Odense, Denmark's 3rd largest city, is to host the 3rd Nordic Sustainability Conference 15-17 September. The One Small Step conference is aimed at gathering experience and ideas from public sectors, business communities, research scientists, politicians, NGOs and citizens in the Nordic countries to initiate actions that will help prevent a worsening of climate change. I like the "Think Locally, Act Locally" approach the conference espouses.
In 1969 when US astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to set foot on the moon, he famously said: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind". In a press release, Odense municipality adds the message: "It requires a giant leap if we are to change the direction of the development of global warming, and we can all contribute by taking the first small, but significant step".
The municipality expects that 600 people will attend the conference, which will address five main issues: transport, construction and urban planning, consumption, biodiversity and energy. Delegates will focus on what actions can be carried out locally which can either help to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases or help society to adjust to climate change. The results will be communicated at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP15) to be held in Copenhagen in December 2009.
The conference in Odense is being organized by a number of involved parties including the Nordic Council of Ministers, the Danish Agency for Spatial and Environmental Planning, the Council for Sustainable Business Development, the Danish Outdoor Council, Aalborg municipality and the University of Southern Denmark.
Kurt Allred is the latest student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law to intern with the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management. Kurt, a graduate of the University of Utah also spent a year in Laie, Hawai'i at the Brigham Young University-Hawai'i. Kurt will be co-authoring an article tentatively entitled, "Using the Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan to Promote and Enhance Collaboration Between Indian Tribes and the Military." Kurt will be looking at the genesis of the Sikes Act (which requires the military to prepare Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans), the philosophical bases of Department of Defense and tribal land management, and identifying "best practices" in military-tribal collaboration.
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| Fred White, Deputy Executive Director of the Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources , Paul Robinson, Research Director at the Southwest Research and Information Center , and Norman John II, Delegate to the Navajo Nation Council discuss the Navajo Nation's ban on uranium mining at the Institute's April 28, 2008 planning workshop to develop a tribal definition of sustainability in uranium production. |
Why is a tribal definition of sustainable uranium production needed when Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley, Jr., signed the Diné Natural Resources Protection Act of 2005 which bans uranium mining and processing throughout Navajo Nation and the Oglala Sioux tribal council passed OST Resolution 07-0154, a resolution prohibiting any uranium operations on the reservation? There are several reasons to have a discussion on the subject. First, nuclear power generates approximately 20 percent of the electricity in the U.S. Second, China 's nuclear energy development plan, which had called for operating power capacity to hit 40 gigawatts (GW) by 2020, has been revised to a projected 60 GW. Third, now that concerns about climate change are part of the national energy policy equation, some experts, including some previously anti-nuclear power advocates, believe nuclear power should be reconsidered since it does not emit greenhouse gases. These points mean that uranium will be mined and processed—perhaps not on Indian reservations but it will be mined and processed and tribal lands, waters, and other interests will be implicated.
The April 28, 2008 workshop, attended by tribal, industry, NGOs, and government representatives helped shape the agenda for two-day international roundtable on indigenous peoples and uranium to be held later this year on the homelands of the Spokane Indian Tribe and facilitated tribal participation in the April 29-30 National Mining Association/Nuclear Regulatory Commission workshop on uranium recovery. Tribal participants included representatives from from the Navajo Nation, Spokane Indian Tribe, Pueblo of Laguna, Acoma Pueblo, and Oglala Sioux Tribe. Industry representatives were from Tetra Tech, Black Range Minerals, Uranium Resources, and Uranium Energy Corporation. Tribal participation in both workshops was supported by industry contributions to the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management.
On August 19-20, 2008 the Workshop on Adaptive Governance and Climate Change sponsored by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management will be held in Pendleton, Oregon. The workshop is subtitled, “Climate Change is Real: Leadership and Planning are Optional” and incorporates themes such as governance and planning for continuity of services. Click here for more information.
