IEN conference invitation -- Rights of Mother Earth 

Rights of Mother Earth: Restoring Indigenous Life-ways of responsibility and respect

International Indigenous Conference

APRIL 4 - 6, 2012
Haskell Indian Nations University, Lawrence Kansas

In April 2010, an historical moment occurred. More than 32,000 people, including Indigenous Peoples, social movements, small farmers and some world governmental leaders, converged in Cochabamba, Bolivia for the World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth.

Hundreds of people from across North America gathered on Parliament Hill for a rally followed by a mass civil disobedience sit-in. Participants are delivering a resounding message to Harper: "We want to build a green energy future that respects Indigenous rights and prioritizes the health of our environment and communities."

For more photos see the Tar Sands Action flickr site.

 George Poitras, Mikisew Cree First Nation

One year after the worst oil spill in U.S. history began, key questions about its environmental impact remain unanswered. The 4.9 million barrels of BP oil that spilled into the Gulf of Mexico continue to threaten marine wildlife and other vile surprises have surfaced along the way.

Mother Jones' Kate Sheppard lists 10 reasons why we should not let the BP spill fade into the background. Perhaps the most important is the spill's effect on locals' health, about which Sheppard reports:

The United Nations-led Climate Conference at Cancun was not a diplomatic disaster, but for climate activists and grassroots groups, it wasn’t a success either. Representatives sent from around the globe to hammer out an agreement on climate change were unresponsive to grassroots concerns about how to lower carbon emissions quickly, and how to ensure fairness in the process.

Earlier today the Council of Canadians joined the Indigenous Environmental Network in hosting a workshop, "Join the International Movement Against the Tar Sands." On the panel were Kimia Ghomeshi, G20 and Climate Organizer with the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, Susan Deranger, long-time activist and member of the Fort Chipewyan community, Maude Barlow, National Chairperson with the Council of Canadians, and Tom Goldtooth, Director of the Indigenous Environmental Network.