cartagena

The International Conference of Environmental Rights and Human Rights hosted in Cartagena, Colombia from the 16th to the 18th of September, 2003, organized by Friends of the Earth International, Transnational Institute and the Oil Watch network declares:

Two hundred and fifty delegates from environmental organizations, NGOs and social movements from all over the planet have carefully considered the way in which many governments promote the virtues of 'free' trade, a concept which predominantly benefits transnational corporations and the global economic elite, whilst wars proliferate and the people and nations of the south become ever poorer.

We came together in Cartagena, in the Americas, where the sound of African drums still resonate just as they have for the last three hundred years. This beat calls for emancipation and resistance against slavery, displacement and injustice.

We recognize that although there has been significant progress in the international recognition of individual human rights, many dictators and torturers still enjoy impunity. Violations of collective rights and environmental rights are caused by a predatory economic model that prevails and grows.

Clean air, water and land have been taken away from disinherited people across the world. Coloured people, small farmers, indigenous peoples, and slum dwellers are pushed back into the most undesirable areas, forced to live in hunger, driven away from tourist areas, persecuted and jailed. In Colombia, black people are killed and they are not allowed to bury their dead as required by tradition. We declare that these are social injustices committed by the few against most of humanity.

Environmental injustices are the daily bread of factory workers, of street vendors, of women, girls and boys who carry water across great distances. Urban pollution is concentrated in areas where the most impoverished live, where there are effluents in the drinking water and where people fight with birds of prey for the scraps in rubbish bins.

In Colombia, the fumigations which are used in an attempt to exterminate the coca and poppy crops, the ingredients of the psychoactive substances that present an escape for desperate young people all over the world, are achieved through blood and fire without any legal, medical, or social justification. When the Amazon is fumigated, large expanses of agricultural lands are also fumigated, leaving behind a big toxic footprint and rendering the soil infertile.

We came from Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Oceania, and the Americas, summoned by the flutes, panpipes and celebratory music of the indigenous peoples. We affirmed our commitment to fight against the injustices caused by the greed emanating mainly from the North, which destroys ancestral values and cultures, which invades sacred places, which introduces machines which bore into the rock and stain the earth to extract metals, minerals, oil and pristine water. The greed pollutes the waterways and floods fertile soils, chasing weak people away, extinguishing life, exterminating fish and filling dams in order to generate energy that is squandered afterwards. Greed invades the everyday life of our towns with oil towers, disseminates the modem transgenic plague, and logs forests to create paper for unnecessary consumer goods.

Environmental problems stem from this ravenous greed. Our societies suffer from the impacts of this greed, and this is why we want to strengthen and multiply our organizations. Defenders of human and environmental rights exist because nature and human beings are being denied their rights. We seek environmental justice because there are environmental injustices taking place.

Organizations like Environmental Rights Action of Nigeria were founded in response to these injustices and fight to ensure that companies do not violate their rights and do not align with dictatorships. Madreselva, in Guatemala, in alliance with the Oilwatch Network, fight because they have seen how the sacred site of Tikal, in the forests of Peten is being desecrated by the oil industry, just as the Niger delta, the Orinoco and the Galician, Alaskan and Brazilian coasts have been desecrated by this industry.

As Multilateral Development Banks, Export Credit Agencies and similar institutions do not take responsibility for the social, political and ecological consequences of their financial operations, we have created networks and run campaigns to oppose their activities. In Cancún, small farmers and social movements aligned themselves with countries opposed to the unjust trade rules and agreements and protested against the WTO because this institution tries to guarantee rights for transnational corporations instead of environmental and human rights for people.

The commercialization of water and energy production and distribution has left thousands of people without access to these services. This is evident on the Caribbean coast of Colombia where slum dwellers sacrifice their wages to pay for the increasing costs of these vital services. Because of this, initiatives like the Energy Platform exist to create spaces for the convergence of organizations who raise common grievances on the operating conditions, access to and the quality of energy services.

In the United States organizations have emerged to fight for environmental justice and against ecological discrimination, and so far as we know, they have yet to be called terrorists. Some of our organizations were created in Europe, Asia and Oceania to fight against the catastrophes caused by nuclear power plants and the mining of radioactive materials. Forest dwellers have united to oppose forest monocultures and tree plantations. We have also come together to fight the threats to rural communities and consumers aIl over the world due to the introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that destroy traditional agricultural practices and take away food sovereignty.

Our organizations are not and never have been the fruit of terrorist conspiracies. We exist because peoples' environmental and human rights are being infringed and denied. Our organizations are recognized, awarded and supported locally and internationally for the depth of our arguments, our persistence, our commitment and our work our fairness and for our dedication to environmental justice. Many governments should learn to defend their rights and their sovereignty against the unrestricted exploitation of their heritage and peoples by big business. They should learn from environmental and human rights organizations about how to defend the rights of their people against the imperialist attitudes of transnational institutions and companies and greedy nations.

To achieve security, a Latin word that refers to peace, we have to fight insecurity. Insecurity derives from the fact that many governments, especially the Group of Eight, multinational institutions and big investors focus on the security of the few thus sacrificing the security of majority.

We want this word security to recover its meaning, we want ecological security, food security and energy security. We want security that our water will not be expropriated. We want security that our glaciers will not disappear, and that our forests and lands will not turn into deserts. We want security that our climate will not continue to change. We want security that small farmers will not be displaced, that the Amazon will not be fumigated, that multilateral banks (World Bank, IMF etc) will not continue financing the plunder and the destruction of the planet. We want security that there will be an end to the criminalization and persecution of human rights defenders and environmentalists, as well as those who protest against injustices and war.

We want peace and security for everyone. We want security that we will have a habitable planet for present and future generations. This is why we have come together to set out our actions and proposals for creating a world of environmental and social justice.

Signed by the following:

Germany

Marc Engelhardt, BUND, FoE Germany

Daniel Mittler, BUND, FoE Germany

Argentina

Elba Stancich, Taller Ecologista, Ríos Vivos

Roque Pedace, Federación Amigos de la Tierra Argentina

Australia

Cam Walker, FoE Australia

Fional Thiessen, FoE Australia

Belgium

Martín Rocholl, FoE Europe

Frederic Thomas, FoE Europe

Belize

Godsman Ellis, Grupo Belpo

Bolivia

Miguel Castro, CERDET

Brazil

Elisangela Paim, FoE Brazil

Juliana Maleaba, Projeto Brasil Sustentável e Democrático/FASE, Red Brasileira de Justicia Ambiental, Projeto Brasil Sustentável e Democrático

Jean Piere Leroy, Fase

Rosa Roldan, Red de Alerta contra el Desierto Verde

Cameroon

Samuel Nguiffo, Centre Pour l'Environnement et le Développement

Canada

Beatrice Olivastri, FoE Canada

Colombia

Abadio Green, Organización Indígena de Antioquia

Adolfo Cortecero, Kontiki, Cartagena

Alba de Cárdenas, Corprever, Bogotá

Alirio Uribe, Federación Internacional de Derechos Humanos, FIDH, Colectivo José Alvear Restrepo, Colombia