Lately I've been reading several United Nations Conference on Trade and Development reports. Here are some excerpts from The Least Developed Countries Report 2007: Knowledge, Technological Learning and Innovation for Development that are relevant to the discussions on transitioning to a knowledge economy heard at the recent Third Annual Tribal Energy Policy Roundtable organized by the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management:
The Report can be accessed at: http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/ldc2007_en.pdf .
Huge savings of money, time, travel and above all of precious water are the gains for pastoralists who have been quick to adopt remote monitoring of station water supplies
Interest in using telemetry to check on remote water supplies on huge cattle and sheep stations has skyrocketed due to drought, rural labour shortages, rising fuel prices and clear proof that the technology can save big money, says Colleen James, project officer for the Desert Knowledge CRC's WaterSmart™ program.
“The savings are astronomical – between $25-35,000 a year from the cases we've studied so far. One station paid for all its gear in eight months,” she says. “Two years ago only a handful of stations were doing it. Now, across the whole of Australia, it is being widely adopted.”
Telemetry – the ability to monitor what goes on in remote parts of a huge grazing property from the homestead, the ute or even via the internet while on holiday overseas – is transforming pastoralism in the 21st century, giving graziers a new way to manage their livestock, water and rangeland vegetation.
On Mt Ive Station in South Australia, the figures speak for themselves: over 12 months the use of telemetry saved pastoralist Len Newton a cool $33,000, 10,000 kilometres in travel and almost 500 man hours of work.
On Monkira Station in Queensland, owned by the North Australian Pastoral Company, the saving was around $25,000 for 12 months, travel dropped by 3000 kms and man hours spent checking water points almost halved.
“It's made an absolutely huge difference to us,” Len Newton says. We didn't really realise how big it was going to be. Once we learned you could trust the system to report truthfully what was happening at all the water points, the savings were massive.
“You can actually watch the water levels in the tanks go down when the stock are drinking, and then watch them come up again as the solar-powered pumps refill them. All I have to do is check the troughs – and we're thinking of fitting trough monitors, too.”
In 2006, Len and his staff were doing up to 1600 kms month behind the wheel of the ute, just checking on water. Last year this was down to around 500 kms. Likewise man hours were down from as high as 80 a month to 20 or so – a huge factor in a rural sector that is desperately short of skilled labour. “It means we're free to attend to other urgent jobs, like fixing fences,” he says.
On Monkira Station, manager Anthony Desreaux and his team were able to spot and clear a blocked outlet on a turkey's nest dam which might otherwise have caused structural damage to the dam wall from a spill-over, as well as serious loss of water.
Coupled with remote camera technology for monitoring livestock and the ability to open and close gates as well as switch water points on and off remotely, a pastoral revolution appears on the cards.
Moving stock around continuously through control of water, grazing pressure can be spread more evenly across the landscape, reducing the risk of overgrazing which usually occurs near water points. This approach to automated rotational grazing is closer to the natural habits of sheep and cattle in the wild and is thought by some rangelands experts to be more productive, as well as gentler to the country.
The versatility of remote water management was highlighted by the case of the Northern Territory pastoralist, on holiday in Brazil, who was able to check on his storage levels using his mobile phone from half a world away.
Drawbacks of new technology have also been quick to emerge – in particular the extreme liking of cockies and other parrots for chewing sensitive electronic cables, aerials and other gear. Solutions have ranged from wrapping them in a red-hot chilli-flavoured cover that the birds don't like to chew, and draping rubber snakes over them, the approach adopted by one frustrated but inventive pastoralist.
“We had a problem with cockies sitting on the remote rain gauge. We got very good readings – but it was mostly cocky poo,” Colleen says.
“Telemetry is a big investment – and that's a tough call when there is a drought on. But the runs are now on the board that it can pay for itself quite quickly, once you learn to trust it – and it isn't complex: anyone can use it.”
The water telemetry research was funded through the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry.
