FISHWORKERS DELEGATION SCORES CMZ VICTORY

FISHWORKERS DELEGATION SCORES CMZ VICTORY;

Fishworkers to be consulted prior to any new legislation/notification,

Separate Fisheries Ministry under consideration

The Ministry of Environment has agreed to drop the proposal to replace the current “Coastal Regulation Zone” (CRZ) notification with a controversial “Coastal Management Zone” (CMZ) notification. Minister Jairam Ramesh conveyed this to a delegation of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF), which met him in Delhi on July 02, 2009. The delegation took up a number of issues pertaining to India’s 20 million strong traditional fishing community with Ministries of Environment and Forest, Agriculture, Labour and Home, and the ILO. The delegation also met the President of India.

 Shri Jairam Ramesh told the delegation that the Ministry is willing to drop the current CMZ notification that lapses on July 22, 2009 and will start a dialogue with the fishing community on the best way to manage the coast. He has agreed to a series of five consultations in Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Cochin, Goa and Mumbai with fishing community representatives of all the nine coastal states before August 31, 2009. He assured that the Ministry will respect the customary rights of the fishing communities.

 The NFF delegation met with the President of India, Ministers of Agriculture, Environment, Labour and Home, MPs of coastal states, key officials and representatives of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). This visit by a NFF delegation was a follow up of their Kutch-Kolkata march along the entire coast last year and the subsequent agitation in Delhi over a charter of 16 demands. These demands include the scrapping of the new Coastal Management Zone notification, enactment of a comprehensive legislation to regulate fishing in India’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the ratification of the ILO’s “work in fishing” convention and the waiver of the debts of fishermen and fisherwomen on the lines of the debt waiver granted to farmers.

 The delegation insisted on the MoEF implementing the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science & Technology, Environment & Forests headed by Rajya Sabha M.P. Dr. V. Maitreyan, which submitted its report to the Parliament on March 20, 2009. The standing committee has recommended an elaborate consultation with the fishing communities as a pre-condition for any legislation or regulation by the MoEF. It has also recommended  a comprehensive legislation (on the lines of the Forest Rights Act) that protects the rights of the fishing communities rather than the issue of a mere notification by the MoEF.

  Parliamentary Standing Committee has clearly stated the following:

1. Almost everywhere, it was asserted before the Committee that CRZ is still a preferred piece of legislation to CMZ Notification, 2008 because the former has succeeded in containing pollution and encroachment along the coastal areas to a large extent, whereas, it was felt that CMZ Notification is a replacement/substitution of CRZ Notification in its

amended form with greater possibilities of misuse. One of the greatest apprehensions about the CMZ Notification was that it proposes legalization and encouragement to industrial corporate activities along the coasts in the garb of management methodologies. It was widely apprehended that this Notification will significantly curtail the accessibility of the local community to the shore and sea resources and serve the economic interests of the corporate sector/large investors like tourism industry, refinery, mining etc.

 Parliamentary Standing Committee has clearly stated the following:

1. Almost everywhere, it was asserted before the Committee that CRZ is still a preferred piece of legislation to CMZ Notification, 2008 because the former has succeeded in containing pollution and encroachment along the coastal areas to a large extent, whereas, it was felt that CMZ Notification is a replacement/substitution of CRZ Notification in its amended form with greater possibilities of misuse. One of the greatest apprehensions about the CMZ Notification was that it proposes legalization and encouragement to industrial corporate activities along the coasts in the garb of management methodologies. It was widely apprehended that this Notification will significantly curtail the accessibility of the local community to the shore and sea resources and serve the economic interests of the corporate sector/large investors like tourism industry, refinery, mining etc.

2. Local coastal communities almost unanimously voiced that protection of coastal ecology and recognition of basic rights and livelihood of the local communities over the sea and the coast should be at the heart of any coastal zone planning. The fishermen were of the view that coastal management plan should be framed by taking them into confidence and that mere mention in the Notification – “There would be no restriction of fishing or fishery related activities of local communities” is not enough to instill confidence among them. They need to be involved, included and integrated in the future opportunities related to the Coastal Zone. The Committee also feels that in a democratic country like ours the preferred approach should be bottom up – public participation in planning and development rather than top down – decisions made by Govt. and not involving people in inclusive growth opportunities and practices in matters which have far reaching consequences on a vast population solely dependent on their tradition vocations and way of life. It is primarily keeping in view this concern that peoples’ participation in policy formulation becomes all the more important and inevitable.”

The NFF sought the intervention of the MoEF in the issue of the Jambudweep fishermen displaced by the unfair implementation of the Forest Protection Act and the imposition of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) without consulting the fishermen. The Minister has agreed to sympathetically review these.

The NFF delegation was assured by the Minister for Agriculture Shri Sharad Pawar and Prof KV Thomas (MoS) that the Ministry has agreed to consider the waiver of bank loans for small scale traditional fishermen and women. The Ministry sought more details on the bank loans provided by banks to small fishworkers.

The Labour Minister Shri Mallikarjun Kharge has promised to ratify the ILO Convention on Fishing and enact required legislations.

The delegation met the President of India Smt. Pratiba Patil and presented to her the demand to set up a separate Ministry for fisheries. This is in view of the current situation that decision making affecting the fisheries sector and fishing communities are spread over a number of Ministries and departments. The President listened with interest to the various problems faced by the fishing communities and enquired in detail the problems faced by Maharashtra fishermen on account of the increased drilling for petroleum in their traditional fishing grounds.In the meeting with the representatives of the ILO, the delegation sought ILO’s collaboration in ensuring the ratification of the ILO’s Work in Fishing Convention (C188) and the enactment of national and state level legislations to bring the benefits of the ILO convention to Indian fishwoerkrs. The ILO agreed to facilitate the process ofdiscussion with the concerned Ministries, state Governments and the Central Trade Unions.

NFF understands this round of negotiations on key issues as a success of its organizational strength and legitimacy of its demands. However, it believes that the process will be ongoing and at every point, NFF will raise the voice and concerns of the traditional fishworkers of India. While NFF has agreed to be part of the consultations by MoEF towards improving CRZ mandate, it is clear that quality community participation in good strength alone can make sure that the concerns of fishworkers are not by-passed.

