cidhoea@oas.org; felipe.calderon@presidencia.gob.mx; gestion@segob.gob.mx; oacnudh@hchr.org.mx
Cc: correo@cedhoax.org; quejas@cedhoax.org
I am contacting you to request your intervention to guarantee the safety of Geoff Horner and all members of the Santa Maria Yaviche community, in the Northern mountain range of Oaxaca. Today, it disappointed me to learn that the repressive practices of the government against the peoples and communities of Oaxaca have not ceased. I am very concerned for their collective safety and well being.
The government, along with paramilitaries from the Regional Council of Farmers and Urban Workers of Tuxtepec, and the National Action and the Democratic Revolution political parties, pretend to impose illegitimate authority through violence. This pretension is against the will of the people and the traditional customs of the community, under which Yaviche elects its authorities and representatives.
The people of Santa Maria Yaviche are expecting to be invaded by the police today, June 18th 2008. Fear weighs heavily in all inhabitants of Santa Maria Yaviche, who remember clearly how on October 16th 2003, the same paramilitaries of CROCUT murdered one person and injured nine other members and sympathizers of the Popular Indigenous Council of Oaxaca “Ricardo Flores Magon”.
I am concerned for members of the community, and for the physical well being and safety of Geoff Horner, who is a fellow Canadian citizen. Mr. Horner is a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia. He is currently in Santa Maria Yaviche conducting research on the community’s traditional customs as part of an international seminar to be held in the last week of June in Oaxaca City, where he is the coordinator and scheduled to speak about traditional customs in rural Oaxaca.
Please take whatever actions you can to protect these people.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
I refuse to carry out any action against my conscience and...
... will, forced on me by persons or institutions, may they be civilian or military, local or universal.
[me.]
Cc: inshkkom@tbmm.gov.tr
Dear Minister,
I am contacting you with the hope that you will ensure that conscientious objector Mehmet Bal is not subjected to ill-treatment or torture. Please exert your power to protect Mr. Bal from attacks and intimidation by other prisoners. Please ensure that Mr. Bal has access to independent and appropriate medical examination and treatment.
You must instigate an impartial investigation into the claims that Mr. Bal was ill-treated by military personnel and imprisoned soldiers on the orders of a senior military officer at Hasdal Military Prison.
I believe that you must put an end to the prosecutions of conscientious objectors, and I hope that you will release Mr. Bal immediately.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Dear Minister,
I am contacting you with the hope that you will ensure that conscientious objector Mehmet Bal is not subjected to ill-treatment or torture. Please exert your power to protect Mr. Bal from attacks and intimidation by other prisoners. Please ensure that Mr. Bal has access to independent and appropriate medical examination and treatment.
You must instigate an impartial investigation into the claims that Mr. Bal was ill-treated by military personnel and imprisoned soldiers on the orders of a senior military officer at Hasdal Military Prison.
I believe that you must put an end to the prosecutions of conscientious objectors, and I hope that you will release Mr. Bal immediately.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
[me.]
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Earth Liberation Prisoners List
Tre Arrow
Grant Barnes
Nathan Block
Marco Camenisch
Jeffrey Luers
Eric McDavid
Daniel McGowan
Joyanna Zacher
Constantino Ragusa
Julio Villanueva
Ibai Ederra
[this information is from http://www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk/index.html. It is by no means complete. I'de like to see a list of indigenous forest defenders in Canadian jails.]
Grant Barnes
Nathan Block
Marco Camenisch
Jeffrey Luers
Eric McDavid
Daniel McGowan
Joyanna Zacher
Constantino Ragusa
Julio Villanueva
Ibai Ederra
[this information is from http://www.spiritoffreedom.org.uk/index.html. It is by no means complete. I'de like to see a list of indigenous forest defenders in Canadian jails.]
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Two letters
[Okay, so I can't always post every letter I send to government and companies about the environment, etc. In any case, here are two of today's letters.]
#1
To: rcastro@congreso.gob.pe, defensor@defensoria.gob.pe, ministro@mininter.gob.pe, wleonh@defensoria.gob.pe, gechaiz@mpfn.gob.pe, mfacundo@minjus.gob
Dear Sir,
Three police officers at the Casa Grande District National Police Station of Ascope County raped Luís Alberto Rojas Marín. While it may be said that they raped him because he is a homosexual, it is also true that they raped him because they are sadistic and violent men.
In any case, the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity specify that, "Everyone is entitled to enjoy all human rights without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation" and that states should, "adopt appropriate legislative and other measures to prohibit and eliminate discrimination in the public and private spheres on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity" (Principle 2).
So, you must condemn publicly the rape of Luís Alberto Rojas Marín, making it clear that such violent crimes will not be tolerated. Do everything within your power to ensure that all citizens are respected and protected.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
[me]
#2
To: belamb@igs.net
Dear Mr. Pavel Pustovoy,
Emanuel Zeltser was detained for possessing forged documents when he flew in to Belarus on 12 March. Mr. Zeltser is being held in a state security services detention facility in Minsk. His health is failing, he has lost weight, is very weak, and has difficulty walking and talking. He has been beaten two or three times while in custody, and he has been denied the medicine he needs to treat his diabetes and arthritis.
