Green | December 13, 2011 | 20 comments

"We are on the verge of genocide": an urgent call from the Peruvian Amazon

source: http://amazonwatch.org/news/2011/1213-we-are-on-the-verge-of-genocide?utm_source=Amazon+Watc...

JanforGore
"The presence of Talisman here is causing divisions between those who have accepted the company and those who won't... We are on the verge of genocide."


In Achuar territory in the remote Peruvian Amazon, an already tense situation has taken a turn for the worse over recent months. According to the urgent testimony of two Catholic priests, who have been living in the region for more than 60 years combined, Canadian-based oil company Talisman Energy is fomenting severe divisions between indigenous communities, heightening the risk of imminent bloodshed between neighboring families.

Talisman is drilling exploratory oil wells in Oil Block 64 in a remote area of the Peruvian Amazon near the Ecuador border. The oil block overlaps the territory of the Achuar people, and wells are being drilled in the heart of Achuar ancestral territory, in the middle of critical hunting and fishing grounds in a flooded wetlands ecosystem that drains into Lake Rimachi, the largest lake in the Peruvian Amazon, and the Pastaza River Wetland Complex, a site acknowledged under the Ramsar Convention as one of the most productive aquatic ecosystems in the Amazon rainforest.

Achuar leader Peas Peas Ayui, President of the National Achuar Federation of Peru (FENAP) has just returned from Calgary, Canada where he met with Talisman CEO John Manzoni to demand that the company respect the Achuar people, withdraw from their territory and cease insistent attempts to convince communities to sign agreements. The Achuar previously delivered the same message to Mr. Manzoni in 2008 and 2010, but despite the Achuar people's steadfast opposition to oil drilling, Talisman Energy continues its relentless search for oil, resorting to dangerous industry practices: divided and conquer.

Recent testimony from Padre Diego and Padre Bola highlights signs of oil company bribery, ecological disruption, threats of bloodshed between indigenous communities, and even the first cases of sexually transmitted diseases are part and parcel of a deteriorating situation along the Pastaza and Morona rivers, where Talisman is currently exploring for oil.

The Peruvian government first created Block 64 in 1995 during the Fujimori dictatorship without consultation or consent from the Achuar people who live there. The oil block and Talisman's operations span two river basins: the Pastaza and the Morona. The block directly affects Achuar territory; Shuar-Wampisa and Shapra people downriver on the Morona are also affected.

The Achuar were united and opposed to oil operations since the creation of the oil block and forced successive companies to leave, but since Talisman's arrival in the region in 2004, two new Achuar organizations representing a minority group of eight out of the 50 Achuar communities have broken off and signed agreements with Talisman. The Achuar accuse Talisman of ignoring communities who oppose their operations and creating divisions and conflict through offering high financial incentives to any community or family who signs up with the company.

The testimony from Father Diego underlines the seriousness of this situation, and calls attention to the spread of this conflict downriver in Shuar-Wampisa communities where a peaceful protest in September 2011 almost ended in bloodshed after a group of pro-Talisman Achuar confronted protestors with guns. This was almost an exact repeat of a similar incident in May 2009 when 300-400 Achuar marched in protest to a Talisman well and were confronted by armed pro-Talisman Achuar standing with the company. Talisman is subject to ongoing litigation in Peru over its involvement in provoking this dangerous conflict.

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20 comments // "We are on the verge of genocide": an urgent call from the Peruvian Amazon // Video

  • Wyley_Wombat
    • 0
      Wyley_Wombat  

    • Between the oil and timber corporations, the land is being destroyed by greed. In most of these cases the rest of the world is not even aware of what will be forever lost.

    • 5 months ago
  • fingers_drumming
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • http://indigenouspeoplesissues.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article...:south-america-indigenous-peoples&id=12326:peru-indigenous-shuar-peoples-of-loreto-announce-blockade-of-the-river-morona-in-protest-against-oil-company-talisman
      From September

      "Translated from Spanish, Original Below

      "The Shuar indigenous peoples of Morona; province of Marañón Datem, Loreto region; announced the blockade of transit route of the river of the same name as a protest against the incursion of the Canadian oil company Talisman, which began exploration and exploitation in Lot 64, without having carried out a process of consultation and agreements within the framework of respect for the people.

      Through a public pronouncement, the Shuar Morona Organization - OSHDEM, who represents 20 communities in the area, proposed to the regional government, and district levels to assist in generating a process of indigenous development that respects local culture, territory, autonomy and worldview.

