The Interdisciplinary Environmental Association (IEA) is committed to the study, understanding, protection, preservation, and sustainable use of ecosystems across the globe. We value the transdisciplinary approach of working with scholars from diverse fields, policy-makers, stakeholders, advocates, and leaders in environmental decision-making. We believe conflict resolution must be guided by the ethical application of science, traditional knowledge, policies and laws, transparent dialogue, and consideration of healthy ecosystems as a commons that benefit society at large. We believe respectful discussions and negotiations, where all sides are heard, are how agreements and decisions should be made and that those agreements must be honored. We believe violence, terrorism, coercion, and force should not be used in environmental decision-making process.
The IEA unequivocally denounces the rash of murders, intimidation, and displacements inflicted upon environmental protectors. Indigenous people protecting ecosystems within their territory have suffered most by this violence, often by outside forces attempting to profit from the non-sustainable exploitation of resources. These assassinations of environmental protectors and community leaders are intended to seed fear for cultural and land appropriation of Indigenous groups and for the political and financial agendas of corrupt governments or private companies. The IEA calls for the immediate halt of violence against environmental protectors and demands that governments must hold responsible individuals, groups, and corporations responsible for the perpetration of these crimes. Reparations must be made to victims and their families and proper punishments must be meted to offenders. No reparation can replace the murdered, but it can assist survivors and dissuade future violence. As individuals we can help halt the violence by contacting government officials and by carefully considering the corporations that we support financially.
We welcome people to memorialize environmental protectors who dedicated their life, and ultimately gave their life, for the land, water, air, plant, and animal relatives of the Earth. Please add the following information to the forum.
________Name _________Country _______ Date of death ______ Brief message and Photo or Video Content.
The next International Interdisciplinary Conference on the Environment will be held in Mexico City in June 2021, if the pandemic allows. We welcome all scholarly presentations at IICE, but will have a special session and panel related to the intimidation and murder of environmental protectors. If you would like more information, or would like to serve on the panel, please contact Dr. Cronin at MexicoCityIICE@gmail.com. Please join IEA in creating a world with environmental justice for all. The Interdisciplinary Environmental Association stands in solidarity with environmental protectors.
Name: Joël Imbangola Lunea, Country: Democratic Republic of Congo, Killed: July 21, 2019
Joël Imbangola Lunea served as a driver of a boat to transport people and goods from palm oil plantations to the city of Mbandaka. He was a community activist who “played a particularly important role in ensuring communications between the local communities.” Joël was killed by a security guard at a palm oil plantation in Bempumba, Eqauteur, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Source: SynchronicityEarth.org: Human rights advocate killed in DRC palm oil conflict
Link to picture: https://www.rainforest-rescue.org/photos/article/wide/xl/joel-imbangola-riao-rdc.jpg
Carlos Aldario Arenas Salinas. Tolima Colombia. Killed on September 11, 2019
Carlos was a farmer and active ecotourist for the Santa Isabel Wetland and Condor Route, a project that helped facilitate the viewing of endangered species and subjected visitors of the Nevedos National Natural Park to the customs and cultures of the rural coffee town. He was a defender of water and protected the condors. In events still not certain, Arenas Salinas was shot and murdered in northern Tolima.
According to a Global Witness report, in 2018 twenty four environmental defenders were killed in Colombia.
Source: https://hrdmemorial.org/hrdrecord/carlos-aldario-arenas-salinas/
Mariano Abarca Roblero, Chicomuselo Mexico. Killed 2009
Roblero organized protests against a Canadian mining company in his home town of Chicomuselo. Prior to his murder, his family was intimidated on multiple occasions. His wife was held at gunpoint and his family claims his son was beaten before Roblero was ultimately shot and killed.