WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 - The Bush administration today reversed an 11th-hour Clinton administration ruling on mining policy, making it easier for companies to mine for gold, copper, zinc and lead on public lands. It also issued a legal opinion that could clear the way for a Nevada company to dig an open-pit gold mine in a part of the California desert considered sacred by a local Indian tribe.

Officials of the Bureau of Land Management said they were removing unduly burdensome provisions of the mining regulations. The mining industry blames what it says was a hostile and inhospitable attitude during the Clinton administration for a sharp drop in new mines in this country over the last decade and for forcing the industry overseas.

Environmentalists said the move gutted regulations protecting public lands and stood as a stark example of what they said was a Bush administration tilt toward industry at the expense of the environment.

The Clinton administration had given the Interior secretary the ability to veto permits for mines on federal lands if the mine could cause "substantial and irreparable harm" to the community. In a rule to be published on Tuesday and to go into effect on Dec. 31, the Bush administration withdraws that veto power.

"Our solicitor has just issued a legal opinion that says denial of a mining permit on the grounds of substantial and irreparable harm is not legally supportable," Larry Finfer, a spokesman for the Bureau of Land Management, told reporters today.

Mr. Finfer defended the decision on three grounds. He said the Interior Department already had the authority to deny mining permits if the operation did not comply with laws regarding clean air and water. He said the public had not had time to comment on the Clinton policy, which went into effect the day before Mr. Clinton left office. And he said it was not fair to force a mining company to go through the lengthy permit process and then deny a permit on the basis of what he said was a subjective standard.

The Clinton regulation, Mr. Finfer said, essentially told mining companies, "You've cleared all 10 hurdles, but we're saying you lose anyway."

At the same time, he said, the bureau was retaining part of the Clinton rules - sought by environmentalists and endorsed by the mining industry - that required companies to be bonded so they pay all clean-up costs when they finish mining.

He said the timing of the actions was the result of four lawsuits involving mine permits.

Jack Gerard, president of the National Mining Association, said the new regulations were "a tempering of the excesses that occurred in the previous administration."

Mr. Gerard said a decrease in expenditures on mining in the United States - the money spent for mineral development since 1993 dropped by 88 percent - meant that the nation was seven times more dependent on foreign sources for minerals. "We hope this is a signal that we will stop that negative slide that has chilled the U.S. industry and has encouraged us to take our resources elsewhere."

But environmentalists complained that the new rules essentially say that no mine can be denied because of its effect on the environment.

Lexi Shultz, legislative director of the Mineral Policy Center, a nonprofit environmental group in Washington, said the ruling was a "handshake with the industry" and a further subsidy of old mining laws that allow private companies "to take billions of dollars of valuable minerals out of public land for free without paying a royalty and without having to fully consider the damage that they leave behind."

In addition to eliminating the secretary's veto power over mining permits, Mr. Finfer said the department's solicitor, William G. Myers, had issued an opinion that would allow Glamis Gold Ltd., based in Reno, to proceed with a mine in the desert near El Centro, Calif. The Clinton administration denied the company's plan for a mile-long open- pit mine that, it said, would harm sacred sites of the Quechan tribe.

David Hyatt, a Glamis Gold vice president for investor relations, said the company was pleased with the opinion, which could bolster its position in court, but was not certain whether it would go ahead with that mine, for which it first sought a permit in 1994.

"We're not sure what it means," Mr. Hyatt said, noting that the plan was tied up in court and that the company was focused on other projects. "We plan on proceeding with the permitting process, but a `go' decision would be based on the new economics and the price of gold."

Roger Flynn, a lawyer for the Western Mining Action Project, based in Boulder, Colo., which opposes the Glamis mine, said the legal reasoning that could help the company was "the flimsiest I've ever seen." Mr. Flynn said the Clinton rule said a mine could be blocked because it would cause "undue impairment" to an area, but the Bush rule was saying "you never defined `undue impairment' so we can't protect against it."

White House backs Mt. Rushmore Coal Mining Plans

WASHINGTON (API) -- The White House today responded to growing criticism of its support for mining a coal seam inside Mount Rushmore, the national shrine in South Dakota's Black Hills, in order to meet the nation's energy needs.

