Watch a Democracy Now interview with Indigenous Environmental Network executive director Tom Goldtooth about climate change. The interview is from May 22nd, at the end of the first week of the 8th session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) taking place at UN headquarters in New York City, May 18-29, 2009.
Last year, the theme of the UNPFII was climate change. Despite vocal opposition from the vast majority of the participating indigenous delegates, a document produced by the Permanent Forum chairs included support for a World Bank market-oriented carbon-trading initiative called REDD - Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries. When their voices of opposition and protest were not going to be immediately permitted to be heard, the indigenous caucus and in particular a vocal contingent from the Americas began a loud chorus: "!La palabra! !La palabra!..." ['We want to speak!']
The "May Revolt" occurred on May 2, 2008, on the very last day of the 7th session of the UNPFII. An excellent video of the "revolt" and interviews with Tom Goldtooth, Art Manuel and others was produced by activist Rebecca Sommer for Earth Peoples and can be found on youtube.
» continue reading "UNPFII, IEN & REDD: Climate Change, Indigenous Peoples & U.N. credibility"
Notes from the Tar Pits: From McMurray to MacKay
Macdonald Stainsby
June 14, 2007
» continue reading "Notes from the Tar Pits: From McMurray to MacKay"
Historian of technology David Noble wrote an interesting article detailing the corporate turnaround on climate change--from denial to appropriation.
Subsequently, Justin Podur zeroes in on three recent articles by leftists expressing different levels of skepticism or denial about climate change (of which Noble's is one), and responds to them at length.
At the request of ZNet, George Monbiot has written a rebuttal to Alex Cockburn's persistent contrarianism on the topic of climate change.
Justin Podur takes issue with the comments of Denis Rancourt, whom I recently interviewed.
» continue reading "Climate Denial Denial, or Questioning Questioning Climate Politics"
The Globe and Mail is reporting that Canadian CEOs want "to import temporary Mexican energy workers" to Alberta.
Nothing like cheap labour for a project making CEOs millions.
The Dominion is a monthly paper published by an incipient network of independent journalists in Canada. It aims to provide accurate, critical coverage that is accountable to its readers and the subjects it tackles. Taking its name from Canada's official status as both a colony and a colonial force, the Dominion examines politics, culture and daily life with a view to understanding the exercise of power.