ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM 2003
Item
- Title
- ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM 2003
- extracted text
-
RF_NGO_14_A_SUDHA
No Dams
tm the
Salween
1
NO TO RAPE
M© TO DAMS 095 THE SALWEEN
The mighty Salween River flows for 2,400 kilometres from the Himalayan
foothills through the Shan, Karenni, Karen and Mon States of Burma into
the Indian Ocean. It is the only remaining free-flowing major river in the
region.
But now the Salween River is in danger of being dammed.
The Burmese military regime and the Thai government are planning to
build a series of dams along the Salween River which will have devastating
social and environmental impacts.
Over 10 million people living in the 320,000 square-kilometre Salween
River Basin will be affected if these dams are built.
The planned dams lie in ethnic areas of Burma which have been heavily
militarized by the Burmese regime, and where the Burmese military
routinely oppresses the local peoples. Already over 600,000 ethnic peoples
have been forcibly relocated by the regime to secure the areas for
military-controlled "development."
The first of the Salween dams is planned in Shan State. On December 20,
2002, Burma's military regime signed a contract with the Thai company
MDX to build a giant hydropower dam in Shan State. This dam will have a
capacity of 4,500 megawatts and will be the biggest in Southeast Asia.
The dam site lies in the vast area of Central Shan State that has already
been devastated since 1996 by the regime's massive forced relocation
campaign. Over 300,000 villagers have been driven at gunpoint from their
homes; countless villagers have been tortured and massacred, and
countless women have been raped by the Burmese military.
In June 2002, the bnan Women's Action Network jointly produced a report
called "Licence to Rape" which documents 173 incidents of rape and other
forms of sexual violence, involving 625 girls and women, committed by
Burmese troops in Shan State, mostly from 1996-2001. 83% of the rapes
were committed by officers, in most cases in front of their troops. The
rapes involved extreme brutality and often torture, such as beating,
mutilation and suffocation. 25% of the rapes resulted in death. 61% were
gang-rapes.
Over half of these incidents of sexual violence took place in the areas
close to the Salween dam site and the potential flood area.
If the Salween dams are built, these abuses by the Burmese military are
sure to worsen.
The income generated by the dam projects will also help fund the
regime's military expenditure.
We urge our friends around the world to do the following:
-
-
to write to the Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to stop any
agreements with the Burmese regime to build dams on the Salween
River.
to urge your governments to prevent all international financial
institutions from funding or promoting these dam projects.
For further information, contact:
Concerned Individuals: iciab@mailasia.com
We are grassroots activists concerned over international aid to Burma.
to
Date:
To
The Honourable Prime Minister of India
Mr. A.B.Vajpayee
P.M. Office,
New Delhi.
Respected Sir,
You are well in the know of the Indian Constitutional provision of 5th and 6th scheduling
of adhivasi areas to ensure that their identity, culture, forms of self governance, livelihood rights
to land, forests and other resources etc are safeguarded. No doubt that such a privilege extended
e
by the Democratic Republic of India has attempted to fulfill one of our basic obligations to the
ethnic communities of adhivasis who have inhabited our land from ages immemorial.
Unfortunately this privilege is not enjoyed by their counterparts in a few other States
including Tamilnadu where nearly 1.5% of the total population is adhivasis. This has led to the
irreparable loss of their identity and rich cultural heritage, alienation of land and forests, migration
in search of livelihood and trapping into bondedness, vicious cycle of poverty and debt. Such a
situation has opened the floodgates of exploitations of these people known for a self-sufficient
economy, forms of self governance and a beautiful cultural ethos.
As responsible and loyal citizens of this country and as concerned persons, we feel that
we will be failing in our obligations to these people of ours if we still are indifferent to the
demands of these adhivasi communities to fifth schedule their areas. Only this will restore them
to a modicum of dignified living with legal protections of their identities, culture, livelihood rights
and governance by making the Panchayatiraj Extension Act applicable to Tamilnadu so that they
become an empowered people to exercise the powers granted to the gram sabhas under the above
Act.
And so we appeal to you very fervently to initiate efforts to fifth schedule the adhivasi
areas in Tamilnadu. This is the least we can do to a people who continue to contribute to the
development of this great nation.
