World People's Conference on Climate Change and the Rights of Mother Earth

Indigenous brothers of the world:

I am deeply concerned by attempts to use indigenous leaders and groups to promote the commodification of nature, and in particular of forests through the establishment of the mechanism known as REDD (Reduction Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation), and its versions REDD+ and REDD++.

Worldwide, an expanse of forest and rainforest equivalent to 36,000 football fields disappears each day. Each year, 13 million hectares of forest and rainforest are lost. At this rate, the forests will disappear by the end of this century.

Forests and rainforests are the Earth’s largest source of biodiversity. If deforestation continues, thousands of species of animals and plants will be lost forever. More than three quarters of accessible fresh water has its source in forested areas, hence the worsening of water quality when forests deteriorate. Forests provide protection from flooding, erosion and natural disasters. They provide timber and other materials. Forests are a source of natural medicines and many curative substances that have yet to be discovered. Forests are the atmosphere’s lungs. Of the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions occurring throughout the world, 18% are caused by deforestation. Read the rest of this entry »

United Nations emits report of “Harmony with Nature” Bolivia’s initiative

“The present technologic era has meant an impoverishment of the historic relationship of the human beings with nature.” This is one of the conclusions of the report entitled “Harmony with Nature” presented by the General Secretary for the consideration of the General Assembly following a resolution on that topic initiated by the Plurinational State of Bolivia, which gained the co-sponsorship of 61 countries and was adopted by consensus in December of last year. Read the rest of this entry »

(Nathanial Gronewold Gronewold of ClimateWire) United Nations -Devastating flooding that has swamped one-fifth of Pakistan and left millions homeless is likely the worst natural disaster to date attributable to climate change, U.N. officials and climatologists are now openly saying. Read the rest of this entry »