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New Moon Update
October 2005
UPDATES FROM THE SOUTH
Strategic Meeting on Alternatives for Ecuador and the Amazon
On September 22nd, Pachamama, together with the Center for Economic and Social Rights Quito (CDES) and Amazon Watch, hosted a full day meeting to discuss strategies for the permanent protection of the Southern Ecuadorian Amazon region. Over the years, Pachamama has worked at exploring alternatives to oil extraction in Ecuador. The goal has been to create a viable proposal that could be adopted by Ecuador, where the country would take a stand and declare protection for the pristine rainforest territory where indigenous people have lived for time immemorial.
Indigenous leaders from Sarayaku, the Achuar, the Shiwiar, and Frente de Defensa reflected upon several issues: (1) the opportunity to work towards a solid and inspirational proposal that could be embraced both by the Ecuadorian Government and the international community, (2) the current context in Ecuador, where the President has called for a total revision of all the oil contracts signed with multinationals and (3) the challenges that indigenous people are facing. Part of the deliberations noted how important it is to keep advocating for ‘changing the dream’ of Ecuador in terms of a new future that is not just an extension of the past. Pachamama believes that Ecuador has an opportunity to position itself as a country that commits to an sustainable and healthy economy based on the protection of its number one asset: its environment.
Possible next steps are to launch a public relations campaign to influence public opinion, to conduct high quality research, etc. A core group of people was formed, taking on responsibility for carrying on next steps and actions.
Kapawi Model of Ecotourism Presented in Galapagos Islands Seminar
Milton Callera, president of the Achuar Federation (FINAE), traveled to the Galapagos Islands to speak at a national seminar on Kapawi as an eco-tourism model. The people of Galapagos currently face huge conflicts, due to the need of fishermen to continue to fish in a fragile zone and the need to preserve their top source of income, tourism. In an effort to compile the success stories in the country, the Achuar people were invited to attend the seminar and present about Kapawi eco-lodge.
Milton, who has never been to the Galapagos, met with its people and talked with them about how the Achuar and Canodros, together with Pachamama and Conservation International, are working to develop a ‘transfer plan’ of Kapawi Lodge to the Achuar people. This plan is an ongoing process that is allowing the Achuar and others key players to work out the challenges in order to effectively transfer the full operation of Kapawi eco-lodge to the Achuar by the year 2011.
upcoming events
Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream Symposiums
Pacifica, Lafayette and Grass Valley in California: The Awakening the Dreamer Symposium is bringing forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and socially just human presence on this planet. It combines the ancient wisdom of indigenous cultures with the brilliant knowledge of the modern technological society we live in - revealing what we each can do to foster and accelerate the emergence of the broad global change movement that is making itself more and more visible each day. For more information and to register, click here:
http://www.pachamama.org/ATD/symposium.htm
Please Join Us for The Pachamama Alliance Annual Rainforest Luncheon
Wednesday, November 16, 2005 12 Noon to 1:30 PM
Festival Pavillion, Fort Mason, San Francisco
Come find out about the groundbraking work of The Pachamama Alliance both in the rainforest and here at
home, and what you can do to bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just
human presence on this planet.
To RSVP call 415-561-4522 or email us at info@pachamama.org.
If you would like information on how to become a Table Captain or Volunteer,
please contact Pat Usner at 415-561-4522 x103 or pat@pachamama.org
new moon action
Reduce Oil Consumption – Explore Hybrid Technology
With much attention on oil use nationally and skyrocketing prices throughout the country, take the time to learn more about how you can reduce your oil consumption. One idea is opting for a more fuel efficient vehicle. The popular online technology learning center, CNet, offers a discussion forum and an online course on Hybrid Car Buying 101. It has their experts take you "under the hood" and explain how hybrid technology works. To learn more, click here:
http://hybrid-car-guide.workshops.help.com
related news
What Katrina Revealed
In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, much attention has been drawn to increasingly devastating occurrences in nature, and the interconnectedness between people and nature. The Natural Resources Defense Council recently published a report addressing how Hurricane Katrina “also blew away a decade's worth of denial about major environmental problems that confront America… Katrina destroyed the fantasy that we can blithely go on increasing our dangerous dependence on oil -- whether imported or domestic… The only way out of this mess is to reduce our appetite for oil by improving the fuel economy of our vehicles (which consume 40 percent of our oil) and by relying on smarter, cleaner and renewable ways to power our economy…” To read a full report, click here:
http://www.nrdc.org/legislation/hk/contents.asp
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