World Ecology Newswire Archive

The companero pictured below talks not only of the legal battle to secure the future of the forest but also about the corruption they are fighting at the highest level. It seems more than probable that someone in the local municipal environmental offices is being paid a backhander by the loggers to break the laws that he or she is paid to uphold. Another fear the villagers have which seems well founded is that the tree disease (which the loggers use as an excuse for their activity) was deliberately introduced into the forest. It certainly seems convenient for the loggers that a previously healthy area of woodland has suddenly suffered an unexpected blight, which has given a green light to their activities.

Another woman who was beaten by the paramilitaries explains why their struggle to save the forest is so important.

An eye witness account of what happened during one of the fatal confrontations between the people of San Isidro Aloapam and the paramilitaries. Christina Peres Alavas explains what happened that day and also testifies that the two dead paramilitaries from San Miguel were killed by their own people not the people of San Isidro Aloapam who are committed to peaceful action. The murder of people from San Miguel by their own paramilitaries is entirely possible as the town (which is under the control of the PRI) has many deep running internal disputes. The confrontation with the people of San Isidro Aloapam could have been used to settle a couple of scores while getting someone else blamed.

Before we travelled up into the mountains to the threatened forest, CIPO-RFM gave a press conference to explain the nature of the dispute and also to highlight the serious repression that they have been experiencing for a number of years. It took place at their headquarters in Oaxaca city. Many representatives from the Mexican corporate media were present but nothing that the CIPO people had to say was reported in the mainstream press. The local Indymedia did give the event a good write up and also attended the Encuentro (gathering) in the mountain village of San Isidro Aloapam.

"PAINT PANTHERS" VISIT DONNA KARAN (USA)
COMMUNIQUE RELEASED FROM FUR FARM RAID (Spain)
RABBIT FARMER ATTACKED (Italy)
HUNT SCUM MAKE IT EASY (UK)

Resilience: The ability to recover quickly from illness, change, or misfortune; buoyancy; the ability to absorb shocks.

The following is a proposal to help make communities better able to respond to the coming economic shocks from resource depletion, beginning with Peak Oil, and perhaps also to shocks from other causes (such as the ongoing subprime mortgage and credit collapse). In searching for a name for the strategy, I have settled on the phrase "Resilient Communities," which comes with considerable baggage—useful baggage in this instance. Once I have described and discussed the proposal, I will offer some background materials regarding the terms resilience and resilient communities, mentioning some other projects that have used the same title or that pursue similar goals.

This month Saving Iceland will be visiting towns and cities all over Scotland in a push for a big Scottish mobilisation for the Saving Iceland Summer Protest Camp against heavy industry.

B&K UNIVERSAL SUPPLIER TARGETED (UK)
HUNTING SCHOOL PAINTED, CARS VANDALIZED (Germany)
ACTIONS AGAINST FISHING AND LEATHER (Germany)

The channel features direct action from the animal liberation movement, free subscription, unlimited access & free downloads:  http://www.untilallarefree.tk

With recent mainstream press activity focussing on either the elimination or heavy handed management of wild boar populations in the UK. The call for wilderness areas for boar to live freely has begun.

2nd-4th April -- World Month for Lab Animals Begins!

BIRDS FREED FROM CAGES (France)
BUTCHERS MARKET STALLS GLUED (Norwich, UK)
FLAMES DESTROY VIVISECTION SUPPLIER HQ (Italy)
ALF RUIN NOVARTIS EXECUTIVE'S CARS (Italy)
FUR SHOP COVERED IN RED PAINT (Germany)
CIRCUS PATRONS STUCK WITH FLAT TIRES (Italy)
SAWED, SHASHED AND CHOPPED (Germany)

This is an interview with Captain Cornelissen of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society about the Canadian government sponsored slaughter of 275,000 baby harp seals happening now. Captain Cornelissen speaks about the efforts of the crew onboard the Farley Mowat to document the killing of seals and the interference they have encountered from the Canadian Coast Guard. Interview by George Cadman of Free Radio Santa Cruz. Length: 27 minutes 45 seconds. On the newswire: Canadian Coast Guard Rams Sea Shepherd Ship (twice) | Sea Shepherd Moves In On Canadian Seal Slaughter

Nearly 3 hours of neatly collated video from the Newbury Bypass evictions in the winter of 1996.

Very last century, but good for inspiration...

30st March - 1st April

1000 MINK FREED (Spain)
STONES AND PAINT AGAINST ASTRAZENECA (Sweden)
EASTER BUNNY VS. NOVARTIS (UK)
FOUR LIVES SAVED (Czech Republic)
RABBIT RESCUED, TIRES SLASHED ON MEAT CO. VANS (Italy)

Nobel laureate and all round eco-warrior and politician Wangari Maathai was tear gassed in Kenya!

A round up of many of the fossil fools day actions so far worldwide. Pictures, more info on all these actions and updates at  http://www.fossilfoolsday.org

This weeks Indy Global Reports was recorded in the village of Marda, in the middle of the West Bank International activists and environmentalists from across the world, Palestine and Israel came together to join a workshop which was originally to be led by Star Hawk, author and activist.
Star Hawk was denied entry to Israel and deported from Ben-Gurion airport last week. Local activists put out an emergency call for workshop leaders, and the course was able to take place. I went to Marda to speak with the participants and organisers.

There are rumours that some of our descendants from Mars have returned from the future to save the human race from extinction caused by global warming.

The Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker CCGS Des Groseilliers twice rammed the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society ship Farley Mowat today. The Sea Shepherd is present at the baby seal hunt to document the killings. Witnessing a seal being clubbed is a crime in Canada.

The Coast Guard had ordered the Farley Mowat to not approach the area where seals are being slaughtered. When the Farley Mowat did not comply, the Coast Guard rammed the vessel near the port aft stern area. After the Farley Mowat stopped in the ice, the Coast Guard rammed the ship a second time in the same area of the ship causing damage to the plates in that area.

The Coast Guard has demonstrated extreme recklessness with this move. The crew of the Farley Mowat were engaged in documenting the slaughter of seals. They were not interfering with the hunt. The annual slaughter of baby harp seals has started off the east coast of Canada in Newfoundland last week. The slaughter of over 325.000 baby seals has been widely condemned around the world, but the Canadian government is ademend in its continued support for it.

The Kerala tourism events last week can be considered as an important milestone in the Third World tourism debate as an alliance of local civic organizations and activists vigorously pointed out to participants of the Second International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Kochi the vast difference between theory and practice of `responsible tourism'. The Declaration of the official conference is posted at  http://www.responsibletourism2008.org/keraladeclaration.php.
This is the Declaration of the People's Declaration on Tourism adopted by the civil societygroups in parellel convension on Irresponsible Tourism