The indigenous peoples delegation, some members traveling overseas for the first time, will be aided by interpreters to participate at the UN talks Dec. 7 to 18. Their agenda includes discussion of the controversial international REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) program, adaptation strategies and other topics at a special Indigenous Day symposium Dec. 12th
Conversations with the Earth is a collaboration between Land Is Life of Boston, an indigenous rights advocacy group, and UK-based community video trainers InsightShare, in collaboration with photographer, Nicolas Villaume.
The effort has connected indigenous groups and communities living in critical ecosystems around the world, including the Atlantic rainforest, Central Asia, the Philippines, the Andes, the Arctic, and Africa.
The Kenya video is particularly compelling, documenting the impact of an intense drought hitting the Maasai community. During these extremely hard times, pastoralists have been losing their cattle -- their main and sometimes only livelihood -- while the elderly and the sick have begun dying from malnutrition and other causes.
Post-Copenhagen, CWE will launch a series of presentations worldwide to expand the success of connecting indigenous communities to share adaptation strategies and link with rest of the world around key climate change issues.
"Indigenous Peoples have contributed little to climate change. Yet, they suffer from the brunt of direct and immediate effects of escalating global warming," says Inupiat leader Patricia Cochran, Chair of the Indigenous Peoples Global Summit on Climate Change.
"Despite the recent adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, they continue to have little say in the UN climate negotiations, epitomizing the climate injustice."
"At this critical time of global decision-making, indigenous voices have an important message for the global community and future generations," she adds. "From Papua New Guineans working to save their seaside homes, to Maasai villagers responding to cattle-killing drought, Conversations with the Earth enables indigenous communities to give dramatic first-hand accounts of their experience with climate change."
"We are a harbinger of what is to come, what the rest of the world can expect."
"Traditional and indigenous communities depend on a relationship with healthy ecosystems and possess a wealth of knowledge, wisdom, and practical experience in adapting to long-term changes in their environment," says Brian Keane, Director of Land is Life.
"The pace of change is such, however, that indigenous communities are struggling to adapt to what's happening," he adds.
This is an excerpt from an indigenous Maasai community-produced video documenting local climate change impacts.The full video, part of the Conversations with the Earth climate change series produced by indigenous people worldwide, will debut publicly Friday, Dec. 4, at www.conversationsearth.org.
(Photo Credit: Conversations with the Earth)
This is a still from a series of indigenous community-produced videos documenting climate change impacts worldwide.
(Photo Credit: Conversations with the Earth)
Source: Christensen Fund