BMF_TT__July2010_en.pdf - Bruno Manser Fonds

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«Politics need people like Bruno Manser» Address by Guy Morin, President of the Government of the Canton of Basel Stadt For centures, people of the primeval forest such as the Penan pursued their traditional way of life in the intact rain forest of Sarawak. Bruno Manser lived together with the Penan for many years – in search of the untouched – as explorer, poet, and simply as one of them. It was there that he came into immediate contact with the destructive potential of modern civilisation. The enormous devestation caused by mankind in a short period of time is almost unfathomable. Today more than 90 percent of Sarawak’s forest has been destroyed, and clean drinking water has become a rarity. The Penan and many other indigenous peoples have been divested of their environement and their livelihood. The destruction of the tropical forest has accelerated global warming. Bruno became contender for the rights of the Penan, for a sustainable development that would protect the basis of their existence and the basis of existence for us all. Ten years ago Bruno Manser disappeared without leaving a trace. It was a loss for all of us, a loss for you our dear Penan friends. And yet, we do not want to give in to sadness but rather to continue the fight in memory of Bruno Manser and his achievements. «You already know enough. I do as well. What is lacking is the courage to want to understand what we know and then to act accordingly.» This quotation by Sven Lindquist can be found on the first page of Ruedi Suter’s book «Bruno Manser, die Stimme des Waldes» [Bruno Manser, the Voice of the Forest]. All of you are familiar with it. This statement is so direct, so blunt and clear that it brings each of us back to the level of reality. At the first moment, however, its effect is paralysing. Look at me, I am a politican and, indeed, I know a lot. Just like all of you. But, where do we start? Where and when do we begin to understand? Is it only then, when necessity and environmental destruction become tangible? At that moment it will be too late. Where do we get the courage to implement the measures that are necessary? There is so much to be done. I am often expected to provide answers, solutions – and immediately, if at all possible. However, that is difficult. They don’t always materialise as quickly as we would like. Political processes are frequently tenacious and slow because the government must strive for a consensus, because we must convince a majority. Bruno Manser did not decide for the political approach, probably for exactly that reason, because it seemed too slow and ponderous. He went, and he acted. He made a decision for this way of
life in the forest and for its indigenous inhabitants. I can well understand. The system in which I find myself sometimes tires me because the pace at which things move forward is too sluggish even for me. Because I realise, for example, that the most powerful people in this world cannot agree at the World Climate Summit. They cannot even come to an agreement on a subject that is so crystal clear. The guidelines for action are given, and one can simply conclude that things can’t go on like this. Bruno was aware of it, and thus took the protection of the forests into his own hands. The fight against corruption, poverty and for the rights of the Penan had begun, and it continues today. Certain achievements can already be proclaimed: In 1993, the government of the Canton of Basel Stadt forbid the use of tropical woods in public buildings. The regulation is still valid and still being implemented. Following proposals by Christoph Eymann in 1997 and Remo Gysin in 2005, a motion was finally submitted by the Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxes, WAK, in 2007. It called for a change in ordinance that would allow the introduction of a universal and mandatory declaration on wood products, but was then deferred for further discussion. Such is the drawn out and stony path of politics. From the annual report of the Bruno Manser Fund, however, one can also gather that it has been possible to file two land rights claims in recent years. This could only be realised through the unyielding efforts of the Bruno Manser Fund, and included the mapping of the Penan’s habitation area. The list of accomplishments is even longer, and I would like to express my deep gratitude to all those who have helped for resisting resignation and for believing in change. Ten years have passed since Bruno was declared missing. We are still confronted with the pressing question of what happened. Bruno is very well suited to be rememberd as a myth and hero. However, a myth cannot act. Therefore let us keep Bruno Manser in memory as a visionary and as an acting person who would have asked for nothing more than for us to take up his causes and continue to pursue them. I’m happy to recall how I met Bruno Manser for the first time in 1993 on the square in front of the Swiss Parliament buildings. Since then I have tried to let his energy and willpower flow into my work as often as I can. People like Bruno Manser have always given me strength and courage. Politics need people like Bruno.
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Page 11 and 12: Federal Councillor Ruth Dreifuss wi
Page 13 and 14: Sarawak. This is because our legal
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Page 31 and 32: Guy Morin President of the Governme

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