BHP-Rio Billiranda, the Australian/British/South African/ Canadian mining conglomerate, announced its discovery of "one of North America's three richest anthracite coal seams" on April 1. The company has applied for state and federal permits to dig shafts into Mount Rushmore's rear flank to recover the extensive low-sulfur coal deposit. The permit applications have been met with widespread opposition by environmental organizations, park protection groups, and tourism interests.

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton returned Tuesday from a visit to South Dakota, where she had met with concerned citizens and mining firm representatives. "You have to understand," she told reporters at the National Press Club on Wednesday, "the mining operation would be restricted to the rear of the mountain. Shafts would be dug only into the back of the four presidents' heads, out of view of the visitors' center. The projected periodic blasting should not disrupt tourists' experience, or obscure their view of the breathtaking masterpiece."

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-South Dakota) weighed in Tuesday on the mining proposal in his home state. "This coal mine plan is an affront to the environment and our national heritage," Sen. Daschle asserted in a press release, "I and my colleagues in the South Dakota congressional delegation will fight like hell to ensure that Mount Rushmore is protected, and the coal mining operations are carried out safely." BHP-Rio Billiranda officials were unavailable for comment.

Local opponents of the mine proposal, including environmentalists, ranchers, and Lakota (Sioux) tribes, in June founded the Mount Rushmore Alliance to stop the coal mine permits. Similar alliances have previously halted or slowed plans for uranium mines, bombing ranges, and coal-hauling trains elsewhere in western South Dakota.

A recent Alliance benefit concert at the Rapid City Convention Center drew up to 3,000 coal mine opponents, who were entertained by musical bands such as the Indigo Girls and The Presidents of the United States. Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls commented, "The carving of Mount Rushmore was enough of an affront to the sacred Black Hills. Now they want to add insult to injury by carving out the presidents' craniums."

At a press conference in his State Capitol office in Pierre, South Dakota Governor Bill Janklow replied last week to vocal demands to prevent mining at the national monument. "Rushmore may be inspiring, but it's certainly not sacred," the Governor said, "There's nothing sacred about a bunch of inert rock. I'd expect Indians to say stuff like that, but not upstanding white citizens."

Vice President Dick Cheney, who in May chaired an energy resources commission that backed the Mount Rushmore mine plans, said Monday after a meeting with Capitol Hill lawmakers, "The bottom line is we need the coal. Mining is part of our country's heritage just as surely as the majestic images on Mount Rushmore. I'm sure that the four presidents would be proud that their likenesses are being mined to help guarantee our nation's energy security."

The Vice President added, "Well, okay, maybe not Teddy Roosevelt. But remember that on conservation issues he was a tad bit extreme."

During a state visit to Australia on Wednesday, President Bush grinned to reporters who shouted questions about the Mount Rushmore controversy. "C'mon, we're talking here about coal; we're not talking about brains," the President responded, "Extractilating coal from the four presidents' skulls is not going to make them any dumber. At least, I don't think so."

INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENT NETWORK / PROJECT UNDERGROUND

August 09, 2001
U’wa Update - organize@ran.org

Colombia: U'wa Tribe - update

In this Post:
1. Amazon Watch, Project Underground, Rainforest Action Network Press Release
2. U'wa communique in English and Espanol

For background info on the U'wa struggle check out www.ran.org, www.amazonwatch.org, www.moles.org or the U'wa own website at http://www.uwacolombia.org.

CONTACTS: Atossa Soltani, Amazon Watch - (202) 256-9795
Patrick Reinsborough, Rainforest Action Network (415) 305-7246
Carwil James, Project Underground (510) 705-8981

Colombia's U'wa Tribe and Supporters Celebrate Oxy's Failure to Find Oil

End to Oil Drilling on the Tribe's Ancestral Land and Total De-Militarization Urged

The news long awaited by the Colombia's U'wa tribe and their thousands of supporters around the world has finally arrived: the Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum (OXY) announced Friday that it has failed to find oil at the Gibraltar 1 well site on the tribe's ancestral land in Northeastern Colombia. The company has begun removing equipment from the site, a positive turn of events for the valorous non-violent resistance campaign waged by the U'wa, an indigenous community of 8,000 who live high in the Andean cloud forests.

Since OXY received drilling rights in 1992 to the Siriri block (formerly known as Samore), the project has been embroiled in controversy and condemned by environmental and human rights groups worldwide.