Hence, while agreeing, NFF is clear about the strategy to start fresh round of agitation on the issue of CMZ and others, if the fishworkers are not satisfied with the consultation procedure, after two rounds of the same.

The NFF delegation was composed of the following persons: Thomas Kocherry (EC Member), T. Peter (Secretary) – Kerala, Vasudev Boloor (Secretary) – Karnataka, RK Patil (EC Member) – Maharashtra, Sagar (senior member) – Gujarat, Ramesh Dhuri & Naredra Patil (EC Member) – Maharashtra. The delegation was accompanied by members of environmental, labour and human rights groups working together under the banner of Delhi Solidarity Group for NFF along with representative of South Indian Federation of Fishermen’s Societies (SIFFS).

T. Peter (09846063461)                                                                     Vasudev Boloor (09923241641)

Secretary, NFF                                                                                   Secretary, NFF

For more information or to speak with members of the NFF delegation you can contact the Delhi Solidarity Group @ 26680914/26680883 / 9868066195 / 9953078167

Dehradun Declaration of Forest Peoples on Environment Justice

DEHRADUN DECLARATION

12 June 2009

During the process of enactment of the Forests Right Act (in 2006), the National Forum for Forest People’s and Forest Workers (NFFPFW) passed two important resolutions in the second National Conference held at Ranchi: 1) Establishment of community governance over forest resources

2) To resist commodification of forests and related resources

Over the last 2-3 years, in many states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and West Bengal, we have taken significant steps in realising these resolutions. In many villages we have been successful in forming Forest Rights Committees on the basis of Forests Right Act (FRA). On10-12 June 2009, we forest peoples; adivasis, forest workers and other forest dwellers, from 16 states of India have converged at Dehradun, the forest capital of India – discussing, debating and uniting to send a strong message to the whole world. The following is the declaration from the conference on‘Resisting commodification of Forests; Establishing community governance over forest resources’, adopted as ‘Dehradun Declaration 2009’.

We, the forest people of the world – living in the woods, surviving on the fruits and crops, farming on the jhoom land, re-cultivating the forest land, roaming around with our herds – have occupied this land since ages. We announce loudly, in unity and solidarity that let there be no doubt on the future: we are the forests, and the forests are us and our existence is mutually dependent. The crisis faced by our forests and environment today will only intensify without us.

This is no ordinary crisis. Not merely, a climate crisis – or in your words this magnified self-created monster of a financial crisis. We believe it’s a crisis of Civilizations. It’s no ordinary clash but a fundamental clash between our knowledge systems; of being, of nature and your wisdom, technology and the demonic tendencies. Your world rests on ideas of power, territories, boundaries, profit, exploitation and oppression and you try to own everything, including Mother Nature. This is what drives your civilisation. You need this world of oppression and exploitation; to survive and feel good. If you want to include us in your world by ‘civilising’ us, we will happily choose to remain uncivilised. Call us savages, we do not care! We have learnt amidst these trees, this water, this air, and other forest beings- a life of freedom, of being without boundaries, and yet never forgetting the boundaries of nature. You need your legal monoliths, and structures of governance to attempt to tide over this crisis but for us the laws of nature, learnt and assimilated over generations are sufficient.

You talk of attaining Independence on August 15 1947… What’s that ? We, the forest people and the forests have been independent since ages. You tried enslaving us; by trapping us in your illusion that believes in converting living beings into slaves – hollow occupants of servile bodies – a life of death; by capturing our forests, establishing your false laws of oppression and exploitation – contradicting the fundamental laws of nature. We know the way you exploited and enslaved our native American comrades in other parts of the world. Let us remind you that you behaved no differently than those feudal and imperialist ancestors of yours. We, therefore, reject your unnatural law, your civilization of tyranny and cruelty. What freedom? We see no freedom, in being driven out of our forests, separated from water, land, fields, trees, air, and friendly animals, to the ecosystem to which we belong. What freedom, which doesn’t forget to chain its own brothers and sisters. False Freedom! We see no truth in a society that remains haunted by the prosperity of a few capitalists, whilst, never forgetting to oppress the workers, adivasis, dalits, women and poor of the world! We reject you!

Forest Rights Act, you need it more than us. If you think you are bestowing rights on us, then you are wrong. We have lived with these forests for ages. Our ancestors, gods, goddesses, friends and life lived in this and will continue to live here. We don’t define rights, we know what is ours and to whom we belong. We are the forests, forests are us. Out of necessity, if you want to talk the language of rights, we are ready for it. It’s your need to recognise our rights over the forests and correct the historical injustices and exploitation. However, if by granting pattas (land titles) over a portion of forest, you conspire to control, commodify and sell the rest of the forests, then you are wrong. We understand your vested intentions and are determined to save the forests from your corrupt desires of exploitation, developmentalism, ill-sighted conservation and technological fixes.

If you think the ghosts of commodity capitalism are going to chain our minds and souls for eternity, then you are mistaken. From the forests, the nature we have learnt that power is not infinite, exploitation is not infinite too. We, the labouring workers, adivasis and dalits don’t treat the forest a resource to be exploited but as something which lives and supports life.

There is a climate crisis around and no amount of free trade, capital or technology will eliminate the roots of this crisis. You forget that the crises has emanated from the way your society is structured – an edifice based on an unending desire for resources and a way of life that sees nature as an object of exploitation and extraction. Fools! You are doomed to bear the brunt and suffer the pains of your actions, but we ask you – Why must we suffer? You have intruded in our lifestyle, in the rhythm of Mother Earth. You have corrupted the environs by your vehicles, industries, arms, and development and your actions have created a crisis in our homes. You have sinned against the essence of our being, and amidst our rage and tears, we reject the basis of your being: a thought – of mistrust, of control, of vicious self-interest, of injustice, and blame.

