Latest news with #indigenousrights
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Government Gives Elon Musk Permission to Detonate Rockets Over a Sacred Hawaian Island
Not content with polluting the Boca Chica Beach on South Texas's Gulf shore — a sacred site, according to certain ancient beliefs — Elon Musk's SpaceX is now seeking to wreak havoc on another site considered holy to indigenous peoples in Hawaii. As The Guardian reports, the Federal Aviation Administration has quietly granted SpaceX permission to detonate rockets above the waters surrounding Mokumanamana, a remote and uninhabited island located 400 miles from Honolulu that holds deep religious significance to native Hawaiians. William Aila, the former chair of Hawaii's land and natural resources department who now runs the island state's housing department, told The Guardian that in Native Hawaiian spirituality, Mokumanamana sits at the boundary between "'pō,' the darkness, and 'au,' the light." When a Native Hawaiian dies, their soul travels up near Mokumanamana, and after meeting their ancestors there, they potentially get to advance into the great beyond with them in the dark waters west of the island. Despite that island's spiritual importance, the FAA gave Musk and SpaceX permission to expand its so-called "splashdown area" — the wide swath of water where it's allowed to litter exploded rocket parts — into the Pacific, making its marine junkyard whopping 75 times larger. Along with allowing Musk to rain schrapnel down near Mokumanamana, the FAA also granted SpaceX the ability to do so around Hawaii's eight main islands — which are populated with American citizens who may end up having their houses or property hit by debris — and portions of the Papahānaumokuākea marine national monument, a UNESCO world heritage site that's home to thousands of diverse species of animal and plant life. When Hawaii-dwelling activist and former physicist Lynda Williams learned of Musk's plans — which she claims were rammed through without any consultation with local officials — she urged her fellow Hawaii residents to speak out. During a public comment period held just ahead of president Donald Trump's inauguration, Williams spoke first and with vitriol. "Earth is not a sacrifice zone for Elon Musk's ego trip to Mars," the activist said during the meeting, per The Guardian. She called the billionaire's Mars colonization plan a "whole Trojan-Horse bullshit lie," and said she wanted to "shred" that talking point. Though lots of other concerned citizens from both Texas and Hawaii spoke out about the severe environmental impacts SpaceX's explosive launches will have on these holy and nominally protected waters — former president Joe Biden granted Papahānaumokuākea a sanctuary designation during his final days in office, which should have given it more legal cover — the FAA granted Musk his Pacific splashdown permission regardless. "The government is doing a number of things trying to reduce the influence and impact of environmental laws," decried Aila, who also used to chair Papahānaumokuākea's advisory council. "Who does that benefit? It benefits Elon Musk. And that should be a huge ethical issue." More on SpaceX: Elon Musk's "Hubris and Arrogance" Are Ruining Our Chances of Actually Getting to Mars, Says Leading Expert Solve the daily Crossword
Free Malaysia Today
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Step up talks before amending Orang Asli law, govt told
Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had said that the New Zealand model could not be adopted wholesale and must be adapted to suit the unique needs and realities of Malaysia's Orang Asli communities. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Orang Asli have urged the government to step up engagement with their community before amending the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954, saying any policy improvements must bring about meaningful and holistic change to their lives. Aboriginal Peoples Association of Peninsular Malaysia (POASM) president Ajis Sitin called for more engagement sessions, particularly with leaders and professionals from the community, to ensure that their views are taken into account. He warned that rushing the process or relying solely on the perspective of selected stakeholders, or models from other indigenous communities such as the Maori in New Zealand, risked failure if the voice of the grassroots was excluded. 'We've been informed that the government has concluded consultations with stakeholders regarding the amendments to the Act, but many Orang Asli leaders, intellectuals, and legal practitioners were not involved or invited to provide feedback,' said Ajis. Ajis Sitin. 'I urge the rural and regional development ministry to engage with Orang Asli professionals, community leaders, and grassroots representatives.' Ajis, a former senator, also suggested a thorough review of issues involving the allocation of resources, land rights, social matters such as marriage, and customary practices in the proposed amendments. Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said yesterday that the Aboriginal Peoples Act would be amended after more than 70 years, taking inspiration from the Maori empowerment model in New Zealand. Key features from the New Zealand approach that might be adapted to Malaysia include land ownership rights, inclusive access to education, and the establishment of a dedicated funding agency to support indigenous entrepreneurship. However, Zahid said that the New Zealand model could not be adopted wholesale and must be adapted to suit the unique needs and realities of Malaysia's Orang Asli communities. Meanwhile, Parti Orang Asli Malaysia president Rashid Ka' said the success of the Maori community was largely due to the New Zealand government's recognition of their voice. He said even indigenous political parties such as Te Pati Maori were given a platform in national decision-making. 'But in Malaysia, Orang Asli voices are still not being heard in a meaningful way,' he said, adding that most in the community only learned about the proposed amendments through media reports. He added that the effectiveness of legislative reforms would depend on the government's willingness to reform the Orang Asli development department (Jakoa). 'The Orang Asli have long called for Jakoa to be led by our own people, selected based on merit, not favouritism or political connections. 'I propose that at least 95% of positions in Jakoa be filled by Orang Asli,' he said.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Canada's PM wants to fast-track 'nation building' – but can he convince indigenous First Nations?
