2006 Oak Fellow: Joan Omaming Carling

In the fall of 2006, the Oak Institute welcomed Joan Omaming Carling of the Cordillera People's Alliance.

Ms. Carling has been an activist and grassroots organizer in the Cordillera region of the Philippines for twenty years and is one of the foremost activists working on indigenous peoples rights and campaigning against dam and mining projects that are destructive to their communities.

Ms. Carling arrived in Maine in mid-August and was in residence during the fall semester. While at Colby, she taught one course that covered the human rights of the Filipino indigneous peoples in comparative perspective, examining communities' struggles confronting environmental damage from large scale mining and dam operations. She returned to her work in the Philippines in mid-December.

How Can I Help?
Want to learn how you can support the work of Colby's 2006 Oak Fellow Joan Carling in her struggle to gain attention and accountability to stop the political killings in the Philippines? Click herefor more information.

Joan's Oak Address at Colby College
On September 27, 2006, Joan Carling gave a powerful presentation on her work and life in the Philippines entitled "Dangerous Journey: Tales of an Indigenous Activist." If you missed it, or just want to hear it again, you can listen to the podcast of the event here.