How dare you blame us for a climate crisis? It is the product of un-natural practices, and it has devastated our lives. How could you- cut our trees unthinkingly? Temperature is increasing, rainfall is diminishing and the forests are burning- consuming themselves in pain. Now you want us out of our habitats in the name of conserving our forests! You kill, unsparingly, relish in “terrorizing” busts of tigers, decorating your mantelpiece – all pointing to your moral sensibility – and – yet you have the audacity to tell us to leave the forests so that you can protect the Tigers! What law do you know? Who are you to teach what is legal? You are illegal – contradicting the very law of nature – of coexistence. You have no solutions – you only destroy.

You may not care of our times, but, spare a thought for the coming generations, their inheritance. Do you wish to present to them a world of chaos and destruction? Are you so blinded by your greed? At least, now – in this crisis – we need to unite, all civilizations, and forest people of the world, to resolve the crisis, to restore our relationship with nature.

Today, at Dehradun, we call for and welcome the solidarity and harmony of all world’s forest people; workers, adivasis and fellow travellers, on this journey to realizing the fulfilment of our existence, in communion with our forests. We warn your civilization that we are a people, united in struggle against the structure of capitalism – of greed, thievery and profiteering. We warn the nations of the world, that you must not forget to honour our existence, or else – from deep within our hearts – we shout out loud: NO MORE SILENCE! We will rise from the ashes of your devastating fire! To resist your order, undeterred by your traps. We will rise – a united forest people – together, in strength and solidarity, to challenge the very fabric of your civilization, and become one with nature, again!

Arise! Forest People of the World Unite! Zindabad!

National Forum of Forest Peoples and Forest Workers, India

Resolutions from NFFPFW National Conf – On Vedanta Env Award and Peruvian Govt attack on IPs

1) NFFPFW resolution condemns awarding of Golden Peacock to Vedanta Alumina Ltd.

12^th June 2009

People from 15 states representing several people’s movements who have gathered under the banner of National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers’ National Conference, being held at Dehradun from 12 to 14 June 2009, condemn presentation of the ‘Golden Peacock Award for Environmental Management-2009’ to Vedanta Alumina Ltd. (VAL) by the World Environment Foundation (WEF). This award is to be presented at the annual conference of WEF to be held at Palampur, Himachal Pradesh from 12 to 14 June 2009.

VAL is being presented the Golden Peacock for its alumina refinery in Lanjigarh in Orissa despite the fact that this industry has been responsible for widespread contamination of ground water, uncontrolled air pollution in the region and countless misery to the local residents. Blatant environment and human rights violations by the said company and its subsidiaries are well known in the international arena. Vedanta has been blacklisted by the Ethics Council of Norwegian Government Pension Fund, who withdrew their stakes from company, citing in their reports ‘serious malpractices and contraventions of environment norms and ethics by the Vedanta Management in the past wherever they operate’. The OSPCB (Orissa State Pollution Control Board) has issued at least three notices to VAL so far for violating pollution norms at its Lanjigarh plant.

It appears that the World Environment Foundation and the jury members of this award are “unaware” of these or have chosen to ignore the struggles of local communities against the operations of the company in different parts of India. There cannot be a more travesty of truth by rewarding a company that is globally notorious for adhering to such business standards and values that incriminatingly and visibly translate into ruthless decimation of the people and irreversible destruction of the environment which the same people have kept inviolate for millennia. The WEF is itself a body set up by corporates and represents their interests. It is an attempt at green-washing the environmentally disastrous and unethical practices of expropriation of natural resources from local communities. This is not the first time that the Golden Peacock has been given to companies with poor track record on environment, social responsibility and ethics. Satyam, Coca-Cola and NHPC are other such examples.

We condemn the award being given to Vedanta and we denounce such fraudulent award functions that are meant to give a clean chit and image makeover to companies known for their lack of ethics and scruples.

Participants at NFFPFW National Conference

Dehradun, India 10-12 June 2009

NFFPFW Open letter to President, Peru

Forest people from Solidarity with the Indigenous peoples’ struggle of Peru

12^th June 2009

Dear Mr. President Alan García,

We, the Forest People from 15 states of India representing several people’s movements who have gathered under the banner of National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers’ National Conference, being held at Dehradun, India from 12 to 14 June 2009; stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are protesting against the Amazon rainforest industrial development policies of your government. We will struggle, as the united forest and indigenous peoples’ of the world, against the divisive, exploitative and false culture of capitalism. We reject the illusions you provide: a development that extracts, a freedom that chains our limbs, a culture that is for sale, a society of mistrust, a democracy of fear, a history of oppression, a language of servility, a justice that is false. And, this oppression and injustice has lit a fire of anger and tears. It will not die down, until the governments of the world recognize our natural, inalienable right to the forests.

Hence, we reject the Peruvian government‘s recent decrees, violating constitutionally guaranteed rights of indigenous peoples. Your government‘s declaration of State of Emergency is unacceptable. We also strongly condemn your government’s use of Special Forces to suppress peaceful demonstrations in the Amazon. We stand in solidarity with the indefinite general strike called by the indigenous peoples of Peru.

It is unacceptable that your government has signed a Free Trade Agreement with the US against your peoples’ will through an undemocratic, secret process. It is now using this agreement as a pretext to most aggressively roll back legal protections for indigenous peoples and to open the Amazon rainforest to permit oil, mineral and timber by multinational corporations. Your government‘s actions violate your mandate to represent the interests of your peoples.

Therefore, we expect your administration and the Peruvian Congress to:

1. Uphold the constitutionally guaranteed rights of indigenous peoples to self-determination, to their ancestral territories, and to free and prior consultation and consent over any policies and activities that affect them.

2. Repeal the series of contested Decrees associated with the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

3. Withdraw from all such bilateral and multilateral negotiations which will lead to a similar undermining of the rights of indigenous peoples.

4. Suspend the State of Emergency, withdraw your Special Forces and decriminalize peaceful protests.

5. Enter into a meaningful process of dialogue, in good faith, with indigenous peoples’ leaders to resolve this conflic 

We condemn your path of development, which sees nature as a commodity to be traded; we assert the right of forest and indigenous peoples over our land and forest; we assert our responsibility to protect and nurture these forests amidst which we live, and challenge your legitimacy to control what is ours.

