Thought you might find this interesting.
Robin
----------
From: David D[SMTP:democrac@essential.org]
Sent: Thursday, October 10, 1996 4:05 AM
To: Robin Salsburg
Subject: UNPLUG AMERICA--GIVE MOTHER EARTH A REST DAY, OCTOBER 13 (fwd)
>>>---------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- >>> Nilak Butler Winona LaDuke >>> Greenpeace Indigenous Women's Network (IWN) >>> 568 Howard, 3rd Floor 7th Generation Fund >>> San Francisco CA 94105 Rte.1 Box 308 >>> 415-512-9025 Ponsford MN 56575 >>> 218-573-3049 >>> >>> Tom Goldtooth Christopher Peters >>> Indigenous Environmental 7th Generation Fund >>> Network (IEN) PO Box 4569 >>> PO Box 485 Arcata CA 95521 >>> Bemidji MN 56601 707-825-7640 >>> 218-751-4769 >>> ien@igc.apc.org >>> >>> Lea Foushee >>> IWN >>> PO Box 174 >>> Lake Elmo MN 55042 >>> 612-777-3629 >>> >>> >>> UNPLUG AMERICA >>> >>> GIVE MOTHER EARTH A REST DAY >>> >>> OCTOBER 13 >>> >>> The "Unplug America - Give Mother Earth a Rest Day" campaign was >>> introduced in 1992 by Indigenous Peoples to invite all people to >>> show our love and respect for our Mother Earth and all the sacred >>> Life Circles by challenging unhealthy patterns of consumption and >>> the continued production of poisons that destroy our environment. >>> >>> October 13 is a day to "UNPLUG," turn off the TV and radio, shut >>> off the taps, take a walk and leave the fossil-fuel burning >>> vehicle at home. It's only one day but it's the first step towards >>> restoring our land and resources - to reflect on how much we >>> actually consume - individually, nationally and globally - a >>> starting to act for future generations. >>> >>> It is an exciting opportunity to explore other choices, ways of >>> life that are healthy and sustainable - a Celebration of Life >>> honoring the interdependency of all species. >>> >>> What's the big deal about consumption? >>> >>> Everything we consume has an impact on the environment. Where does >>> your power come from? Your paper? Your gas? Where does your >>> garbage go? >>> >>> No one is saying to go freeze in the dark. It has to do with >>> taking only what you need and being a responsible human being. We >>> need to take action and save our resources. Our future depends on >>> it. >>> >>> Consumption and Indian Lands >>> >>> Uranium, natural gas, oil, timber, water and other minerals are >>> found on Indigenous Lands. These valuable "natural resources" have >>> been taken by corporations that are not concerned with the effects >>> this will have on the cultures, ways of life, health and well- >>> being of the land and the native people on the land. The >>> destruction of our land is the destruction of our People. >>> >>> The wealth the corporations make are at the expense of our >>> Peoples. This has been the pattern since initial contact and >>> numerous Native Lands are targeted for future "development." >>> >>> One example of this irresponsible and dangerous method of "natural >>> resource development" is the 1000 abandoned uranium mines on the >>> Navajo Reservation - totally unreclaimed and highly contaminated. >>> This has caused widespread radioactive contamination of the land >>> and water which also seeps into rivers and streams that flow into >>> major water sources throughout the Southwest. >>> >>> Unsafe and unhealthy practices are being conducted throughout the >>> world - Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific, South and Central >>> America and others are feeding the American/Canadian energy >>> habits. There are other choices of sustainable and healthy energy >>> production - solar power - wind power. >>> >>> Native People are doing something about it. >>> >>> The Cree People (Canada) succeeded in securing a moratorium from >>> Hydro Quebec on a mega-dam project called James Bay II. >>> >>> The Gros Ventre & Assiniboine People (Montana) are fighting North >>> America's largest open pit heapleach gold mine in the sacred >>> Little Rocky Mountains. >>> >>> "Lomasumi-nangwtk-wsiwmani' (The Hopi Foundation - Arizona) has >>> placed photovoltaic solar panels atop 50 houses on the >>> reservation. >>> >>> California Indian Basket Weavers are opposing herbicide and >>> pesticide spraying on their plant resources. >>> >>> Gwitchin People (Alaska) are the front line of protest in >>> opposition to oil development within the Arctic National Wildlife >>> Refuge - to protect their way of life and the Porcupine Caribou. >>> >>> The Apache People struggle for Religious Freedom in their efforts >>> to prevent the Catholic Church and the University of Arizona from >>> building an observatory their sacred Mount Graham. >>> >>> White Earth Land Recovery Project (Minnesota) is reclaiming stolen >>> and endangered lands. >>> >>> The Anishinabe, Potawatomi, Oneida, Menominee and >>> Stockridge-Munsee Tribes (Wisconsin) are battling Exxon/Rio Algom >>> from developing a metallic-sulfide mine that would poison their >>> land, water and culture. >>> >>> Dine People (Navajo) have defeated toxic waste incinerators, waste >>> dumps and have stopped clear cutting timber. >>> >>> Indigenous Peoples in Oklahoma are working to defend their lands >>> from contamination by oil and gas development and underground well >>> injection of toxic waste. >>> >>> Over 16 Native Nations have said "NO" to nuclear waste dumps on >>> their lands. >>> >>> NOW IS THE TIME >>> >>> All of us, together, must make a change - from a society based on >>> consumption to one based on survival. Sustainable practices are >>> one key to accomplish the needed changes for generations to come. >>> >>> We invite you to join UNPLUG America - Give Mother Earth a Rest >>> Day. >>>> >"When the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the >last fish has been caught, we will realize that we cannot eat, breath or >drink money." > > >