New Report - Mining and its Impacts on Water, Food Sovereignty and Sacred Natural Sites in Uganda A New Report Calls for No Go Areas for Mining and Extractive Activities as Threats to Water, Food Sovereignty, and Sacred Natural Sites and Territories Increase Across Africa. A new Report released today by the National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE), Uganda and The Gaia Foundation (UK) reveals how mining is significantly threatening ecosystems and communities in the Bunyoro region of Uganda. The Report - Mining and its impacts on Water, Food Sovereignty and Sacred Natural Sites and Territories - advocates for the recognition and protection of watersheds, food sovereignty areas, and Sacred Natural Sites and Territories as No Go Areas for mining and extractive activities. Posted by Anonymous (not verified), 3rd July 2014 Download a pdf copy of the full Report and Executive Summary: gaiafoundation.org/news/new-report-mining-and-its-impacts-on-water-food-sovereignty-and-sacred-natural-sites-and Mining and extractive activities are growing rapidly in Uganda and across Africa. The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Development in Uganda estimates there are 3.5 billion barrels of oil and gas deposits in Ugandas Albertine region alone. The impacts of mining are of grave concern to communities and civil society organisations across Uganda and beyond. The Report warns that oil extraction, which is projected to begin in Uganda by 2017, would have destructive, widespread and long-term impacts on the Bunyoro region, which is celebrated for its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage. The regions abundance of water, food growing areas and Sacred Natural Sites and Territories, upon which surrounding ecosystems and the lives and livelihoods of communities depend, are at great risk. Women are likely to be disproportionately affected by mining given their dependence on these ecosystems and the vital role they play in their protection. As ecosystems are interconnected, the impacts of mining would threaten not only Uganda but also the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Sudan- which share a common watershed - with untold political implications. Asuman Irumba, a member of the Custodians Coalition in Bunyoro, in the Albertine region, comments:Sacred Natural Sites existed before our great grand fathers but oil activities could destroy them despite the spiritual significance of our sites. In Kaiso, we have many Sacred Natural Sites. We shall not be intimidated and we shall not give up performing our rituals in our sites. We are who we are because of our Sacred Natural Sites. In response to this determination of local communities to protect their ancestral lands, the Report emphasizes the important role of communities, civil society and government in preventing and reducing the impacts of mining on water, food sovereignty and Sacred Natural Sites and Territories. The report cites relevant laws and policies which could be used to assert a right and responsibility to say No to mining. The Report also calls for recognition of, and compliance with, unwritten law - the laws of the Earth (Earth Law) which are reflected in communities customary governance systems - as central in the protection of Nature from the threat of mining and extractive activities. A movement is growing in Africa for the revival and practice of Earth Law, embedded in customary law. As Frank Muramuzi, Executive Director, National Association of Professional Environmentalists (NAPE) comments; This Report will be a basis for people in Uganda and in Africa in general, for using unwritten law to protect peoples rights and the rights of Nature. You cannot protect peoples rights without protecting Natures rights. Human rights and Natures rights go hand in hand. This report recognises the fact that Earth Law should be the basis of all laws (written and unwritten). I encourage all readers to use it to promote human rights and Natures rights. We urgently need to recognise and support the call of communities to respect Sacred Natural Sites and Territories, food sovereignty and watershed systems as No Go Areas for extractive activities. Liz Hosken, Executive Director, The Gaia Foundation further comments; This Report is a wake up call - to recognise the toxic wasteland we will pass on to future generations of all species, if we allow mining to continue. Mining is breaching our Earths fundamental laws, especially fossil fuel extraction which not only destroys vital ecosystems and precious water and food systems, but drives climate change. We simply cannot afford to gamble the future of our children for the illusion of a quick economic fix, when there are alternatives. The choices we make today will decide the fate of our children. This Report is an important tool for the growing movement saying Yes to Life, No to Mining - the stark choice we are facing on an already fragile Earth. The Report offers a tool for communities, civil society and other stakeholders in Uganda and elsewhere, to strengthen the protection of water, food sovereignty and Sacred Natural Sites and Territories - which are interconnected - and to have confidence in saying No to Mining.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 11:33:54 +0000
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