The announcement by OXY comes as thousands of U'wa are taking part in a traditional three month spiritual retreat for fasting, meditation, teaching, singing, and prayer. The U'wa Werjayas (spiritual leaders) and Karekas (medicine people) have been praying for months and using traditional rituals to "hide the oil" from OXY's drill.

While the U'wa called this development a "cultural triumph," the tribe pointed out that their ancestral land is still threatened by oil exploration by the Spanish company Repsol, who is just beginning exploratory drilling in the Capachos 1 block. "This is a battle that we have won, but the war continues, because the U'wa territory is not only Gibraltar 1," said Roberto Perez, President of the U'wa Traditional Authority in a communique released today.

"The blood spilled from the three North Americans indigenous activists and other supporters who were killed, the loss of our U'wa children in the violent evictions, the humiliations of the armed forces, the cries of the U'wa children and elders in the peaceful mobilizations, the challenge to resist the aggressions by the Colombian State and OXY, will not go unpunished. It will be a bittersweet memory that will remain in the minds of those who participated directly an indirectly in the most difficult moments of this process," said Perez.

The U'wa have become a symbol of resistance to oil exploration and corporate led globalization for thousands of supporters around the world. Over the last 5 years, the U'wa resistance has inspired a massive international solidarity movement that has captured headlines with hundreds of peaceful demonstrations. More recently, the U'wa and their supporters been organizing to stop U.S. military aid to Colombia, of which OXY is an influential proponent.

Using tactics ranging from blockades at the drill site, lawsuits, shareholder resolutions, letter writing campaigns, banner hangs, and non-violent civil disobedience, the U'wa along with environmental and human rights activists have confronted Occidental and its major shareholders including Fidelity Investments, former Vice-President Al Gore and Alliance Capital/Sanford Bernstein.

"This is an important victory and a real milestone in the larger struggle to win recognition and respect for indigenous peoples rights around the world. Unfortunately, until we address our societies addiction to fossil fuels by transitioning to renewable energy sources, the world's remaining pristine ecosystems and traditional cultures will continue to be threatened by unscrupulous oil corporations," said Kevin Koenig, campaigner for Amazon Watch.

This is yet another blow to Oxy's operations in Colombia which have suffered significant losses this year. The company's Cano Limon field and pipeline have been paralyzed since February 17 as a result of more than 110 guerrilla bombings on the company's pipeline so far this year. In addition, OXY's private security contractor, AirScan, was recently implicated in one of Colombian Military's worst civilian massacres putting OXY in the center of yet another controversy. AirScan guided Colombian military's attack on the Santo Domingo village that killed 12 civilians including 9 children.

The U'wa Communique (in English and Spanish) follows this release.

Association Of U'wa Traditional Authorities Decree No. 1088 of 1993

Communique To National And International Community

Gibraltar 1, Cultural Triumph
The U'wa Will Continue To Defend Our Mother Earth
El Kera Chikara = Sacred Territory

Cubara, July 31, 2001

Recently, the U.S multinational company Occidental of Colombia (OXY) publicly recognized the negative results regarding the expected petroleum bonanza of Gibraltar 1.

For the U'wa, after doing a meticulous study of our origin, our history and of the flagrant violations of our great laws committed by the Colombian state and OXY, we knew this news months before. For our highest traditional authorities WERJAYAS, defenders of the landmarks of the world, it's a battle that has been won, but the war continues because the U'wa territory is not only Gibraltar 1. Our territory is more extensive, covering five Colombian states (Casanare, Arauca, Boyaca, Santander and North Santander) and part of the Venezuelan territory, today known as the state of Merida.

We say that it is only one battle and more await us, for today, the Sacred U'wa territory remains threatened by the petroleum exploration project BLOQUE CAPACHOS I, in the jurisdiction of the Tame - Arauca municipality, carried out by the SPANISH PETROLEUM MULTINATIONAL REPSOL EXPLORACION COLOMBIA, S.A. The indigenous reserve of Angostura, which is home to U'wa (with 3,200 hectares), Macarieros (40 hectares) and Payeros (the last of the Sikuani ethnic group with 94 hectares) are all being affected.

