Tribes and Greenaction Go To Mexico

Statement from Coalicion Binacional

The following solidarity statement was issued on January 15, 1999

La Coalicion Binacional Contra Tiraderos Toxicos Y Radioactivos

(Binational coalition against Toxic and Radioactive Dumps)

Our support and solidarity to our brothers and sisters of the five tribes of the Colorado River: Fort Mojave, Colorado River, Chemehuevi, Quechan and Cocopah of California, Nevada and Arizona in the fight for the defense of the sovereignty of their Indigenous nations and against the threat of the establishment on the part of the government of the USA, a nuclear cemetary in the sacred land of Ward Valley, California, which is an affront to the dignity, life, customs, and cultural and religious values of these nations. The Binational Coalition Against Toxic and Nuclear Dumps will take part in the fight for the defense of Ward Valley, the water, and the life of all its inhabitants.

IN OPPOSITION TO Environmental Racism, the deterioration of the earth and water of our children, the violation of sovereignty and rights of indigenous communities, the degradation of the flora and fauna in the American continent.

For the love, health and life of our children,

Bill Addington
Save Sierra Blanca

Prof. Manuel Robles
Coalicion Binacional

Felix Perez
Alianza Internacional Ecologista del Bravo

Susan Smith
Incitra

Mexico Groups Join Ward Valley Fight!

Press Advisory

On January 20, 21, & 22, 1999, Elders and representatives of the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance and the Ward Valley Coalition including Greenaction will travel to Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua at the invitation of the Mexican groups and officials who are joining the fight to protect Ward Valley and the Colorado River from the proposed dump.

Greenaction will be represented at the events in Mexico by Esperanza Maya, a member of our Greenaction Advisory Board and a leader of El Pueblo Para El Aire Y Agua Limpio (People for Clean Air and Water) of Kettleman City, California and by Bradley Angel, Executive Director of Greenaction.

Three days of meetings, friendship and cultural exchange events, press conferences, forums, luncheons, and dinners are planned. The highlight of the event will be a cultural gathering in front of the U.S. Consulate in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico on Friday, January 22 at 11:00am MST. Traditional songs and dance ("Danzas y Cantos de Unidad: Dances and Songs of Unity") performed by indigenous groups from both sides of the border will demonstrate the unity of the people of Mexico and the U.S. against toxic and radioactive threats.

This will be an historic event and we are all so very excited about being a part of this new step in working together. We are hopeful that these new relationships we are forming will be long-lasting and effective ones.