Secretary--General Ban Makes an Historic Visit to Antarctica

Ban Ki-moon became the first United Nations Secretary-General to make an official visit to Antarctica as he travelled to the frozen continent to see first-hand the effects of climate change on its melting glaciers. Mr. Ban, who has made a climate change a priority issue during his term as Secretary-General, received a briefing from scientists at a Chilean Air Force base in Antarctica before visiting the Collins Glaciers and then the Sejong Research Centre. Mr. Ban addressed the Ibero-American Summit in Santiago, the Chilean capital, where he told the audience that the UN’s work is “intimately linked” with the need to promote social cohesion worldwide. “Our very mission for peace, development and human rights depends on fostering inclusive societies that are stable, safe, just and tolerant – societies that respect diversity, equality of opportunity and participation of all,” Mr. Ban said. He stressed the importance of building and strengthening social cohesion to tackling several key challenges and issues faced by the UN, from climate change to migration to upholding indigenous rights and those of peoples with disabilities.--UN News Centre To view photos from the Secretary--General's visit, go to http://www.un.org/av/photo/index2.html

UN-Backed Environmental Database Now Available To Over 100 Developing Countries

More than 100 developing nations now have access to a United Nations-backed online environmental database which allows users to view material worth $1.5 million from prominent environmental science journals. The "Online Access to Research in the Environment" project - involving the UN Environment Programme, Yale University, the International Association of Scientific Technical and Medical Publishers and over 300 publishers, key scientific societies and associations - was launched last year and offered free or low-cost service to 70 of the world's poorest nations with per capital incomes below $1,000. In its second phase, the initiative has added 37 more countries, areas and territories - including Algeria, the Maldives, Suriname and Vanuatu - with per capita incomes ranging between $1,000 and $3,000. "Providing practitioners, researchers and scientists with online access to scientific research on the environment has been a long-held dream and desire by institutions around the world," said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner. The project is making great strides towards bridging the North-South scientific gap and digital divide, as well as bolstering environmental institutions in many developing nations, he added. After a three-month free trial period, participating countries' institutions will be asked for yearly contributions of $1,000, which is less than 0.1 per cent of the annual retail subscription value of the available resources. These fees will be reinvesting in training programmes in these countries. Microsoft and Ex Libris Software are assisting in the project, allowing for full-text articles to be opened directly, allowing users to save time. For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news To listen to news and in-depth programmes from UN Radio go to: http://radio.un.org/

Diabetes Puts Tribal People at Risk of Extinction

SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL PRESS RELEASE-- As 14 November marks the first UN World Diabetes Day, a new report from Survival has highlighted the catastrophic impact of diabetes on tribal people who have been removed from their land. The problem is so serious that Professor Paul Zimmet of the International Diabetes Institute has said, 'Without urgent action there certainly is a real risk of a major wipe-out [due to diabetes] of indigenous communities, if not total extinction, within this century.' Survival's new report on indigenous people's health, 'Progress can kill', details the horrific rise in diabetes amongst tribal people who have been forced off their land and into a sedentary lifestyle. The Pima Indians of Arizona are a striking example: more than half of the Pima over the age of 35 have the disease. In Australia, Aborigines are 22 times more likely to die from diabetes than other Australians. When tribal peoples are separated from their land, the resulting change of diet from high-protein to high-fat food often leads to diabetes. The disease can lead to blindness, kidney failure, strokes, heart disease and amputations. Survival's director Stephen Corry said today, 'Diabetes is a stark example of how forcing Western ideas of 'development' on tribal people leads to the breakdown of their health. Diabetes amongst tribal people living on their own land is extremely rare, but for those forced off their land in the name of 'progress', it is one of the biggest threats to their survival.' Survival's report, 'Progress can kill', is available at http://www.survival-international.org/campaigns/progresscankill For further reading on diabetes and it's direct effect on indigenous peoples, please visit http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/540921

