|
Christian Conference of Asia
|
About CCA
Program Clusters: Special Programs:
|
The Indigenous Peoples’ DeclarationAsia-Pacific Indigenous Peoples’ Hearing on Poverty, Wealth, and Ecology The Indigenous Peoples’ Declaration We, Indigenous Peoples and church-based workers and organisations from Australia, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, and Thailand, have gathered together in Chiang Mai, Thailand for the AGAPE Consultation on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology organised by the World Council of Churches (WCC), Christian Conference of Asia and Pacific Conference of Churches. As part of our right to self-determination, we affirm a collective process of self identification complemented by the recognition of other groups. We are identified with, and have a close affinity to, our land, our oceans, our rivers, our forests, our air, our territories, our resources, our distinct languages, as well as our cultures and our beliefs. It is worthy to note that the Asia-Pacific region is home to approximately 280 million Indigenous Peoples of diverse religions or two-thirds of the world’s indigenous population. Historically, Indigenous Peoples have suffered colonisation, subjugation, integration and assimilation by merchants, traders, states and churches. All of which were aimed at eroding our identity. The activities of merchants and traders had deprived and alienated us from our access to, and collective ownership of, natural resources, undermining our cultures, our languages and our religions. Governments have exacerbated the negative impacts on Indigenous Peoples by colluding with and advancing the interests merchants, traders, corporations and financial institutions. The introduction of Christianity as a dominant religion impacted indigenous faith systems, values, traditions and cultures. Similarly, the education system introduced by missionaries, and thereafter by states, destroyed traditional indigenous languages and excluded indigenous history in textbooks, thereby undermining indigenous knowledge as well as the role of indigenous women in transferring traditional wisdom and communitarian values. Today Indigenous Peoples continue to be the most marginalised, discriminated and exploited. For us the land and oceans are sacred. Yet, we are being driven out of our lands and oceans in the name of development that does not benefit us but, rather, causes the destruction of cultures, identities and life support systems. Community resistance is being met with violations of our collective rights. Further, neoliberal economic policies are promoting individualism and greed for profit for only the few. The dominant neoliberal development paradigm has resulted in ethnocide for many of our communities worldwide. Our sustained struggles for the defence of our land, ocean, rivers, forests, life and resources had led to the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in 2007 and the establishment of other mechanisms and procedures for Indigenous Peoples at the international, regional and national levels. In solidarity with Indigenous Peoples’ movements, our issues are being taken up by civil society, churches and other faith-based groups. We believe that poverty, wealth and ecology are very much interrelated and interdependent. We regard wealth in terms of our abundant resources and the produce from our lands that we share with our communities. Our understanding of wealth comprises our values, our close relations with our kin, our traditional leadership capabilities and our children who will ensure the continuity of our cultures. Furthermore, our understanding of ecology is based on our high regard for Mother Earth, our provider and a central element of our integrity. Taking us away from nonmaterial wealth and disregarding the spirituality of Mother Earth will make us poor. Our belief in the fullness of life includes both material and spiritual resources and our common heritage. We need to hasten and strengthen our efforts to protect and improve our ways of life for our future generations. We will resort to spiritual activism as a means to being heard and will remain resolute in our struggles for the recognition and implementation of our rights. We, the Indigenous Peoples of this consultation, call upon nation-states and churches in Asia and the Pacific, the ecumenical movement and international community to:
posted by cbs on Thursday, November 26, 2009 |
| Archives: |
|
April 2003 /
May 2003 /
June 2003 /
July 2003 /
October 2003 /
November 2003 /
January 2004 /
February 2004 /
March 2004 /
April 2004 /
May 2004 /
July 2004 /
August 2004 /
November 2004 /
December 2004 /
January 2005 /
February 2005 /
March 2005 /
July 2005 /
January 2006 /
February 2006 /
March 2006 /
June 2006 /
August 2008 /
April 2009 /
June 2009 /
November 2009 /
December 2009 /
January 2010 /
February 2010 /
May 2010 /
June 2010 /
August 2010 /
September 2010 /
October 2010 /
November 2010 /
May 2011 /
June 2011 /
August 2011 /
September 2011 /
October 2011 /
November 2011 /
December 2011 /
February 2012 /
July 2012 /
August 2012 /
November 2012 /
|
