In a letter co-signed by 21 Catholic groups, Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns brought to the Secretary of State Antony Blinken's attention the proposals by the Catholic Church sponsored Panamazonian Ecclesial Network (REPAM) in advance of the Summit of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO). Read this statement as a PDF.
Aug. 3, 2023
Dear Secretary of State Blinken:
As faith groups in the U.S. in solidarity with the peoples of the Amazon, we want to express our support for proposals submitted by REPAM, the Catholic Church-sponsored network for the Amazonian territory, in advance of the Summit of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO). The presidents of the nine Amazon nations will gather in Belém, Brazil, on August 8 and 9 with a focus on preservation of the Amazon and its sustainable development.
REPAM is present in the 9 countries that share Panamazonia: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, and French Guyana. Promoting human rights is one of its core areas of work.
We especially share REPAM’s concerns around human rights violations associated with mining, major infrastructure projects, oil and gas exploration, and deforestation that trades rich biodiversity for monoculture plantations.
While all of the proposals in the attached document are important, we especially want to bring these to your attention and to the attention of U.S. embassy staff in these countries:
- Approval of a Pan-Amazon Regional Comprehensive Plan for the protection of human rights against extractive, exploitation and development activities, which includes mandatory due diligence plans for companies to avoid negative impacts of their operations
- Ensuring that Free, Prior and Informed Consultation (FPIC) protocols are established and carried out for projects in the Amazon, in accordance with Convention 169 of the International Labor Organization
- Approval of a joint work roadmap to hold companies accountable if they do not adopt preventive measures against the threat of oil spills from their operations, and to require full reparations for harmed communities
The preservation of the Amazon is of utmost importance to the entire world. Honoring the voices and rights of the people who have cared for this precious biome for centuries is not only the right thing to do for them but also for the future of our planet.
Sincerely,
Alliance of Baptists
Congregation of Sisters of St Agnes
Daughters of Wisdom Office of Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation
Franciscan Action Network
Justice Team of the Dominican Sisters and Associates of Racine, WI
Leadership Team of the Dominican Sisters and Associates of Racine, WI
Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns
Medical Mission Sisters - Justice Office
Pax Christi USA
School Sisters of Notre Dame Central Pacific Province Shalom Office
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Western Province Leadership
Sisters of Charity of Nazareth Congregational Leadership
Sisters of the Humility of Mary
Sisters of the Humility of Mary Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation team
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas Justice Team
Sisters of the Presentation San Francisco, California
Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia
Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet
St. Columban Mission for Justice, Peace and Ecology
U.S. Federation of the Sisters of St. Joseph