Jeronimo Kataquapit, a member of Ontario's Attawapiskat First Nation, is camped outside The Ring of Fire, a mineral-rich region located in remote northern Ontario. With just a canoe and a tent, the 20-year-old and his family have travelled more than 400 kilometers to protest a provincial law that designated the area a "special economic zone" for move was a precursor to Prime Minister Mark Carney's own first major piece of legislation, which is aimed at fast-tracking major infrastructure projects across the country. Dubbed the One Canadian Economy Act, it has been touted as a "nation-building" law at a time when the country is involved in a costly trade war with the United States. And while it could bring billions of investment into places like the Ring of Fire, it could also undermine indigenous nations' rights to their own land, community members fear."Ever since these laws were passed it's no longer about indigenous consultation, it's about consent," says Kataquapit. "Consent on whether you are allowed to come into our home territories, our livelihoods and build whatever you want. The time for dialogue is over, and now it's time for action." No projects have been selected yet, but the government has hinted at a few items on its wish-list, including a pipeline along the British Columbia coast and a carbon-capture project in Alberta's oil sands. The Ring of Fire, a 5,000 square-kilometre area home to significant deposits of chromite, nickel, copper, gold, zinc, and other minerals, has also been flagged as an area ripe for development in partnership with the federal governmentBut while Carney's legislation was considered by many to be an early victory for the new prime minister, environmental groups have raised concerns that the law, and others like it, provide shortcuts to get through existing environmental processes. Meanwhile, indigenous leaders like Ontario Regional Chief Abram Benedict have argued the law undermines their territorial rights."We have environmental assessments based on indigenous teachings," says Benedict. "We consider everything: air, land, water, medicines and animals. Time and time again we see project development that has not taken indigenous knowledge into consideration, and the project has essentially failed."Consultation with indigenous communities in Canada is not a courtesy, but law. The country's constitution affirms indigenous rights and requires prior and informed consent on actions that affect their land and what these consolations must entail has often been a fraught Fraser, Canada's justice minister, has said First Nations' consultation "stops short of a complete veto" on projects. Meanwhile, critics such as indigenous governance expert Pamela Palmater argue the Supreme Court has made it clear that merely hearing out indigenous communities is not enough."The law is a duty to consult, accommodate concerns, and in many cases get consent," she said last month on the political podcast The talks between the government and indigenous communities break down, it can be documents show that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police spent almost C$50m ($36m, £27m) policing resistance against pipeline projects in British Columbia. While in 2020, a Wet'suwet'en First Nation-led blockade against national railways – a protest against a British Columbia pipeline project - is estimated to have cost hundreds of millions of Canadian dollars a day. Pressure is now building on the prime minister to bring indigenous groups to the has said indigenous leadership is central to building a stronger economy, including through the One Canadian Economy Act and initiatives like the Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program. On Thursday, Carney he will sit down with First Nations leaders and later this month with Inuit and Metis of Assembly First Nations Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak told the BBC that she had requested the upcoming consultations herself. The Assembly of First Nations held a virtual forum with chiefs across Canada last week with Woodhouse Nepinak saying they are "united," and have proposed amendments to the law which they plan to bring up on that might be too late, for some. Chief of Nishnawbe Aski First Nation, Alvin Fiddler, has warned that Carney's law "will not apply in [their] territories". Fiddler has also called for the resignation of Greg Rickford, Ontario's Minister of Indigenous Wednesday, nine First Nations from Ontario launched a constitutional challenge arguing both Ontario's legislation, and Carney's federal law, present a "clear and present danger" to their way of life and rights to self-determination. Kate Kempton, senior legal counsel for the group, criticised the laws for giving the government "unfettered, unrestricted authority to wave a magic wand" and make development projects go forward, despite objections from indigenous even indigenous leaders who are typically pro-development have expressed concern. Alberta Treaty Six Nations Grand Chief Greg Desjarlais, who is part of the Western Indigenous Pipeline Group, said he is disappointed in how Ottawa has handled the "nation building" law so far."It is 2025, First Nations need to be included in consultation, ownership and revenue sharing," he told the some remain hopeful they can work with the Desjarlais (no relation), executive director of the Indigenous Resource Network, who is Metis from Saskatchewan, said that he is optimistic."We want economic development opportunities," said Desjarlais. "We can develop in line with our indigenous community interests, addressing our issues, advancing opportunities, and still very much being stewards of the land."
