2011

This integrated project will study the conditions, nature and effects of land-use change in the Cauca (Colombia) and Tapajós (Brazil) basins. Land-use change in these areas is related to different processes of exploitation of natural resources, such as the rapid expansion of  sugar cane and soy monocultures, deforestation, large-scale industrial mining of minerals and the development of mega-projects using water resources such as hydroelectric power plants. In both cases these changes come along with different forms of conflict, social and environmental harm and human rights violations.

The project tackles the cases from a multidisciplinary perspective with a team of biologists, anthropologists, geographers, criminologists, social workers and activists.

The team realizes a wide range of activities in the field of research and knowledge sharing, capacity building and policy development in their respective countries. They apply innovative methodologies, such as participative action research, ethnography and social cartography as well as critical perspectives from green criminology, political ecology and human rights. Presentation and Poster LAR project.

‘Lands and Rights’ seeks to promote a right-based approach to development, strengthening organizations and communities in their claim for rights and environmental justice. The aim is to learn from the conflicts, to reduce them and to contribute to the rule of law by improving (the implementation of ) public policies regarding natural resource management.

The LAR project is part of the programme CoCooN (Conflict and Cooperation over Natural Resources in Developing Countries) of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).

Further information

The communications and publications of this project are posted on this blog

Altamira, Brazil – Hundreds of indigenous leaders, fishermen and riverine people from the Xingu River basin have gathered to occupy the Belo Monte Dam construction site in a peaceful protest to stop its construction in Altamira, located in the state of Pará in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. They have vowed to permanently occupy the site and are calling on allied organizations and movements to join them.

The Trans-Amazon Highway (BR-230) has been blocked around the Santo Antônio village, where it passes the proposed construction site. Groups are demanding the presence of a Brazilian government high-level official at the site to initiate a new round of negotiations that are transparent, inclusive and respectful of the rights of local people affected by the dam.

"Belo Monte will only succeed if we do nothing about it. We will not be silent. We will shout out loud and we will do it now," said Juma Xipaia, a local indigenous leader. "We only demand what our Constitution already ensures us: our rights. Our ancestors fought so we could be here now. Many documents and meetings have already transpired and nothing has changed. The machinery continues to arrive to destroy our region."

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS) has requested explanation as to why the Brazilian Government did not act to ensure the rights of indigenous peoples affected by the dam, as requested by the IAHCR in April. According to the OAS, the Brazilian Government has an obligation of consulting and informing indigenous peoples who will be affected by the dam prior to construction.

Yesterday, the government of Brazil refused to attend a closed hearing convened by the IAHCR intended to foster dialogue toward resolving conflict and discuss failures in protecting the rights of indigenous peoples threatened by the proposed Belo Monte Dam. Plans for the project ignore international protections such as the right to free, prior and informed consent, and jeopardize the health, livelihood and ancestral lands of thousands of indigenous peoples.

Last Monday, a federal judge in Brazil voted that the environmental licensing of the controversial Belo Monte Dam is illegal given the lack of consultations with affected indigenous communities.

Find out more here

• The government approved construction of the disastrous Belo Monte Dam, allowing heavy machinery to break ground on the banks of the Xingu River.
• The Brazilian Congress is on the verge of approving a major rollback of the Brazilian Forestry Code, already causing a huge spike in deforestation.
• Leading forest guardians have been victims of murder and intimidation.

This is one of the defining environmental struggles of our times; the assault on the Amazon must stop!

We, the international community, need to stand in solidarity with the growing numbers of Brazilians calling for environmental sanity and respect for human rights in the Amazon. Together, we can make a difference.

You can help protect the Amazon!

Saturday 20 August will be massive day of action in at least 22 Brazilian cities. Antonia Melo, a key leader of the movement to stop the Belo Monte Dam, has asked people to join her by organising protests around the world on Monday August 22 in front of their local Brazilian Embassy or Consulate.

Take action

Find out where the events are taking place
Download resources for the event you are attending and find out more about the dam
Call on the Brazilian President stop the Belo Monte Dam

Sri Lanka is set to be on the receiving end of more un-sustainable development due to the Hambantota 2018 Commonwealth games proposal. 

