In Solidarity with Standing Rock

As always, there are many indigenous peoples from around the world represented here at the COP.  The Indigenous Environmental Network calls on world leaders and global movement allies to “Stand with Standing Rock” and made this one of the top priorities for COP  22.  

The Indigenous Environmental Network noted that energy and climate issues are “intertwined with a global threat to human rights and the rights of Indigenous Peoples.”  In the preamble of the Paris Agreement, there is language to protect these fundamental rights.   In a panel on human rights, the panelists noted several examples where governments built dams and other projects without consulting the native peoples.  Another concern is the “land grabs” as some countries turn to ethanol as a source of fuel. In addition to the loss of land, there are concerns about food scarcity as a result.