[van-announce] Two Nations One Struggle: March 29

[maryann at resist.ca]

Please forward.

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*Two Nations One Struggle:  Lessons in Self-determination*

 Forum featuring:


 *Marilyn Baptiste, council of Xeni Gwet'in, Tsilhqot'in Nation,* speaking
on Tsilhqot'in resistance to Taseko's proposed mine at Teztan Biny (Fish
Lake)


Marilyn Baptiste is a member of Xeni Gwet'in, one of the communities of the
Tsilhqot'in Nation, whose territory largely lies to the west of the Fraser
River and Williams Lake, BC.


 A former Chief, Baptiste became known as a spirited speaker who traveled
the province on behalf of the Tsilhqot'in Nation to explain the importance
of Teztan Biny to the Tsilhqot'in people and to call for the cancellation
of plans to destroy the lake in order to install a huge open-pit copper and
gold mine. Taseko Ltd., the mining company that holds the claim, named
the proposed mine 'Prosperity'.


Tsilhqot'in people have spent three decades defending Teztan Biny (Fish
Lake), Nabas, and the upper Dasiqox (Taseko) watershed from the threat of
the massive open-pit gold and copper mine. In 2010 and 2013, two
independent federal environmental review Panels investigated the mine
proposal. After careful assessment, and months hearing testimonies of
locals and environmental scientists, the independent panels have condemned
the proposal - twice - because of the impacts to Fish Lake, grizzly bears
and the Tsilhqot'in's rights to protect their territory. Despite all this,
Taseko is still pushing the federal government to allow the mine.


 *Oscar Morales, from San Rafael Las Flores, Guatemala*, speaking on
threats and violence related to Tahoe Resources' Escobal Mine near his
home.


Oscar Morales is an agronomist and the Coordinator of the Committee in
Defense of Life and Peace in San Rafael Las Flores - community that has
borne the brunt of the violence, militarization and environmental threats
related to Tahoe's mine.


More than half of the communities in the municipality of San Rafael Las
Flores, where the Escobal project is located, have declared opposition to
the mine. In five neighbouring municipalities, in the departments of Santa
Rosa and Jalapa, the majority of the population - which numbers in the tens
of thousands - has voted against the mine in municipal referenda.
Nonetheless, Tahoe Resources reported in January that the Escobal mine is
operational, claiming that: "unanticipated social issues have been
addressed."


Oscar is deeply concerned about the environmental and social impacts of
Tahoe's project and has been an advocate for the community consultations
that have taken place throughout Santa Rosa.


The mine-related conflicts experienced by San Rafael Las Flores, and other
communities in Guatemala, bring to the forefront the need for the Canadian
government to facilitate access to justice for abuses committed in Canada
and abroad. Oscar Morales is one of several Guatemalan delegates visiting
Canada (Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia) as part of a speaking tour
linked to the Canadian Network for Corporate Accountability's Open for
Justice campaign <http://www.miningwatch.ca/openforjustice/>. The CNCA
campaign calls for legislated access to Canadian courts for people who have
been harmed by the international operations of Canadian companies.

This event will take place on Saturday March 29 at 7 pm

1803 East First Avenue at Salsbury Dr. - Coast Salish Territory

Endorsed by Mining Justice Alliance, Canada-Philippines Solidarity for
Human Rights, Streams of Justice,  Langara Social Justice Collective and
Amnesty International.

Info: caferebeldeinfo at gmail.com