UN adopts treaty on native rights

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Source: BBC

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a non-binding declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples after 22 years of debate.

The treaty sets down protections for the human rights of native peoples, and for their land and resources.

It passed despite opposition from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. They said it was incompatible with their own laws.

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A leader of a group representing Canada's native communities criticised his government's decision to oppose the declaration.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6993776.stm

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22 years for a non-binding declaration.
22 more for a binding declaration.

When it will be needed no more.

[Xipe Totec]

1. Five Centuries and No Change

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtayGoJ9jhs

Solitude over ruins
blood on the wheat fields
crimson upon the gold
fountain of poison
shields and wounds
five centuries, and no change

Liberty with no gallop
ragged flags
hubris and lies
gold and silver medals
five centuries, and no change

In this part of the earth, history has fallen
… as stones fall
even those that touched the sky
and were once near the sun
and were once near the sun


Unloved and unmet
forgiven and forgot
bodies of stone
working the lands
childhood in poverty
five centuries, and no change


Loyalty to tombstones
sacred stones
God had no time to cry
long dream of evil
children of no one
five centuries, and no change


Death next to life
glory of a vanished people
it’s a beginning, and an end
a lost legend
five centuries, and no change

In this part of the earth, history has fallen
… as stones fall
even those that touched the sky
and were near the sun
and were near the sun


This is fog and flowers
revolutions
and though many are gone now
no one agreed to kiss your feet
five centuries, and no change

[bemildred]

2. Canada votes against indigenous rights

UNITED NATIONS - Canada was among just four countries that voted against an indigenous rights declaration at the United Nations Thursday, triggering accusations from Canadian native leaders that the country had just embarrassed itself on the world stage.

"It's a huge disappointment," said First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine, in New York for the vote.

"Canada has had an outstanding reputation internationally for the protection of human rights...but when it comes to the human rights of indigenous peoples, then our human rights are not as important."

Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said in an interview from Ottawa that the proposed UN Universal Declaration of Indigenous Peoples' Rights is flawed because it doesn't reflect Canada's traditional "balancing" of rights of all people in the country - native and non-native.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=eb345ff8-d73e-4b4d-98b7-81d483b03233&k=45476