Dear Friends,
This poster announces a Report Back From Cochabamba, Friday evening, May 7 at Steeworkers Hall, Toronto. See more details below this article.
Cochabamba Summit: Chavez accuses US of blackmail vs ALBA countries
by Patrick J. O'Donoghue
http://vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=90818
President Chavez has declared that the US government continues to blackmail countries that refused to sign the Copenhagen climate change agreement. He made the statement after a private meeting in Caracas with Cuban President Raul Castro to review agreements and relations.
Before leaving for Cochabamba, Bolivia, President Chavez highlighted the importance of the alternative climate summit convoked by Bolivian President Evo Morales. Chavez said he is satisfied by the response of social movements throughout the world to the call for the defense of Mother Earth ... "only peoples can save the planet from imperialism."
Ecuador has confirmed that the US had threatened to withdraw $2.5 million aid towards environmental issues for not signing the Copenhagen agreement. Bolivia has made a similar complaint.
Meanwhile, the Cochabamba summit has got underway with an official opening on Tuesday night. One of the first reports is that the UN representative, Alicia Barcena was booed when she started reading a message from UN general secretary, Ban Ki-moon.
The representative seemed taken aback by the massive rejection and insisted that the UN had come to listen and respect ... "if you don't want us here, then we will withdraw ... we also represent peoples."
On opening the summit, President Morales argued that the dilemma threatening humankind was a choice between imperialism and Mother Earth and said he hoped the UN would take into account and respect the summit's conclusions.
If the conclusions are not heeded, he declared, an alternative organization of peoples in defense of the earth would be created called Unity of Aboriginal Peoples and Workers (UNO)
________________________
Report-back from:
World People's Conference on Climate Change and the
Rights of Mother Earth in Cochabamba, Bolivia April 19-22
FRIDAY, MAY 7, AT 7 P.M. - 11 P.M.
STEELWORKERS HALL
25 CECIL STREET (BETWEEN DUNDAS AND COLLEGE)
Featuring:** Robert Lovelace, a leader of Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, who served a prison term for his role in peacefully resisting uranium exploration near Sharbot Lake, and other delegates to the Cochabamba People's Conference.
** Ben Powless, 22 year old Mohawk from Six Nations in Ontario.
** Kimia Ghomeshi, Campaign Director, Canadian Youth Climate Change
** Danny Beaton: 2010 recipient of the National Aboriginal Achievement Award (NAAA) for Environment and Natural Resources
** Toronto Bolivia Solidarity delegation
** Representatives from sponsoring organizations
* Bolivian dance troupe and First Nations indigenous drumming.
* Bolivian food and beverages. Donation $5 or pay what you can.
More than 20,000 social-movement and government representatives have confirmed attendance in Cochabamba to plan building a people's movement to save the planet and us all. Join us on May 7 to learn of and be part of this initiative.
Sponsoring Organizations include Toronto Bolivia Solidarity, Latin American Solidarity Network, CAW-Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy at Ryerson, Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG); Common Frontiers; KAIROS Toronto Center, Canadian Youth Climate Coalition, Climate and Capitalism; Toronto Haiti Action Committee, Toronto Forum on Cuba, Toronto Climate Campaign; ecosanity.org; Rabble.ca; Krittibas Literary Group of Toronto. Let us know if your organization wishes to join the Sponsorship list: torontoboliviasolidarity @gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment