Intag Solidarity Network Newsletter—October 1, 2005
Volume 1, Number 1.

News for the North American community in solidarity with Intag

To contribute information, see the end of this newsletter.
To subscribe or unsubscribe see the end of this newsletter.

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[1] What is the latest from Intag?
[2] Latest International Human Rights Observers arrive in Junin
[3] ISN to talk with School for International Training about student involvement
[4] Carlos Zorilla, founder of DECOIN, visits Indiana, U.S.A October 9-11
[5] Fundraising Update: $1500 raised since July
[6] Fundraising Update: 7 more families needed to commit to supporting 2006-2007 Observers
[7] ISN web page and educational materials in development
[8] Periodico Intag: The direct source for community news

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[1] What is the latest from Intag?

Carlos Zorilla, coordinator of DECOIN (Defensa y Conservacion Ecologica de Intag/Ecological Defense and Conservation of Intag) sends this update as of September 22, 2005

Another Mayor headache for Ascendant- Revising an earlier update

One scathing letter did Mayor Auki Tituaña send to the British Columbia Securities Commission earlier this week to let them know just how upset he is with Ascendant’s presence in his county.   The BCS Commission is looking into whether Ascendant Copper should list their company in the Canadian Stock exchanges, and part of the work is checking into its past and present corporate history.

So far the Commission has not allowed Ascendant to list on the different stock exchanges, thus the company has been unable to get the 15 million dollars they are seeking to finish exploration in Junin and Chaucha (Junin would get most of this funding))  Due to the international campaign aimed at supplying the Commission with information casting doubt on what Ascendant is claming and informing them of the position here of the communities and Municipality, the company  late last month had to significantly modify their prospectus (that’s the document the Commission is examining) and admit to many of the risks they were omitting, or reporting insufficiently.  The company has to provide real evidence as to the risks involved to the Commission, and the Commission has to make sure investors are not put at material risks because information Ascendant might have left out, or underreported (or, more common, exaggerated).

In the meantime, and to counter one of Ascendant’s more outrageous claims, DECOIN contracted the research organization Jantu Sacha-CDC a couple of months ago to evaluate the status of the Junin community reserve where the most vital part of Ascendant’s concession is.  Ascendant had been claiming that the area was heavily logged and hardly had any forests.  Jatun Sacha discovered more than 60% is primary forests; about 23% lightly logged primary and secondary forests.

So, with that in mind, here’s another headache for the company-

Excerpts from Mayor Auki’s latest letter:
(draft)
….It is also necessary to inform you that, as of June of 2005, the Congressional Civic Anti-Corruption Commission of Ecuador-CCCC- commenced an exhaustive investigation of corrupt procedures with everything having to do with the mining concessions in the Intag area of Cotacachi County.

It is lamentable that the presence of Ascendant Copper Corporation  in our County is responsible for causing grave conflicts when attempting to divide and confront our population with deviant measures such as the buying of consciousness, offering of gifts, using public installations to give away presents, making themselves out to be economic saviors, and even relying on people connected to the drugs traffic, corrupt ex-military personnel, demagogic politicians and frustrated ex candidates, that the only thing they pretend is to use the people in order to increase their own economic power, knowing it implies the slow death of all our County. This situation is made even more severe with the outrageous attitude of Ascendant Copper Corporation buying vast areas of forest and agricultural lands.

By refusing to trade Ascendant Copper Corporation’s securities in the British Columbia Securities Exchange, the opportunity of acting justly and respecting national and international law rests entirely in your hands.

It is the intention of the Cotacachi County government to continue supporting the legal and conscientious resistance to the JUNÍN mining project and we will not give up our strong conviction to defend our mother earth, and will utilize any legal mechanisms in our Ecuadorian Law, and other international treaties of which Ecuador is party to.

Sincerely,

AMA KILLA, AMA LLULLA, AMA SHUA
DON’T BE LAZY, DON’T LIE, DON’T STEAL

Auki Tituaña Males
MAYOR OF COTACACHI
COTACACHIMANTA JATUN PUSHAK

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[2] Latest set of International Human Rights Observers Arrive in Junin

David Kneas arrived in Junin in early September to serve as the International Human Rights Observer for September and October. Dave, with over six years of experience working in the region and a master’s degree in forestry from Yale, will help support Junin’s eco-tourism initiatives while he serves as an observer.

In October, Dave will be joined by Phil Rykwalder, who has a master’s degree in geohydrology and is experienced in mapping topography and geography. In addition to serving as a Human Rights Observer, Phil will focus on helping the community map its terrain. Work continues to secure observers for November as well as for next year.

Interested in serving as an Observer? Contact Glen Kuekcer (gkeucker@depauw.edu).

Interested in supporting the Observer program financially? Contact Jake Gross (jake@intagsolidarity.org).

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[3] ISN to talk with School for International Training about student involvement

In late October, Glen Kuecker and Phil Rykwalder from ISN will meet with Sylvia Seger from the School for International Training (SIT). Professor Seger is the program director for SIT in Ecuador. Kuecker, Rykwalder, and Seger will explore opportunities for SIT students to become involved in the International Human Rights Observer program as part of their experiential education.

ISN has a long history working with SIT in Ecuador. Dave Kneas and Stuart Schussler, who are both founding members of ISN and have served as International Human Rights Observers, studied in Ecuador as SIT undergraduate students. The October meeting among ISN and SIT folks aims to continue this productive relationship.

