SUWA FILES LAWSUIT CHALLENGING BLM’S OIL AND GAS LEASING ON THE DOORSTEP OF BEARS EARS, CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS, AND HOVENWEEP NATIONAL MONUMENTS

by Native News Online Staff/ Native News Online

SALT LAKE CITY — The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) has filed a federal lawsuit challenging two decisions by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to offer, sell, and issue thirty-five oil and gas leases totaling 54,508 acres of public lands for development on the doorstep of Bears Ears, Hovenweep, and Canyons of the Ancients National Monuments.

The lawsuit, filed on Friday, April 19,  2019, aims to protect some of the most culturally and archaeologically rich public lands in the United States. These lands include cliff dwellings, pueblos, kivas, petroglyph and pictograph panels, and Chaco-era (circa 900-1150 A.D.) great houses. Numerous Native American tribes consider these sites sacred. The lawsuit challenges Utah-BLM’s March 2018 and December 2018 Monticello field office leasing decisions (March 2018 sale information here; December 2018 sale information here).

“The Trump administration is following a well-worn path of ‘leasing first, and thinking later,’ the same approach taken by the George W. Bush administration’s ‘drill here, drill now’ policies,” said Stephen Bloch, legal director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.  “This approach, which has riddled Utah’s wild and culturally significant public lands with leases and should come as no surprise given that it’s the same political appointee – David Bernhardt –steering the Interior Department.”

(more…)

A Letter From Water Protector Little Feather

submitted to Earth First! Newswire

To all my Relatives and Akicita,

As I sit here in these decaying walls of confinement my mind goes thru all of my hardships through out and in my life. I’ve been through losing the most important people in my life, my mother, little brother Danny who was dying in my arms and my father. I’ve gone thru the most difficult drug addiction anyone can endure. All these struggles in my life were building blocks of strength and courage. I also witnessed the carnage and pain of my own people being hurt, sprayed and just flat out run over. That tore me up, it shook me to the point of having p.t.s.d. please know I’ve been through years of imprisonment of my own demise and stupidity.

But to witness law enforcement-the army reserves and other law enforcement from all over the states take brutal action against young women, mothers, elders and innocent children enraged me–still does! So while I’m in this prison I’m still fighting for you all. I’m OK knowing that not only did I fight for unci maka, and something that is very important: mni wiconi–life changing, I stood for our children, elders and all relatives who couldn’t be there to stand. For our people who were unprotected who didn’t deserve to be treated like animals. I’ve come face to face with the enemy! And stopped them. Ive been shot, sprayed, beaten– I’m proud to be a Native. I’m proud to be a water protector. I’m proud to be Akicita. (more…)

Judge Delivers Major Setback to Trump Policy to Increase Coal Mining on Federal Land

by Coral Davenport / NY Times

(more…)

Georgia: Hundreds of People Gather to Protest Hydro Plant, Throw Rocks At Cops

by Margarita Antidze; editing by Mark Potter / Reuters

TBILISI (Reuters) – Georgian police used tear gas and rubber bullets on Sunday to break up a protest by residents of a mountainous region against the construction of a hydropower plant, the independent Rustavi-2 TV station reported.

Around 300 residents of the Pankisi gorge gathered near the village of Birkiani to protest against the planned plant, saying it could damage the environment and force them to leave their homes. Some threw stones at the police, Rustavi-2 reported.

The TV station showed several residents with minor injuries from rubber bullets and said some police officers were also hurt.

Interior ministry officials and a spokeswoman were not immediately available to comment.

London: “Die-In” at Natural History Museum As Mass Climate Protests Enter Second Week

from BBC

Extinction Rebellion activists took over part of the Natural History Museum as the climate change protest entered its second week.

About 100 people lay down under the blue whale skeleton at about 14:15 BST.

It comes as more than 1,000 people have been arrested since the protests began in central London a week ago.

The climate change group are now based in Marble Arch, after police moved protesters from Oxford Street, Waterloo Bridge and Parliament Square.

Extinction Rebellion said it hoped the protest at the museum, which it called a “die-in”, would raise awareness of what they call the “sixth mass extinction”. (more…)

U.S. companies implicated in illegal timber trade from West Africa

by James Fair/Mongabay 

An illegal timber trade supply chain stretching from Chinese companies operating out of two countries in West Africa to major hardware stores located throughout the U.S. has been uncovered. A four-year investigation by the Washington, D.C.-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) uncovered claims of evidence of illegal behavior by the Chinese-owned Dejia Group (DG). They include concessions obtained through bribery, over-harvesting of trees, and tax evasion.

(more…)

Register for the Fight Toxic Prisons 2019 Convergence, June 14 – 17 in Florida!

The 2019 Fight Toxic Prisons Convergence is taking place June 14-17 in Gainesville, Florida and will include speakers, panels, workshops, protests and cultural activities exploring the intersections of anti-prison and environmental struggles. We are currently confirming venue, speakers, music and action plans for the conference and are excited to share updates with y’all in the coming months.

Please register to attend here

(This allows us to plan on accommodating everyone for food, housing, childcare, accessibility, etc.)

You can help us build hype via social media here

We maintain a commitment to creating a space in which those most directly impacted are at the forefront of this conversation. Even if you can’t attend, you can help get other people there by making a donation.

Check out the rabble rousing that followed our 2018 Convergence in Pittsburgh to get a sense of what to expect. (more…)

Zapotec community bans mining on 100th anniversary of Zapata’s assassination

by Samantha Demby/ Intercontinental Cry

Magdalena Ocotlán, Oaxaca — On the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Emiliano Zapata, local authorities of the Zapotec town of Magdalena Ocotlán, in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, held a town hall session to prohibit all forms of mining in their territory.

In a statement, the Municipal Council declared: “In the exercise of our rights to autonomy, self-determination, a healthy environment, territory and health, and in the framework of the 100th anniversary of the assassination of Emiliano Zapata, who fought for land for our peoples and communities, the Municipal Council of Magdalena Ocotlán has taken the firm decision to declare our territory prohibited for mining.”

(more…)

Extinction Rebellion Call to Action

Climate Rebels Take 30+ Actions Across the US – April 15 – 22
Groups declare non-violent rebellion to force government action on climate change

USA – Beginning Monday, April 15, Extinction Rebellion (XR US) will take action in large and small cities in the United States as one strand in an emerging, worldwide revolt to build the people power necessary to force governments to take action on climate change. In the U.S., actions may include lockdowns, road blockades, shutdowns, “die-ins”, and other forms of disruption — while advocating for a justice-based, healing vision for the future.

(more…)

Colombia: Indigenous Land Defenders Blockade Highway

by Taran Volckhausen / Mongabay

One person has reportedly died and another was injured after police in Colombia cracked down on a protest by indigenous groups demanding a meeting with the country’s president over land rights.

The incident occurred April 2 in the municipality of Cajibío, in Cauca department, an hour before the protesters were due to meet with Interior Minister Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez, El Espectador reported. The newspaper said two indigenous people were wounded; one of them, identified as Deiner Seferino Yunda Camayo, died of his injuries. (more…)