Guest guest Posted December 16, 2001 Report Share Posted December 16, 2001 Rainforest Action Network - Monthly Email Newsletter December 2001 Welcome! Thank you for being a partner in Rainforest Action Network's campaigns. Read on to get the latest news and learn how you can help save the world's rainforests. In this post: 1. Exciting Matching Gift Opportunity 2. Citi Threatens the Peruvian Amazon 3. Fun Holiday Caroling Action! Donate Now and Your Gift is Matched! Support Rainforest Action Network with a donation before December 31, 2001 and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar! A major donor has offered to match all gifts given before the end of the year-up to $100,000. Membership is a gift that continues all year long. Remember Rainforest Action Network in your holiday plans! Give the gift of a Rainforest Action Network membership. And, ask your loved ones to share your concern for the world's rainforests and request a gift in your name to RAN. We're sure you have enjoyed receiving our email Action Alerts throughout the year. Please consider becoming a member to support the valuable work we do and share in our victories-like saving the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia. https://secure.bluemandala.com/ran-secure/give/gift.html If you have already given a gift or are a current member-thank you for an amazing year! ________________ Citi-backed Gas Project Threatens the Peruvian Amazon A remote region of the Peruvian Amazon may soon be the site of a $2.7 billion gas project. The Camisea project will be located in Peru's Lower Urubamba Region, a biologically rich area that is home to several uncontacted indigenous tribes. Construction on the project is slated to begin in early 2002, with equipment expected to arrive in the area at any time. The financial advisor for the Camisea project is none other than Citigroup (Citi)-a notorious backer of destructive oil and gas projects around the world. According to a study by the Smithsonian Institution, the Camisea project will affect one of the world's most biologically diverse regions. The study found that the region houses more than 61 different plant species per acre, nearly 800 species of birds, 120 species of fish, 86 species of reptiles, 69 species of medium and large mammals, 300 species of small mammals, and 600 species of invertebrates. Researchers found the region to be in " nearly pristine condition, " with no evidence of human activity. The Lower Urubamba Region is also home to the legally recognized territory of two isolated and uncontacted indigenous tribes, the Nahua and Kugapakori. Dozens of Machiguenga communities can be found along rivers in the region. An initial Environmental Impact Assessment report found that the project's socio-cultural impacts could include loss of food resources, contamination of drinking water, loss or damage to archeological sites, changes to existing economic activity, and the spread of disease. The project has already proven deadly for the Nahua. During preliminary exploration in the Camisea region in the 1980s, Shell exposed the Nahua to a whooping cough and influenza epidemic that killed off an estimated 50 percent of the tribe's population. Shell and Mobil, two original partners in Camisea, later withdrew from the project after investing more than $250 million. The project has been on hold since 1998, due in part to strong opposition from human rights, environmental, and indigenous groups around the world. What You Can Do: As the financial advisor for the project, Citigroup has the important role of arranging the project's financing. With the project's start date rapidly approaching, now is the time to take a stand for the Peruvian Amazon and its inhabitants. Please call on Citigroup to immediately end its involvement in the Camisea project. See our website to send out quick emails: http://www.ran.org/action/alerts.html Or, here's a sample letter: Mr. Sandy Weill Chief Executive Officer Citigroup Center 153 East 53rd Street New York, NY 10043 Dear Mr. Weill, I am deeply concerned about Citigroup's involvement in the Camisea project in Peru. According to a study by the Smithsonian Institution, the Camisea project is located in one of the world's most biologically diverse regions. The region is also home to the legally recognized territory of two isolated and uncontacted indigenous tribes, the Nahua and Kugapakori. A major gas development project in such a culturally and environmentally sensitive area would have far-reaching and potentially devastating consequences. I urge you to show respect for the environment and indigenous rights and by withdrawing from the Camisea Project immediately. Furthermore, I ask that you help protect the global environment by replacing all funding for fossil fuel projects with funding for sustainable energy. Please let me know what action you plan to take on these important issues. Sincerely, Your Name ___________________ PROTEST