The area the authorities propose to develop the games' infrastructure is one of the last remaining strong holds for the endangered Leopard, Elephant and Sloth Bear, as well as countless other endangered flora and fauna that plays a crucial role in Sri Lanka's rich but declining bio-diversity. 

Over the last few years, the once lush green Island of Sri Lanka has gradually started to become a concrete jungle. Once the bio-diversity is lost, Sri Lanka will loose it's popularity with eco tourists, and it's people and tourism will suffer. 

Hence, we urge you to take immediate action to stop amending the flora and fauna act to permit buildings near nature reserves and move the Commonwealth games out of Sri Lanka's wilderness.

Take action

This action has been initiated by Rainforest Protectors, Sri Lanka

It has come to our attention that Mr. Roberto Smeraldi of Amigos da Terra Amazonia Brasileira (Friends of the Earth Brazilian Amazonia) continues to use the name of Friends of the Earth domestically and internationally to promote projects that undermine the work of our Brazilian member group, the name of the federation, and the relationship with our allies. 

We have received a request from our Brazilian member group Núcleo Amigos da Terra Brasil (FoE Brazil) to communicate widely the distinction between these two organizations in order that the general public, the media and the people of Brazil are aware of this important issue. 

This request comes at a very important moment in Brazil as our member group is campaigning to prevent any changes to Brazil's most important forest protection code, which is currently under attack by the agribusiness lobby and is due to be voted on in the national congress. Friends of the Earth Brazil is undertaking this important work with our strategic ally, La Vía Campesina, several local groups and national networks.

Smeraldi´s organization, Amigos da Terra Amazonia Brasileira is currently promoting a joint proposal between the pulp/paper sector and various NGOs dubbed ¨the Forest Dialogue¨, which is proposing market-based mechanisms to forest protection and changes in the forest protection law. 

Amigos da Terra Amazonia Brazileira is neither a member nor an ally of Friends of the Earth International (FoEI) and his organization is undermining the important work of FoEI´s Brazilian member, Núcleo Amigos da Terra, the work of our strategic allies, as well as the compromising the integrity of FoEI´s name.

On April 19, the Japanese government announced that it would be increasing the level of radiation deemed safe for children to 20 mSv/y. This is comparable to the maximum dose allowed for nuclear power plant workers in Germany.

Note

References

further information  

Thanks to the people who made donations to Friends of the Earth's International's appeal, we have been able to forward 600,000 yen to the Japan Chernobyl Foundation (JCF).  The group are providing medical support to people in Minami Souma City, Fukushima Prefecture, who are suffering in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident.

Below is the message by Ms. Sadako Kamiya of JCF, translated and edited by FoE Japan

We really appreciate your big support

Some people have come back because they were exhausted by life as evacuee, some feel uncertainty about the future and are concerned about employment. And others have come back because they expected the schools to be open and daily life to have resumed.

The original shelters have become crowded with the new returnees and so new shelters have opened. There are many elders in the shelters. Some walk around in the night confused, so medical team and JCF staff watch over them. Staff at JCF listen carefully to them and prescribe medicines. As the weeks have passed life in the shelters has become tougher as people realise they have to stay longer than they initially thought.

While a part of Minami Souma City has been declared as the 'planned evacuation area' by the government last week, JCF continues to support the people who are staying in the city by providing physical check-ups.

Since the situation is not expected to improve any time soon, we will also call on people to evacuate to Nagano Prefecture (where JCF is located). We try to talk to the mayor, the head of the education and emergency measure centre but the city

officials were all very busy. So we will plan to make a guide informing people who will be accepted as residents.

We really hope that the situation of nuclear power plant will be stabilised as soon as possible.

Serious radiation leaks still continue due to the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Overseas organizations have provided predictions of radiation dispersion, while nothing has been announced officially by the Japanese government.

Furthermore entrance and opening ceremonies at elementary schools have commenced regardless of locally high radiation levels in the surrounding areas, causing a potential threat to children.

Rapid response to minimize damage from nuclear accidents is required, and in the meantime unified civil society plays an important role in the abandonment of nuclear power and also a shift in energy policy in Japan.

