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December 09 2008 » News Clippings » Amnesty International

Amnesty International welcomes suspension of coal-bed methane exploration in Tahltan territory

Amnesty International welcomes the Province of British Columbia’s decision to temporarily suspend a controversial coal-bed methane exploration project in Tahltan traditional territory in northwestern BC.

Amnesty International has previously expressed concern about the province’s failure to protect the human rights of the Tahltan people during recent licensing of oil, gas and mining projects within Tahltan traditional territory.

In 2004, Shell Canada was granted tenure by the BC Ministry of Mines, Energy and Petroleum to explore for coal-bed methane in Tahltan territory, which lies 500 kilometres north of Smithers, BC. The Sacred Headwaters, as it is known to the Tahltan People, is the birthplace of three major salmon-bearing rivers, the Skeena, Nass and Stikine.

Tahltan and downstream communities strongly opposed coal-bed methane development in the Sacred Headwaters due to the area’s ecological sensitivity and cultural significance to the Tahltan and other First Nations peoples.

In addition, several major mining projects are poised to move ahead in the area.

The Province’s announcement to suspend Shell Canada’s coal-bed methane exploration for two years is a necessary step toward ensuring Tahltan people have the time they need to develop their own land use plan and address potential impacts of major development projects on their communities.

Amnesty International is calling on the province to ensure the rights of the Tahltan people to consultation, accommodation and consent are upheld in respect to all development projects being considered in the region. Amnesty International also calls on the province to ensure the Tahltan people have adequate time and resources to develop a land use plan that will allow the communities to balance their economic, social, environmental and cultural priorities for future generations.

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For further information, please contact:
Beth Berton-Hunter, Media Relations
416-363-9933, ext. 32

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