Octubre 4 de 2010.
LIC. FELIPE CALDERON HINOJOSA, PRESIDENTE DE LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS MEXICANOS
LIC. JUAN SABINES GUERRERO, GOBERNADOR DEL ESTADO DE CHIAPAS
Un grupo de 35 ganadores del Premio Right Livelihood Award, considerado como el Premio
Nobel Alternativo, hizo un llamado urgente a los gobiernos de México y de Chiapas, para
detener la destrucción del valle de San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Lo anterior, en el marco de la conferencia celebrada en Bonn, Alemania, del 14 al 19 de
septiembre, con motivo del trigésimo jubileo de la distinción.
El pronunciamiento, promovido por el Observatorio Ciudadano por el Ejercicio del Derecho a la
Salud (OBSCIUDES), también fue suscrito por los asistentes a la Conferencia de jóvenes,
realizada de manera simultánea.
Cabe destacar que varias de las personalidades laureadas con el Premio Nobel Alternativo han
visitado e incluso vivido en San Cristóbal de las Casas, por lo que expresaron su profundo pesar
por la situación de la ciudad, y su esperanza en que los gobiernos federal y de Chiapas frenen ya
esa destrucción que afecta no sólo a sus habitantes, sino a México y al mundo entero.
Petition from the laureates with the Alterative Nobel Prize Award at the 30th Jubilee
Conference of the Right Livelihood Award, in Bonn, 14-19 September to halt the
destruction of San Cristóbal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
For the last 30 years the forest and mountains that surround the Valley of San Cristóbal de
Las Casas have suffered a vast destruction due the exploitation of gravel. Open mining has
already destroyed 30 percent of the forest and mountains surrounding the historical city of
San Cristóbal de Las Casas threatening the sustainability and the right to water of more than
three hundred thousand inhabitants of San Cristóbal and many neighboring indigenous
communities.
Six asphalt factories, part of these gravel exploitation compounds are located in the
proximity of school and houses, and constantly release important concentrations of
hazardous air and water pollutants such Benzene, Toluene (well known for their carcinogen
effects). A high prevalence of symptoms of eye, respiratory and skin irritation are constant
among children, women and mine workers.
New projects including the construction of highways and the creation new urban centers
aimed to artificially concentrate dispersed rural population called “Sustainable Rural Cities”
have accelerated the destruction of the Valley.
In addition, 80%of one of the richest ecosystems of Mexico, the mountain wetlands that
once covered the Valley of San Cristóbal in the Valley of San Cristóbal, host of several
unique endemic fish (Profundulus Hildebrandi) and several vegetal species are being
severely affected due to the expansion of urban areas and contamination produced by the
asphalt factories. The State Government is planning the construction of commercial centers
that will destroy important area of the remaining wetland.
The mines for the extraction of gravel, the asphalt factories and the construction of
commercial centers and houses in the wetlands of San Cristóbal are serious threats to the
environment and the health of the inhabitants of San Cristóbal and around twenty
indigenous communities. The conflict of interest originated by the fact that several
municipality officials own some of the gravel extraction and construction companies poses a
serious conflict of interest that that profoundly affects democracy. For all above, we make
an urgent appeal to the Chiapas and Federal government to investigate this situation and
immediately halt the destruction of San Cristóbal de Las Casas.
List of the Alternative Nobel Prize laureates signing the petition:
FAZAL, ANWAR, MALAYSIA, 1982;
MAX, NEEF, MANFRED, CHILE, 1983;
GRIEFAHN, MONIKA, GERMANY 1986;
BAHUGUNA, SUNDERLAL, INDIA, 1987
CORRY, STEPHEN, UNITED KINGDOM, 1989;
CORRY, STEPHEN, UNITED KINGDOM.1989;
HERNANDEZ, MAURICIO, COLOMBIA 1990;
CAMPIGOTTO, MARIA SALETE, BRAZIL, 1991;
CHOWDHURY, ZAFRULLAH, BANGLADESH, 1992;
MATTLAR, TAPIO, FINLAND, 1992;
SUDARSHAN, HANNUMAPPA, INDIA 1994;
SHIVA, VANDANA, INDIA, 1995; BIRÓ,
ANDRÁS, HUNGARY, 1995;
ORREGO, JUAN PABLO, CHILE, 1998;
ARANA, MARCOS, IBFAN, MEXICO, 1998;
HAMID, MOHD. AZMI ABDUL, MALAYSIA, 1988;
CARCÉS, JUAN, SPAIN, 1999;
LEMKE, BIRSEL, TURQUEY, 2000;
ZELTER, ANGIE, UNITED KINGDOM, 2001;
HARUSHIMA, GUILLAUME, BURUNDI, 2002;
ALAMADA, MARTIN, PARAGUAY, 2002;
HAGNER, CHRISTINA, SWEDEN, 2002;
ANDERSSON, MARIANNE, SOUTH AFRICA, 2004;
MONTENEGRO, RAÚL, ARGENTINA, 2004;
BARLOW, MAUDE, CANADA, 2005;
MANORAMA, RUTH, INDIA, 2006;
WHITAKER FERREIRA, CHICO, BRAZIL, 2006;
MASADAH SAJADI, MALAYSIA;
UEXKULL, JAKOB VON, GERMANY, 2009;
NGONGO, RENÉ, CONGO, 2009;
UEXKÚLL, OLE VON, BELGIUM;
DIETEN MENNELEES, GERMANY;
MASADAH SAJADI, MALAYSIA;
GEORGE W. UGANDA;
JOANA FORBES, CANADA.
