on their ancestral lands. The U’wa, a traditional people some 5,000 members strong, explain they prefer a death by their own hand than the slow death to their environment and culture that oil production will bring. A core tenet of U’wa culture and spirituality is the belief that the land that has sustained them for centuries is sacred. They strongly believe that to permit oil exploration on these sacred lands would upset the balance of the world. In the words of the U’wa, “Oil is the blood of Mother Earth...to take the oil is, for us, worse than killing your own mother. If you kill the Earth, then no one will live.” The U’wa people’s struggle exploded into the public arena last March with the tragic murders in Colombia of three indigenous rights activists: Terence Freitas, Ingrid Washinawatok and Lahe’ane’e Gay. Terence was one of the founders of the U'wa Defense Working Group and had devoted the last two years of his life to supporting the U’wa in their campaign to stop Occidental’s oil project, reclaim their ancestral homeland and protect their traditional culture. Ingrid and Lahe’ane’e were coordinating with the U’wa to launch an educational project designed to maintain and promote the U’wa’s traditional way-of-life. These murders and the intimidation the U'wa have already persevered are but a harbinger of the wider physical violence the oil project will bring to their people. Throughout Colombia, oil and violence are linked inextricably. Occidental’s Caño Limón pipeline, just north of U’wa territory, has been attacked by leftist guerillas more than 600 times in its 13 years of existence, spilling some 1.7 million barrels of crude oil into the soil and rivers. The Colombian government has militarized oil production and pipeline zones, often persecuting local populations the government assumes are helping the guerrillas. Oil projects have already taken their toll on many other indigenous peoples of Colombia, including the Yarique, Kofan and Secoya. The current drilling plans threaten the survival of both the U’wa and their environment. The U’wa’s cloud forest homeland in the Sierra Nevada de Cocuy mountains near the Venezuelan border is one of the most delicate, endangered forest ecosystems on the planet. It is an area rich in plant and animal life unique to the region, and the U’wa depend on the balance and bounty of the forest for their survival. Where oil companies have operated in other regions of the Amazon basin, cultural decay, toxic pollution, land invasions and massive deforestation have followed. Occidental first received an exploration license for the 1.5 billion barrel oil field- the equivalent of three months of U.S. consumption -in 1992. Since then, the U’wa have voiced their consistent opposition to the oil project. They have taken a variety of actions to halt the project including the filing of lawsuits against the government in Colombia, petitioning the Organization of American States to intervene, appealing directly with Occidental’s top executives, and reaching out to company shareholders. Last April U'wa representatives came to Los Angeles to directly confront Occidental. Along with several hundred supporters the U'wa marched on Oxy's HQ and demanded a meeting with CEO Ray Irani. When they were refused entry activists occupied the street in front of the building and held an inspirational rally on Oxy's front steps. Two days later on April 30th while the U'wa spoke at Occidental's shareholder meeting there were demonstrations at Colombian consulates and embassies around the world. The U.S has very strong ties with Colombia. Not only does Colombia sell most of its oil to the U.S. market but under the auspices of the "War on Drugs" U.S. military aid to the repressive regime in Colombia continues to grow. In 1999 Colombia received $289 million in aid making them the third largest recipient of U.S. military aid in the world after Israel and Egypt. The U.S already has hundreds of military advisors in Colombia and the Clinton administration is proposing to give Colombia an additional $1.5 billion dollars. In August the Colombian government expanded the U'wa legal reserve. However the expansion includes only a portion of the U'wa traditional territory. The new borders were drawn in such a way as to place Occidental's first drill site just outside of the reserve boundaries. The Colombian government is cynically using this bureaucratic slight-of-hand to maintain that drilling will not happen on U'wa land. On December 15th leftist guerillas attacked the town of Cubara where the U'wa Traditional Authority's office is located. The police station was destroyed and 28 homes; three police were killed and 10 civilians hurt. The U'wa office was unharmed but this attack is a clear harbinger of the violence that oil development will bring as Colombia's bloody civil war spreads into U'wa land. With drilling imminent and violence increasing in the region the urgency of the U’wa struggle has never been so great. The U'wa need all of us to support them in their struggle. Spread the word. Tell their story. Educate. Organize. Contact Occidental and the Colombian government. Demand they cancel the project now! ### ------------------------------------------------------------------------ For more information check out the Hayduke Rocks! web site: http://www.efmedia.org Peace! *STRIDER* Sector Air Raid Warden at /RENEGADE/ /RENEGADE/ news_service: http://fornits.com/renegade/ DEDICATED TO SPIRIT, TRUTH, PEACE, JUSTICE, AND FREEDOM Bay_Area_Activist list: http://fornits.com/renegade/peaars.cgi?fetch=54 usenet: news:alt.thebird news:misc.activism.progressive chat: http://jupiter.beseen.com/chat/rooms/i/1055/ e-mail: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] WHEN SPIDERS UNITE, THEY CAN TIE DOWN A LION -- Ethiopian Proverb