Friends of the Earth Japan is involved in the development of non governmental organisational networks (NGO) in Japan, as well as lobby government policies. Presented below are Japanese NGO activities concerning nuclear power plants in Japan.

Radiation monitoring project in elementary schools

The Fukushima Conference for Recovery from the Nuclear-Earthquake Disaster, which was urgently set up by a group of citizens in Fukushima Prefecture and the adjacent southern part of Miyagi Prefecture, has conducted a study of radioactive contamination in elementary schoolyards.

The result of the study indicates that an uneven pattern in dispersion of contamination is likely to create areas of particularly high radiation in some parts of schoolyards, called hot spots.

The Fukushima Conference called on the governor of Fukushima Prefecture to conduct further investigation based on the study. Other organisations such as Citizens Against Fukushima Aging Nuclear Power Plants (Fukuro-no-Kai) supporting this activity, encourage the government and municipalities to act, while proceeding with citizen-run radiation monitoring projects.

Further information: http://fukurou.txt-nifty.com/fukurou/2011/04/the-fukushima-c.html

Petition the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare

Organisations such as Osaka Citizens Against the Mihama, Oi and Takahama Nuclear Power Plants (Mihama-no-Kai), Citizens’ Nuclear Information Centre and GREEN ACTION are calling on the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to revise evacuation zones, repeal the upward revision of the maximum permissible radiation dose, measure and publicise the radiation monitoring, investigate radiation exposure and health status among residents and provide for their long-term health care. They are also gathering signatures for a petition.

Further information: http://fukushima.greenaction-japan.org/petition/

No more nuclear disaster! Build a no-nuke society! 4.24 meeting and demonstration

Stop nuclear power plants! Tokyo network (consisted of Do NOT Want Plutonium! Tokyo, Diahchi wo Mamoru Kai, Citizens’ Nuclear Information Centre) will perform demonstrations on April 24, in Tokyo and march through the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry building, Chubu Electric Power Company, and head office of Tokyo Electric Power Company. Pavel Vdovichenko, one of the founders of Russian NGO Radimichi to the Children of Chernobyl, will talk at the meeting.

From "unplanned power outage" to "strategic energy shift"

Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies (ISEP) examined capacity for power supply in the Kanto region as well as its past demand, and proposes public policies in short, mid, and long terms.

Further information: http://www.isep.or.jp/e/Eng_index.html

Radiation monitoring

Greenpeace set up an investigation team including radiation experts to protect citizens’ health and the surrounding environment by providing highly transparent information and analysis. Greenpeace’s statements are as below, based on their results of the first investigation: The data provided by the government is reliable, but their action in accordance with the data is not appropriate. The government must stop political action such as ‘within 30km’, and must act immediately to determine evacuation zones based on scientific data. In such case, actions with a priority for children and pregnant women, who are susceptible to radioactive materials, are necessary.

Further information: http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/

Thanks to the support of people who donated to Friends of the Earth International's appeal, we've passed on 600,000 Yen (around 5000 euros) to Peace Boat, who are conducting emergency relief efforts for those who are suffering.

Peace Boat is now located in Ishinomaki city in Miyagi prefecture. For the last two weeks they have been carrying out the following:

• Coordinating requests from evacuation centres;
• Cooperating with other organisations willing to help provide assistance in Ishinomaki;
• Preparing and distributing at least 500 daily hot meals to survivors outside the evacuation centres, with an immediate goal of 2000 meals per day;
• Helping cater to affected areas that the authorities have yet to reach;
• Participating in efforts to clean the evacuation centres, clear debris and mud, and make the roads functional.

Despite our efforts, the area is still facing a serious shortage of food. Since March 25, Peace Boat has been rotating teams of 50 volunteers and will be coordinating more of them in the coming weeks.

The money that Friends of the Earth transferred will provide around 1000 hot meals. A member of Friends of the Earth Japan will be volunteering on April 16 and 17. She will report back here on the experience!

More information, in English, on Peace Boat's work can be found on their website and Facebook page. 

Peace Boat Website

Peace Boat Facebook page.

AY

The petition is available to sign on the Green Action Japan website, one of the NGOs Friends of the Earth Japan is working with.

