Stop the Papar Dam!

In Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, a controversial dam project that was shelved in 2015 has been resurrected by the newly elected Chief Minister Shafie Apdal despite campaign promises condemning the project. The affected communities who have mobilized against the proposal accuse Shafie’s Parti Warisan Sabah of breaking election promises. Diana Sipail...

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Honoring Matthew Ding Ajang

We are saddened to share the news that Matthew Ding Ajang, a staff member of our local partner TONIBUNG, in Malaysian Borneo passed away this week from a heart attack. Matthew, a technician, was visiting a micro-hydro site in Long Liam with Green Empowerment’s Gabe Wynn and local leaders. His last...

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National Conference on Indigenous Land Rights

Miri – Malaysian indigenous communities gathered in Miri, Sarawak for a one day conference and workshop. The objective of the event is to start collaboration among indigenous communities in the three regions in overcoming the challenges they are facing relating to their native customary lands. The event was organised by...

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The Borneo Wire 2017

Here is our wrap up of 2017 Borneo Project news. LAND RIGHTS UNDER THREAT Native Customary Rights protections challenged in court In October, the Federal Court of Malaysia overturned a decision of the High Court and the Court of Appeal and stripped land rights protections from indigenous communities in Sarawak....

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Borneo rainforest communities complete 15-year mapping effort

63 Penan communities celebrate the completion of a series of 23 high quality maps representing their land, culture and history (SARAWAK / MALAYSIA) Over the weekend, the indigenous Penan people of Sarawak in Malaysian Borneo celebrated the completion of their 15-year long community mapping effort. 23 maps contain data collected...

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Indigenous leader appeals to the Japanese Prime Minister: stop rainforest destruction for Tokyo 2020 Olympics

Supplier of wood for Tokyo’s new National Olympic Stadium accused of destroying Indigenous livelihoods SARAWAK / MALAYSIA – On the anniversary of the first Tokyo Olympics, Matu Tugang, headman of the Indigenous Penan community of Long Jaik from Sarawak, Malaysia, delivered an urgent plea to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe...

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NGOs Demand Olympic Authorities End Rainforest Destruction and Human Rights Abuses Connected to Tokyo 2020 Olympics Construction

TOKYO/LIMA – Today, 47 civil society organizations delivered an open letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 Olympic authorities, at the start of the IOC Executive Board Meeting in Lima, Peru. The letter reiterated grave and mounting concerns about the legitimacy and accountability of IOC sustainability commitments and the reputation...

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