Thanking you
Yours truly,
You ®re DffiwawsS s® win
The general membership of APA is composed of organisations undertaking
programs on peace and justice at the local, national and regional levels. APA also
welcomes individual members who are encouraged to get the mandate of their respec
tive organisations to become organisational members of the alliance. If your organisa
tion wishes to learn more about APA’s workjoin APA and participate in its programs
’ and campaigns, you may contact the office of any of the APA founding members in your
country, or the APA Secretariat at the following address:
The APA Secretariat
C/o Asian Regional Exchange for New Alternatives, Flat 6, 13th Floor, Block A, Fuk Keung
Indus Bldg., 66-68 Tong Mi Road, Kowloon. Hong Kong SAR.
Tel: (852) 2805 6193 / 2805 6270, Fax: (852) 2504 2986, E-mail: arena@asianexchange.org
Please indicate the name of your organisation, its programs on peace and
peace-related issues, and contact information. You may also get updates and other
information on APA’s work from the following websites:
www.arenaonline.orgwww.yonip.com/YONIP/APA
The Asian Peace Alliance is a regional network of national
and local groups, organisations, institutions, movements, and coa
litions that are undertaking education, research, advocacy and
campaign on peace and justice issues in Asia. APA aims to build
itself as an expression of the unity and solidarity of various peace
movements in the region; as an alliance that will respond to issues
such as intensified militarism and militarisation, the continuing
US military presence in the region, the waging of the global war
on terrorism and its impact on peoples and communities in Asia;
and as a transborder and trans-issue alliance that will link
militarisation, internal conflicts and violence with issues related
to economic globalisation.
ASIAN
ALLIANCE
APA was first formed in October 2001 when representatives of several civil society organisations, coalitions and
peace groups in Asia gathered for a consultation in Hong Kong to discuss the regional impact of the ‘911’ tragedy and the
outbreak of the US military campaign against Afghanistan, and to explore ways by which civil society organisations could
effectively address and respond to emerging peace and security issues in the region. They affirmed the need to form a
regional peace alliance that would strengthen peace movements in Asia, muster a regional people’s response to address
threats to peace in the region, and promote alternative constructs and practices of peace and people’s security. This
consultation, attended by individuals and groups from Pakistan, India, Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, Thailand, and Hong
Kong, saw the beginnings of APA.
APA was formally launched in an inaugural assembly held in the Philippines
in August 2002, during which APA organised itself and laid out a program of action
that will guide the work of the alliance and its affiliated organisations. Guided by
the theme, “Kalinaw: Asian People Speak Up for Peace,” more than 100 delegates
representing 17 countries and 95 organisations affirmed APA’s place within the
global movement against war and economic glo-balisation, with a common vision
to help stop the wars and end US militarism, demilitarise the region, transform
patriarchal relations in Asian societies, and promote peace and justice.
APA Program of Action
To achieve our goals, as stated in our Declaration, we, APA and APA-affiliated groups, will extend our network all
over the Asia region by developing collaboration in peace efforts towards the emergence of global people's power to end
violence and bring about peace and justice. To tips end, we shall take action in the following areas:
Joint initiatives against the US-led global war on terrorism
Given the imminence of US invasion of Iraq, we will:
•
Launch the Asia People's Action against War (APAW), regionally-coordinated actions against the US-led war on
terrorism.
®
Bring Asian anti-war voices to the US and Europe through messages, position papers and the like to influence
public opinion in these regions, especially in the light of the rift within the European alliance vis-a-vis the US-led
war against terrorism.
O
Closely monitor the movements of the US military and disseminate information on developments on US war
efforts within the APA network.
Linkage with anti-globalisation movements
We will participate in and build linkages with anti-globalisation movements and initiatives. In particular, we will
participate in the Asian Social Forum (ASF) that will be held in Hyderabad, India on January 2-7, 2003 by
sponsoring the conference, seminars and workshops on the sub-theme, Peace and Security.
Linkage with peace efforts and forces
We will build linkages and collaborate with peace efforts and peace forces in other regions, especially at the
grassroots level.
Support people’s peace initiatives to address internal conflicts
•
®
O
®
We will undertake action and build broad-based solidarity supportive of people's initiatives to bring about peace
with justice in areas of conflict. To this end, we will:
Undertake simultaneous joint action that will bridge the struggles of peoples and movements across Asia
around common issues of conflict in the region—e.g., ethnic and religious conflicts as a common reality in
South Asia as well as in many countries in Southeast Asia; nuclear Japan and the India-Pakistan nuclear
confrontation.
Support citizen-initiated peace actions or facilitation in Burma, Aceh, Sri Lanka, and Mindanao/ Philippines—
e.g., representations with governments and regional organisations like the ASEAN in support of peace processes.