CITIGROUP WITH SOME CREATIVE CAROLING! Citigroup is the world's most destructive bank! They are the number one funder of global warming projects and forest destruction. They are investing in projects that threaten the rights of indigenous peoples, public health and democratic decision making around the world. So stand up and raise your voice in Song! Grab a few friends and area activists and sing popular holiday tunes with lyrics that shed light upon the World's Most Destructive Bank! Serenade Citibank and passersby, leaflet customers, educate and spread good cheer. Supplement your beautiful voices with a little symbolic deposit. After all 'Tis the season for Santa to visit the local Citi branch and pass out eviction notices, flyers, lumps of coal, etc. WHEN: this holiday season WHERE: your local Citibank branch, CitiFinancial, or Salomon Smith Barney office find one in your area: http://www.citibank.com/branches/ http://www.citifinancial.com/branchlocator/ http://www.salomonsmithbarney.com/abt_sb/brnchloc.html *** Download sample flyers, fact sheets, and a complete holiday spoof carol songbook at http://www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/citigroup/xmascarols.html For organizing help, or to report a caroling action, contact Patrick at organize or call 415-398-4404/1-800-989-RAIN * * * * * SAMPLE SONGS: (visit http://www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/citigroup/homev3.html for the complete song book) * * * * * " The Twelve Days of Christmas " On the first day of X-mas Sandy Weil gave to me a dead orangutan in a chopped down tree. On the second day of X-mas Sandy Weil gave to me two leaking pipelines and a dead orangutan in a chopped down tree. On the third day of X-mas Sandy Weil gave to me three high interest rate loans, two leaking pipelines and a dead orangutan in a chopped down tree. On the fourth day of X-mas Sandy Weil gave to me four politicians, three high interest rate loans, two leaking pipelines and a dead orangutan in a chopped down tree. .. .. .. .. .. On the twelveth day of X-mas Sandy Weil gave to me twelve singing protestors, eleven corporate b*stards, ten sweatshop workers, nine debted families, eight destroyed habitats, seven illegal mergers, six brand new prisons, five genetically engineered meals, four politicians, three high interest rate loans, two leaking pipelines and a dead orangutan in a chopped down tree. * * * * * " Rudolph the Redlined Reindeer " Rudolph the redlined reindeer, Had a different color nose And when Citibank saw it, They made sure his account was closed. All of the Citibank branches Used to laugh and call him names They never let poor Rudolph Play their racist lending games. Then one foggy December eve The people came to say, " Citigroup you're the world's blight, We've come to stop you tonight! " And all the people loved it, And they shouted out in glee, " Citigroup, you racist bankers, You won't get a cent from me! * * * * * to the tune of Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel They're not a little banker They're the biggest in the land. And their Earth-destroying projects have gotten out of hand Oh - Citi, Citi, Citi - Don't kill us with your dough Oh - Citi, Citi, Citi - We've nowhere else to go We're on a lovely planet. She's worth a bit of fuss. At the rate you mine and drill her, she'll soon be through with us. Oh - (Chorus 2x) * * * * * " God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen " Arrest the Citi banker thugs who profit from our pain They've built a finance empire from their ill-gotten gains From dams to AIDS to poverty their record is insane We will take away the privilege they enjoy all they enjoy We will take away the privilege they enjoy From Chad to Cameroon a pipeline for which they are funders Has displaced native people and torn the rainforest asunder Shareholders see their profits rise while poor countries go under? We'll expose all the lies that they deploy all they deploy We'll expose all the lies that they deploy Citigroup is now the largest bank in all the world From Bengalor to Brooklyn flows their dirty capital They cast aside their conscience so their coffers they can fill They paid off congress to nix Glass-Steagle Glass-Steagle They paid off congress to nix Glass-Steagle Now predatory lending is their habit in the States They hook the poor on credit then they jack up interest rates redlining in poor neighborhoods is one more Citi trait We will bury corporate greed with human joy with human joy We will bury corporate greed with human joy * * * * * AOL Links <a href= " www.ran.org " >RAN's website</a> <a href= " http://www.ran.org/action/alerts.html " >Action alert</a> <a href= " http://www.ran.org/ran_campaigns/citigroup/xmascarols.html " >holiday carols</a> <a href= " https://secure.bluemandala.com/ran-secure/give/gift.html " >gift donation</a> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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