UN Declaration Assists Indigenous Peoples

Belize (UCTP Taino News) - The Supreme Court of Belize, on October 18, cites 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. The Supreme Court decision involved the Maya villages of Conejo and Santa Cruz and noted that their customary land tenure practices give rise to property rights that are protected under the Constitution of Belize. The Court found that that the failure of the government of Belize to recognize and protect those rights constitute a violation of the constitutional protections of property, equality, life and security of the person. The judgment, which took approximately two and a half hours to read, affirmed that Belize is obligated not only by the Constitution but also by international treaty and customary law - including the recent United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - to respect and protect Maya customary land rights. The decision is being hailed as a landmark in Belize as well as throughout the Caribbean region and beyond as it is the first judgment applied specifically to the United Nations' declaration, which was adopted Sept. 13 by the U.N. General Assembly. The victory is expected to result in more protections and land rights for Indigenous People in Belize and potentially affects more than 40 Maya villages. Community leaders are calling it Mayan Independence Day. Source: The Voice of the Taino People Online http://www.uctp.blogspot.com/

Congo Pygmies Use Technology to Preserve Their Lands

Dakar-- In an unusual allience with Africa's largest logging company, Congolaise Industrielle des Bois (CIB) owned by Denmark's DLH group, and other international partners, northern Congo's Mbendjele Yaka People are tapping into technology as a means of preserving forest areas crucial to their survival. Armed with hand-held Global Positioning Systems (GPS) this pygmie group ventures through their sacred lands and digitally enters into the GPS device the whereabouts of forest areas and trees that they want preseved."It's essentially a process by which the traditional rights of the pygmies can be respected and protected," said Scott Poynton, executive director of the Tropical Forest Trust, which works to promote responsible forest management in the world."The sets have icons on them, so they don't have to be able to read and write. They basically go out and say OK, click, here is a sacred site, and a GPS point is taken and links up to the satellite... And suddenly, you've got a map... It's a wonderful partnership between very poor, disenfranchised traditional people and a large company that's saying we want to do things the right way," Poynton said. To read more about this unique relationship, please visit http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/101407G.shtml

Special Film Screening, October 22 & 23

'Standing Silent Nation' is a compelling documentary film that chronicals the story of the White Plumes, a Native American family on the Pine Ridge Reservation, as they assert their sovereignty through the growing of industrial hemp, in order to create economic independence. The screenings will be hosted by Deborah and Alex White Plume and special community dialogues will be taking place. Everyone is encouraged to experience this special event. I look forward to seeing you there! For more information on the event, you may contact OWE-AKU, BRING BACK THE WAY, HUMAN RIGHTS AND JUSTICE GROUP at iamkent@vorizon.net. THE SCREENINGS WILL TAKE PLACE Monday, October 22, 2007--American Indian Community House--7:00 pm 11 Broadway (Take 4 or 5 train to Bowling Green)212-598-0100 Tuesday, October 23, 2007--International Action Center--7:00 pm 55 West 17th Street, 5th floor, 212-633-6646

Tribal Link Foundation

Welcome to Tribal Link Foundation's online news source! This blog has been set up to share with our friends and supporters the achievments and challenges of the world's indigenous communities. For those of you who are not aware of Tribal Link we are a communications network linking indigenous peoples to information, media, resources and relevent networks, with a special focus on the United Nations system. Tribal Link provides information to the public regarding indigenous peoples and their issues, emphasizing the significance of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. Since 1993, we have been working to support the world's indigenous peoples by organizing events and forums where indigenous peoples can publicize their issues; ensuring that indigenous peoples are informed and included in major UN and other forums, conferences and dialogues; mobilizing media professionals to publicize issues critical to tradtional peoples and their culture; arranginging hospitality programs and providing enriching cross-cultural exchanges; coordinating capacity building workshops focusing on indigenous peoples' participation within the international system. We also work to ensure that the vital contribution of indigenous spiritual knowledge is included in major UN conferences, commissions and other events.