      We must remember that this oil has a bad history. October 02, 2009, the indigenous Achuar brothers of Pastaza reported to the Attorney concerning the same company for "attempted genocide and genocide", because the main objective of the protest is the leaving of the territory of the Shuar of Morona by the Canadian company, to protect the rivers, the Amazon jungle and the family free of environmental, social, cultural and indiscriminate exploitation of natural resources. "We raise our own indigenous development - Amazon with a responsible and sustainable management of our natural wealth," concludes the document."
      ~~~~~~~
      To them the Earth is just made up of LOTS to be numbered and exploited.

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • http://www.talisman-energy.com/responsibility/
      Look at their lies.

      "Our values include:

      safety: our goal is to create working conditions where we cause no harm to people

      passion: we inspire others by the passion we demonstrate for our work

      results: we have a bias for results and take initiative to get things done efficiently, creating value for our shareholders

      respect: we take time to consider and appreciate other people’s points of view and treat the environment with respect

      excellence: we strive for excellence in what we do and how we do it
      teamwork: by working effectively together, we can deliver results far beyond our individual capabilities

      honest communication: we show courage to speak honestly and support others to do the same"

      I fear for the lives of these priests. It certainly would not be the first time those fighting to save the rainforest were murdered for their bravery and caring.

    • 6 months ago
  • artemis6
  • crash_text_dummy
  • Anonmaly
    • +3
      Anonmaly  

    • I don't even get it, isn't Germany on track to be (almost) completely solar within a few years? With a regularly high percentage of cloud cover?

      I get how solar power cars might take a little while longer, but after watching more documentaries than standard Hollywood movies in recent years, including "GasHole"...... I'm just not seeing the need for fossil fuels.

      The shit is ridiculous the fossil fuel corporations are among the richest in the world, oil is entering (or just did) the "golden age" according to those who study it, and those in the industry... They could cut all this fossil fuel garbage out.

      They don't even know beyond a shadow of a doubt how removing as much oil from the ground effects the earth below. There isn't a guarantee (don't care which scientist says otherwise,) that pulling all that oil out doesn't have an effect on the structural integrity of the very ground above it.....

      But no, blood for oil, blood for gas, blood for coal (even if it's "only" the earths blood in very few cases) with these all these already incredibly wealthy corporations pushing it as if it's "clean" or even "ethical" (according to advertising campaigns on the "OWN" {Oprah Winfrey Network})......

      It's bullshit, and the lobbyists keep the politicians in; money, drugs (although sometimes not the traditional, illicit, text book definition of them), and prostitutes, to the point they'll sign anything for the Nazis.....

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
  • coolplanet
    • +1
      coolplanet  
    • Anonmaly:

      " isn't Germany on track to be (almost) completely solar within a few years? With a regularly high percentage of cloud cover?"

      Realistically it will take Germany at least a decade to go even half solar, although the lastest breakthrough in solar captures light even at night.

    • 6 months ago
  • treewolf39
    • +3
      treewolf39  

    • Thank you for this post Jan. Oil is doing great damage to the whole earth. People are the most important protection and all life. Greed rules money and causes terrible pain!

    • 6 months ago
  • JanforGore
    • +2
      JanforGore  
    • treewolf39:

      You're welcome. We are seeing a global all out corporate attack on indigenous land and their rights. No wonder Canada dropped out of Kyoto today. Canada used to be a nation that respected the Earth, no more. The Conservatives have ruined it just like they have here.

    • 6 months ago
  • treewolf39
  • JanforGore
  • treewolf39
  • JanforGore
  • treewolf39
  • JanforGore
  • JanforGore
    • +5
      JanforGore  

    • Will they not be happy until they have corrupted and destroyed the indigenous peoples of our world for their own profit? I am just so fed up with these companies coming into areas like this and getting away with this evil. But then, if people in this country didn't waste so much damn OIL everyday...

      Canada is no better than any other country when it comes to human rights abuses, all to satisy the insatiable addiction of the American people. How many more will have to die to keep those SUV tanks full? Harper is an accomplice in crimes against nature. We need to start putting leaders of countries on trial for this type of collusion to destroy our planet and indigenous peoples. But this is why they do it so far away-so they can hide their crimes.

    • 6 months ago
  • Lisayou
  • JanforGore
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