Alejandro Pulido, Censat Agua Viva, FoE Colombia, Colombia

Alicia Romero, Comité de Solidaridad con Presos Políticos, Atlántico

Alina Imbrechis, Institución Educativa de la Piedras, Colombia

Alsiono Calvo Padilla, Club Cultural Vlad, Cartagena

Alvaro Cuellar, Sintraelecol, Colombia

Adam Rankin, Fundaexpresión, Santander

Ana Betilde Acosta Gomez, Asopiedra, Bolívar

Antonio Hill, Oxfam, Bogotá

Angela Asencio, Sintraminercol, Bogotá

Aura Eorza, Kontiki, Colombia

Berito Cobaría, Cabildo Mayor U'Wa, Boyacá

Carlos Almanza, Junta Primavera Nelson Mandela, Cartagena, Colombia

Cesar William Diaz, Fundecima, Cauca, Colombia

Claudia Álvarez, Asociación para el Desarrollo Campesino, ADC, Nariño, Colombia

Constanza Larrota, Proyecto Titti, Bolívar

Daniel León, Red Juvenil Ambientalista Colombiana, San Vicente, Santander

Danilo Urrea, Censat Agua Viva, FoE Colombia, Colombia

Diana Agudelo, Grupo Ambiental de la Universidad de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Diego Alejandro Cardona, Red Juan Colombia, Caldas, Colombia

Edison Lucio Torres, Vox Populi, Cartagena, Bolivar

Edith Andrade, CUT Bolívar, Colombia

Elizabeth Mesa, Anuc - UR, Cauca, Colombia

Enrique Galán, Fundación Mataemonte, Casanare

Esneider Marín, Grupos Ecológicos de Risaralda

Estefan Valeta, Cabildo Embera Katio, Córdova

Federico Castro, Tierra Patria, Bolívar

Francisco Bustamante, Minga

Francisco Pérez, Emisora Victoria - Colombia

Francisco Ramírez, Sintraminercol, Colombia

Franklin Castañeda, Comité de Solidaridad con Presos Políticos, Atlántico, Colombia