The National Government's administrative procedures for the BLOQUE CAPACHOS I, headed by the Minister of the Environment and the Ministry of the Interior (under the direction of the General of Indigenous Affairs), secretly moved ahead ignoring the process of consultation and agreement with the U'wa and Sikuani communities, as we are the ones that are directly affected by the project. This is the same obscure and deceptive process that moved ahead in Gibraltar I.

In the face of this event, the U'wa will inform our highest authorities to make decisions in how to act materially and spiritually to resist this project.

The knowledge inherited from our ancestors and the spiritual communication with the eternal father SIRA that we zealously preserve and practice today, allows us to reaffirm our vision and cultural mission, which we are obligated to defend with dignity. The respect for the Life of Mother Earth and all that exists upon her.

It is also right to say that in this first defense we were accompanied unrestrictedly by the social sectors from the state of Arauca, Cubara (Boyaca) and Toledo (North Santander), the indigenous brothers of Colombia and all Colombians who felt and observed powerlessly the physical and verbal aggressions we were subjected to in search for respect of our sacred rights.

The blood spilled of the North Americans indigenous women and activist who were killed, the loss of our U'wa children in the violent evictions, the humiliations of the armed forces, the cries of the U'wa children and elders in the peaceful mobilizations, the challenge to resist the aggressions by the Colombian State and OXY, will not go unpunished. They will be a memory with a bittersweet taste that will remain in the minds of those who participated directly and indirectly in the most difficult moments of this process. The vigilant and zealous spirit of our martyrs strengthens us to reaffirm the process of defense of our Historical Patrimonial Millennial Rights. Moreover, we highlight the international support that we have counted on with their moral, ethical, spiritual and economic solidarity to resist against the invasion of our sacred spaces.

We invite all our friends of Colombia and the World to continue their solidarity with the U'wa people in our second phase of resistance against petroleum companies and the Colombian State that continue to ignore our territorial and cultural rights. The U'wa have always respected that which belongs to others, but the government and multinational corporations continue to violate our rights.

Finally, we insist that the Colombian Government comply with the recuperation and legalization of the united U'wa Reserve.

Cultures with principles cannot be bought.

U'Wa Traditional Authorities

Roberto Perez Gutierrez
President of U'wa Traditional Authority U'wa Association

Office of Cabildo Mayor U'wa
Telefax 0978 892326

Español

COMUNICADO A LA OPINION PUBLICA

GIBRALTAR: TRIUNFO CULTURAL
LOS U´WA SEGUIREMOS DEFENDIENDO A NUESTRA MADRE TIERRA
EL KERA CHIKARA : TERRITORIO SAGRADO

Recientemente la empresa multinacional estadounidense de petroleo Occidental de Colombia, OXY, reconocio publicamente los resultados desalentadores frente a la expectativa de la bonanza petrolera de Gibraltar I, en territorio sagrado U´wa.

Para los U´was luego de hacer un estudio minucioso de nuestro origen de nuestra historia y de la flagrante violacion de nuestras leyes mayores, de los derechos fundamentales consagrados en la Constitucion Politica de 1991 y las leyes internacionales, por parte del Estado Colombiano y de la Oxy, meses antes conociamos esta noticia, lo cual nos tranquilizo y nuestra noble actitud fue retirarnos de la protesta pacifica para continuar con nuestros ayunos sagrados de purificacion y meditacion. Para nuestras maximas autoridades tradicionales Werjayas sostenedores de los mejores del Corazon del Mundos, es una batalla que se gana pero la guerra del conocimiento por defender la vida de la madre tierra y de nuestros hermanos riowa continua porque el territorio U´wa no solo es Gibraltar I, nuestro territorio es mas extenso, tiene espacio geografico en cinco departamentos de Colombia (Casanare, Arauca, Boyara, Santander y Norte de Santander) y parte del territorio venezolano, hoy territorio del Estado de Merida.

Decidimos que es solo una batalla y nos esperan muchas mas, pues hoy, el territorio sagrado U´wa sigue amenazado con el proyecto petrolero BLOQUE CAPACHOS I, en jurisdiccion del municipio de Tame - Arauca, adelantado por la Multinacional petrolera Espanola REPSOL EXPLORACION COLOMBIA SA. En el desarrollo de este proyecto se estan afectando los resguardos indigenas de Angostura de la etnia U´wa, Macarieros y Puyeros de la etnia Sikuani que de por si ya ha sido destruida en su mayor parte con el proyecto de explotacion petrolera de Cano Limon en Arauca, que adelanta la Oxy.