Forest and indigenous peoples of the world are watching and awaiting a complete reversal of your draconian actions. And, the fire your actions have ignited, will continue till the dawn of a new day, when we as a people will live in communion with our forests in a society that realizes the ideals of freedom, justice and equality.

Truly,                         

Participants at NFFPFW National Conference

Dehradun, India 10-12 June 2009

Protestors Set Record Straight on Golden Peacock Awardee Vedanta

Protestors Set Record Straight on Golden Peacock Awardee Vedanta

Twenty environment and social activists from different parts of India took over the opening ceremony of UK-charity World Environment Foundation’s “Global Convention on Climate Security” to denounce the Foundation’s Golden Peacock Awards. The activists highlighted the foundation’s choice of Vedanta Alumina as winner of the environmental management award to argue that the award was nothing but “greenwash” or deceptive use of “green” marketing or PR. Claiming the stage from the surprised WEF president Madhav Mehra, Mamata Dash of New Delhi-based Kashipur Solidarity Group and Guman Ji of Him Niti Abhiyan presented evidence about Vedanta Alumina’s ongoing pollution at the Lanjigarh facility.

Vedanta was allegedly chosen for the award on the basis of its claim that its controversial Lanjigarh aluminum refinery is a zero discharge unit. The company and its parent and sister concerns are mired in controversies involving human rights abuses, environmental degradation and financial irregularities including tax evasion, fraud and insider trading. Giving the 36 persons listed as jurors by WEF on their website the benefit of doubt, more than 120 people had earlier written to them with evidence on the company’s controversial track record. Dismissing the organisers of the award and the award winners as “birds of a feather,” the endorsers asked dignitaries and jurors to dissociate themselves from the awards or risk being tarred by the same brush. The Himachal Pradesh chief minister and a number of senior bureaucrats of the HP Government, who were slotted to attend the opening ceremony, withdrew in the last minute owing to the Vedanta-centred controversy around the convention.

School children brought to the venue to form a human chain dispersed after the activists took the stage at the Palampur Agriculture Universit grounds. Activists holding posters and banners saying “Stop Greenwashing” and “Stop Selling Climate Change” briefed the Tibetan Prime Minister in exile — Samdhung Rinpoche, one of the chief dignitaries, about the company, following which Rinpoche walked out of the venue. Delegates at the conference were also given pamphlets and copies of the letter written to jurors, and endorsed by more than 170 organisations.

In January 2009, WEF withdrew the Golden Peacock Award given to Satyam Computers, literally days before the company submitted its fraudulent balance sheet to shareholders. “We do not expect any integrity from the organisers of the Golden Peacock Awards. However, many of the jury members are persons of good reputation and integrity. We are concerned that your decision may have been arrived at in the absence of full information. We would also like to give you an opportunity to review some disturbing information regarding the conduct of Vedanta and its subsidiaries, and to dissociate yourselves from the award to Vedanta to avoid a Satyam-style embarrassment,” endorsers to the letter to jurors wrote.

Guman Singh, leader of Himalaya Niti Abhiyan who spoke on behalf of the campaign appreciated that Chief Minister of Himachal who was to be the Chief guest at the function had withdrawn his participation from the event after pressure from the campaign and the controversy around awardee company. Mamata Dash, an activist from Orissa tried to draw the attention of the delegates towards the crimes committed by Vedenta on the Dongria Kondh adivasis in the Niyamgiri hills for its bauxite mines. Just as she began speaking Madhav Mehra, founder of WEF, tried to shove her off the stage. After a scuffle with the activists, Mehra made a statement that he had no interest with Vedanta and that they would review the award and even withdraw just like they had done in the Satyam case if the facts were found to be true. As the tussle continued between the activists and the organizers, the ground echoed with slogans like “WEF down down” and “Vedanta company chor hai!”.

Himalaya Niti Abhiyan, Kashipur Solidarity Group, POSCO Pratirodh Solidarity, NFFPFW, PUDR, Saheli, The Other Media, Harit Swaraj Abhiyan

Green protesters steal show at WEF global convention
Palampur | Saturday, Jun 13 2009 IST

http://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20090613/1274312.html

Slogan-shouting Green activists barged into the venue of World Environment Foundation’s Global Convention for Climate Change and stole the show during the inaugural ceremony here last evening.

The activists, protesting against the WEF’s Golden Peacock award to the Vedanta Alumina Limited for its refinery in Lanjigarh Orissa, pushed their way and seized the microphone to highlight various environmental crimes and human rights violations that the company had allegedly indulged in, not just in its Orissa project, but at other project sites across the country. The activists briefed the Tibetan Prime Minister in exile- Samdhung Rinpoche, who was present as a Chief dignitary at the function about the national campaign that has built up against the company and the devastation caused by the company in Orissa. He immediately walked out of the venue.

Subsequently, hundreds of children from schools in Palampur, present at the ceremony held at Palampur Agriculture University grounds, cheered the protesters who were shouting ”Stop greenwashing corporate crimes” and ”Stop selling climate change” and later left the venue.

National Convention – National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers, 10-12 June 2009, Dehradun

National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers

National Convention

June 10-12, 2009, Dehradun, India

The struggle for establishing community rule and control over the forest resources got a new boost when the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, was passed in 2006 by the Indian Parliament. It was a historical moment for the struggling communities despite some inherent lacunas and problems in the Act when finally on December 31 2007 the Act was notified and procedures led out for its implementation all across the country. This is also a historical event, for the first time ever rights of forest dwellers over forest has been given a legal and political acceptance by the State and their role in conservation and development of forests recognised. Today, after more than 60 years of independence, for the first time, these communities feel independent having suffered exploitation and humiliation at the hands of Forest Department and feudal & elite forces, all due to this Act, which promises liberation and dignity.

However, the numerous problems encountered by the communities in implementation of the provisions of the Act are well known since it challenges the domination and interests of forest department and other feudal & elite forces. These forces have been creating problems of various kinds and also colluding with the machinery of State to deny the rights due to communities. This has been duly recognised by the communities and in past two years there have been innumerable instances of conflict and resistance against the ill machinations of the forest department and feudal interests. This is going to be a bitter and long struggle for the communities to achieve community control over the forests, which has been clearly enunciated in the preface of the Act itself. Hence, the biggest challenge in front of the communities and social movements today is how to achieve Community Governance over the forest in these circumstances,which will ensure community control over natural resources in the long term. Movements need to decide collectively about how to build up Peoples’ Institutions for community governance.

Our experience says the strategies to deal with the circumstances can only be formulated by the activists and awakened leadership of forest rights movements in the country and none else. The wisdom and knowledge of the communities engaged in struggle for their survival and conservation of forest has to play an important role in these strategies. This also requires that the local organisations need to be strengthened so that they could actually implement the mandate thrust upon them – of conservation and sustainable livelihood – by the Act in long term. These people’s organisations, autonomous bodies and cooperatives of the forest dwellers have to be run by them under their leadership alone.

It was in this context that the NFFPFW’s second national conference in Ranchi in October 2006 passed two important resolutions which would determine the future strategies of the struggles :

• To establish control over the forests of the communities dependent on them.
• To oppose commercialisation of the forests.

In last two years important steps have been taken to implement these two resolutions in some of the regions. It was also decided in the Ranchi conference that to counter these challenges it is imperative that community leadership in the movements has to be strengthened and struggles given new energy and direction which is arising from the aspirations of the people.

Even as we plan to meet in Dehradun, after the General Elections, Congress led government is already formed at the Centre. However, it need to be understood that the Congress led UPA government has got majority support from all the sections of society but they could not attain absolute majority, since poor people of this country are too aware that none of the political parties actually stand for pro-people politics and development and they can’t be trusted. History stands witness to the fact that Congress has been always supported by the feudal and capitalist classes and that’s why they have always represented their interests in favour of the millions of the poor who keep reposing their trust time and again. The newly formed UPA has to face many challenges now to keep its promises to poor classes. We must know that in future the capitalist economic agenda will be pushed with much more force by UPA government necessitating a re energised protest from the people’s movements all across the country. We will have to collectively embolden our struggles and ensure communities control and rule over the forest and weaken the forces of the capitalism.

We need to understand that the failure of all the parties in opposition (national or regional) with exception of few can be attributed to the fact that they failed to build any substantial opposition and movement on people issues, which would have earned them support from people. Since there was no viable alternative available in front of people they voted for Congress, which was not a majority vote. There is a lesson inherent in this election for all other political parties and also for the Congress. It is to be observed that this time Congress is neither giving much weight to the allies within UPA nor making any attempts at formulating a Common Minimum Programme (CMP) as they did in the previous government. The congress might have to pay heavy price for not constituting the CMP in near future, since CMP is not only about the agreed mandate of parties within the government but is directly linked with the aspirations of the masses. Therefore it is very clear that CMP simply means that the government doesn’t want to leave any political manoeuvring space on the political and social matters for social movements.

In such a situation we need to understand that the people’s movement can’t wait for the government for stricter and effective implementation of the historical Forest Rights Act. As there is lot of pressure on the present government from environmentalist lobby and the Forest Department, therefore it is very necessary that we will have to build up the struggle and strategize for establishing the communities control over the forests by sustained pressure on the government machinery. The year in which this Act was passed by the government the efforts at commercial exploitation of the forests were also enhanced, and this needs to be conveyed to the people. It is only when we are aware of the government’s intentions and initiatives at commercialisation that we can formulate strategies for establishing governance mechanisms which will stop the commercial exploitation and degradation of forests.

The need of the hour is that the active supporters and activists of the movements of the forest dwelling communities struggling for forest rights sit together and work towards developing strategies which can ensure community control and also stop the commercial exploitation of forests. In this process only we can strike a long term collaboration of the forest rights movements, climate justice movements and other rights based movements. Today there is a sense of fragmentation within the larger movement which is giving space to capitalist forces to extend their influence over the forest and other natural resources which is creating wider environmental and social crisis in the society. The capitalist forces in their effort to maximise profit are trading the environmental crisis for their narrow economic gains rather than finding sustainable long term solutions.

It is to counter the influence of these capitalist forces that the around the world the toiling and working classes are mobilising themselves, be it disrupting the gathering of G-20 in London or ASEAN’s meeting in Bangkok, or UNFCCC 2007 in Bali, Indonesia. This year thousands of workers, indigenous people, women and marginalised masses raised slogans at various deliberations at the World Social Forum, Belem demanding climate justice for everyone and demise of capitalism. In India also there is a need for internal cohesion at various fronts amongst the numerous movements against the capitalist development and also a greater need for establishing linkages and coordination with the movements at the global level.

It is to discuss these important issues that NFFPFW is holding its annual convention. Today the government of India is executing all kinds of trade and commercial agreements with capitalist nations worldwide which impacts the millions of working and toiling masses. However, information on none of these agreements are available to people, the convention will critically discuss such agreements and other international matters of direct relevance to forest people.

In addition to the constituent groups of NFFPFW, other organisations, friends and supporters working on forest rights are also invited to this convention so that a more informed dialogue can take place and effective strategies could be formulated.

The agenda of the convention will focus on following issues :

• Effective implementation of Forest Rights Act by the community led groups and organisations establishing community rule and control over the forests and other natural resources.
• Building effective and sustainable community led groups and organisations.
• To strengthen campaigns against the commercialisation of the forests and oppose G-20, European Union, WTO, ASEAN and other international bodies pushing capitalist agenda globally.
• To organise masses for achievement of the fundamental rights enshrined in the national constitution and international rights charters etc.
• To unite the groups all across the world struggling against capitalist development for climate justice.
• To establish effective coordination and understanding with the global movements for climate justice.

With revolutionary greetings !

National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers

Elections, Return of UPA and Challenges for People’s Movements

Elections, Return of UPA and Challenges for People’s Movements
Meeting held on May 22 2009 @ Indian Social Institute, New Delhi

On May 21 2009 some 70-75 people from different civil organisations and social movements met in a conversation discussing the verdict of ‘General Elections 2009, Return of UPA and the Challenges for People’s Movements’. The meeting was organised at Indian Social Institute by Delhi Solidarity Group (http://delhisolidaritygroup.wordpress.com/) and received a good response from many and with a request for documenting it. In addition to this note, a short clip will soon be available on DSG website.

This note is an attempt at summarising some threads of the conversations directly focussing on implications for Peoples Movements. Voting patterns in states by different social groups and how and what led to Left fronts debacle in West Bengal and Kerala were also discussed, but we are consciously avoiding that part of discussion, since a good deal of news reel and air time has been and is still devoted to that. For more details of the meeting you could listen to the audio recording which will also be available on DSG website in some time.

Summary

What is this vote for ?

It was not a vote for stability nor for economic reforms, but for dal-roti, the pro-poor image and to some extent the pro-poor agenda of United Progressive Alliance (UPA). It was also pointed out that much of the vote share garnered by UPA was anti votes for others. J. John pointed that emergence of Congress doesn’t mean the emergence of a single party in which India’s diversity can be summarised, and which allows for the oppositions and differences to co exist within – ‘Congressism’ (an earlier coinage by Prof. Rajni Kothari). It’s also a vote against the arrogance of CPI(M) (Communist Party of India, Marxist) and a vote against the communal and hard line politics for which Mr. Advani and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) stands. It’s a vote against the ideological and programmatic vacuum in third and fourth Front. There is no One Mandate, as groups that voted for congress are diverse and have very different expectations. The diversity of the voter’s perspective was summarised in the inability of Congress and BJP to gain much in some prominent states.

What is the implication of this Vote for People’s Movements?

Congress lead-UPA will vigorously push for economic reforms in agriculture, health, education, banking, insurance, energy and other sectors. Special Economic Zones (SEZs) – the most bitterly fought legislation by People’s Movements (PM) – will be pushed vigorously, as soon as there will be signs of economic recovery.  This means a greater assault on people’s sources of livelihood with even less tolerance for resistance. There is a danger that neo-liberal economic policies (of the Economic right) will prepare conditions for a Nationalist and a Political Right to strengthen and dominate Indian politics in the near future.

In Detail

Elections 09 and Challenges for the Peoples Movements

• There was an overwhelming consensus that pro-people policies and significant legislations such as the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), Right to Information Act (RTI), farmers’ loan-waivers, among others, passed during the UPA government paid rich dividends in this election. Even the passing of the Forest Right Act (FRA) has benefited the UPA and the implementing state governments. This was felt across the spectrum, as was visible in Congress’s performance as well as in BJD (Biju Janata Dal) win in Orissa and JD (U) (Janata Dal – United) win in Bihar. Even though this alone can’t explain all the defeats or successes.
• People’s movements’ influence on the elections was also pointed out. Sumit Chakraborty reminded that the poll percentages in struggle areas were generally high, and those were also areas where vote difference between candidates were very high. In West Bengal peasantry and poor voted against the Left, showing simmering discontent in places where NREGA implementation has been meagre, which was further fuelled by discontent over land acquisitions in Nandigram and Singur. It was opined that the progressive legislations have come after long sustained efforts of peoples movements across the country. However, its implementation continues to witness tough opposition from feudal elements in society, governance and political parties. The Congress has been rewarded for passing those policies, but its own cadres are reluctant to their implementation. This mandate will embolden the arrogance of the Congress machinery and the government, which will try to stop the effective implementation of these empowering schemes. Till now, a little implementation has happened due to sustained pressure from the PMs. We need to be ready for bitter struggles ahead at the implementation front.
• The vote is also a rejection of the Left for its ideological bankruptcy, arrogance, and failure to admit its mistakes. There is a serious need for introspection and an attempt at putting its house in order and bringing to its centre the politics of people. It was stated that CPI(M) needs to understand that if there is industrialisation, it has to be small scale labour intensive, as the real problem is unemployment. J John specifically argued that the Left had failed to be the party of the workers and of peoples movements and that it needs to be able to do that to be relevant. Quoting from a note by S.P.Shukla, Vijayan added that if Left wants to be relevant in the national scenario, it has to work towards the formation of a grand alliance of Left, Trade unions and Peoples Movements. The left’s inability to garner the electoral support of the more than 450 million workers in the country goes against its very basic – the mobilisation of working class towards political power.
• Main problems to come: J. John pointed out that the coming times will see a massive proletariasation of labour due to large numbers of SEZs and the decisive role they will have in determining the “face” of labour rights. Aseem Srivastava made it clear that the land will continue to be the biggest source of conflict as the govt will continue to promote agro-business, industrial farming, SEZs, among other practices, which are being pushed by Multinational companies and international financial institutions. C K Raju said that we need not forget that the managers of this government are the same men of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Their capacity to carry out economic reforms in previous regime was limited by coalition politics, which wont be the case now to the same extent. Sushmita Das Gupta emphasised that BJP has been voted for in the states of Chattisgarh, and Jharkhand (a former BJP ally, BJD, has been voted back in Orissa). As planned industrial production will increase the need for steel and iron ore, times ahead will surely be difficult for people’s movements in these states. One need not forget that the economic interest of BJP and Congress are the same. In consequence, UPA at the centre is going to tacitly support land acquisitions and atrocities on tribals for exploitation of minerals even in states governed by BJP.
• There was a worrying analysis of the possible scenario for the time to come. First, the next five years UPA/Congress’s neoliberal economic policies will prepare the ground for the return of more extreme nationalist and political right forces (BJP and likely National Democratic Alliance) in the country, as it happened in case of Germany at the time of Hitler. This will be aggravated by the effects of the current economic recession, without an effective implementation of pro-people policies which will certainly aid the process of shift towards extreme right politics. Secondly, after the defeat of the BJP lead NDA  and the formation of UPA in 2004, civil society groups in general have been in a comfort zone. This comfort zone is not of help for people’s movements in urban and rural areas, who are engaged in fierce battle for survival and livelihood. In the cities, we have to come out of our comfort zone and forgo the tendency that we will deal with the economic right by any means, but dealing with social and political right (read fascists) is much tougher. We need to unite and prepare for struggles ahead before it is too late.
• To resist effectively one need to know one’s opponent well. Sarita Bhoi asked, if people’s movements are so strong in states of Orissa, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand then how is it that right wing governments are still in place? Kavita Krishnan suggested in her written note to the meeting that if CPI won from Jagatsinghpur, Orissa, it is with help of BJD, which is responsible for POSCO project. Subhash Gatade, Naveen and others raised the issue that if people’s movements are so strong in Singur and Nandigram then how come they chose to vote for Trinamool Congress, which was an ally of NDA sometime back and is now ally of the Neo-liberal Congress. All these tendencies together raise the need for introspection within as well. Reflecting on the role of people’s movements and their engagement with the parliamentary process it was felt that somewhere we are lacking two things, the macro perspective, and a broader mass political front.
• Some speakers felt it is time that people’s movements develop a broad political front which can challenge the existing parties. Vijay Pratap asked, how long will we keep siding with one or the other party? How long will we keep preparing the ground for political parties? Rajendra Ravi added that the time has come for developing a broader critique of development, power and a macro perspective for the people’s movements’ politics, which can challenge the existing structure and also offer a different vision for the larger society. Ashok Chowdhury emphasised that we need not necessarily build political parties but more importantly we need to develop a vocabulary to conduct and engage meaningfully with politics, to negotiate and form tactical alliances with Left parties such as CPI, CPIML, RSP, and not see CPIM only as our ally. However, we need not forget that our agenda will not be carried by those who are sitting in opposition since they don’t identify with our politics. Ashok added that the movements will have to continue to go to streets, since that is what symbolises our politics and is also the only way in which we can keep up with the pulse of masses. The critical consciousness of masses in areas where movements are strong is far ahead of those who are in the leadership position there. He stated that we have to learn to align with the new generations of activists and forge effective alliances with the broader Left and find our allies in the progressive elements within various parties for parliamentary politics.

