Support Indigenous Peoples vs. Coal Mines / Venezuela

The Sierra de Perija is the northernmost range of the Andes mountains, reaching to the Caribbean along the Colombia-Venezuelan border. Rich in primary forests and biological diversity, the Sierra has become a battleground where the Venezuelan government must make a choice between indigenous rights and environmental protection on one hand, and exploiting the region’s massive coal deposits on the other.

Indigenous Peoples’ Rights

The Sierra’s quarter million indigenous people have already experienced environmental devastation, disease and social upheaval since two enormous open pit coal mines began operations in 1987. They are united in opposing the construction of three new mines and the expansion of one existing mine within their territories. The projects, which would quadruple Venezuela’s coal production, would be joint ventures between the Venezuelan state and mining companies from the US, Ireland, Brazil, Australia, Chile, Japan and elsewhere.

For the Wayuu, Yukpa, Bari and Japreria peoples, the primary issue is securing their land rights, including the right to deny access to sub-surface mineral deposits. Venezuela’s new constitution requires demarcation of indigenous lands and awarding of collective land titles – a significant step forward for indigenous peoples’ rights. But the land titles can exclude existing mines and mining concessions as well as large cattle ranches within the indigenous territories. “We want collective title to all the ancestral lands that we have demarcated,” says Yukpa leader Leonardo Martinez – including the areas designated for the new coal mines.

Water Resources

For the down-river population of Maracaibo, a city of 1.5 million people, the main issue is water. Deforestation at the mine sites would cause erosion and siltation of the rivers and reservoirs that supply the city’s drinking water, which is already in short supply. Open-pit mining uses huge quantities of water, competing with the needs of agriculture and urban areas. The mining operations would contaminate rivers with heavy metals, endangering the health of fish, wildlife, birds, livestock and humans. Acid mine drainage could continue to pollute the land and water for centuries to come.

Biological Diversity

The three proposed new coal mines would destroy large tracts of ancient tropical forests that provide habitat for hundreds of endangered species, including many that are endemic (found nowhere else on earth). During the last 50 years cattle ranchers invaded the Sierra’s lower altitudes, systematically destroying forests. As a result, jaguars, ocelots, Andean bear, giant anteaters, iguanas, macaws and spider monkeys already face extinction – and their demise would be accelerated by the coal mines. To export the coal, a new mega-port would be built on islands in the Caribbean, destroy-ing unique wildlife and bird habitat and fisheries, as well as the livelihoods of displaced fisher families.

President Chavez inspires the hope, gratitude and enthusiastic support of Venezuela’s poorest citizens by using oil profits to provide far-reaching education, health and employment programs that are transforming the society. But environmentalists, scientists and indigenous people fear that the social gains will be short-lived if the country’s forests, rivers, air and biological diversity are sacrificed for oil, gas and coal production. As Wayuu leader Angela Gonzales says, “We can live without coal. We can’t live without water.”

How Can We Help?

Three times in the last year, the Wayuu, Yukpa, Bari and Japreria peoples have marched in the capital city under banners saying “No to Coal.” At the World Social Forum in late January, they appealed to world citizens to help them convince President Chavez to annul the coal concessions on their lands. They said, “We are not against Chavez. We are against coal mines!” Please support their struggle by writing to the President and the Minister of the Environment. A model letter is available here.

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Requested Action: Please write a polite letter to President Chavez
(a model letter is available here)

• Tell President Chavez that you applaud Venezuela’s constitution which provides for indigenous peoples’ rights.


• Urge him to grant the request of Wayuu, Yukpa, Bari and Japreria leaders to have a personal meeting with him concerning the coal concessions within their territories.


• Tell him why you oppose new coals mines in the Sierra de Perija. Some good reasons: 1) The indigenous people who live there oppose the new mines; 2) The mines would destroy ancient tropical forests whose biological diversity is of incalculable value; 3) Coal mining would contaminate the water supply of the entire population of Maracaibo; 4) Worldwide, we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, especially on coal -- the dirtiest source of energy and the greatest contributor to global warming and climate change; 5) Venezuela doesn’t need this coal. The economic benefits would go primarily to multinational mining companies (otherwise, why do they want to mine there?), while Venezuela’s land, water, wildlife and people would suffer irreparable harm.


• Tell him what you are doing to reduce coal consumption and fossil fuel dependence in your country.

Addresses:

Sr. Hugo Chavez, Presidente Republica
Bolivariana de Venezuela
Palacio de Miraflores
Final Avenida Urdaneta, Esq. de Bolero
Caracas 1010, Venezuela
FAX: +58-212-806-8210

If you can, please send copies of your letter to:

Ing. Jacqueline Faria, Ministra
Ministerio del Ambiente
Centro Simon Bolivar, Torre Sur, Piso 25
El Silencio, Caracas, Venezuela
FAX: +58 212 408 1024
Email: jfaria@marn.gob.ve

Prof. Lusbi Portillo
Homo et Natura
Calle Carabobo No. 7-34
Maracaibo, Zulia
Venezuela
Email: homoetnatura@gmail.com



Postage from US to Venezuela: 84 cents

It would also be very helpful to send a copy of your letter to the Venezuelan ambassador in your country. Find the address at www.embajada-online.com/embajadas-de-Venezuela-en-otros-paises-P198.htm

US Citizens should send copies of their letters to:

Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
1099 30th St. NW
Washington DC 20007
FAX: 202 342-6820
Email: nfani@embavenez-us.org

Paula Palmer's Venezuela Photo Gallery

No al Carbon! (No to Coal)

Caracas World Social Forum logo, January 2006

Professor Lusbi Portillo (Sociedad Homo et Natura), Wayuu leader Jorge Montiel and
Yukpa leader Leonardo Martinez speak at World Social Forum (on left is translator Laura).
“On the radio we heard that people from all over the world would come to this Forum.
We came to show the world our struggle and ask for your support. ”

“No to Coal in the Sierra de Perija” banner at Indigenous Peoples’ March, January 26, Caracas

Yukpa indigenous people in the Indigenous March.
“We are not against Chavez. We are against coal mines.”

Wayuu leader Angela Gonzales (in red) and Yukpa people in Indigenous March.
“Coal is our enemy. We cannot eat coal.”

Wayuu banner in Indigenous March. "The Wayuu demand: No more exploitation on our lands!
We want water, land, and dignity. No coal mines in Cachiri and Perija."

Indigenous mother and child in the march.
“We can live without coal. We can’t live without water.”

“No to Coal” graffiti en route to the Sierra de Perija

“No to Coal” on a Wayuu house

Wayuu family. “We are living as if a huge rock were pressing down on us;
we can’t sleep for worrying about these mines.”

A Wayuu woman rows homeward in her dugout canoe.
“The river is our mother. We cannot let them kill our mother.” (photo by Michelle Gutierrez)

Wayuu leader Jorge Montiel and Global Response director Paula Palmer.
“This planet cannot withstand any more contamination. We ask all the people of the world to unite
with us to defend our rivers and our forests.” (Photo by Ray Miklethun)

Yukpa Home. (Photo by Michelle Gutierrez)

Yukpa caciques (elected leaders) and Paula Palmer, director of Global Response.
“Why has President Chavez given the rights to this coal to multinational mining companies?
These mines will be the death of the indigenous people.” (photo by Mary Bull)

Yukpa child. “If they build these mines, where will we live?
Our children will end up begging in the streets. No no no no.
We are warriors. We will defend the lands of our ancestors.”
(photo by Michelle Gutierrez)

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