Help strengthen local peace initiatives and anti-war efforts already being undertaken by APA-affiliated groups in
their respective countries by forging region-wide solidarity, applying international pressure, and adding regional/
global dimension to these local campaigns.
Support processes and programs that would promote the involvement of women and basic sectors in peace
initiatives at the grassroots level.
Forms of further action
®
•
•
•
•
Missions. Conduct Fact-finding and Solidarity Missions to areas affected by US military' action or by internal
armed conflicts with the end in view of achieving concrete results particularly in terms of holding governments
accountable for reparation and remedial actions by using the facts and information gathered for advocacy in
people’s tribunals and UN bodies.
Media. Circulate anti-war voices and messages locally and globally through mainstream and alternative media
and the Internet, and address the way US-led/global media have affected people’s perceptions and sensitivities
favouring war rhetoric and limiting their participation for transformative peace.
Advocacy. Undertake and support lobbying, petition-signing campaigns, peace marches, human chain, exhibi
tions and other forms of demonstration to express demands against war and US military prescnce/intervention
in many countries in Asia.
Legal action. Engage in legal action and court struggle to end the culture of impunity and support tictimised people.
Research and education. Promote research and education based on human rights and gender justice and
support efforts in reforming history education towards one that does not justify past crime or glorify national/
ethnic and religious identities-to the exclusion of others.
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LABOUR (NCL)
(An apex body of labour organisations in the Unorganised Sector)
8/10, Naina Shetty Palya, Bannerghatta Road Cross, Bangalore - 560 076.
Dear Comrades and Friends,
Season's Greetings and New Year wishes from National Centre for Labour(NCL), an apex body of labour organisations
in the unorganised sector. Through its constituent members, NCL represents the interests of Agricultural labour,
Construction labour, Fish workers, Forest workers, Contract labour, Domestic workers, Hamalis, Granite and Marble
workers, Anganwadi workers, Self-employed persons, women workers etc. NCL has a membership of over 7,25,000
from ten states in India.
NCL is organising the following seminars in the Asian Social forum (ASF) in Hyderabad, to highlight the issues of
unorganised labour and putforth their demands, concerns and aspirations to the larger audience from Asian countries.
Through these seminars, NCL is trying to collate the experiences and knowledge, consolidate its techniques and
strategies in organising the unorganised and share the same with others since organising the unorganised is the most
challenging task ahead. NCL joins with the effort to examine the impact of Globalisation on the workers so far and
prepare the unorganised to challenge the process of Globalisation in India as part of a process facilitated by CEC,
New Delhi with the other Central Trade Unions. NCL also shares its experience of working with the organised labour
particularly with the mine workers of KGF Town in Karnataka, interms of its efforts with other social, trade union,
^^Tien’s movements to oppose the closure of Mines.
Joining hands with other social movements like KKNSS (Karnataka Slumdwellers Federation) Women’s Voice (Move
ment for poorer and women involved in the unorganised sector of labour) AVAS ( expert on Shelter issues) NCL is
paving way to understand the challenges before the Urban Poor in Globalising India. Associating with National
Campaign on Dalit Human rights (NCDHR), it is trying to articulate certain issues of labour from Dalit perspective.
Hence, on behalf of NCL, I invite you and your friends to attend the seminars for sharing and learning as well
exchange your ideas and views on the following subjects.
LIST OF SEMINARS:
SI.
No.
Date
Time
1
03-01-2003
11a.m. to 1 p.m.
e
2
03-01-2003
1 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
3
03-01-2003
4 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
4
04-01-2003
9.30 a.m. to 1p.m.
5
04-01-2003
2.30p.m.- 6.30p;m.
6
04-01-2003
2.30p.m -6.30p.m.
7
04-01-2003
2.30p.m -6.30p.m.
8
05-01-2003
2.30p.m.-6.30p.m.
Topic
Public Rally with other
Peoples Movements
Organised by APVVU,
An affiliate of NCL
Public Meeting
Seminar on Globalisation:
Challenges of Organising the
Unorganised
W.T.O. and Agriculture
Organised by APVVU
Globalisation: Challenges of
Organising the Unorganised
Impact of Globalisation on
the Mine Workers of K.G.F.
Globalisation and the challenges
for the Urban poor.
KKNSS / Women’s Voice /
AVAS / NCL/NAWO
Impact of Globalisation on
Unorganised Sector Workers
and Remedies Facilitated by
CEC and initiated by NCL
Venue
From Secunderabad
Railway station to Indira .
