Traditional Knowledge Bulletin |
- This week in review … UNESCO and UNU launch book on TK for climate change adaptation
- This week in review … TK at Rio+20
- This week in review … Kari-Oca 2 Indigenous Conference at Rio+20 issues final declaration
- This week in review … WIPO news of relevance to TK
- This week in review … Article analyzes WIPO IGC discussions on TK
- This week in review … Google launches cultural map of Surui indigenous people
- This week in review … University project to combine Māori knowledge and science into low-input farming model
- This week in review … Tablet PCs preserve indigenous knowledge
This week in review … UNESCO and UNU launch book on TK for climate change adaptation Posted: 19 Jun 2012 01:25 PM PDT Book launch "Weathering Uncertainty: TK for climate change assessment & adaptation RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Published by the UNU Traditional Knowledge Initiative and UNESCO, the book "Weathering Uncertainty: traditional knowledge for climate change assessment and adaptation" was launched at the International Council for Science's Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development, held in parallel to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Authored by D.J. Nakashima, K. Galloway McLean, H.D. Thulstrup, A. Ramos Castillo, and J.T. Rubis, the book draws attention to a rapidly-growing scientific literature on the contribution of indigenous and traditional knowledge to understanding climate change vulnerability, resilience and adaptation. It aims at strengthening consideration of indigenous knowledge in the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to be released in 2014. In its Fourth Assessment Report, IPCC recognized traditional knowledge as "an invaluable basis for developing adaptation and natural resource management strategies in response to environmental and other forms of change." Despite this recognition, indigenous knowledge has remained largely outside the scope of IPCC assessments. Speaking at the launch, Gretchen Kalonji, UNESCO's Assistant Director-General for the Natural Sciences, emphasized that the book "underlines the critical role that indigenous peoples and local communities can play in ongoing international efforts to monitor the progress of global climate change impacts and to develop capacities to respond." Professor Govindan Parayil, UNU Vice-Rector, added that the drafting of the book had encouraged an interaction among IPCC authors, climate scientists, indigenous experts, and community representatives, stressing that such a collaboration "is providing important support for effective adaptation action on the ground." Read the UNU press release … Download the book [pdf] … |
This week in review … TK at Rio+20 Posted: 19 Jun 2012 01:22 PM PDT Rio Conventions Pavilion: Africa Day and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Day RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: On Thursday, 14 June 2012, the Rio Conventions Pavilion convened for Africa Day, and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Day. A session addressed the contribution of traditional knowledge to climate mitigation and adaptation. Panelists addressed, among others, a Conservation International project supporting the recovery and restoration of indigenous lands in the Kaingang territory in Brazil, and the UNESCO Climate Frontlines project supporting the voices of indigenous peoples and promoting TK in climate policy. Discussion highlighted the many misconceptions at the heart of mainstream approaches to supporting TK; the need for support programmes to strengthen local governance capacities; and the need to strengthen learning alliances between indigenous and academic communities. Read the Bulletin … Visit the Pavilion website … Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Development: Thematic session on indigenous knowledge and science RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Building upon the outcomes of the Planet Under Pressure session on Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Futures (London, 28 March 2012), the panel considered how global environmental governance has been and continues to be transformed by an expanding engagement amongst local and indigenous knowledge holders, the scientific community and decision-makers. The panel also explored the increasing collaborative engagement of indigenous and scientific knowledge holders in the equitable co-production of new knowledge to inform innovative solutions to complex sustainable development challenges. The session brought forward the following recommendations: Beyond acknowledging the value of indigenous knowledge, the scientific community and policy-makers should recognize and actively engage with indigenous knowledge holders as actors in their own right; science should move beyond an approach of validating and integrating indigenous knowledge, towards embracing knowledge co-design and co-production that bring scientists and indigenous knowledge holders together on an equitable and mutually-respectful basis; action to sustain the dynamism and creative force of indigenous knowledge must begin within indigenous communities and be based upon fostering sound and culturally-appropriate modes of knowledge transmission. Of particular importance is the re-design and re-orientation of formal and non-formal education to recognize indigenous languages, epistemologies and pedagogies; recognition of the diversity of knowledge systems, whether scientific or indigenous, each with their distinct histories, ontologies, epistemologies, modes of transmission and communication, value systems and worldviews, is critical for a productive engagement amongst knowledge holders that may generate innovative solutions to complex sustainable development problems; and these processes must be based upon the full and effective participation of indigenous knowledge holders, and the respect for the rights of their societies and cultures as outlined within the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Further information …Download the Co-Convenors' recommendations [pdf] … |