Its name means "caught by the dawn" and, as the sun rose on Mauao today, the Bay of Plenty landmark known generally as Mount Maunganui was once more owned by local iwi.
Parliament yesterday passed legislation which saw the Crown relinquish ownership of the Mount and transfer Mauao to Ngati Te Rangi, Ngati Ranginui and Ngati Pukenga. The Crown took possession of Mount Maunganui in the aftermath of the 1863 land wars, and iwi spokesman Morehu Ngatoko said his people had waited for this day ever since.
"It's very difficult to put it into words, considering how long we have been waiting," Mr Ngatoko said.
"Our people have inhabited the mountain, they have slept on there, their pa sites are there, the life of the people has been sustained there, all the sea food was there in abundance. It is deeply significant for the people, we are just overwhelmed."
A large party from the three iwi and Waitaha - which also has historic ties to the mountain - were in Parliament yesterday to witness the historic moment. They burst into an enthusiastic waiata of celebration once the speeches were finally over and the bill passed unanimously.
Unlike much of Parliament's business, necessary law changes to allow the Crown to transfer ownership of the historic reserve was not contentious. All parties supported the bill, and local National MP Bob Clarkson said the people of Tauranga would be pleased access to the mountain would be maintained and no commercial enterprises would be allowed on its slopes.
Labour Bay of Plenty-based list MP Mita Ririnui said the day was an emotional one for all iwi connected with Mauao, because of the way the Crown had acquired the reserve, and lack of subsequent consultation with local iwi over management and preservation of its historical sites.
"All the iwi of Tauranga have an ancestral association with the mountain," Mr Ririnui said.
"It is part of their oratory, it is part of their history, it is part of their culture.
To be alienated from this is a dreadful experience, and it has been outstanding for some time."
He hoped the return of the mountain would improve understanding between all sides, and bring a Treaty of Waitangi settlement closer.
INDIANER INUIT: Das Nordamerika Film Festival has issued a call for submissions. Das Nordamerika Film Festival is unique in Europe offering a platform for North American Natives and First Nations as screenwriters, directors and actors to present works depicting their culture, their past and their present in fascinating films full of humor and rich content. The Festival is looking for feature films, live short subjects, documentary films (long and short), music videos, and animated films. The Festival will present an impressive retrospective in honor of the late Floyd Red Crow Westerman, renowned actor, musician and story teller.
The submission deadline is October 31, 2008. Please send two DVDs accompanied by information on the film to:
Media Arts Cultural Events
Gunter Lange, Artistic Director
Goethestrasse 35
D-78467 Konstanz
Germany
All films to be screened at INDIANER INUIT: Das Nordamerika Film Festival 2009 are selected by a festival committee consisting of German film experts, ethnologistis, and anthropologists. Each film selected will receive a formal invitation to the festival. For more information see the festival website at www.nordamerika-filmfestival.com/en/index.html or email gl@mace25.com.
Hundreds of rusting old ships registered in the European Union end up being dismantled on beaches on the Indian sub-continent - with Bangladesh being a key destination. There, workers brave oil, asbestos, chemicals and heavy metals as they dismantle the ships by hand. A report to be debated by MEPs Tuesday night in Strasbourg will call for EU-registered ships to be pre-cleaned of hazardous waste before they are sent to poorer countries. It also wants Europe's dismantling industry boosted.
The health impact felt by workers dismantling ships has been well documented with oil and chemicals seen as the most lethal threats. At Alang, India's largest dismantling site, one in six of the workers is suffering from asbestosis. The fatal accident rate is said to be six times higher than in the Indian mining industry.
More vessels due to be broken up by 2010
Worldwide about 200-600 ships are dismantled each year, a third of which are registered in the EU. This figure is set to rise as new safety regulations mean that by 2010 around 800 single hull oil tankers will be decommissioned in favour of safer double hull vessels.