The meeting was concluded in a positive note that emerged from sharing analyses and finding common ground. It was felt that longer duration programmes formatted as workshops could help groups like DSG to strengthen its genuine search – for political understanding and analysis.

Report prepared for DSG by Madhuresh, Susana and Vijayan. May 30 2009

Conversations on Elections’09, UPA’s Second Term and Challenges to People’s Movements

Conversations on

“Elections ‘09, UPA’s Second Term and Challenges to People’s Movements”

May 22 Friday, 4-7 pm at India Social Institute, Lodi Road, New Delhi

On behalf of Delhi Solidarity Group, we, take this initiative to invite you for a people’s movement specific analysis and reflections on the General Elections 2009. We have received overwhelming response from friends all over the country for the meeting and a request for documenting the proceedings. We are trying our best. THANKS !

We will have with us today Ashok Chowdhury, Aunradha Chenoy, Bhupinder Singh Rawat, J John, Pamela Philipose, Praful Bidwai, Seema Mustafa, Suhas Borker, Sumit Chakravarty and some more friends who will share their opinion and perspective on the elections and the new government briefly (5-7 mins. each) to be followed by open house discussion for two hours. Amit Bhaduri, Kavita Krishnan, S P Shukla, Shanti Ranjan Behera, Uma Chakravarty and some more friends have sent notes for the meeting and expressed their solidarity.

We hope you will join to make this discussion more meaningful and futuristic.

With regards,

Madhuresh (9818905316), Vijayan (9868165471) and others

On behalf of DSG

***************

“UPA wins, NDA loses, Left finished, resurgence of Congress, end of coalition regimes, third front days are over, end of caste based identity politics, vote for stability, vote for markets…”

Captions and headlines roar…

As the UPA government prepares to form their new government on the strength of the renewed mandate;

As the electronic media turns away from what was their business for the last three months to a the new one – IPL cricketainment;

As the election pundits count their cash for the season;

Can we – the members of the activist fraternity sit together and reflect on what happened in these General Elections?

We know the Left has lost much ground;

We also know that the BSP did not gain much;

We know the Trinamool Congress did;

We know Nitish’s politics worked and Lalu’s did not;

We know Naveen did well after all that and that Amma did not sweep Tamil minds;

But do we know that it is people’s resistance movements who played an important role in the victory of several of these surprises?

Of course, we have heard of Singur and Nandigram victories… BUT

Do we know that the Pathanamthitta constituency (where the Chengara land movement is going on against the wishes of CPM leaders) has been lost by CPM?

Do we know that CPI, the party leading the POSCO Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, has won the elections from Jagatsinghpur?

Do we know that the Forest workers movement in UP has played an important role in the victory of BSP candidates from constituencies like Saharanpur?

And how many more seats and constituencies where our groups have played an active role in defeating anti-people parties and policies??

But what does all this hold for us in the 15^th Lok Sabha! Is the renewed mandate going to make UPA more arrogant and hence more pro-corporate and anti-people?

See you there !

Sanjay Sangvai Memorial consultation – II

SANJAY SANGVAI MEMORIAL CONSULTATION – II

Media and Development:

Challenges and Possibilities in the Present Context

11th and 12th June, 2009, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

The history, role and nature of media has become an issue of open debate in recent times, alongside the paradigm of development itself. The media is still considered to be a potent tool in giving shape and direction to social change, in times of increasing marketization and decreasing democratic spaces. The role of media, therefore, becomes that much more important and relevant, than ever before, since, the influence of the market over the media has also tremendously increased.

However, beyond this complexity, it is still necessary to gauge the saved space for and impacts of the positive and progressive outlook of media and analyze the consequences, especially in the face of rapid social, political, and economic changes, considering human justice as the ultimate goal. Whilst on the one hand, conspiracies are being hatched to debilitate peoples’ movements and struggles, on the other, any honest attempt by the media, to create a favourable environment in that direction, is discarded, by branding it as ineffective and futile. Both ways, fervent attempts are being made to maintain the status quo and scuttle any efforts for concrete change. Till the recent elections, our experience has been that the electoral politics, which is devoid of people’s issues and priorities, did use the media to a great extent, but the people’s politics have to have to depend more on the alternative media rather than on the mainstream. Can this discrimination be mitigated or need not be? These and many similar questions reverberate in the minds of both the sensitive media persons as well as activists.

