TO CALIFORNIA ACTIVISTS: OBAMA & INDIANS AT THE UN

President Barack Obama is considering allowing a representative from each tribal nation located within the United States to have a seat at the United Nations (U.N.) as full voting members in a decision that has taken the world by surprise.

The plan would allow each indigenous Red Indian Nation - currently referred to as "tribes" or "bands" to have a voice in international decisions regarding global peace and policy at U.N. Headquarters in New York City and once and for all join the community of world's nations.
Currently, "tribes" are denied access to such a body, having been victims of over 518 years of a relatively unknown "genocide" that the sponsor of such, the u.s. government - who remain virtually in control on U.N. decision-making and veto power , was never too eager to reveal.

The possible decision would startle unprepared tribes and tribal councils as they would scramble to appear "nation-like" as they decide which nation citizen would travel to New York to serve their nation on such a seat.
Indigenous people anticipated change in governmental affairs once the first Black African became president - a fellow person of color, and wondered if the Obama administration would force their government to honor Treaties, that are supposed to be protected from violation through Article VI of the United States Constitution.
There was also great concern from Indigenous activists that the government had previously given Israel - the occupying entity of nation of Palestine, over $40 billion per year in order to secure the country as a base for Britain and u.s.. oil removal from the region. Indians felt that while American troops now simply occupy Iraq in the heart of oil country, the need for the concocted state of Israel is not necessary, and American Indian tribes could instead receive the $40 billion in lieu of Treaty violations and as retribution for resources stolen from Indians by the u.s. since 1492. Currently, tribes receive approximately $2 billion from the government for programs and administrative costs.

Allowing the voice of the Red Man into world affairs through U.N. full membership, voting, and possibly "veto-power" seats is a first step to recognizing Indigenous people as "peoples" and as true members of the human race.
The qualifications for membership in the U.N. is that a nation must have:
1) their own language
2) their own land
3) their own culture or way of life
Currently, of all the races of humankind, the white, black, brown, and yellow, only the Red Race is denied a seat in the United Nations.

Sign and distribute
: Peace, respect & guidance,
Oskar Castro
Program Analyst
Youth & Militarism
American Friends Service Committee
Phone: 215.241.7046
Fax: 215.241.7177
"America is a continent, not a country!"

CAWA CALL TO ACTION IN THE VALLEY!

You are invited to join California Women's Agenda (CAWA) and key leaders of California networks, organizations and representatives from the CAWA Legislators' Council with farmworker and indigenous women for strategic planning and organizinig on policies impacting all California women.
We are coming together with women of the Central Valley in Tulare County, a historic region of California and the US.

We are entering a new policy era with opportunities for moving our agenda forward and for restoring a collective US women's agenda. As women locally and globally begin preparation for a UN Fifth World Conference on Women, California will kick off our state planning on April 3rd following the UN CSW 53rd Session, March 1-10, 2009.

You and your organization can register for the Call to Action here. We have made this as affordable as possible - so bring your tent and/or sleeping bags, and travel GREEN by train down the Valley to Hanford, just minutes away from Visalia.

WHERE: At the Friends Meeting House, 17208 Avenue 296, Visalia, CA, 93292.
The Summit locale was chosen for it's centrol location between northern California (San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno) and southern California (Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles,San Diego). Women and supportive men will arrive from all points of California!

WHY:
To include marginalized and indigenous women and girls' voices in state policies affecting their lives and the lives of their families.
To revisit and reaffirm a progressive California Women's Agenda for review by California women from the ground and from the internet.
To continue building the 'bandwidth' of CAWA's electronic action network through hub counties and partner organizations in California, and on through e-networks in US Women Connect states that link to Commissions on Women, national and global NGOs.
To assure that all California women have a voice in a US Women's Agenda for the 5th World Conference on Women, 2012.

CO-SPONSORS to date:
CAWA, American Friends Services Committee, Proyecto Campesino; Advocacy Coalition of Tulare County, Female Leadership Academy; SEIU 521 Central Valley Women's Committee, Coalition of Women from Asia and the Middle East, LA; and other CAWA partners. Join the Co-sponsors on the Registration Form!