Major Group: Indigenous Peoples
OPENING STATEMENT TO UNCSD19:
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MAJOR GROUP
CSD 19 deals with the future of mining, interlinked with
other critical themes, which are deeply contentious for
indigenous peoples. The Mirarr people, who have two
uranium mines sited on their lands against their wishes,
recently wrote to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon:
? I am writing to convey our solidarity and support with
all those people across the world who see in the events at
Fukushima a dire warning of the risks posed by the
nuclear industry?. Approximately 70% of uranium used
in nuclear reactors is sourced from the homelands of
Indigenous minorities worldwide. We Mirarr believe that
this constitutes an unfair impact on Indigenous people
now and into the future. We suffer the dangers and long
term impacts of the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle so
that others overseas may continue to enjoy lives without
the awareness of the impacts this has on the lives of
others.?
The statement of the Mirarr people in Australia generally
holds true for mining. It is imperative that CSD19 and
Rio +20 seriously address the life cycle of unsustainable
mineral and metal production and consumption. A major
contribution to sustainability must come from
maximising recycling and reuse of existing minerals, also
of substitution and minimisation, particularly of
?greenfield? mining, and the rejection of widely used
mining technologies and practices that cause large scale
or permanent damage - such as riverine and marine
disposal of toxic wastes, strip min ing of ancient forested
zones, the waste of water particularly in arid regions,
hydraulic fracturing for gas extraction, and unnecessary
gold and uranium mining.
Solutions to mining problems are urgently needed, but
for dialogue to prosper, it requires the full and effective
participation of indigenous peoples and mining-affected
communities. The Inter-governmental Forum on Mining
brings together mainly mining ministries and mining
companies, and as such lacks the confidence of
indigenous peoples, and the broad mandate and
participation needed for genuine progress.
We welcome those elements of the Chairman?s text that
call for dialogue and broad participation to improve
mining practice and to determine the future of mining.
We urge delegates to significantly strengthen the text
through implementation of the UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and respect for
our rights to life, culture, and self -determined
development, including free, prior, informed consent.
These are necessary social safeguards against
unsustainable mining.
The Convention on Biological Diversity supports the
diverse customary resource management and sustainable
use systems of indigenous peoples and local
communities, as proven contributions to ecological
renewal. We believe diverse local economies are critical
components in building a green economy, and our
customary rights, livelihoods and governance must be
secured at UNCSD19 and at the UN Conference for
Sustainable Development.
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES MAJOR GROUP
CSD 19 deals with the future of mining, interlinked with
other critical themes, which are deeply contentious for
indigenous peoples. The Mirarr people, who have two
uranium mines sited on their lands against their wishes,
recently wrote to UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon:
? I am writing to convey our solidarity and support with
all those people across the world who see in the events at
Fukushima a dire warning of the risks posed by the
nuclear industry?. Approximately 70% of uranium used
in nuclear reactors is sourced from the homelands of
Indigenous minorities worldwide. We Mirarr believe that
this constitutes an unfair impact on Indigenous people
now and into the future. We suffer the dangers and long
term impacts of the front end of the nuclear fuel cycle so
that others overseas may continue to enjoy lives without
the awareness of the impacts this has on the lives of
others.?
The statement of the Mirarr people in Australia generally
holds true for mining. It is imperative that CSD19 and
Rio +20 seriously address the life cycle of unsustainable
mineral and metal production and consumption. A major
contribution to sustainability must come from
maximising recycling and reuse of existing minerals, also
of substitution and minimisation, particularly of
?greenfield? mining, and the rejection of widely used
mining technologies and practices that cause large scale
or permanent damage - such as riverine and marine
disposal of toxic wastes, strip min ing of ancient forested
zones, the waste of water particularly in arid regions,
hydraulic fracturing for gas extraction, and unnecessary
gold and uranium mining.
Solutions to mining problems are urgently needed, but
for dialogue to prosper, it requires the full and effective
participation of indigenous peoples and mining-affected
communities. The Inter-governmental Forum on Mining
brings together mainly mining ministries and mining
companies, and as such lacks the confidence of
indigenous peoples, and the broad mandate and
participation needed for genuine progress.
We welcome those elements of the Chairman?s text that
call for dialogue and broad participation to improve
mining practice and to determine the future of mining.
We urge delegates to significantly strengthen the text
through implementation of the UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and respect for
our rights to life, culture, and self -determined
development, including free, prior, informed consent.
These are necessary social safeguards against
unsustainable mining.
The Convention on Biological Diversity supports the
diverse customary resource management and sustainable
use systems of indigenous peoples and local
communities, as proven contributions to ecological
renewal. We believe diverse local economies are critical
components in building a green economy, and our
customary rights, livelihoods and governance must be
secured at UNCSD19 and at the UN Conference for
Sustainable Development.