Franco Gómez, Centro de Estudios de la Ing. Química, UIS, Bucaramanga, Santander

Fredie Basto, Grupo Juvenil Remacol, Santander

German Márquez, IDEA, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota

Gilma Benítez, Anuc - UR

Gil Falcón, CUT Bolívar

Guillermo Osorio, Red Juvenil Ambientalista, Caldas

Gregorio Mesa, Proyecto Planeta Paz, Bogotá

Hildebrando Vélez, CENSAT Agua Viva, Amigos de la Tierra

Herrón Ayazo, Junta Primavera Nelson Mandela, Cartagena

Herney Patiño, Grupos Ecológicos de Risaralda

Hermida Nuñez Herrera, Asopiedra, Bolivar

Henry Rojas, Grupo Juvenil Gesepaz, Santander

Hugo Idarraga, Censat Agua Viva

Ignacio Rangel, Bolívar

Irene Vélez, Red Juan Colombia, Bogotá

Isaac Marín, Cospac, Boyacá

Jaime Parra, Uso-Bogotá

Jaime Urrego, Nasa Cxha Cxha Programa Tierra Adentro, Cauca

Jamilson Pitalua, Asprocig, Córdova

Javier Velásquez, Grupo Ambiental Universidad de Cartagena

Jesús Perez, Corporación Jorge Artel, Proceso de Comunidades Negras, Bolívar

Jorge Herrera, Asprocig, Córdova

José Didimo Perdomo, Nasa Cxha Cxha Programa Tierra Adentro, Cauca

José Leonardo Domicó, Cabildo Mayor de Chigorodó, Antioquia

Juan José López, Asprocig, Colombia

Juan Vargas, Asociación Campesina Agrovida, Santander

Juan Villanueva, Comité Permanente de Derechos Humanos, Bolívar

Laura Castro Payares Junta Primavera Nelson Mandela, Cartagena, Colombia

Liliana Samudio, Censat Agua Viva, FoE Colombia, Bogotá

Libia Grueso, Proceso de Comunidades Negras, Valle del Cauca

Luis Alberto Ossa, Grupos Ecológicos de Risaralda

Luis Sanchez, Arcoiris, Bolivar

Luis Marrugo, Corporación Jorge Artel, Proceso de Comunidades Negras, Bolívar

Luis Berrio, Corporación Jorge Artel, Proceso de Comunidades Negras, Bolívar

Margarita Flores, ILSA, Bogotá

Mario Mejia, Valle del Cauca

Mario Reina, Sintraelecol Junta Nacional, Bogotá

María Nelcy García, Cabildo Mayor U'Wa, Boyacá

Maria Stella Sandoval, Censat Agua Viva, FoE Colombia, Santander

Marly Morelos, Asprocig, Córdova

Maria Santos Palencia, Asociación Campesina Agrovida, Santander

Maribel Quintero, Grupo Juvenil Gesepaz, Santander

Martín Alonso, Kontiki, Bolívar

Nelson Quijano, USO - Cartagena, Bolívar

Néstor Ocampo, Fundación Cosmos, Quindío

Nicolás Román, Club Cultural Vlad, Cartagena, Bolívar

Ofelia Castillo, Tierra Patria, Bolívar, Colombia

Omar Mendivil, Organización de Usuarios Servicios Públicos, Córdova, Colombia Ortalides Castro, Anthoc, Bolívar

Oscar Ballesteros, FSP Bolívar

Paola Miranda, Universidad de Cartagena, Bolívar

Patricia Saavedra, Censat Agua Viva, FoE Colombia, Bogotá

Piedad Fernández, Institución Educativa de la Piedras, Bolívar

Rafael Burgos, Junta Primavera Nelson Mandela, Cartagena

Ramiro Rojas, Grupo Juvenil Gesepaz, Santander

Reinel Hurtado, Nasa Cxha Cxha Programa Tierra Adentro, Cauca

Rita Lopez, Personería de Cartagena

Ricardo Tarazona, Grupo Juvenil Gesepaz, Santander

Ricardo Estrada, FSP Bolívar

Rubiela Valdelamar, Red de Empoderamiento de Mujeres, Bolívar

Sandra del Río, Comité de Solidaridad con Presos Políticos, Atlántico

Simón Domico, Cabildo Embera Katio, Córdova

Tatiana Roa, CENSAT Agua Viva, Amigos de la Tierra

Teresa Cardona, Red de Mujeres de Cartagena

Víctor Taligua, JVC Nelson Mandela, Cartagena

Willer Erson, Colegio Nelson Mandela, Cartagena

William Cueto, FSP, Bolívar

William Castro Castellanos, Planeta Paz, Región Caribe

South korea

Kim Choony, KFEM, FoE Korea

Lim Gil Gin, KFEM, FoE Korea

Costa Rica

Isaac Rojas, COECOCeiba

Mauricio Álvarez, OILWATCH COSTA RICA

Croatia

Toni Vidan, FoE Croatia

Curaçao

Lloyd Narain, FoE Curaçao

Chile

Eduardo Giesen, Corporación para el Desarrollo Sustentable

Myriam Carmen Pinto, CODEFF

Paulina Veloso, CODEFF

Denmark

Sofie Krogh Andersen, NOAH, FoE Denmark

Ecuador

Alexandra Almeida, Acción Ecológica

Esperanza Martínez, Oilwatch, Secretariado Internacional

Ivonne Yánez, Oilwatch, Secretariado Internacional

Patricia Gualinga, CONAIE/OPIP/Sarayacu, Ecuador

Ruben Tsamaraint, Federación Interprovincial de Nacionalidad Achuar del Ecuador

Slovakia

Román Havlicek, FOE Slovakia

Spain

Daniel Sánchez Gutiérrez, Amigos de la Tierra España

Joan Martínez Alier, Universidad de Barcelona

/United States

Carol Welch, FoE U.S.

Michael Dorsey, U.S.

