Urgent action: Palawan tribes face starvation!
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- Published on Monday, 28 September 2015 05:00
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Formerly self-sufficient tribes on the Philippine island of Palawan are staring hunger in the face, after officials are stopping them from carrying out their sustainable farming practices in the name of “conservation.”Batak, Tagbanua and Palawan tribes have been practicing shifting cultivation, which they call ‘uma’, for a millennia. Using this sustainable form of agriculture, they protect and manage the forests and biodiversity that Palawan is famous for.
But this year the authorities have harassed, arrested and detained tribespeople for burning their fallow lands, wrongly blaming the tribes for deforestation. Meanwhile, the real cause of forest destruction on Palawan – lucrative palm oil and mining – continues unabated.
In the 1990's a campaign by Survival helped partially lift similar draconian restrictions. We’re confident we can do it again – but we need your help! You can send a pre-written email using the link below or, even better, write your own message using our text as inspiration! This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.?cc=This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&bcc=info%This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&subject=Lift%20restrictions%20on%20shifting%20cultivation&body=Dear%20Governor%20Alvarez%20and%20Municipal%20Mayors%2C%0A%0AI%20am%20extremely%20alarmed%20that%20tribal%20peoples%20in%20Palawan%20are%20being%20stopped%20from%20practicing%20their%20sustainable%20swidden%20farming%20in%20the%20name%20of%20“conservation.”%20They%20have%20been%20harassed%2C%20arrested%20and%20detained%20without%20warrant%20for%20burning%20their%20fallow%20lands.%20I%20fear%20that%20this%20will%20lead%20to%20hunger%20and%20food%20shortages%20among%20these%20self-sufficient%20tribes.%0A%0AI%20urge%20you%20to%20immediately%20lift%20any%20restrictions%20on%20indigenous%20people%20practicing%20shifting%20cultivation.%20They%20rely%20on%20’uma’%20to%20feed%20their%20families%20and%20it%20is%20central%20to%20their%20way%20of%20life.%0A%0ASincerely%2C" target="_blank" style="font-weight: normal;letter-spacing: normal;line-height: 100%;text-align: center;text-decoration: none;s27;word-wrap: break-word;-ms-text-size-adjust: 100%;-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Send a pre-written email
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You'll need the email addresses of Govenor Alvarez and Municipal Mayors: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dear Governor Alvarez and Municipal Mayors,
I am extremely alarmed that tribal peoples in Palawan are being stopped from practicing their sustainable swidden farming in the name of “conservation.” They have been harassed, arrested and detained without warrant for burning their fallow lands. I fear that this will lead to hunger and food shortages among these self-sufficient tribes.
I urge you to immediately lift any restrictions on indigenous people practicing shifting cultivation. They rely on ‘uma’ to feed their families and it is central to their way of life.
Yours sincerely,
Thank you for your help! Your letters and petitions help tribal peoples win recognition of their land rights, put an end to logging or mining on their land, and halt government violence and oppression.Want to do even more for tribal peoples? Donate to our campaigns, take part in other urgent actions or share this campaign with a friend!
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