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Side event of the WGIP: Gravez vos Souvenirs documentary |
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Monday, 07 August 2006 |
Dr. Jerome Bouquet-Elkaïm presented a documentary detailing the struggle of the Kanak against Canadian mining corporation INCO's activities in New Caledonia on the 4th day of the WGIP in Geneva
Le pire nest pas de mourir mais de se sentir étranger dans son propre pays
[The worst is not to die, but to feel a stranger in your own land]
The French language film, Gravez vos Souvenirs was shown Thursday, to an attentive 25 member audience as part of a week-long forum of the 24th session of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations.
The film depicted the activities of Canadian company International Nickel Corporation (INCO) in New Caledonia. INCO has been extracting nickel from the land, leading to pollution of earth and waters in the area.
In July 2006, there were protests against the construction of an extraction facility.
The blockades and pickets have temporarily stopped the continued exploitation of the land, inducing a court order putting a stop to the extraction. However, the construction of the mine and facilities has continued unhindered due to a contradictory legal framework between environmental and building law, resulting from the Nouméa Accord giving significantly devolved powers to the New Caledonian authorities.
According to Dr. Jerome Bouquet-Elkaïm, a lawyer involved in five French court actions actions against INCO, legal measures are almost exhausted. The Canadian government are restricted in the actions they can take against a Canadian company who's activities damage the environment, INCO insist they are acting under French law, which still allows for construction to take place, despite a stay on extracting activities.
The French government gave $175 million to INCO under condition of respect for the environment in the establishment of the mining and site. Groups are now lobbying the government and banks to withdraw this money since these conditions are being violated, as shown by the pollution of the nearby area.
Currently, 100-150 French "Gendarmerie Mobile" are on-site in order to maintain security and order at the INCO facilities.
People are protecting their environment and homes and acting within the law to protect their own land, said Bouquet-Elkaïm.
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