Published April 21, 2008
by iris_author
Beginning on April 21st and continuing until May 2nd, the UN's Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues has been meeting to discuss climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods from an indigenous perspective. This is the first session of the group since the historic passage of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples last year that only four countries -- including Canada -- voted against.
Indigenous communities are particularly vulnerable to climate change, due to the close association between their livelihoods and ecosystems that stand to be heavily impacted by changing climate patterns. This is especially true of the Canadian North, where rapid shifts are already being witnessed and the repercussions on the marginal Arctic economy could prove devastating.
At the opening ceremonies of the UN session, Bolivian President Evo Morales Ayma outlined a new set of ten commandments that could guide the over 3000 delegates as well as the world at large in developing a framework for an alternative future and a new model for living. As the first indigenous head of state with an indigenous perspective in the whole of the Americas, Evo has become an inspirational figure beyond Bolivia and South America, and has talked frequently about our relationship with the Earth.
Below is a brief version of his commandments (compiled on the Climate and Capitalism blog):
- Acabar con el sistema capitalista
Stopping the capitalist system- Renunciar a las guerras
Renouncing wars- Un mundo sin imperialismo ni colonialismo
A world without imperialism or colonialism- Derecho al agua
Right to water- Desarrollo de energías limpias
Development of clean energies- Respeto a la madre tierra
Respect for Mother Earth- Servicios básicos como derechos humanos
Basic services as human rights- Combatir las desigualdades
Fighting inequalities- Promover la diversidad de culturas y economías
Promoting diversity of cultures and economies- Vivir bien, no vivir mejor a costa del otro
Living well, not living better at the expense of others
Evo also decried the unbridled economic model, the assymetry in world affairs, and pointed to the serious mistake of developing biofuels that prioritizes cars over human beings. The UN press release fills out the details, especially for commandment numbers seven and eight, where Evo warns against privatization of public goods such as education and transportation, as well as urges the consumption of only what is necessary and what is local.
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