Appeal from the Indigenous Peoples facing the Capitalist Crisis of Western Civilization

* Mother Earth’s global struggle against the commodification of life (October 12, 2009)

* To outline alternatives to decolonization, good living, social rights, self determination and climate justice

Modern capitalism was initiated centuries ago and imposed in America with the invasion of October 12, 1492. This gave way to global plundering and invented theories of “races” to justify American ethnocide, the incursion in Africa for its slave trade and the plundering of other continents. These genocides have not ceased and they remain in the power thanks to transnational capital and military support. This global exploitation/oppression produces global warming which leads us to planetary suicide.

This capitalist development model crisis, a model that is Eurocentric, sexist and racist is absolute and leads us to the greatest socio-environmental climate crisis in the history of mankind. Structural unemployment is aggravated by the financial, economic, energy and production crisis, along with social exclusion, sexist and racist violence. So many and such deep crises at the same time shape an authentic crisis of civilization, the “capitalist and modern development” crisis that endangers all forms of life. But there are those who continue dreaming of changing this model and do not wish to assume that what is in crisis is capitalism, Euro-centrism, with its model of Uni-National State, cultural homogeneity, western positive rights, developmentalism and the commodification of life.

The capitalist crisis of western civilization forces us to reconstruct and to reinvent, new and diverse options of coexistence between nature and society, democracy, state and consumption. They call for new paradigms of coexistence and in that context, not only are “other worlds possible”, but rather, they are urgent, and also, they are already being built from the first victims of the most barbaric forms of capitalist, colonial and contemporary violence: indigenous towns and communities, natives, farmers, riverside inhabitants, Quilombolas, Afro descendents, Garifunas, Caboclos, Dalits, among others, and their children who migrated to the poor slums of the cities; and all the other excluded, invisible and “untouchables” of the planet; ourselves included, who continue resisting, strengthening and updating alternative forms of technological, social, ethical, political, economic, cultural and spiritual organization of the human race.

The Native Indigenous Peoples practice and propose: unity between Mother Earth, society and culture. Nurturing Mother Earth and to be nurtured by her. Water production as a fundamental human right and not for its commodification. Decolonization of power with the theory “lead by obeying”, community self-government, multinational states, self-determination of the peoples, unity in diversity as other forms of collective authority. Unity, duality, equity and complementarity of race. Spiritualities from the everyday and diverse. Freedom from every domination or racist, ethic or sexist discrimination. Collective decisions regarding production, markets and economy. Decolonization of the sciences and technologies. Expansion of the reciprocity in the distribution of work, products and services. From all of the aforementioned to produce a new social and ethical alternative to that of the colonial and capitalist profit-making market.

We belong to Mother Earth. We are not her owners, plunderers nor are we her vendors and today we arrive at a crossroads: imperialist capitalism has shown to be dangerous not only due to its domination, exploitation and structural violence but also because it kills Mother Earth and leads us to the planetary suicide, which is neither “useful” nor “necessary”.

For this reason, all brothers and sisters and activists of the social movements of the world, summoned to this World Social Forum of Belém:

The Indigenous Movement of Abya Yala/American Continent, we call them to the most extensive unity in diversity for:

The Mobilization in Defense of Mother Earth and the Peoples, against the commodification of life, contamination, toxic consumerism and the criminalization of social movements and in that framework to carry out an intercontinental mobilization on October 12, 2009.

Mobilization to defend the rights of the peoples and Mother Earth in face of aggression by mega projects, extractive industries, the IIRSA, the Puebla-Panama Plan, agrocombustibles and colonial invasions like those in the towns of Haiti and Palestine.

Reconstruct, reinvent and outline values, diverse and alternative paradigms, and in that direction to organize a social thematic forum on decolonization, de-commodification of life, social rights and good living for 2010.

Participating in the Fourth Summit of Indigenous Peoples of Abya Yala, in Puno (Peru) from May 27 – 31, 2009, where they will reinforce and propel the processes indicated previously.

Belém do Pará, February 1, 2009

1. CAOI, The Andean Coordination of Indigenous Organizations

2. ECUARUNARI, Confederation of the Peoples of Kichwa Nationality of Ecuador

3. ONIC, National Indigenous Organization of Colombia

4. CONACAMI, National Confederation of Communities Affected by the mining Industry in Peru

5. CONAMAQ, National Council of Ayllus and Markas of Kollasuyu

6. ONPIA, The Organization of Indigenous Peoples and Nations in Argentina

7. Araucanian Parliament (Chile)

8. National Mayan Wakib Kej Convergence

9. ANAMEBI, National Association of Bilingual Intercultural Teachers of Peru

10. Nordic Same Council

11. CONAIE, Confederation of Indigenous Nationalties of Ecuador

12. CONIC, National Coordination of Indigenous and Farmers

13. CONAVIGUA, The National Coordination of Guatamalan Widows

14. CUC, The Committee of the Peasant Union

15. Council of Peoples of the San Marcos Community

16. ARPI, Association of Indigenous Peoples of the Central Rainforest of Peru

17. MCP, Summit Movement of the Peoples

18. CAH, Aguaruna and Huambisa Council

19. CRIC, Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca

20. AICO, Colombian Indigenous Authorities

21. OPIAC, The Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon

22. Indigenous Kankuamo Organization

23. CRIDEC, The Regional Indigenous Council of Caldas

24. OIA, Indigenous Organization of Antioquia

25. ORIVAC, The Indigenous Organization of the Valle del Cauca

26. ANC, National Agrarian Confederation

27. FDCC, The Departmental Federation of the Peasants of Cusco

28. Indigenous Struggle

29. International Agency of Indigenous Press (Mexico)

30. FNMBS, National Federation of Native Rural Women Bartolina Sisa (Bolivia)

31. TINKUY Youth Network

32. Peasant Defense and Struggle and the Araucanian of the Patagonia Front (Argentina)

33. National Indigenous Committee of Costa Rica

34. Coordination of the Chorotega People (Nicaragua)

open convergence:

CAOI, coordinadorandinacaoi gmail.com

* (511) 2651061
www.minkandina.org