Phillipines

Milagros Ballesteros, FoE Philippines

France

Frederic Castell, FOE France

Ben Lefety, FoE France

Ghana

Theo Anderson, FoE Ghana

Guatemala

Magally Reynosa, Madre Selva

Haití

Calixto Aldrin, COHPEDA/FoE Haiti

The Netherlands

Ann Doherty, FoEI, Secretariat

Daniel Chávez, TNI

Janneke Bruil, FoEI, IFI campaign

Kees Kodde, Milieudefensie/FoE Europe

Heleen van den Hombergh, Novib/OXFAM

Fiona Dove, TNI

Mae Ocampo, FoEI Secretariat

Magdalena Stoczkiewicz, CEE Bankwatch, FoEI Secretariat

Marijke Torfs, FoEI, Secretariat

Niccolo Sarno, FoEI, Secretariat

Paul de Clerck, Milieudefensie, FoE Netherlands

Simone Lovera, FoEI, Secretariat

Sisi Nutt, FoEI, Secretariat

Honduras

Juan Almendares, MOVIMIENTO MADRE TIERRA

India

Subodh Wagle, Prayas

Rosemary Viswanath

Kallamar Thodiyal Suresh

Indonesia

Andry Wijaya, JATAM (Jaringan Advokasi Tambang), Mining Advocacy Network

Longeena Ginting, Walhi

Ireland

Gus Worth, FoE Ireland

Japan

Yuri Onoreda, FoE Japan

Maria de la Fuente, Peace Boat

Malasia/Malaysia

Meenakshi Raman, Sahabat Alam Malasia

Malta

Martín Galea de Giovanni, FoE Malta

México

David Cortés, Unión de trabajadores de Confianza de la Industria Petrolera de México

Ines Vasquez, Unión de trabajadores de Confianza de la Industria Petrolera de México

Andrés Barreda, CASIFOP- profesor Universidad Nacional Autonoma de México, UNAM

Mozambique

Mauricio Sulila, LIVANINGO, Mozambique

Nepal

Prakash Mani Sharma, Forum for Protection of Public Interest, Propublic, Nepal

Nicaragua

Silvia Elena Arguello, Centro Alexander Von Humboldt, Nicaragua

Humberto Thomson, Cedupaz

Nigeria

Nnimo Bassey, Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Nigeria

Godwin Ojo, Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Nigeria

Paraguay

Elias Diaz Peña, Sobrevivencia, Paraguay

David Cardozo, Sobrevivencia, Paraguay

Oscar Rivas, Sobrevivencia, Paraguay

Perú

Vladimir Pinto, Aprodeh, Perú

Elías Díaz Guerra, CONACAMI

Carlos Abanto Kcomt, Asociación Labor

Virginia Sotelo Pineda

Derzu Andrés Mego López, Asociación Civil Labor

Poland

Urszula Burkot, POLSKI KLUB EKOLOGICZNY-FoE Poland

uk

Tony Juniper, Friends of the Earth - England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Heather Ramirez Fonseca, Friends of the Earth - England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Matt Philips, Friends of the Earth - England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Kate Hampthon, Friends of the Earth - England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Ronnie Hall, Friends of the Earth - England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Czech Republic

Vojtech Kotecky, FoE Czech Republic

Petr Hlobil, CEE-Bankwatch

el Salvador

Ana María Vásquez Santos, CESTA - FoE Salvador

Ricardo Navarro, CESTA - FoE Salvador

Sri Lanka

Hemantha Withanage, Environmental Foundation W.D.H.R

Switzerland

Miriam Behrens, Pro Natura - FoE Switzerland

Otto Sieber, Pro Natura - FoE Switzerland

South Africa

Ardiel Soeker, GroundWork

Bobby Peak, GroundWork

Duduzile Mphenyeke, Kathya Collage

Togo

Mensah Todzro, FoE Togo

Uruguay

Carlos Santos, Redes

Gerardo Honty, Ceuta

Ricardo Carrere, Movimiento Mundial por los Bosques

Ukraine

Oleski Pasiuk, CEE-Bankwatch

Pavlo Khazan, Zelenyi Svit - Friends of the Earth Ukraine

Venezuela

David Hernández, Federación Bolivariana de Trabajadores