Frontera NorteSur, February 1999

Ciudad Juárez was the site of  a precedent-setting conference held by the Bi-national Coalition Against Radioactive and Toxic Waste on January 21-23.  The event was attended by a variety of NGO’s, elected officials, and representatives from 14 indigenous tribes  from everywhere in México, all joining to support the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance and the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) currently fighting  the proposed waste site near the US/México border in Ward Valley, California.

Representatives from the groups participated in ceremonies  in front of national monuments in Cd. Juárez, met with the City Council and Vice Mayor Alberto Torres, rallied in front of the US consulate building in downtown Juárez and met to discuss the future of the fight against the waste site proposed on sacred lands.

The controversial  low-level waste site would deposit nuclear waste on grounds sacred to the Colorado River Indian Tribes.  The site is located near an aquifer, 18 miles away from the Colorado River, a water source for over 22 million people both in the US and México.

Dave Harper, traditional spokesperson for the CRIT and the Mohave Elders, and five Mohave Elders originally visited the El Paso/Juárez area in December of last year to seek the support of the Coalition which includes members of the government  and members of the Sierra Blanca Legal Defense Fund as well as concerned members of society.

The issue is of international concern because the proposed site would pollute the water source for people on both sides of the border. "Nuclear waste doesn't recognize borders or people; it hurts everyone," said Harper during a recent FNS interview.

In a  meeting at Cd. Juárez City Hall, NGO's, city council members, state officials,  Alberto Torres, Harper, Ft. Mojave Chairperson Nora Helton and other representatives from California along with indigenous people from Oaxaca, Veracruz, Chihuahua, Guerrero and other Mexican states asked that the Council collaborate on a formal resolution to be presented to Gray Davis, governor of California, showing their support in the opposition of the site inWard Valley.

Present at the meeting was the Director of the Department of Education and Culture, Professor Mónica Juárez, director of the Department of  Environmental Awareness, who said that "In this fight you have the support of historic reason and justice that supports and attests to your social commitment with the current and future generations.  We should remember that to defend the environment is to defend life."

City Council member Dr. María Teresa Zorilla de Valenzuela told the attendants that the city of Juárez will offer its unconditional support in all of their efforts.  Zorilla added that undoubtedly their will be victory in this issue due to the "unity of everyone present."

The unconditional support from the Mexican indigenous people was also promised to the Alliance.  Estela García and Donanciana Antonio from the Loxicha region in  Oaxaca, who visited the northern border for the first time expressed that their people also struggle for survival and they will fight against the proposed site as they know their indigenous brothers will hopefully join their struggle.  Community leader Ramiro García from the Huasteca region also declared that they have decided to fight with their indigenous brothers from the Colorado River and will stop the actions that could jeopardize human life.

Helton,  Ft. Mojave chairperson,  assured that the events in Cd. Juárez were a definite step toward victory against the waste site.  "Uniting together is the only way we will accomplish winning the situation in Ward Valley. Your experience will give us the perseverance to win."

During a breakfast meeting with state and federal officials, Alma Gomez Caballero (PRD), Congressperson in Chihuahua offered to propose a resolution to oppose the dump at the First Encounter of Border States Legislatures in Tijuana. A result of the meeting with state and federal officials was a formal resolution ratified and signed on January 29, 1999, in Tijuana, Baja California by state legislatures, border representatives, federal congress representatives and NGO's. The resolution  will later be presented to Governor Gray Davis.

The Mohave Elders Group was also present at the events in Cd. Juárez.   They actively participated in the events with traditional songs and dances to show their opposition to the dump.  "We are the keepers of the water," said one of the elders, "and because of this we can't allow for this site to contaminate the water that provides life for millions of people."  The elders spoke with Federal Congressman Carlos Camacho, PAN, and expressed their concern with the consequences that a dump site would be not only a violation of their sacred land but an international violation.

Professor Manuel Robles, president and founder of the Bi-national Coalition Against Radioactive and Toxic Waste Sites, which has actively been opposing the proposed dump in Ward Valley, presented the Alliance representatives with a petition signed by 1,000 residents.  The petition had been translated and circulated in the rural communities of the Valley of Juárez and in the San Agustín Museum three days prior to the arrival of the North American tribal members.  Robles also published a declaration of support in the most widely circulated political analysis magazine in the state of Chihuahua.

The Coalition has vowed to continue to support the Colorado River Native Nations Alliance and the Ward Valley Coalition and the efforts of Congressman Camacho to bring a delegation representing all five political parties in the Federal Congress of México to meet with Gov. Davis to express their opposition to the proposed dump and desecration of Ward Valley. In an open forum held at a historic Cd. Juárez Museum, spokespersons from the Tarahumara in Chihuahua voiced their efforts in saving their lands, water and lives.  CRIT Spokesman Dave Harper said that "There must be a stand by the people to stop the environmental injustice for all of us on this earth."

In the same forum another alliance representative, Steve Lopez, emphasized that in order for the government to recognize and take action, it takes a community to raise issues about contaminants and their effects on people.  This is precisely what is happening with this reunion in Cd. Juárez. "People of color can unite and stand strong, there is no need for major political power.  People can really make a difference," added Lopez in an FNS interview.

While the gathering in Cd. Juárez ended on January 23, the fight for their rights and the unity created during the three days shared together continues. The participants returned to their regions after pledging to fight together for humanity, land and sovereignty.

California Citizens Against Toxics Conference

On a related note, a California Citizens Against Toxics (CCAT) conference was held in Oakland, California on  January 30 and February 1.  In attendance were representatives from the Alliance including Dave and Mamie Harper from CRIT, who updated participants of the CCAT conference and the progress made in the struggle against the dump at Ward Valley. 

Mamie Harper, a Mohave elder, explained the importance in saving the water for future generations and stressed that the tribes are determined to make any sacrifice in preserving this sacred land and not allowing the government to pollute it with a nuclear waste site.

The CRIT also extended invitations to all present to attend the one year anniversary of  what is to this day the longest land occupation in history.  The occupation which began in February of 1998 and  lasted 113 days and was a peaceful demonstration in which the Mohave elders and other tribal members halted the invasion of the government to the sacred  grounds of Ward Valley.