Many of you would be aware that we had organized a Joint Consultation last year in memory of our revolutionary journalist colleague Sanjay Sangwai on the theme Media and Development: Present Context and the Future and propose to hold this as an annual memorial event. Sanjay Sangvai was one of those journalists, who always openly took the position that whatever may be its nature and direction, the media should never divorce itself from people’s movements and struggles and vice versa. Only an in-depth and frank dialogue can achieve this.

Sanjay Sangvai was not only an academic journalist, but had carved out a space in the mainstream of journalism all through. He had served in newspapers like Sakaal, yet on coming into contact with people’s movements, he devoted rest of his life to critically supporting communications and building people’s struggles, giving them an idiom and medium both. He was associated with the Narmada Bachao Andolan and the National Alliance of People’s Movements until his last breath. Not only did he closely observe and understand peoples’ movements and struggles, but had become one of the most effective voices of those. The aim of this Media Consultation, which is being organized in his memory is also to stir up a more intense debate on people’s issues and analyze both the history and future of the role of the media vis-à-vis peoples’ movements and struggles for planning some new steps for which this post-electoral time is a good opportunity.

The proposed theme of this two-day Media Consultation to be organized at Bhopal on the 11th and 12th of June, 2009 is Media and Development – Challenges, Possibilities and Present Context. Jointly organized by Sarvodaya Press Service, Narmada Bachao Andolan and Vikas Samvad, the Consultation shall weave together different facets of print, electronic, film and web-based media by analysing the challenges and exploring the possibilities in the present context. There shall be three major sessions in these two days and we shall attempt to concretize our future action plan in the presence of senior media persons and activists.

The Consultation would bring together many sensitive journalists, young and old, with a few eminent media persons including your esteemed self. This consultation being a humble collaborative effort, we would take care of your lodging-boarding and would try to arrange for your travel upon confirmation, though we would greatly appreciate if you can make travel arrangements and meet the costs at your end.

Kindly do inform us of your willingness to participate in the Programme by way of telephone or e-mail, which would enable us to organize the logistical and other aspects of the event. May we hope that you would spare two days of your valuable time for this meaningful dialogue to realize our collective aspirations for justice and equity.

Thanking You,

Yours sincerely

Medha Patkar  (Narmada Bachao Andolan)

Chinmay Mishra   ( Sarvodaya Press Service)

Sachin Jain      (Vikas Samwad)

Consultation Contacts:

Vikas Samvad, Bhopal

Phone: 0755-4252789

Sachin Jain: 09977704847

Raju Kumar: 09839252617

Prashant Dubey: 09425026331

E-mail: vikassamvad@gmail.com , sachinwrites@gmail.com

Narmada Bachao Andolan, Badwani

Phone: 07290-222464 Fax: C/o: 07290 – 222549

Medha Patkar: 09423965153 ; Ashish Mandloi: 09424855042

E-mail: nba.medha@gmail.com , nba.ashish@gmail.com

Sarvodaya Press Service, Indore

29, Samvad Nagar, Naulakha, Indore – 452 001

Phone: 0731-2401083 Fax: 0731-2404114

Chinmay Mishra: 09893278855, Kumar Siddharth: 09425086228, Samyak Kumar: 09827265544

E-mail: indoresps@gmail.com , chinmay.saroj@gmail.com

An Evening of Protest

Two Years, Too Much !

An Evening of Protest
(To mark the second anniversary of Dr. Binayak Sen’s imprisonment)

May 14, 2009 Thursday
5.30 p.m. onwards

At
The Lawns of Rabindra Bhawan, Mandi House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi

Music                                                  Poetry                             Speeches
Rabbi Shergil                            Manglesh Dabral               Jst.(retd.) Rajinder Sachar
Dipta Bhog and Yagna              Gauhar Raza                  Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty
Ritwik, Tushar and Anand        Khursheed Anwar       Prof. Uma Chakravarthy
Jigri                                          K. Sachitanandan               & other concerned citizens
Sushmit Bose                           Vishnu Nagar
Hameed                                   Sanjay Kundan
On 14 May 2009 Dr Binayak Sen, well-known paediatrician and human rights defender, will complete two years in a Raipur prison on false charges of abetting Maoist activity in Chhattisgarh, sedition, and waging war against the State. This committed advocate of civil liberties has spent over three decades in the service of some of the poorest and neglected people in this country and raised his voice relentlessly against atrocities in the State of Chhattisgarh in an attempt to uphold the original values of Indian democracy. The imprisonment of Dr. Binayak Sen is symbolic of gross injustice and violation of democratic values by the State and the suppression of the voices of human rights defenders.

Please join us in this struggle to preserve our rights, liberty and freedom and show our solidarity in support of a cause that is core to democracy.

The protest in Delhi on 14^th May is part of a global action for release of Dr. Binayak Sen, on the day that marks two years of his incarceration.

ARTISTS FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
&
Release Binayak Campaign

For details regarding the case and the campaign, visit:

http://raipursatyagraha.wordpress.com/

http://www.binayaksen.net/

Celebrating Smitu – Invitation for 2May 2009

Dear Friends,

Smitu Kothari touched the lives of many people across the globe. His was one of the most articulate, progressive and consistent voices in the struggle for a just and equitable world. His warmth, wisdom and compassion moved and inspired all who knew him.

His sudden and untimely departure from our midst on 23rd March 2009 has left an enormous void. But his vision, perspectives and people-centered politics will live on and continue to inspire the work of individuals,
groups and social movements around the world.

While we deeply mourn the loss of our dear friend and comrade, we also celebrate the remarkable person that Smitu was.

Please join us for an evening of conversations, music and poetry to celebrate Smitu’s life

on Saturday 2nd May 2009, 3 – 7 PM, at World Wildlife Fund Auditorium, Maxmueller Marg (Lodi Estate), New Delhi

Smitu’s family and friends

Note:
Please send your confirmation at:
neeemresistance@gmail.com
or contact:
P T George 91-9868102565 / Vasundhara Jairath 91-9953034105/

Also please visit: http://www.celebrating-smitu.org