The CPA-CDPC network spearheaded the holding of The International Conference on Indigenous Peoples Rights, Alternatives and Solutions o the Climate Crisis at Ridgewood Residence Hotel in Baguio City, Cordillera-Philippines on November 4-9, 2010.
The five day activity attended by 76 indigenous peoples’ representatives and advocates from 15 countries in the Asia, Australia, Africa, North and South America, Canada and Europe aims to strengthen solidarity and advocacy among indigenous peoples for self-determination and liberation in keeping with the 1976 Algiers Universal Declaration on the Rights of Peoples, the UNDRIP and other international instruments.
The first day was a community visit to Balatoc and Bokod Benguet by the national and international participants. They were welcomed by the villagers through the Peoples’ organizations. The villagers shared and discussed their situation during the integration with the participants. The Highlights of the sharing-discussions are on effects of mining and dams and the impact of Climate Crisis in their life as Indigenous Peoples.
The ritual performed by Metro Baguio Tribal elders and Leaders Assembly (MBTELA) formally open the conference on the second day. The Keynote addresses such as Climate Justice, Human Rights and Genocide, Self-Determination and Liberation, and Imperialist Plunder have served as the framework of the conference.
The plenary inputs and simultaneous workshops focused on Plunder of natural resources as a major cause of Climate Change; Alternatives and Responses to the Climate Crisis; and Indigenous peoples’ Struggles in the Context of Neoliberal Globalization and the US War of Terror; opened up the fruitful sharing and discussions among the participants.
The testimonies on Self-determination and Liberation of the different IP representatives and the film showing of different documentaries on Indigenous Peoples struggles on the fourth day of the conference show that Indigenous Peoples are the main victims of climate crisis and aggression. The “Taxi Fillipino” was one of the films shown.
The concrete output of the conference is a “Declaration of Solidarity” signed by all participants. And in number 3 of the declaration, the participants unanimously say No! to all market-based mechanisms and false solutions to climate change and demand that indigenous peoples’ rights be respected worldwide in addressing the climate crisis.
The launching of the Indigenous Peoples’ Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMDSL) concluded the conference. Participants mobilized themselves and walked from downtown Session Road to Igorot Park where they assembled, to speak out for Self-determination and Liberation. The participants voice out their oppositions to all market-based mechanisms and false solutions to climate change and their assertion of their collective rights us Indigenous Peoples.
The successful Conference was organized by the Cordillera Peoples Alliance-CDPC, Land is Life, IBON International, Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network and the People’s Movement on Climate Change.
(CDPC)