This week in review … Kari-Oca 2 Indigenous Conference at Rio+20 issues final declaration Posted: 19 Jun 2012 01:19 PM PDT Indigenous Peoples Global Conference on Rio+20 and Mother Earth RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: The Kari-Oca 2 Indigenous Conference at Rio+20 has issued its final declaration. In the declaration, participants acknowledge that the Kari-Oca conference marked a big step forward for an international movement for Indigenous Peoples' rights and recognition of the important role that Indigenous Peoples play in conservation and sustainable development. They see the goals of UNCSD and the "Green Economy" as a continuation of colonialism. They note that food sovereignty is a fundamental expression of the collective right to self-determination and sustainable development, nourishing their identities, cultures and languages, and their ability to survive as Indigenous Peoples. They demand that false solutions to climate change that only serve the dominant economic order are abandoned; and indigenous peoples' participation in decision making, and their right to free, prior and informed consent is ensured. They reject the assertion of intellectual property rights over their genetic resources and traditional knowledge, and affirm their right to possess, control, protect and pass on indigenous seeds, medicinal plants and traditional knowledge for the benefit of future generations. They reaffirm their rights to self-determination and to own, control and manage their traditional lands and territories, waters and other resources, noting that the legal recognition and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples to land, territories, resources and traditional knowledge should be a prerequisite for development and planning for any and all types of measures of climate change adaptation and mitigation, environmental conservation (including the creation of "protected areas"), the sustainable use of biodiversity and to combat desertification. Read the declaration … |
This week in review … WIPO news of relevance to TK Posted: 19 Jun 2012 01:17 PM PDT Invitation for Comments: Initial Draft Report of the Twenty-First Session of the IGC GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: The initial draft report of the 21st session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), held from 16-20 April 2012, is now available on the WIPO website. Written corrections may be submitted to the WIPO Secretariat by email to Grtkf@wipo.int before 6 July 2012. Read the draft report … Document on suggestions made by the Indigenous Caucus regarding participation in the IGC The information document, including comments received on suggestions made by the Indigenous Caucus regarding the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the IGC is currently available on the WIPO website. The document was requested by the IGC at its 21st session in view of its 22nd session, to be held from 9-13 July 2012. It provides information on the practical, procedural and budgetary implications of the six suggestions made by the Indigenous Caucus regarding the participation of Indigenous Peoples in the IGC process, the WIPO Voluntary Fund and the selection of panelists and substantive work of the Indigenous Panel. Read the document … |
This week in review … Article analyzes WIPO IGC discussions on TK Posted: 19 Jun 2012 01:14 PM PDT The quest for effective traditional knowledge protection: Some reflections on WIPO's recent IGC discussions GENEVA, SWITZERLAND: In this article, the author, and professor of law in the University of Wisconsin, discusses the background, process and outcomes of the April session of the Intergovernmental Committee on Intellectual Property and Genetic Resources, Traditional Knowledge and Folklore (IGC) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on traditional knowledge. He notes that the large scale issues have to do with the conceptual framework for TK protection. Should the framework be a defensive one, preventing the misappropriation of TK through patenting, or should it be an offensive one, allowing carefully defined stakeholders to manage and appropriate value from property rights? If both defensive and offensive goals are desired, then how should the promotion of a rich public domain be balanced with commitments to protecting economic, social, and cultural rights of designated owners? Following an examination of a series of issues addressed during the negotiations, he concludes that compared to the IGC negotiations over genetic resources, the debates on TK have shown signs of progress. But difficult issues related to identifying the set of policy objectives from a range of conflicting alternatives remain. Determining the best way to integrate effective TK protection within national law institutions will continue to be particularly vexing. But as these debates continue, the TK community's understanding of intellectual property and other knowledge systems will continue to be refined. This refinement of understanding may also aid in giving voice to often overlooked communities and sources of knowledge in the construction of the global commons guided by politics and economics. Read the article … |
This week in review … Google launches cultural map of Surui indigenous people Posted: 19 Jun 2012 01:11 PM PDT Google launches cultural map of Brazil's Amazon tribe RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Google unveiled a cultural map of Brazil's Surui indigenous people, a digital tool that will help the Amazonian tribe share their vast knowledge of the forest and fight illegal logging. The map, the result of a five-year partnership between Surui chief Almir and Google, was released online for the first time at a business forum held on the sidelines of Rio+20. The map is a collection of pictures and videos mapping historical sites and offering 3-D visualization of Surui territory in the northwestern Brazilian state of Rondonia. It is available at: www.paiter.org, as well as on Google Earth. Read the article … |
This week in review … University project to combine Māori knowledge and science into low-input farming model Posted: 19 Jun 2012 01:07 PM PDT Improving farming through traditional Māori knowledge DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND: A University of Otago researcher has been granted $600,000 over two years to create a low-input farming model combining Māori knowledge and science. Dr Marion Johnson's project, Indigenous Agroecology (He Ahuwhenua Taketake), will draw upon Mātauranga (the Māori knowledge system) to create a unique farming model which values diversity, aligns it with science, and preserves traditional knowledge. Read the release … |
This week in review … Tablet PCs preserve indigenous knowledge Posted: 19 Jun 2012 01:05 PM PDT Tablet PCs preserve indigenous knowledge LONDON, UK: Tablet computers could help villagers in the Kalahari desert preserve cultural knowledge and traditional techniques for future generations. Along with researchers at the Polytechnic of Namibia in Windhoek, Kasper Rodil's team from Aalborg University in Denmark is working with elders in the small village of Erindiroukambe to develop a 3D visualisation of the village on a tablet computer. Their knowledge will be embedded in this virtual village to be stored for future generations. Rodil is also developing a drawing app for the tablet which mimics the way the elders draw diagrams in the sand to explain what they mean. "The idea is that we have as little friction as possible between the device and the user," he says. Rodil will present his latest work at the Participatory Design Conference in Roskilde, Denmark, in August. Read the article … Visit the Participatory Design Conference website … |
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