Sign Online Petition
The 16 August Union are asking everyone to sign this online petition in support of their indigenous rights to mine ruby on the island of Greenland and to make a living out of responsible small scale mining. The petition request is as follows and will be sent to the Home Rule Parliament of Greenland.
In the summer month of August 2007, five local gemstone collectors on Greenland were forced to abandon their ruby prospecting camp in the field, by the Greenland Bureau of Minerals and Petroleum (BMP) and the Greenland Police, and banned from all collection and trade in all of Greenland.
The authorities denied the five local people permission to continue practicing their historical and traditional rights of collecting the stones out in nature as their ancestors have done through generations, and centuries.
Since then members of the 16th August Union have had their stones confiscated from them by the BMP and have been effectively criminalized and prevented from earning an honest living through collecting and jewellery activities.
As a union we believe this criminalization, obstruction and breach on our historical and traditional right to collect rocks is an unconstitutional, abuse of power on behalf of the authorities.
We therefore respectfully request that everybody support our petition on behalf of the whole population of Greenland to enshrine our rights in a clear, transparent law that secures the following simple idea.
“The fundamental rights for indigenous and native Greenlanders under section 32 of the current Constitution to be able to collect, transform, commercialize and export all natural minerals of any sort.
(Except oil, gas and radioactive elements in areas with a monopoly).
Petition Submissions
-
Andreas
SN83NU
(GB)
I fully support the cause and the petition of the 16th August Union
-
Greg
PO19 8BE
(GB)
I fully support this petition. Discrimination of this kind has no place in a modern world.
-
Mary
SN8 3NU
(GB)
I fully support this online petition. This is not right. Human Rights.
-
Jessica
95503
(US)
I am utterly stunned the Government would do this to the Inuit! And Denmark says it's so good in the area of Human Rights. What a bunch of bull!
-
Nick
4010
(NZ)
I support the cause and the petition of the 16th August Union to protect the rights of native Greenlanders
- Wolfgang 91058 (DE)
-
Napa
3900
(GL)
Napa here, ready to fight for our rights;)
-
Paul
14032
(US)
It's amazing what greed does to so-called progressive governments! Please join in this worthy effort to restore not only property, but dignity to those who it truly belongs to.
- brandon 27540 (US)
-
Nicola
SW15 2EF
(GB)
I fully support this cause and wish you all the success you deserve.
-
WC1E 7AX
(GB)
To protect indigenous people's rights and promote small-scale mining that does not have a damaging environmental footprint.
-
Petronella
E8 2LT
(GB)
You need to make it easier to find this petition age on your site - their should be a big box to click on the home page as it is a worthwhike campaign!
-
Katie
BN14 7DJ
(GB)
Absolutely in support of this cause. Please do make the petition easier to find - I know there are lots more people who will support it.
-
Mary-Jayne
N6 5QS
(GB)
Fully support the cause, and fuly support the petition being made easier to find!
- francesca N7 0HU (GB)
-
Cat
N5 2DN
(GB)
I want a Greenland ruby, blessed by the hand of an Inuit.
- Tom IP33 1RE (GB)
-
lupe
WC2 N4JS
(GB)
Fully support it good luck
-
Vanessa
HR6 9UB
(GB)
My respect to the Inuit for resisting the forces of global capitalism and for doing all you can to hold on to your livelihoods, wisdom and connection with the land - good luck.
- Susan SW22AJ (GB)
-
Diana
E11 1JX
(GB)
Fair trade for Greenlanders!
- Elaine KT8 0DP (GB)
-
Gillian
KA5 6HW
(GB)
Local producers should be encouraged, not frozen out by multinational vested interests
-
Holly
PO19 7XG
(GB)
I heard about this through Cred in Chichester, UK and I wholeheartedly support this campaign's desire to see local people benefit from the natural riches of the land - without the land being polluted and ruined.
Please do the right thing and free up mining rights for the people. It shouldn't be a world where only huge commerical companies profit.
-
John
NW3 1PZ
(GB)
wishing you every success with this :J
- JULIA G63 9AX (GB)
-
Laura
KA181HS
(GB)
This is something we have seen for thousands of years, indigenous peoples being refused the rights to their own resources. It has to stop, it's just greed.
- Rachel BS5 7QS (GB)
- Jacqui BN3 5BD (GB)
- Sarah SW4 0JT (GB)
- Jeanne AB56 4LD (GB)
-
Amy
MK4 1BU
(GB)
I fully support this petition and hope that these native greenlanders can triumph over greed and discrimination.
- clare w3 7tg (GB)
- Sarah M15 5RF (GB)
-
margaret
ts97hg
(GB)
its time to share the wealth!
-
Mike
GL5 5DF
(GB)
Time has long since gone for corporations and other external influences to control indigenous assets. They should be in the ownership and the benefit of the local population.
-
Helen
CO16 8UF
(GB)
will spread the word
- Mike 6221 BT (NL)
-
Danielle
06516
(US)
Equality for all, forever, not just when it's convienient.
- annie bb18 5dw (GB)
-
Peter Tuusi
3900
(GL)
"Better to die fighting for freedom, than being a slave for the rest of our days!" - Bob Marley.
I want my basic human rights.
So i support the 16th August Union.
- Mark 1015 MN (NL)
- donna g23 dl (GB)
-
Susan
LS28 8QX
(GB)
Good luck with this petition. You have my full support.
-
Ken
BD2 4BG
(GB)
This petition has my wholehearted support. The world has too many Capitalist Monopolies denying the indiginous populace the rights to their own natural resources.
-
natasha
PE30 5AB
(GB)
I have respect for every person joining this petition and making the world a better place. What is the government thinking!
- Ceridwen CF39 8SH (GB)
- Amanda BL5 2AE (GB)
-
Janet
DL7 0DH
(GB)
I fully support the Inuit people
- Rachel DH1 2LF (GB)
