Farming and Social indigenous Organizations of 12 countries recently reunited in Guatemala in the second week of Biological and Cultural Diversity, assuring that the destruction of their natural wealth is due to the governments of Latin America, and Bio-Technological companies.

At the reunion that began on the 25th of June and ran till the 29th, there were 465 delegates of towns and communities, representing more than 160 rural and social indigenous organizations of Guatemala, Uruguay, the United States, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, Costa Rica, Chile, Mexico, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.

After long discussions about Bio-Diversity, they expressed in their final document that they reject the introduction of trans-genetic elements, agro toxins, which threaten species, health, culture, sovereignty, and the security of nourishment of towns.

Likewise, they demanded reparation for damages already incurred, saying, "No to the privatization of Bio-Diversity and to the removal of our heritage" They also rejected the planting of cultivated forests that essentially assassinate Bio-Diversity, which is the base of nourishment for many towns.

(At the conference), they compromised to create an advisory council at the community, regional, and national levels, as well as the Latin American level. (The council) will be elected on the basis of community customs and uses, with the power to promote or veto projects that affect natural resources.

They also implemented an exchange project for regional development between towns in Meso-America. (The project) will fortify the power of auto determination and respect for cultural and biological diversity. Among the signatories were Madre Selva (Mother Jungle), Parroquia Ocosingo-Altamirano, and the Organización Tzeltal de Productores de Café (Tzeltal Organization of Coffee Producers).

Translated by Amber Herrington