Sign the petition now!

The petition calls for the Japanese government to:

1. Immediately issue a directive to evacuate and enlarge the evacuation zone.
2. Calculate and publicise the total cumulative radiation dose local residents are receiving.
3. Repeal the upward revision of the maximum permissible radiation dose (250 milliSieverts) for emergency-response workers at the Fukushima plant.
4. Expand the scope of radiation monitoring and publicise the results.
5. Undertake immediately a comprehensive survey of the radiation exposure and current state of health of local residents and provide for their long-term health care.
6. Do not relax the provisional standards governing the maximum permissible levels of radionuclides in food.
7. Provide compensation for damages to farm and dairy producers and to people who have been forced to relocate.
8. Generally, take all measures necessary to ensure that members of the public do not receive radiation doses greater than 1 milliSievert per annum.

On March 31, one of our staff members went to Iwanuma city, Miyagi Prefecture, one of the areas most affected by the tsunami to grasp the needs on the ground.

Those needs are still being assessed, but here are some photos of the devastation in Iwanuma City.


The remains of a road.

Paddy fields remain strewn with rubble and salt damage could harm future rice production.

These trees used to form a disaster-prevention forest, but were felled by
the tsunami.

Three weeks after the earthquake and tsunami happened, Sendai Airport (in Miyagi Prefecture) has reopened. We hope this will facilitate relief work and put forward the reconstruction.

I have often been upset by so-called 'experts' when I watch nuclear issues being covered on the TV in Japan. 

A nuclear expert who used to work at Toshiba said, one day, 

"Japaese nuclear technique will possibly be praised and we should be proud of it, as we could avoid the worst of the worst." 

How could he possibly say such a thing in such a way, almost ignoring those affected already in many ways!? And, he still continues to be on TV.

Yesterday, another expert on radiation in the sea, said that the fish are safe to eat, as we have already been taking in plutonium previously releaed in the pacific from elsewhere. 

This cannot be the reason why we are safe!! 

I do not blame all the experts. But, it strikes me some experts are exposed to media just to defend safety or protect themselves.

NS

On Sunday 27 March around 1,200 demonstrators walked through Ginza, one of the most famous shopping areas in Tokyo, to appeal against Japanese nuclear policy.

Alarmed by the nuclear crisis in Fukushima, several anti-nuclear groups, as well as individual activists, organised the demonstration to appeal for an evaluation of nuclear policy and prompt updates on the situation in Fukushima.

The crowd's chants were loud and direct:

"We need no Genpatsu (nuclear power plant)!"
"Stop Genpatsu right now!"
"No more Fukushima, no more Chelnobyl."
"Life is more important than electricity !"

The parade started from Ginza, went via the Tepco head office and cumulated in an assembly in Hibiya park.

A young woman from a small town 5km from Fukushima's first nuclear reactor spoke to the crowd about the serious situation faced by local people and appealed to save them.

A young man who lead the demonstration insisted that we Japanese citizens now have to speak as one voice to get rid of nuclear policy.

Some foreign media reported the demonstration, but no Japanese media.

Euronews coverage
BBC coverage
TF1 coverage

AY

Have you ever thought you will be affected by radiation or nuclear accidents? I, myself, did not. At least before the accident happened in Fukushima.

A few days ago, three workers of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant were exposed to high level radiation in the plant. They were not wearing long boots, which meant their feet were soaked by radioactive-contaminated water on the ground. They were sent to the hospital. 

Life and safety in Fukushima and the neibouring area will come back only at the sacrifice of these workers. I know nuclear power plants can only work if there are workers who are always facing the risks of radiation.

And there are many people living near the power plant, who were told 'you'll be safe!' by companies and governments. They were reconciled, or accepted that, it would not happen in their 'backyard'. I understood in my head, but might not have felt that from my heart.

The nuclear accidents have changed too many things here in Japan. Sometimes you only know you've lost something once its gone. But, when you lose it, it is often too late.  

After facing accidents in Fukushima, I really know what it means for us to have nuclear power plants in my country. Too many people's life can be devastated by only one accident. 