Park
Indira Park,
Secunderabad
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
Jayaprakash Narayan
Pranganam (Linganpalli
Function Hall)
ASF opefi-spaco for
Movements.
St. Paul’s Primary
School Hall
Saraswatha Parishat Hall
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
THE FOLLOWING SPEAKERS HAVE AGREED TO ADDRESS NCL SEMINARS:
1.
Dr. L.C. Jain
Former Indian Ambassador to South Africa
and Former Member of Planning
Commission of India.
2.
Shri. R.K.A. Subramanya
Secretary General, Social Security
Association of India.
3.
Dr. Devaki Jain
Former Member, Karnataka State Planning
Board.
4.
Dr. Pravin Sinha
Labour Advisor, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung,
New Delhi.
5.
Prof. Abdur Rahim
Dept, of Communation and Journalism,
Osmania University. Hyderabad.
6.
Dr. Sarath Babu
Karnatak University, Dharwad.
7.
Shri. D. Thankappan
President, Kamani Employees Union and
Secretary, NCL.
8.
Shri. J. John
Director, Centre for Education and
Communication(CEC), New Delhi.
9.
Shri. M. Subbu
General Secretary, National Federation of
Construction Labour (NFCL) and Secretary, NCL.
10.
Shri. Chennaiah
11.
Shri. Tom Kocherry
Chairperson, World Fishers Forum and
Secretary, NCL
12.
Shri. K. Loganathan
President, Tamil Nadu Agricultural Labour
Movement.
13.
Dr. Ruth Manorama
*
President, National Allinace of Women
(NAWO), Secretary, NCL.
14.
Shri. M.A. Patil
President, Sarva Shramik Sangh and
"Secretary, NCL.
15.
Shri. Ashok Choudhry
National Forest Workers and Dwellers Forum
and Secretary, NCL.
16.
Shri. Ashim Roy
17.
Shri. Arbind Singh
18.
Smt. Anita Reddy
Hon. Director, AVAS.
19.
Shri. Kirtee Shah
President, Habitat International Coalition.
20.
Shri. N.P. Samy
Hon. President, KKNSS and
Secretary, Co-ordination, NCL.
21.
Shri. R. James Jeyaraj
Convenor, Bangalore District, KKNSS.
I
General Secretary, Andhra Pradesh
Agricultural Workers Federation (APVVU)
and Secretary, NCL.
President, Chemical Mazdoor Panchyat, Gujrat.
-
Co-ordintor, National Alliance of Street Vendors.
For details: Please contact: N.P. Samy, Secretary, Co-ordination, NCL, - 09844118491
A Series of Conferences and Seminars on
GfobaSssation and the Corporate Hijack of
our Biodiversity, Seed, Food and Water
Date and
time
Venue
Event
3rd January
2.30pm to
0.30pm
Golden Rose
School
Seminar on Food Sovereignty.
4th January
2.30pm to
6.30pm
Press Club
Seminar on Beyond Bhopal and Bt: Taking on the
Biotech Giants
Speakers include Sathinath Sarangi, Tony Clarke,
Pushpa Bhargava
5th January
2.30pm. to
6.30pm
Press Club
Seminar on Seed Sovereignty
6th January
iam to
ipm
Nizam's
College
Grounds
Speakers include P. Sainath, Arun Bhatia, Vqndana
Shiva, Antonio Tujan (Philippines), K.G. Kannabiran,
Kancha llliha
Speakers include Vandana Shiva, Ilina Sen, Malla
Reddy, PAN Malaysia, SEARICE
Conference on Ecology, Culture and Knowledge:
Defending the Earth and People's Rights to
Resources.
Speakers include Dr. Samdhong Rinpoche, Dr. B.D.
Sharma, Vandgria Shiva, Tony Clarke
6th January
2.30pm to
6.30pm
Press Club
Seminar on Water Sovereignty.
Speakers include Ramaswamy Iyer, Rajendra Singh,
Vandana Shiva, Sripad Dharmadikary, C.R. Bijoy
Organized by Navdanya
Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology
Diverse Women for Diversity
THE FOLLOWING SPEAKERS HAVE AGREED TO ADDRESS NCL SEMINARS:
1.
Dr. L.C. Jain
Former Indian Ambassador to South Africa
and Former Member of Planning
Commission of India.
2.
Shri. R.K.A. Subramanya
Secretary General, Social Security
Association of India.
3.
