News Archives » indigenous peoples
Protest the Attack on Bangladeshi Indigenous Peoples’ Advocate and Oblate Friend: Sanjeeb Drong January 24th, 2010
Sanjeeb Drong survives but fears further attacks…
Mr Sanjeeb Drong, an important advocate for human rights and indigenous peoples in Bangladesh and SE Asia, and good friend of the Oblates, was brutally attacked last Friday by a group of hired thugs. He and his wife were travelling home from a meeting with the Bishop and a Diocesan Committee. Sanjeeb fled from his attackers and was rescued by the Bishop and several priests who then took him to a hospital. He is now safe in Dhaka. His wife was unharmed.
Read our Action Alert, learn more…
Victory after Long Fight to Save Bangladeshi Indigenous Villages and Forest January 20th, 2010
The indigenous Khasi people of Bangladesh have won a significant victory after a long struggle to protect the forest on which they depend for their survival. The indigenous community organized against rampant logging from a local tea estate owner who had secured permission to log the forest allegedly through his political connections. Thousands of trees and many Khasi villages will be saved as a result.
The Oblates have been supportive of the efforts to protect the forest, with Fr. Joseph Gomes, OMI working closely with the Khasi people. APRA (Adibasi Poribesh Roskhya Andolon or Save Indigenous Environment Movement) of BAPA (Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon or Bangladesh Environment Movement). Fr. Gomes was joined by Sharif Jamil, National Coordinator, APRA, Joint Secretary, BAPA in successfully arguing on behalf of the Khasi people before a government panel charged with investigating the logging controversy.
Sean McDonagh, SSC Laments Lost Opportunity at Copenhagen January 8th, 2010
Sean McDonagh, SSC, a respected author and speaker on environmental issues and one of the most articulate advocates for action on climate change within the Catholic Church, offers a close up view and analysis of the failed climate conference in Copenhagen.
He wrote a number of excellent brief articles from Copenhagen that give a vivid sense of the conference, as well as valuable information on the climate change debate.
Read his articles here:
- COP-01- Setting the Stage for COP 15 in Copenhagen (December 8, 2009)
- COP-02-How Robust is the Science of Climate Change (December 9 2009)
- COP-03-There is a need for urgent action on Adaptation (December 10 2009)
- COP-04-Politics and the UN Framework Convention Climate Change Conference (December 11 2009)
- COP-05-Tuvalus intervention on December 9th 2009 (December 14, 2009)
- COP-06-Q&A on Copenhagen and Reflections on the Church (Dec. 14 2009)
- COP-07-Tight Restrictions at COP15 (Dec 15 2009)
- COP-08-Politican Leaders Converging on Copenhagen (Dec. 16 2009)
WaterLife – An Excellent Video on a Precious Resource January 7th, 2010
This award-winning interactive video tells the story of the last great supply of drinking water on earth – the Great Lakes. As our water supplies dwindle and are threatened by increasing pollution, it is important to educate ourselves and act to preserve what remains of this essential resource.
Quito Declaration Expresses Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples in Central and South America July 8th, 2009
Representatives of civil society organizations working with Indigenous Peoples in many central and south American countries, especially in areas affected by mining, met from July 3-5. They published the Quito Declaration, “Declaration for Social and Environmental Justice and for Peace in Indigenous America”.
Countries represented and organizations signing on to the Declaration are listed in the Declaration which is available only in Spanish.
