SNOWCHANGE 2003 Conference
Conference Declaration
http://www.snowchange.org/snowchange/2003/declaration.html
Indigenous Observations of Ecological and Climate Change
22-25 February 2003
Murmansk, Russia
As Arctic peoples have shown since time immemorial, life in the North
requires flexibility. In the modern world, this principle applies not
only to our physical and spiritual connections to the environment, but
also to the legal, political, and economic circumstances that affect our
lives. To maintain and improve our ability to respond and adapt to
climate change, or any other environmental disturbances, we must
preserve a healthy, resilient environment and create human institutions
based on participation, and respect. This course means aiming not for
maximum economic use of resources, but for investment in environmental
reserves and cultural diversity.
The world is in an accelerating spiral of change and uncertainty.
Participants at Snowchange 2003, representing indigenous communities
from around the Arctic, shared stories of common experiences.
Temperatures are warmer and the weather is now unpredictable; the sea
ice is thinner and freezes later in the fall and melts earlier in the
spring, winter rains create thick layers of ice on the tundra. Species
that form the basis of our traditional lifestyles ?whales, seals,
reindeer, and many birds? are under increasing threat from climate
change.
We do not own the Earth, we just borrow it from future generations. We,
as participants at the Snowchange 2003, representing, a wide range of
individuals and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), feel it is our
responsibility to bring to the attention of world leaders that the
unlimited misuse of natural resources must be contained within
principles of sustainable development and a respect for human and
indigenous rights. On behalf of our people, our children and in respect
of our ancestors, we call upon responsible nationstates in general, and
the Russian Federation in particular, as citizens of the global village
and members of the United Nations who carry a responsibility to uphold
international laws, ratified conventions and signed agreements, to
immediately implement them.
We especially highlight the following actions:
-Ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by the Russian Federation to ensure
its entry into force during 2003.
-The establishment of mechanisms for involving indigenous people when
evaluating impacts related to transportation on the Arctic Seas, and
extractive and industrial developments in the North.
-Ratification of the International Labor Organization Convention Number
169 concerning indigenous peoples and tribes in independent countries
-Securing rights and cultural interests of indigenous peoples in
relationships to forestry, tourism and lichen?industry.
-The extension of an invitation to the UNSpecial Rapporteur of Indigenous
Peoples issues, Mr. Rudolfo Stavenhagen, for an official visit concerning
the Sami people on Kola Peninsula in Murmansk oblast.
-The incorporation of traditional uses on the land by indigenous people,
including the hunting and harvesting of culturally significant species,
into environmental protection plans.