Oh, the irony.
Joan Carling, an indigenous rights activist tagged by the Philippine government as a terrorist, has been awarded by the United Nations (UN) with the Champions of the Earth award for lifetime achievement yesterday for her work in upholding the rights of indigenous peoples.
According to a statement released by the UN, this year’s awardees also include French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, both of whom were cited for championing the International Solar Alliance, a group which aims to promote the use of solar energy.
They were also cited for “promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action.”
A member of the Kankanaey tribe, Carling was described by the UN as an environmental defender who has received threats against her life. She served twice as the secretary general of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and also served as the chairperson of the Cordillera People’s Alliance.
Carling was featured in the UN Environment’s website. She said that as a young woman she was inspired by the protests against the Chico Dam project in the Cordillera Administrative Region which occurred during the martial law years. Many of those who opposed the dam were jailed, while one Kalinga tribal leader was assassinated.
Carling, then a college student, spent two months working with the Kalinga tribe.
Over the years, she said she has seen first-hand how large dams and mining have destroyed communities and their heritage.
She also added how militarization has been used to force environmental groups to give up their lands.
She said: “Indigenous environmental defenders are experiencing the devastating effects of militarization to give way to development projects. Indigenous leaders are jailed and killed, while communities are powerless. It’s heartbreaking, but it has also strengthened my commitment to work on human rights and environmental sustainability.”
Carling also said that it was in February this year when she was placed on a list of alleged Filipino armed rebels. She said the accusation was “baseless” and admitted fearing for the safety of her family and friends.
Carling was referring to the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) list of more than 640 individuals whom the government accused of being terrorists. The list also includes Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, a UN special rapporteur who was accused by the government for having links with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP). Also included in the list was former congressperson Satur Ocampo and CPP founder Jose Maria Sison.
Previous Champions of the Earth awardees include Afroz Shah, who led the world’s largest beach cleanup; former US vice president Al Gore; Rwandan President Paul Kagame; and Google Earth developer Brian McClendon.
Carling will receive the award tonight during the Champions of the Earth Gala in New York City. It will be hosted by actor Alec Baldwin and model and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia Mirza.
