Cultural Survival

Partnering with Indigenous Peoples to defend their lands, languages, and cultures Your support of Cultural Survival this past year has made an enormous difference for Indigenous Peoples around the world. Because of your help, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued precautionary measures calling on Panama to halt dam construction that would inundate Ngöbe communities living along the Changuinola River. Your support also enabled us to engage in a lobbying effort that led the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees to recommend quadrupling the amount of federal money to support Native American language programs across America. Our Guatemala Radio Project, which is growing towards a network of 260 stations throughout the country, introduced a telecommunications bill in the Guatemalan legislature that will ensure the security of network stations for years to come. Perhaps the most impressive advance this year has been our merger with Global Response. This extraordinarily effective Colorado-based organization has been advocating for Indigenous Peoples' land rights for almost 20 years. They have helped Indigenous communities block dozens of dams, mines, and logging operations around the world, protecting the people and the unique environments in which they live. They will continue that vital work as a program of Cultural Survival, dramatically increasing our ability to help Indigenous Peoples. This year's successes are a harbinger of even bigger things to come in 2010. We will be expanding Indigenous Community Radio across Latin America, continuing to collaborate with Native communities across the U.S. to gain support for their language programs; our publications and newly reworked website will bring Indigenous issues to even more people; and by taking on many more advocacy campaigns, we will spread our efforts to many more Indigenous communities around the globe. But to make all that happen, we need your continued support. Won't you please give as generously as you can to our Annual Appeal? Thank you so very much and Happy Holidays from all of us here at Cultural Survival. Photo: Ramiro Vargas, Schuar, in Cusco, Peru during summer 2009 protests. Photo by Lilah Greenberg

Cultural Survival is a global leader in the fight to protect Indigenous lands, languages, and cultures around the world. In partnership with Indigenous Peoples, we advocate for Native communities whose rights, cultures, and dignity are under threat. We are a membership organization whose board of directors includes some of the world's preeminent Indigenous leaders, as well as lawyers, anthropologists, business leaders, and philanthropists. For more information go to www.cs.org

Pachamama Alliance: New Moon Update December 2009

This Issue Updates Facilitator Trainings Upcoming Events New Moon Action Volunteer Related News Rainforest Trips Web Links Symposiums Rainforest Trips Take Action Support Pachamama

New Moon Update The Pachamama Alliance December, 2009 Updates from the Alliance Give the Gift of Pachamama for the Holidays! Gift a donation to the Pachamama Alliance on behalf of a friend, family member, or colleague Share your commitment to helping preserve the world's tropical rainforests and the indigenous people who are its natural custodians and help bring about a world that is environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling and social just. A special gift has been donated by Pachamama friend John Gray for those who donate $1000 or more as an individual, or $1500 as a couple. Learn more... Pachamama Supports Cross Border Network Pachamama Supports Cross Border Network in Gaining Official Status The Cross-Border Network for the Protection of Ancestral Territories recently completed its second annual Meeting in Iquitos, Peru, bringing together 40 participants from 5 countries and representing 13 indigenous groups divided by national borders to share experiences, identify a common cross-border agenda, and develop a work plan for 2010. Pachamama has provided ongoing financial and logistical support for the Network, and developed the methodology and materials utilized in this event. Learn more: Youth Initiative Officially Launched The Awakening the Dreamer Youth Initiative was officially launched in November! Learn about the latest activities in South Africa, Ecuador, Oregon, Maryland and New Mexico. Learn more about the Youth Initiative and get involved. Symposium Facilitator Trainings The Pachamama Alliance's Awakening the Dreamer Program makes available Facilitator Trainings around the world for people who have the desire and commitment to deliver the Symposium in their own communities and beyond. For more information and upcoming Trainings... Upcoming Events January 22, 2010 7:00 pm, Corte Madera, CA State of the World Forum presents: Women’s 2020 Leadership Caucus: Facing the Climate Crisis Recently State of the World Forum (SWF) has partnered with Bioneers and Pachamama Alliance to create a bold ten-year campaign to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2020. This is a time for civil society to lead the way since our governments are not acting quickly enough. The Women’s 2020 Leadership Caucus is offering a feminine force for change that empowers the full potential of women (and men, too, who wish to explore this approach) to affect meaningful progress towards climate warming reduction goals and a more sustainable, resilient, and just global future. For more information about the January 22 Gathering or the February Conference in Washington D.C., please contact June Timberlake: jtimberlake@worldforum.org OR phone: 510.364.3226 Help Us Learn About You We'd be grateful for a few moments of your time... The Pachamama Alliance is conducting a survey to learn more about you - our valued friends who keep in touch with us through the internet. If you could take a few moments to answer some quick questions, it would help us out tremendously. Our online survey is available here. Thank you! New Moon Action Reduce the Footprint of Your Feast This season consider holiday entertaining for a small planet. Check out the following guidelines for creating a sustainable holidays. From food and decoration choices, to gifts and invitations, being sustainable doesn’t mean sacrifice. Season’s Greening! For more information, click here... Volunteer Volunteer Opportunities There are many opportunities to volunteer your skills, have fun and make a difference. We welcome your participation. Please visit our website to find out more, or contact Eve Libertone. Eve Libertone, Volunteer Coordinator phone: +1 415-561-4522 ext. 107 email: eve@pachamama.org Related News Follow Copenhagen Climate Change Talks Live 24/7 http://oneclimate.net/ Are You Brave Enough to Say No to a High-Stress Holiday? By Bill McKibben, Grist.org If you poll Americans this time of year, far more of them regard the approaching holidays with dread than anticipation. It has long since become too busy, too expensive, too centered around acquiring that which we do not need. The full story... Rainforest Trips Journey of a Lifetime The Pachamama Alliance offers the journey of a lifetime into the heart of the Amazon Rainforest in the pristine and remote Achuar territory. Experience a culture unlike any other in the most biodiverse and ancient forest in the world. Connect with a deeper sense of purpose and humanity through our one-of-a-kind program. Stay at Kapawi Ecolodge, one of the top 50 ecolodges in the world, and with Achuar families. Trips also include excursions into the mystic high Andes. For more information, please visit the website or contact Trip Coordinator, Pat Jackson, at trips@pachamama.org or 360-293-1806.

The Pachamama Alliance web: www.pachamama.org email: info@pachamama.org phone: +1 (415) 561-4522 fax: +1 (415) 561-4521