Indigenous Peoples and Human Rights

March 30, 2007

O'odham Gather in Quitovac to Protect Sacred Place

(Photo: O'odham were joined by other residents of Sonora to protest the dump, after whistleblowers exposed the plan in 2006. One of the protests closed traffic through the border near Sonoyta in 2006. Photo Ofelia Rivas.)

Event: Saturday, March 31, 2007
Quitovac, Sonora, Mexico

In secret, Mexico issued a federal permit for a hazrdous waste dump in the area of Quitovac n 2005. Quitovac is the site of annual O'odham ceremonies. The project is now temporarily halted by the refusal of Sonoyta, Sonora, to issue a municipal permit, but the company, CEGIR, is still pressing for the dump.

From Ofelia Rivas:
This day event is an education and information sharing day. The event will be held at the Quitovac school grounds.
We will have speakers on, Impact on the O'odham culture ( sacred site, spiritual well-being of O'odham, traditional foods harvest and medicinal plants) and the environment impact of the proposed chemical waste dump including ground water, surface water and air contamination.
We hope this day will bring support and solidarity in our effort ot stop this chemical waste project.
Due to Quitovac, a O'odham sacred ceremony grounds, no camping will be allowed.
There will be a meal provided. Bathroom facilites are available on the school grounds.
The Major of Sonoyta has volunteered the Red Cross to provide assistance in case of any medical emergency.
The Majors' office will notify Port of Entry and the Check Point officials of our event. We hope to have some volunteers near the Port of Entry to answer your questions.

For more information, please contact: Ofelia Rivas: uyarivas@hotmail.com

See related articles"
"EPA Blows Whistle on Tohono O'odham Officials Over Dump"
"EPA Complicit in Hazardous Dump"

http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2007/03/epa-blows-whistle-on-tohono-oodham.html
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Other news from Mexico:
Supermodels for Oaxaca Claim First Victory: Halt Miss USA pageant events in Oaxaca:
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US Oil Drain...
Ex-Auditor Says He Was Told to Be Lax on Oil Fees
By EDMUND L. ANDREWS
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/29/business/29royalty.html

WASHINGTON, March 28 — A former top auditor at the Interior Department accused senior officials on Wednesday of prohibiting him and other investigators from recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in underpayments from oil and gas companies that drill on federal land and in federal waters.

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