Theos-Talk Archives (November 1998 Message tt00465)

I promised I wouldn't use this list to forward other lists info, but hey
I'm human, I lied - but this should be the last one as my internet access
ends tomorrow. I would hope that after reading this though, there will be
no complaints - after all is it not the true spirit of theosophy? (sorry
about the misleading post title)

Regards All,

Darren

> From: "Val Phillips" <valphillips@igc.apc.org>

Dear Friends,

PLEASE JOIN ME IN THIS URGENT ACTION TO HELP PROTECT NATIVE PEOPLES
RIGHTS!!

IF YOU ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS, PLEASE FORWARD THIS LETTER TO CONCERNED
FRIENDS AND ALLIES.

As some of you already know, I will be one member of an American Friends
Service Committee delegation at the upcoming UN Intersessional Working
Group on the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in
Geneva, Switzerland, from November 30-December 11. My Native allies have
said that they believe that at this meeting, the US Government will
attempt to gut the Draft Declaration of all meaningful protections of
Indigenous Peoples' fundamental rights and destroy its future as a strong
human rights document once and for all.

Native Peoples from throughout the world labored for ten years, at great
personal hardship and sacrifice, to produce a declaration which they agreed
is a MINIMUM standard for the protection of their rights.  Central to the
Draft are provisions protecting collective rights, and recognizing
Indigenous nations right to self-determination, equal with all other
nations.  Article 3 on self-determination is seen by many as the most
important article of the Draft, because it protects Indigenous Peoples'
right to self-determination, using language taken directly from the UN
Charter.  Native Peoples who have participated in this process for years
are in unity that this article must not be changed in any way, nor the
State governments be allowed to weaken the protections of collective
rights.

For our part, we here have put together an urgent action network of people
who COMMIT to responding to 3 urgent action alerts between November 30 and
December 11.  I am asking you, please, to be part of this network.

When I say COMMIT, let me explain what I mean.  In this electronic age, we
all can and do receive LOTS of urgent actions.  I get several daily.  I
respond to very few.  I don't think I'm unusual in this regard, so for this
reason, we need to secure commitments in advance.  I have nothing against
people agreeing to post this to various lists, AS WELL, but in order for
this action to be effective, those of us here (at KAOS Central) and in
Geneva, need to KNOW-beyond a shadow of a doubt-just how many
calls/faxes/emails our elected leaders have gotten, and from where, so that
we can confront them with specifics on their policies and demand that they
respond to the American public.

What I'm asking of you is this:  that you commit, for those two weeks, to
being either a "branch" or a "leaf".  If you're a leaf, your job is simply
to respond to the urgent action alerts by immediately contacting a list of
Washington types which we will provide you with.  It shouldn't take long.
You could do it over a lunch half hour.

If you're a branch, you have the same responsibilities as a leaf, but you
also have the added responsibility of following up with at least five (5)
leaves to make sure they did their job, and then passing that information
back up the tree (KAOS Central is also known as the trunk).  You could do
this on a coffee break. You will be given all the necessary contact info
for doing this.  We have a confirmation letter we will email you as soon
as you commit with the necessary information.

PLEASE CONSIDER BEING A BRANCH and recruiting at least 5 leaves from among
your friends and associates (in other words, people I don't know, can't
reach, and can't organize).  I know you all are really busy, but I REALLY
need your help and support on this.  I really do believe that, working
together, we CAN make a difference on this one.

PLEASE RESPOND ASAP - Thanks so much.

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO FORWARD THIS LETTER TO YOUR LISTS, BUT PLEASE DO NOT
ADD OR DELETE FROM IT.  THANK YOU!!

Love, Val Phillips
AFSC-Colorado
Indigenous Peoples' Rights Project