The School for International Training is one of the oldest and most respected international education institutions in the United States. A key component of SIT’s undergraduate educational approach is the Independent Study Project during which students engage in hands on study on a project of their choice. For more information about SIT, visit their website at http://www.sit.edu/.

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[4] Carlos Zorilla, founder of DECOIN, visits Indiana, U.S.A October 9-11

Carlos Zorilla will visit DePauw University in Greencastle and Indiana University in Bloomington October 9 through 11.

GREENCASTLE PUBLIC LECTURE
WHEN: October 10
TIME: 4:30-6:00pm
LOCATION: DePauw’s Campus, Harrison Hall 301
Contact Dr. Glen Kuecker (gkuecker@depauw.edu) for more information.

BLOOMINGTON VISIT
WHEN: OCT 11 (TUESDAY)
TIME: EVENING (6-7pm or 7-8pm)
LOCATION: TBA
Contact: Juan Pedroza for more information (jpedroza@indiana.edu)

Carlos Zorilla is co-founder and current Vice-President of DECOIN (Defensa y Conservacion Ecologica de Intag/Ecological Defense and Conservation of Intag), a grassroots organization in the Intag region of Ecuador. Zorrilla is a central protagonist in the community based struggle against efforts by the World Bank, Ecuadorian state, and multinational corporations to build a large-scale open pit copper mine in Intag, a region located in the cloud forests of the northern Ecuadorian Andes.  The proposed mine would destroy one of the most biologically diverse places on earth.  Zorrilla is self-educated about the political economy of mining, the ecological consequences of mining, as well as the ins and outs of globalization defined by neoliberal economics.  He has organized numerous legal battles in Ecuador and internationally against mining companies, works with legislatures, and has made connections with leading international non-governmental organizations such as the Sierra Club.

Most recently, Zorrilla has presented at the OECD meeting in Paris about corporate ethics.  In being against mining, Zorrilla advocates and practices alternative economic projects, such as eco-tourism and shade grown coffee.  For his work, Carlos has received multiple death threats, as well as a sophisticated campaign to smear his reputation for being honest.  A 30 year plus
resident of Intag region, Zorrilla holds dual citizenship from Cuba and the United States.  In the past 5 years, several DPU students and alumni have visited his home, a ranch known as La Florida.  It is an honor for us to have the opportunity to host Carlos in our community.
DPU currently works directly with Zorrilla on several solidarity projects, including an international human rights observation team, organized by Professor Kuecker and staffed by several DePauw University alumni.

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[5] Fundraising Update: $1500 raised since July

Since July, supporters of the Intag community have contributed $1500 in financial support for the observation program. Over $200 in in-kind contributions have been made as well. This support enables Human Rights Observers to be in place for September and October. While serving as Observers, Dave and Phil (see above) will also serve in support of Junin’s ecotourism initiatives.

All financial support given to ISN goes to direct support of the Observers and the Intag region. No (ZERO) money is used for administrative support of the organization. All administrative and organizational support comes in the form of in-kind donations from members.

For detailed descriptions of how donations help support ISN contact Jake Gross (jake@intagsolidarity.org).

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[6] Fundraising Update: 7 more families needed to commit to supporting 2006-2007 Observers

More support is needed to help fund the next team of Observers, Charles Carlin and Rebecca Heaton, who have committed to serving from February 2006 to February 2007. Jake Gross is coordinating an effort to find eight (8) families that can commit to $50 per month for 12 months to support Charlie and Becca. In total, this $400 per month will fully cover Charlie and Becca’s costs. Currently, seven (7) more families are needed. The goal is to have eight families/donors committed before December 15.

If you are able and interested to help, contact Jake Gross (jake@intagsolidarity.org).

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[7] ISN web page and educational materials in development

The development of the ISN web page and all educational materials about the struggle in Intag is progressing well. Brad and Abby King Kaiser of Cincinnati, Ohio are helping to develop the ISN webpage (to be found at http://intagsolidarity.org). Once completed, the web page will serve as a key vehicle for sharing information about the struggle in Intag. Keep looking for the web page as it should be functioning within a week.

Kate and Jason McRoy of Denver, Colorado are working on developing brochures to help education folks about the human rights threats in Intag, the environmental threats, and the many opportunities for eco-tourism in the region. Look for this material soon!

Any questions about the web page and educational materials can be directed to intagsol@intagsolidarity.org.

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[8] Periodico Intag: The direct source for community news

If you want to stay informed with Intag happenings directly from members of the Intag community, you should check out the Intag Newspaper (Periodico Intag). The newspaper can be read on-line at http://www.intagnewspaper.org/. Alternatively, you can subscribe to the print edition. Subscriptions helps support the newspaper as a forum for community discussion in Intag.

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USEFUL LINKS TO STAY INFORMED

Intag Solidarity Network [http://intagsolidarity.org]—Coming VERY soon….
Intag Newspaper [http://www.intagnewspaper.org/]
DECOIN [http://www.decoin.org/]

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TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE NEWSLETTER

Members of the ISN community are anyone in solidarity with the struggle in Intag is encouraged to use this newsletter as a forum to share important information. To submit an article, an update, or just a quick note simply e-mail the text to intagsol@intagsolidarity.org.

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TO SUBSCRIBE OR UNSUBSCRIBE e-mail intagsol@intagsolidarity.org.

This is an official communication from the Intag Solidarity Network for members of the North American community in solidarity with the region of Intag. All content is produced by members of this community.

Copyright, 2005. Please credit Intag Solidarity Network and when possible specific authors if using information from this newsletter.