| Climate Change Petition Rejected | 05 January 07 |
 The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights decided it will not consider a petition filed by the Inuit Circumpolar Conference (ICC) in Canada and Alaska. The petition alleges the US government is violating human rights of Inuit by refusing to limit its greenhouse gas emissions and was submitted by Sheila Watt-Cloutier (then ICC Chair) in December 2005.The detailed 175-page petition said climate change threatens the rights of Inuit to use and enjoy their traditional lands and personal property, their rights to health and life, to residence and movement and to their livelihood. The petition asked for "relief from human rights violations resulting from the impacts of global warming and climate change caused by acts and omission of the U.S.". It also asked the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to visit the Arctic, and recommend the U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and cooperate on other international efforts. The November 2006 letter from the commission states that it "will not be able to process your petition at present... the information provided does not enable us to determine whether the alleged facts would tend to characterize a violation of rights protected by the American Declaration." Watt-Cloutier has asked the Commission, an international legal body affiliated with the Organization of American States, for further information on why it isn't proceeding. She's also invited commission members to visit the Arctic for a hearing "to provide testimony and documentation on these problems which are seriously affecting Inuit survival." Shiela Watt-Coutier was awarded the Order of Canada for her work with the ICC in a ceremony earlier this month. View the December 15, 2006 Nunatsiaq News article View the December 15, 2006 CBC article Sources: Nunatsiaq News, CBC
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