[Bloquez l'empire!] Intercontinental Anti- 2010 Olympics Movement Launched In Mexico (fwd)

[aaron at resist.ca]

Intercontinental Anti- 2010 Olympics Movement Launched In Mexico

  For Immediate Release
    October 18, 2007

Coast Salish Territory; Vancouver

  Indigenous representatives attending an intercontinental Indigenous
gathering in Vicam , Sonora Mexico have called for a boycott of the
2010 Olympics Games. The meeting, which was attended by over 1500
delegates representing nations from the US, Canada, Mexico, Central
America and South America, began on October 11thth and ended on
October 14th.  Indigenous people met to discuss 515 years of invasion
and resistance to colonial occupation of Indigenous lands, with the
Olympics a central theme.

Delegates agreed that the 2010 Games, to be held on the occupied
Indigenous territories of Vancouver "BC", will have an immense
negative impact on Indigenous people's lands and lives. Reading from
the proposed resolutions delivered at the gathering, Gord Hill, a
Kwakwaka'wakw delegate, stated that "Olympic related mega development
on Indigenous lands have already disrupted hunting and fishing grounds
and destroyed sacred sites".  The resolutions also drew attention to
the death of esteemed Elder Harriet Nahanee who died after she was
imprisoned for protesting the expansion of the Sea to Sky highway -
the primary artery to the main site of the 2010 winter Games. In the
final statement, adopted resolution number two states "We reject the
2010 Winter Olympics on sacred and stolen territory of Turtle
Island--Vancouver, Canada".  Angela Sterritt, Gitxsan participant,
said "Not only are the 2010 Games destructive to the environment, but
they will accelerate violence against Indigenous women.  Prostitution
is being actively promoted and referred to as a "tourist attraction"
for the games".

The Gathering, held on Yaqui territory, followed a number of regional
gatherings throughout Mexico. The delegates representing Northern
Turtle Island, also known as Canada, agreed that defense and
protection of the land and unity were central to their effort towards
self-determination and freedom. The year 2010 in Vancouver marks a
great threat to Indigenous people and to these goals.

Delegates from across the continent decided that resistance to the
Olympics should be an international objective. Given the Olympic
massacre of over 300 students in Mexico in 1968 and the exploitation
of Indigenous people in other countries that have hosted the Olympics,
the Indigenous peoples in Vicam agreed that stopping the Olympics 2010
is imperative. Hundreds if not thousands of Indigenous people now plan
to attend the Olympic Games, not in celebration, but in resistance to
the danger the Olympics poses to Indigenous lands, identity, culture,
health, livelihoods, and to future generations.

                                                        -30-

For more information contact:
Dustin Johnson, Spokesperson, 604-602-7226; email: dustin at redwiremag.com
Angela Sterritt, Spokesperson, 604-562-1028; email:
indigenous.free.school at gmail.com
Gord Hill, Spokesperson, 604-602-7226; email:
warrior-publications at hotmail.com
_______________________________________________
Aca-list mailing list
Aca-list at lists.mutualaid.org
http://lists.mutualaid.org/mailman/listinfo/aca-list
free hosting provided by http://www.mutualaid.org/


-- 
Would you rather have a Lexus?
Or Justice?
A Dream? Or some substance?
A Beamer? A necklace?
Or Freedom?
I don't player hate;
I just stay awake.
This real hip-hop
And it don't stop
'Til we get the popo if the block

-Dead Prez
_______________________________________________
IPSM-l mailing list
IPSM-l at lists.resist.ca
https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/ipsm-l