A nation demands the right to exist

[emad]

The Independent
The Inuit peoples of the Arctic have launched a dramatic legal action against America. The charge? That US emissions of greenhouse gases have made their very survival impossible
By Rupert Cornwell
16 December 2004


Their ancient way of life is in unprecedented peril. Their very land is melting beneath their feet. Even the endless night of the Arctic winter, which should be one of nature's most immutable constants, may be changing. It too appears to have fallen victim of the abrupt warming of the global climate which almost every one on earth - apart from the government of the United States - believes is exacerbated by the polluting industries of the modern world.

But now the 155,000 Inuit, also known as Eskimoes, scattered along the northern rim of Canada, Greenland, Alaska and Siberia, say the climate change that threatens their existence is also a violation of their human rights, and that the US, responsible for 25 per cent of the planet's greenhouse gases, is largely responsible.

The human rights, say the Inuit are the most basic ones, the rights to life, health and property. "We're an adaptable people, but adaptability has its limits," says Sheila Watt-Cloutier, the head of the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, the group recognised by the United Nations as representing the Inuit people. "Something is bound to give, and it's starting to give in the Arctic, and we're sending that early warning signal to the rest of the world."

Yesterday, at the international climate change conference in Buenos Aires, the Inuit were to make their move by announcing they would demand a ruling from the the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights that as the prime source of greenhouse gas pollution, is in violation of the commission's own norms.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=593660

[Deja Q]

1. What's a little genocide when corporate a's richest are more important?

x(

[leftofcool]

13. And we know that genocide

is not new to the US. The Feds have been engaged in it for years. Just ask the good folks at Pine Ridge or Rosebud.

Left of cool

[ooglymoogly]

2. go moe's

someone has to tell it like it is

[pnutchuck]

3. I find the language in the article a bit racist

sorry to pull the pc card, but Eskimoe is a derogatory term made up by the white man. Literally translated, it means "eater of raw meat". On the surface, it doesn't sound bad, but it was used to make the comparison to wild animals. To use an analogy, you wouldn't write an article about Gay Pride and say the Gay and Lesbian organization, or Faggots, have plans for a grand affair.

[jobycom]

4. Don't apologize, and thanks for the information. nt.

[Selteri]

5. Technically

Though I suspect it was made in ignorance.

Either way, they will likely be trashed by Lush Spinblog and marginalized.

[Minstrel Boy]

6. I agree. It's a bit shocking to see "Eskimo" in print these days,

especially in a serious and even progressive paper.

I think Canadians have largely been sensitized about this, and Innu and Inuit are commonly used. Undoubtedly the terms are much less familiar to UK readers.

[Chicago Democrat]

18. Amy Goodman used the term the other day on Democracy Now!

I think she said "Inuit, otherwise known as 'Eskimos."

[TolstoyAndy]

8. I know we don't use "Eskimo" but

it seems the article is using the term just to let its readers know who they're talking about. Most Americans (I know it's a UK paper, but I'm looking at the lowest common denominator, which means most Americans) wouldn't have a clue what "Inuit" means or how to pronounce it or to whom it refers.

As long as this is the only occurrence of "Eskimo", I don't see how it is racist.

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. But that derivation is disputed

and the term is not held to be derogatory in Alaska (which is one of the countries, talked about).

Although the name "Eskimo" is commonly used in Alaska to refer to all Inuit and Yupik people of the world, this name is considered derogatory in many other places because it was given by non-Inuit people and was said to mean "eater of raw meat." Linguists now believe that "Eskimo" is derived from an Ojibwa word meaning "to net snowshoes." However, the people of Canada and Greenland prefer other names. "Inuit," meaning "people," is used in most of Canada, and the language is called "Inuktitut" in eastern Canada although other local designations are used also. The Inuit people of Greenland refer to themselves as "Greenlanders" or "Kalaallit" in their language, which they call "Greenlandic" or "Kalaallisut." Most Alaskans continue to accept the name "Eskimo," particularly because "Inuit" refers only to the Inupiat of northern Alaska, the Inuit of Canada, and the Kalaallit of Greenland, and is not a word in the Yupik languages of Alaska and Siberia.

Alaska Native Language Center

[daleo]

16. I thought it was originally an Indian term

The Inuit and Indians of the high north didn't get along that well. I thought whites picked up the term Eskimo from northern Indians, although as you say it wasn't complimentary. Samuel Hearne's account of the slaughter at Bloody Falls is instructive.

[GOPBasher]

7. This country will not do a thing to curb climate change. Welcome to

the Republican era. :mad:

[Demeter]

12. Destroying the Economy is Good for the Environment

Look at all the pollution that doesn't pour out of closed factories, and the emisssions from cars that don't go to work, or worse yet, don't get fixed or filled with gas.

[GOPBasher]

15. That's a good point, actually.

I guess it's too much to ask to get what we had in the 90's: an economic boom *along with* environmental regulations.

[Bono71]

21. Also, though humans contribute to global warming so does the

sun...I hope it was a named party in the lawsuit.

[Megahurtz]

9. Good for the Natives (proper term?) for doing this!!!

the problem is that the oil tycoons would have to give up their precious oil dependency. I wish this would get really big with media coverage, but here in the U.S they'll keep us in the dark. Oil use has to stop, it's ruining our world, although I do not trust the present administration to care about anything but their personal bank accounts. Oh, I forgot to throw in world domination.

[Richmond27]

14. I agree...

global warming may be considered a good thing for oil tycoons as parts of Siberia become habitable due to polar ice melting. This then makes it easy to drill for oil. The environment has always been a huge issue for me and things like this make me sad. Why can't the U.S. search for alternatives that are cleaner and safer? I don't understand.

[Megahurtz]

19. easier for Bushitler to drill Alaska

Sounds like that's his plan. :cry:
There are many alternatives to oil, but unfortunately this oil tycoon is too sick with greed to consider.

[Richmond27]

20. Because he's too selfish and greedy...

to think of his grandchildren and their grandchildren. Such evil!

[tom_paine]

11. For a minute I though this was about the Old American Republic, the USA

But that nmation is dead and gone and NO ONE seems to be clamoring for it's "right" to exist again.

And of course, the Inuits have as much chance of their pleas budging the Imperials as Jewish pleas had on the Nazis.

EXACTLY the same chance.

[Chicago Democrat]

17. Fantastic!!! Go Inuits!

I hope they win.