Los tramites administrativos del BLOQUE CAPACHOS por parte del Gobierno Nacional en cabeza del Ministro del Medio Ambiente y el Ministerio del Interior, a traves de la Direccion de General de Asuntos Indigenas se adelanto escondida, desconociendose el proceso de consulta y concertacion con los Pueblos U'WA y Sikuani quienes somos los directos afectados con este proyecto. Es el mismo proceso oscuro y enganoso que se adelanto en Gibraltar I.

Frente a este hecho los U´was informaremos a nuestras maximas autoridades para tomar decisiones de como actuar material y espiritualmente para contrarrestar este proyecto.

La sabiduria heredada de nuestros ancestros y la comunicacion espiritual con el padre eterno Sira que hoy celosamente conservamos y practicamos, nos permiten reafirmar nuestra vision y mision cultural que estamos obligados a defender con dignidad. EL RESPETO POR LA VIDA DE LA MADRE TIERRA Y TODO LO QUE EXISTE SOBRE ELLA.

Tambien es bueno decir que en esta primera defensa nos acompanaron irrestrictamente los sectores sociales del departamento de Arauca, de Cubara (Boyaca) y Toledo (Norte de Santander), los hermanos indigenas de Colombia y todos los colombianos que sintieron y observaron impotentes las agresiones fisicas y verbales a loas que fuimos sometidos por buscar el respeto de nuestros derechos sagrados.

La sangre derramada de los tres indigenistas norteamericanos, la perdida de nuestro ninos U´wa en los desalojos violentos, las humillaciones de la fuerza publica, el llanto de los ninos, ninas y ancianos U´wa en las movilizaciones pacificas, el reto por contrarrestar las agresiones del Estado y de la Oxy no quedaran impunes, sera un recuerdo con sabor amargo y dulce que quedara en la mente de los que participamos directa e indirectamente en los momentos mas dificiles de este proceso. El espiritu vigilante y celoso de nuestros martires nos fortalece para reafirmar el proceso de defensa de nuestros derechos historicos patrimoniales milenarios. Asi mismo es de resaltar el apoyo internacional con quienes hemos contado con la solidaridad moral, etica, espiritual para resistir frente a la invasion de nuestros espacios sagrados.

Invitamos a todos nuestros amigos y amigas de Colombia y del Mundo a continuar solidarizandose con el pueblo U´wa en nuestra segunda etapa de resistencia contra las petroleras y el Estado que estan desconociendo nuestros derechos territoriales y culturales. Los U´wa siempre hemos respetado lo ajeno, pero el gobierno y las empresas multinacionales siguen violando nuestros derechos.

Finalmente queremos exigir al Gobierno Colombiano el inmediato saneamiento del Resguardo Unido U´wa.

Las culturas con principios no tienen precio

AUTORIDADES TRADICIONALES U´WA

Roberto Perez Gutierrez
Presidente Cabildo Mayor
Asociacion U´wa

ASOCIACION DE AUTORIDADES TRADICIONALES U'WA
(Decreto 1088 de 1993 Resolucion de Registro No. 003 de 1997 Direccion General de Asuntos Indigenas Ministerio del Interior)
Oficina Cabildo Mayor U'wa
Calle 4 No. 3-53
Centro de Desarrollo Comunitario
Telefax 0978 892326
Cubara Boyaca

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      La Alianza Amazonica para los Pueblos Indigenas y Tradicionales de la Cuenca Amazonica es una iniciativa nacida de la alianza entre los pueblos indigenas y tradicionales de la Amazonia y grupos e individuos que comparten sus preocupaciones por el futuro de la Amazonia y sus pueblos. Las ochenta organizaciones del norte y del sur activas en la Alianza Amazonica creen que el futuro de la Amazonia depende de sus pueblos y el estado de su medio ambiente.
      The Amazon Alliance for Indigenous and Traditional Peoples of the Amazon Basin is an initiative born out of the partnership between indigenous and traditional peoples of the Amazon and groups and individuals who share their concerns for the future of the Amazon and its peoples. The eighty non-governmental organizations from the North and South active in the Alliance believe that the future of the Amazon depends on its peoples and the state of their environment.