Public Notice: UNPFII 2008

Public Notice: The Seventh Session of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York, from 21 April to 2 May 2008. The special theme will be "Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges."

The United Confederation of Taino People (UCTP) is facilitating administrative services and activities for delegates planning to participate within the Indigenous Peoples Caucus of the Greater Caribbean (IPCGC) at the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues 2008. Please inform the UCTP of your planned attendance and desire to participate as part of the Caucus, which is open to representatives of indigenous Caribbean Organizations and communities.

Consistent with the UNPFII procedures, the IPCGC follows an organizational structure similar to the Association of Caribbean States whereas the “Greater Caribbean” is defined here as an area of cooperation in recognition of common ancestral heritages and common geographic spaces shared by the Indigenous Peoples of the region.

Please send correspondence to the United Confederation of Taino People’s Office of International Relations and Regional Coordination at uctp_ny@yahoo.com

On behalf of the UCTP, we say bo’matum (thank you) in advance for your attention and consideration.

Issued on 21 November 2007,

UCTP Office of International Relations

and Regional Coordination,
Roberto Mucaro Borrero,
President and Chairman

Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

ENGLISH / ESPAÑOL

Dear friends,

Pre-registration for the Seventh Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is now open.

The Seventh Session will take place at United Nations Headquarters, in New York, from 21 April to 2 May 2008. The special theme will be "Climate change, bio-cultural diversity and livelihoods: the stewardship role of indigenous peoples and new challenges."

Pre-registration is open to indigenous peoples' organizations, academic institutions and NGOs with ECOSOC consultative status. Please visit the Seventh Session webpage, where you will find all online registration forms:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/en/session_seventh.html

Best regards,

Secretariat of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues
indigenouspermanentforum@un.org

*************************************

Estimados amigos,

El proceso de pre-inscripción para el Séptimo período de sesiones del Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas ya está abierto.

El Séptimo período de sesiones se llevará a cabo del 21 de abril al 2 de mayo de 2008 en la sede de las Naciones Unidas, en Nueva York y el tema especial será "El cambio climático, la diversidad biocultural y los medios de vida: la custodia por los pueblos indígenas y nuevos retos".

La pre-inscripción está abierta para las organizaciones de pueblos indígenas, las instituciones académicas y las ONGs con estatus consultivo ante el ECOSOC. Les invitamos a visitar la página web del séptimo período de sesiones, en donde podrá acceder a los formularios de pre-inscripción en línea: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/unpfii/es/session_seventh.html

Saludos cordiales,

Secretaría del Foro Permanente para las Cuestiones Indígenas
indigenouspermanentforum@un.org

UN Declaration Assists Caribbean Indigenous Peoples

Belize (UCTP Taino News) - The Supreme Court of Belize, on October 18, uses the recently adopted United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples to justify its decision upholding the rights of Mayan People to their traditional lands.

See full article at: http://uctp.blogspot.com/

DISPOSSESSING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF ANCESTRAL LANDS

General Assembly
GA/SHC/3891
Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York
22 October 2007
Sixty-second General Assembly
Third Committee
19th Meeting (AM)

GLOBAL WARMING, INCREASING EXPLOITATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES, DISPOSSESSING INDIGENOUS PEOPLES OF ANCESTRAL LANDS
Small Number of Isolated Communities at Risk of Physically Disappearing

Despite recent progress, as seen in new norms and institutions as well as policies at all levels addressing the rights of the world’s indigenous peoples, there was still an “implementation gap” between those norms and practice, and a number of negative trends vis-à-vis that marginalized population, the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) heard today as it held its discussion on the rights of indigenous peoples.

“Extractive activities, large commercial plantations and non-sustainable consumption patterns have led to widespread pollution and environmental degradation,” Rodolfo Stavenhagen, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous peoples, told the Committee today as he presented the findings of his recent studies. The end result, he said, was that indigenous peoples, whose lives were closely linked to their lands, were dramatically affected by such trends, which had in turn led to their forced displacements.

In addition, Mr. Stavenhagen continued, various Arctic peoples were now suffering the direct consequences of global warming. And further compounding all of the negatives already cited was the criminalization of the social organizations of indigenous peoples which defended their rights. That by itself had generated new human rights violations, he observed.

The Special Rapporteur underscored that the decrease of territory belonging to indigenous peoples had been intensified by the dynamics of the globalized economy and its attendant increase in water and energy exploitation. A small number of isolated communities were actually at risk of physical disappearance because of those trends, he warned.

Many delegates mentioned the landmark status of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in enumerating the rights of that marginalized population, and reiterated their hopes that countries would work faithfully towards its implementation. Through the Declaration, many said that the international community had begun repayment of a historic debt to indigenous peoples.

See full article at:

http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2007/gashc3891.doc.htm

Caribbean develops a regional brand to promote island tourism

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Caribbean islands, separated by diverse languages and cultures, are developing a single regional brand to promote the tourism industry that drives most of their economies.

The new campaign, whose logo presents the word "Caribbean'' in a rainbow of colors, aims to reverse a decade-long decline in the region's share of international tourism, said Allen Chastanet, chairman of the Caribbean Trade Organization.

"Whether we like it or not, we're all intrinsically tied,'' Chastanet said Saturday in an interview at the trade organization's 30th annual conference in San Juan. "If you can create more awareness of the Caribbean, then all the destinations in the region will benefit.''

The trade group plans to replace the government tourism ministers who now sit on its board with marketing professionals _ an overhaul that Chastanet said would likely win board approval at a meeting Sunday and will allow for a broader regional emphasis.

"It's very difficult for a minister not to represent his country,'' said Chastanet, who is also St. Lucia's minister of tourism and civil aviation.

Caribbean tourism, which drives most of the region's economies, grew at an average annual rate of less than 3.5 percent over the past 10 years, compared with 4.5 percent around the world, the trade group's statistics show.

Efforts to promote the region gained urgency earlier this year, after many countries reported declines in visitors from the United States, which began requiring travelers to carry passports on trips to the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada.

"We are in a position where we have to emphasize globally the things that make us outstanding, our environment, our cuisine, our culture,'' said Noel Lynch, tourism minister of Barbados.

The publicity campaign has already begun in New York City and Toronto, where billboards for individual Caribbean islands were recently replaced with ads for the region. At least twice before, the region has tried to market itself as a whole.

A 1991 tourism summit led to a collaboration with the Beach Boys, who modified the lyrics of their song "Kokomo'' to mention a host of Caribbean islands in a version played in radio and television spots. A decade later, the private sector financed a campaign know for the slogan: "Life needs the Caribbean.''

While previous efforts collapsed over financing disputes, Chastanet said the current push has the support of the cruise industry and the Caribbean Hotel Association. A meeting of government leaders is being planned for May or June to further discuss funding, he said.

The campaign will not require any island to sacrifice its individual identity, Chastanet said. The more than 30 countries that belong to his trade group will in fact be asked highlight their heritage, he said, describing plans to refurbish St. Lucia's main port and convert old fishing villages into tourist havens.

"We've got to embrace our cultural past,'' he said. - AP

Source:

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/21/business/20071021091659&sec=business