Produced by:
KBOO
Program::
Air date:
Wed, 03/09/2016 - 12:00am
Bell is with the group Other Worlds, which has worked closely an organization Caceres founded
Last Thursday, March 3, Honduras Indigenous leader and environmentalist Berta Caceres was gunned down in her home in La Esperanza. She was 44. Caceres had been in the middle of a decade-long struggle to stop a dam project in the territory of her indigenous Lenca people. A joint venture between Chinese company Sinohydro, the World Bank and Honduran company Desarrollos Energeticos had plans to construct four dams on the Gualcarque River with no consultation with the local people.
Caceres worked with the community to organize legal actions and local meetings to oppose the project. From 2013, Caceres led her organization, the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) and the local community in a year-long blockade at the construction site to prevent the companies from accessing the land. Despite continual threats and harassment, removal of protestors by security offices and three shooting incidents, which left three activists dead and six injured, the protest continued. And in late 2013, both Sinohydro and the World Bank's International Finance Corporation withdrew due to the opposition, though the Honduran company continued to push the project.
Throughout the campaign, Caceres and other organizers were often intimidated by the Honduran military and received frequent death threats. Last year, Caceres received the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for her two decades of activism and leadership.
Beverly Bell works with the group Other Worlds (Otros Mundos), which has collaborated closely with COPINH. Bell repeatedly warned of threats to Caceres prior to her death. From their website http://otherworldsarepossible.org/:
Other Worlds is a women-driven education and movement support collaborative. We compile and bring to light alternatives flourishing throughout the world – ones opening spaces for economic, political, social, and environmental justice, and meaningful democracy – in order to inspire and incite others. We also directly support the movements that are propelling the alternatives.
Go to their website to find out what actions to take to support Caceres' work and organization. Currently, urgent attention is needed to help ensure the safety of Gustavo Castro Soto, who was trying to protect Caceres when she was killed and was also wounded. He is a Mexican citizen who was abducted by Honduran authorities as he was at the airport about to board a flight, and is currently held in detention in La Esperanza by military commandos.
Opening/closing song about Chico Mendes, Cuando Los Angelos Lloran: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0GJoAktdNQ
Video from Goldman Environmental Prize award: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh9Sn9oJR94
http://www.accuracy.org/release/caceres-murdered-honduran-activist-who-stood-up-to-clinton-backed-coup-regime/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/03/honduras-berta-caceres-murder-enivronment-activist-human-rights
Caceres worked with the community to organize legal actions and local meetings to oppose the project. From 2013, Caceres led her organization, the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations of Honduras (COPINH) and the local community in a year-long blockade at the construction site to prevent the companies from accessing the land. Despite continual threats and harassment, removal of protestors by security offices and three shooting incidents, which left three activists dead and six injured, the protest continued. And in late 2013, both Sinohydro and the World Bank's International Finance Corporation withdrew due to the opposition, though the Honduran company continued to push the project.
Throughout the campaign, Caceres and other organizers were often intimidated by the Honduran military and received frequent death threats. Last year, Caceres received the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for her two decades of activism and leadership.
Beverly Bell works with the group Other Worlds (Otros Mundos), which has collaborated closely with COPINH. Bell repeatedly warned of threats to Caceres prior to her death. From their website http://otherworldsarepossible.org/:
Other Worlds is a women-driven education and movement support collaborative. We compile and bring to light alternatives flourishing throughout the world – ones opening spaces for economic, political, social, and environmental justice, and meaningful democracy – in order to inspire and incite others. We also directly support the movements that are propelling the alternatives.
Go to their website to find out what actions to take to support Caceres' work and organization. Currently, urgent attention is needed to help ensure the safety of Gustavo Castro Soto, who was trying to protect Caceres when she was killed and was also wounded. He is a Mexican citizen who was abducted by Honduran authorities as he was at the airport about to board a flight, and is currently held in detention in La Esperanza by military commandos.
Opening/closing song about Chico Mendes, Cuando Los Angelos Lloran: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0GJoAktdNQ
Video from Goldman Environmental Prize award: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh9Sn9oJR94
http://www.accuracy.org/release/caceres-murdered-honduran-activist-who-stood-up-to-clinton-backed-coup-regime/
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/mar/03/honduras-berta-caceres-murder-enivronment-activist-human-rights
Information about Apache struggle to protect Oak Flat:
http://www.apache-stronghold.com/
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2811
https://www.facebook.com/Saving-OAK-FLAT-Campground-202998493114242/
http://www.apache-stronghold.com/
https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/2811
https://www.facebook.com/Saving-OAK-FLAT-Campground-202998493114242/
- KBOO
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