Free Malaysia Today
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt to review Orang Asli law, adapting NZ's Maori empowerment
New Zealand's model cannot be emulated as a whole but needs to be adapted according to the needs and realities faced by the Orang Asli, said deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The government is in the process of amending the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) which has not been reviewed in over 70 years, seeking to adapt New Zealand's model of empowering its Maori community. Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said key elements New Zealand had in place which Malaysia could adapt included land ownership rights, better access to education, and financing agencies dedicated to supporting entrepreneurship within the indigenous community. 'Act 134 is 71 years old and many aspects need to be re-examined,' he was quoted as saying by Bernama in Wellington, New Zealand, today. Zahid, who is on a work trip there until Friday, added that New Zealand's model could not be emulated as a whole but would need to be adapted according to the needs and realities faced by the Orang Asli. He said amendments to the law were still being drafted while stakeholder engagement was ongoing, involving Orang Asli academics, professionals and village leaders, among others. Zahid, the rural and regional development minister, said the Orang Asli development department (Jakoa) had been ordered to restructure its community development ecosystem to go beyond basic needs. 'The aim of the amendment is not to deny their rights, but to strengthen protection for the Orang Asli community,' he said, adding that close cooperation was needed with the various state governments since land ownership matters fall under their jurisdiction. Zahid added that there were more than 225,000 Orang Asli recorded in West Malaysia. He expects the proposed amendments to Act 134 to be tabled in Parliament in March next year.
Malay Mail
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Zahid unveils plan to amend 1954 Orang Asli Act, learning from NZ's Maori policies
WELLINGTON, July 16 — After more than seven decades without review, the Aboriginal Peoples Act 1954 (Act 134) is now being amended, drawing inspiration from the empowerment model of the Māori community in New Zealand, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said that among the key elements introduced by the New Zealand government — and potentially adaptable in Malaysia — are land ownership rights, more inclusive access to education, and the establishment of dedicated financing agencies to support indigenous entrepreneurship. 'This Act 134 is 71 years old, and many aspects need to be re-examined. Here in New Zealand, we are not only looking at land ownership issues, but also rights in education, business and financing,' he said at a press conference at Rumah Malaysia here today. However, Ahmad Zahid stressed that New Zealand's approach could not be adopted wholesale, as it must be adapted to suit the needs and realities of the Orang Asli community in Malaysia. Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Minister of Rural and Regional Development, is on a five-day working visit to New Zealand, which ends on Friday. He explained that the amendments to Act 134 are at the preliminary draft stage, with stakeholder engagement ongoing involving various parties, including Orang Asli academics and professionals. The Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA), which falls under his ministry, has been tasked with restructuring the community development ecosystem to ensure it goes beyond basic needs such as infrastructure and education. 'The aim of the amendment is not to deny rights, but to strengthen protection for the Orang Asli community. 'It will go through Cabinet-level discussions before being tabled in Parliament, debated, voted on, and subsequently presented to the King for his consent for gazetting,' he said. Ahmad Zahid also emphasised the need for close cooperation with state governments, given that land ownership matters fall under state jurisdiction. 'Engagement sessions with state leaders and representatives from 377 Orang Asli villages are ongoing. We want a comprehensive and inclusive approach,' he said. He said over 225,000 Orang Asli have been recorded in Peninsular Malaysia, and the government has never sidelined the interests of the community despite it being a minority. As such, he expects the draft amendments to Act 134 to be tabled in the March session of Parliament next year. Earlier, Ahmad Zahid held a meeting with New Zealand's Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka, at the country's Parliament. The meeting opened avenues for bilateral cooperation in indigenous community development and served as a platform for policy and experience exchange between the two countries. He also held a bilateral meeting with New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Regulation, David Seymour, and attended an engagement session with the Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand president, Ibrar Sheikh, at Rumah Malaysia. — Bernama