Please take whatever action you can to ensure that Mr. Zeltser receives immediately the medication his doctor has prescribed, which his lawyer brought to the detention facility. Please do everything you can to ensure that he is protected from further torture and other ill-treatment.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
#1
To: rcastro@congreso.gob.pe, defensor@defensoria.gob.pe, ministro@mininter.gob.pe, wleonh@defensoria.gob.pe, gechaiz@mpfn.gob.pe, mfacundo@minjus.gob
Dear Sir,
Three police officers at the Casa Grande District National Police Station of Ascope County raped Luís Alberto Rojas Marín. While it may be said that they raped him because he is a homosexual, it is also true that they raped him because they are sadistic and violent men.
In any case, the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity specify that, "Everyone is entitled to enjoy all human rights without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation" and that states should, "adopt appropriate legislative and other measures to prohibit and eliminate discrimination in the public and private spheres on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity" (Principle 2).
So, you must condemn publicly the rape of Luís Alberto Rojas Marín, making it clear that such violent crimes will not be tolerated. Do everything within your power to ensure that all citizens are respected and protected.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
[me]
#2
To: belamb@igs.net
Dear Mr. Pavel Pustovoy,
Emanuel Zeltser was detained for possessing forged documents when he flew in to Belarus on 12 March. Mr. Zeltser is being held in a state security services detention facility in Minsk. His health is failing, he has lost weight, is very weak, and has difficulty walking and talking. He has been beaten two or three times while in custody, and he has been denied the medicine he needs to treat his diabetes and arthritis.
Please take whatever action you can to ensure that Mr. Zeltser receives immediately the medication his doctor has prescribed, which his lawyer brought to the detention facility. Please do everything you can to ensure that he is protected from further torture and other ill-treatment.
Sincerely and Respectfully,
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Article for People's Global Action zine
The rural Community of Upper Leitches Creek (Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia) is a string of homes along a long, winding road through the forest on the Hill of Boisdale. Upper Leitches Creek is being made uninhabitable due to two open-surface gravel mines. One is operated by Alva Construction Ltd., a mainland-based company.
The people of Upper Leitches Creek and our allies have said “no” to Alva’s activity, via letters, a petition, and a partial road blockade. However, Nova Scotia Premier Rodney Macdonald’s government has completely disregarded us. Take note that the Premier receives campaign contributions from Pioneer Coal, another mining company. The Cape Breton Post estimated a project lifespan of 20 years. We know our MLA met with the minister & the MLA hoped to have the entire cabinet see the Point Aconi presentation.
There is a total lack of regulatory control over the natural resource industry on Cape Breton Island. In a purportedly democratic country such as Canada, the interests of a private company (whose owners live far away on mainland Nova Scotia) should not outweigh the interests of the immediate community.
Environmentally-friendly techniques are not within the repertoire of industrial mining. Alva Construction has hollowed out a vast pit, where there used to be a grove of enormous old pine trees, which my forefathers treasured. The residents of Upper Leitches Creek are gravely concerned for the safety of their water supply. We do not want heavy metal runoff to poison the ancient and socially valuable wells and streams where fish live, and unique wild biotypes of heritage herbs grow. Alva's operation encroaches on the habitat of endangered lynx, wetlands where endangered miniature white orchids grow, and the old-growth forest in the backlands. The boreal (or brown-capped) chickadee, barred owls, bald eagles, partridges, deer, wolves, ermines, silver foxes, and innumerable forest birds and small mammals, all depend on the forest and creeks.
To add insult to injury, Riverside Development Limited applied to operate an aggregate quarry on Highway #223 next to the former Levatte's Construction Gravel Pit. The particular size of the proposed operation allows it to escape full environmental scrutiny and accountability. The area also drains into George's River and the ecologically significant (and purportedly protected) Bras D'Or. It is understandable that frustration and blatant disregard for the legitimate concerns of residents cause many in Cape Breton to believe the only avenue left is direct action.
The people of Upper Leitches Creek and our allies have said “no” to Alva’s activity, via letters, a petition, and a partial road blockade. However, Nova Scotia Premier Rodney Macdonald’s government has completely disregarded us. Take note that the Premier receives campaign contributions from Pioneer Coal, another mining company. The Cape Breton Post estimated a project lifespan of 20 years. We know our MLA met with the minister & the MLA hoped to have the entire cabinet see the Point Aconi presentation.
There is a total lack of regulatory control over the natural resource industry on Cape Breton Island. In a purportedly democratic country such as Canada, the interests of a private company (whose owners live far away on mainland Nova Scotia) should not outweigh the interests of the immediate community.
Environmentally-friendly techniques are not within the repertoire of industrial mining. Alva Construction has hollowed out a vast pit, where there used to be a grove of enormous old pine trees, which my forefathers treasured. The residents of Upper Leitches Creek are gravely concerned for the safety of their water supply. We do not want heavy metal runoff to poison the ancient and socially valuable wells and streams where fish live, and unique wild biotypes of heritage herbs grow. Alva's operation encroaches on the habitat of endangered lynx, wetlands where endangered miniature white orchids grow, and the old-growth forest in the backlands. The boreal (or brown-capped) chickadee, barred owls, bald eagles, partridges, deer, wolves, ermines, silver foxes, and innumerable forest birds and small mammals, all depend on the forest and creeks.
To add insult to injury, Riverside Development Limited applied to operate an aggregate quarry on Highway #223 next to the former Levatte's Construction Gravel Pit. The particular size of the proposed operation allows it to escape full environmental scrutiny and accountability. The area also drains into George's River and the ecologically significant (and purportedly protected) Bras D'Or. It is understandable that frustration and blatant disregard for the legitimate concerns of residents cause many in Cape Breton to believe the only avenue left is direct action.
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