NS

The anxiety of people in Tokyo after the accidents at Fukushima nuclear
power plant have been growing day by day. But the anxiety of the people in Fukushima is beyond my imagination.

Japan Chernobyl Fund (JCF), which is one of the groups we are supporting through donations made to FoE International, is focusing on people staying in Minami-Souma City.

JCF's staff, doctors and nurses are providing medical assistance in shelters and the city hospital, located only 23 kms from the nuclear power plant.

More than 1000 people are said to have died as a result of the earthquake and tsunami in Minami-Souma City. However, the residents' sorrow is not only caused by the natural disaster but by a human-made disaster, the nuclear accident.

Due to fears that the area is contaminated by radiation, the distribution of gas, medicines and foods have been stopped, and all the shops are closed. The residents are said to be "fourfold suffering".

"Many people have fallen sick with stress caused by the shocks and the changing environment after the disaster, although they were not affected directly by the earthquake and tsunami." said Ms. Kamiya, JCF staff.

"In the long-term, health damage caused by exposure to radiation is a concern. But at the moment, it is most important to deal with chronic disease and infectious disease caused by sleeplessness and stress" (Source: JCF Staff's blog http://jcf.ne.jp/cp-bin/blog/)

Many residents have moved from the city after the nuclear accidents while many people still remain in their hometown (26,000 out of 71,000 residents are staying).

There must be different situation that each family is facing but the reality is the residents of the city are forced to be divided, and their land and loving nature have been contaminated. I cannot imagine the sorrow of people in Fukushima.

Because the electricity made in Fukushima nuclear power plant was sent to Tokyo and the neighboring area, not Fukushima, I feel guilty for what the people in Fukushima are facing.

We should really think about what we can do to prevent another catastrophe. I am really hoping that the situation of the nuclear power plant will be stabilised as soon as possible.

EW

To the victims of the 2011 Tohoku-Kanto Earthquake and tsunami, we send our deepest condolences. To those surviving the aftermath in shelters, those engaged in relief activities in the affected areas, and those who have been working tirelessly day and night to minimize the damage from the resulting nuclear accident, we would also send our heartfelt appreciation and encouragement. 

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident following the earthquake has, unfortunately, become the strongest repudiation to date of the Japanese government's and power companies' justification of nuclear power. 

We believe that, besides full support for current efforts in the field, to move forward from this situation, it is imperative now to mobilize the collective wisdom of citizens in our society and non-governmental organizations with expertise in relevant fields. 

We also call for timely and full disclosure by the government of Japan, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), nuclear agencies, and local governments, about the constantly-changing situation at the nuclear plant, in addition to information related to radioactive materials, their quantities, and possible radiation exposure in the affected region. 

FoE Japan has for some time been advocating for a low-energy and nuclear-free society and working to curb the publicly-subsidized export of Japanese nuclear power plants to developing countries. The ongoing Fukushima nuclear crisis is a direct result of Japan's official energy policy, which is skewed toward nuclear power. 

In the coming weeks and months, we hope to see a meaningful review, not only in Japan but also internationally, of nuclear policies and issues surrounding nuclear exports. A fundamental review is needed of our energy-intensive economies and societies. We would like to cooperate with all interested parties and contribute to national and international discussions for the further promotion of renewable and nuclear-free energy. 

We offer our prayers for the safety of those in the affected areas, those who have been evacuated, those working in the vicinity of the nuclear plants, and for everyone in Japan, and hope the situation will improve and return to calm in the coming days. 

March 18, 2011 

From All Staff of Friends of the Earth Japan

Photo Credit: DigitalGlobe

Friends of the Earth International expresses solidarity with the people of Japan who have been affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami. 

We are also greatly concerned about the worsening situation at the Fukushima nuclear power station. We are in regular contact with our national member group in Japan who are safe and monitoring the situation. 

Nnimmo Bassey, chair of Friends of the Earth International, said:

"We sympathise with the people of Japan over the tragic disasters following the earthquake and tsunami. While these are natural disasters, the additional nuclear disaster is human made and clearly shows the urgent need for Japan and other countries to halt plans for new nuclear plants, decommission existing ones, and invest in safe, renewable energy forms."