The people were reaching over one another and pushing to get to the table, not for the usual free sandwiches, but to obtain the new copy of a publication from the International Forum on Globalization co-edited by Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues chair, and Jerry Mander, IFG co-chair and founder.

The parallel side event focused on the topic, “Paradigm Wars: Indigenous Peoples Resistance to Economic Globalization” featuring authors of the newly released publication.
The publication and talk included reports from around the world.

The talks focused on the ability of indigenous peoples to challenge and confront the dominant economic model and to create alternative holistic models that balance environment in the equation for sustainability and human security. Jerry Mander, Victor Menotti and Vicki Tauli Corpuz spoke and the panel was concluded with a response by the head of the UNRISD. There was also a call to participate in the upcoming WTO meeting from July 27 – 29 in Geneva and the WTO meeting in Hong Kong in December.

“No community of people on the earth have been harmed more than indigenous peoples to the dominant economic model and no community has resisted this alien onslaught and with such success,” Jerry Mander said.

The publication is intended to be a strategic tool in future resistance movements to network together to stop the current structure from the exploitation of indigenous peoples lands and culture. It also recognizes the necessity to include indigenous peoples in the global justice movement.

“The modern day economic system and the TNCs cannot survive without the achievement of corporate global hyper growth and suicidal overuse of the planet’s natural resources,” Mander noted. “Without this constantly increasing flow of resources, corporations cannot survive and the whole model starts to crash.”

“For indigenus peoples, the central problem is that they sit on the remaining biodiversity and its natural resource wealth,” he said. “Indigenous peoples have lived sustainably for centuries…The continued existence of untouched resources is a tremendous testament to the long term testament of indigenous peoples values of stewardship.”

“Indigenous Peoples have achieved a highly advanced knowledge that we should be celebrating not destroying,” Mander claimed to the standing room only crowd. “But to the corporate world and WTO, indigenous peoples represents an outrage to TNCs because they believe they have rights to the resources. What an arrogant and preposterous stance. Essentially pitting one world view against a more exploitative model.”

“There is a major rejection of the entire neoliberal economic model… As globalization continues to fail to deliver the benefits it has advertised, resisting is strengthening. We hope to use this report to improve strategies…,” he said

Mander concluded his talk, “It is increasingly clear to me that indigenous peoples have better answers than corporations, the WTO, theWorld Bank and other globalizers.

Another author noted the multifaceted approach for advocacy and increasing indigenous participation in the international movement.

“In trying to bring together different social movements around globalization,” Victor Menotti said. “This report is a fascinating organizing tool to take mobilizations to the next level. It can be a tool to be more effective in our movement building.”

Menotti noted how indigenous peoples have continuously increased advocacy from Seattle to the upcoming meeting in Hong Kong.

Vicki Tauli Corpuz shared her life experience of engaging in global protest when international institutions impact on indigenous homelands and her current efforts at the United Nations.

“All is not lost,” she said. “We still have hope to change the situation in our own communities but the requirement is our continued energy to educate our own people of their basic rights. This book is definitely going to help.”

There was a recognition of Mander’s statement that indigenous issues are the frontier issues of our time.

A potential partnership developed with UNRISD commenting on the publication and discussion. Another publication might be created in partnership with indigenous peoples and UNRISD.