As well as calling for vessels to be cleaned, the report on ship dismantling wants an international agreement laying down responsibility for each stage in the dismantling process. It also wants a full list of ships soon to be decommissioned and information on their likely fate. The EU currently has enough capacity to dismantle warships and state owned vessels, with very little left over for merchant ships.
The Green Paper on Better Ship Dismantling is at: http://ec. europa. eu/environment/waste/ships/pdf/com_2007_269_en. pdf .
On May 22, 2008, the European Parliament passed aanother resolution requesting an immediate moratorium on the further use of depleted uranium ammunition. The European Parliament has repeatedly passed such resolutions, but France and Britain have consistently rejected calls for a ban, maintaining that its use continues to be legal, and that the health risks are entirely unsubstantiated.
The joint resolution adopted by Parliament "urges the Member States to adhere to paragraph 1 of the UN resolution adopted on 5 December 2007 and to submit a report with their views on the effects of the use of armaments and ammunition containing depleted uranium." It also calls on the Member States and the Council to take the lead in working towards an international treaty--through the UN or through a 'coalition of the willing'--to establish a ban on the development, production, stockpiling, transfer, testing and use of uranium weapons as well as the destruction or recycling of existing stocks, should there be conclusive scientific evidence of harm caused by such weapons."
The resolution "strongly reiterates its call on all EU Member States and NATO countries to impose a moratorium on the use of depleted uranium weapons and to redouble efforts towards a global ban." It also urges Member States "not to use depleted uranium weapons in ESDP operations and not to deploy military and civilian personnel in regions where no guarantee can be given to the effect that depleted uranium has not been, or will not be, used."
Click here for the text of the resolution.
According to a May 21, 2008 Washington Post article by Rick Weiss, microscopic, high-tech "nanotubes" that are being made for use in a wide variety of consumer products cause the same kind of damage in the body as asbestos does, according to a study in mice that is raising alarms among workplace safety experts and others.
Within days of being injected into mice, the nanotubes -- which are increasingly used in electronic components, sporting goods and dozens of other products -- triggered a kind of cellular reaction that over a period of years typically leads to mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer, researchers said.
Only longer versions of the vanishingly small fibers have that toxic effect, the study found. And further experiments must be done to prove that the engineered motes can cause problems when inhaled, the way most people might be exposed to them.
But the preliminary evidence of cancer risk is strong enough to justify urgent follow-up tests and government guidance for nano factory workers, who are most likely to be exposed, experts said. Others called for labels to guide consumers or recyclers, who might encounter the material when incinerating or otherwise destroying discarded nano products.
On September 23-24, 2008 the International Institute for Indigenous Resource Management is organizing the Roundtable on Climate, Tribal Energy Development, and Habitat Protection. The roundtable will bring together high level tribal, NGO, industry, and government leaders and experts in the many fields of energy, environment, wildlife, science and technology, law, and policy in a series of facilitated dialogues to see if and how tribes can design energy development projects that support multiple purposes and multiple uses. Similarly, roundtable participants will see if and how tribes can use intertribal approaches to offset carbon emissions and other environmental impacts that will support multiple purposes including, among other things, enhancing fish and wildlife habitat. A final roundtable objective is to establish a framework for developing and harmonizing tribal energy and habitat protection/expansion policies and institutions.
Click here for more information.
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Tusweca Tiospaye, a Native 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is devoted to the promotion and strengthening of the Lakota language is organizing a language summit November 11-13, 2008 in Rapid City, South Dakota..
Tusweca Tiospaye is 100% Lakota operated. The organization is based on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and operates with community and Oglala Sioux Tribal Council support.
Its mission is to create a strong, healthy, and prosperous environment in which Lakota children and their families can learn and incorporate the Lakota language into their daily lives.
Tusweca Tiospaye's vision is that one day Lakota children and their families will feel safe and comfortable in using the Lakota language as their primary language at home and in the community. The organization's goal is to revitalize the Lakota language by creating new generations of Lakota speakers.
More information and registration materials can be found on Tusweca Tiospaye's website.