Dr. Devaki Jain
Former Member, Karnataka State Planning
Board.
4.
Dr. Pravin Sinha
Labour Advisor, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung,
New Delhi.
5.
Prof. Abdur Rahim
Dept, of Communation and Journalism,
Osmania University. Hyderabad.
6.
Dr. Sarath Babu
Karnatak University, Dharwad.
7.
Shri. D. Thankappan
President, Kamani Employees Union and
Secretary, NCL.
8.
Shri. J. John
Director, Centre for Education and
Communication(CEC), New Delhi.
9.
Shri. M. Subbu
General Secretary, National Federation of
Construction Labour (NFCL) and Secretary, NCL.
10.
Shri. Chennaiah
General Secretary,. Andhra Pradesh
Agricultural Workers Federation (APVVU)
and Secretary, NCL.
11.
Shri. Tom Kocherry
Chairperson, World Fishers Forum and
Secretary, NCL
12.
Shri. K. Loganathan
President, Tamil Nadu Agricultural Labour
Movement.
13.
Dr. Ruth Manorama
President, National Allinace of Women
(NAWO), Secretary, NCL.
“14.
Shri. M.A. Patil
President, Sarva Shramik Sangh and
Secretary, NCL.
15.
Shri. Ashok Ghoudhry
National Forest Workers and Dwellers Forum
and. Secretary, NCL.
16.
Shri. Ashim Roy
President, Chemical Mazdoor Panchyat, Gujrat.
17.
Shri. Arbind Singh
Co-ordintor, National Alliance of Street Vendors.
18.
Smt. Anita Reddy
Hon. Director, AVAS.
19.
Shri. Kirtee Shah
President, Habitat International Coalition.
20.
Shri. N.P. Samy
Hon. President, KKNSS and
Secretary, Co-ordination, NCL.
21.
Shri. R. James Jeyaraj
Convenor, Bangalore District, KKNSS.
For details: Please contact: N.P. Samy, Secretary, Co-ordination, NCL, - 09844118491
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LABOUR (NCL)
(An apex body of labour organisations in the Unorganised Sector)
8/10, Naina Shetty P.alya, Bannerghatta Road Cross, Bangalore - 560 076.
Dear Comrades and Friends,
Season’s Greetings and New Year wishes from National Centre for Labour(NCL), an apex body of labour organisations
in the unorganised sector. Through its constituent members, NCL represents the interests of Agricultural labour,
Construction labour, Fish workers, Forest workers, Contract labour, Domestic workers, Hamalis, Granite and Marble
workers, Anganwadi workers, Self-employed persons, women workers etc. NCL has a membership of over 7,25,000
from ten states in India.
NCL is organising the following seminars in the Asian Social forum (ASF) in Hyderabad, to highlight the issues of
unorganised labour and putforth their demands, concerns and aspirations to the larger audience from Asian countries.
Through these seminars, NCL is trying to collate the experiences and knowledge, consolidate its techniques and
strategies in organising the unorganised and share the same with others since organising the unorganised is the most
challenging task ahead. NCL joins with the effort to examine the impact of Globalisation on the workers so far and
prepare the unorganised to challenge the process of Globalisation in India as part of a process facilitated by CEC,
New Delhi with the other Central Trade Unions. NCL also shares its experience of working with the organised labour
particularly with the mine workers of KGF Town in Karnataka, interms of its efforts with other social, trade union,
women’s movements to oppose the closure of Mines.
Joining hands with other social movements like KKNSS (Karnataka Slumdwellers Federation) Women’s Voice (Mov^^
ment for poorer and women involved in the unorganised sector of labour) AVAS ( expert on Shelter issues) NCL is
paving way to understand the challenges before the Urban Poor .in Globalising India. Associating with National
Campaign on Dalit Human rights (NCDHR), it is trying to articulate certain issues of labour from Dalit perspective.
Hence, on behalf of NCL, I invite you and your friends to attend the seminars for sharing and learning as well
exchange your ideas and views on the following subjects.
LIST OF SEMINARS:
SI.
No.
Date
Time
1
03-01-2003
11a.m.. to 1 p.m.
2
03-01-2003
1 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
3
03-01-2003
4 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
4
04-01-2003
9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
5
04-01-2003
2.30p.m.- 6.30p.m.
6
04-01-2003
2.30p.m -6.30p.m.
7
04-01-2003
2.30p.m -6.30p.m.
8
05-01-2003
2.30p.m.-6.30p.m.
Topic
Public Rally with other
Peoples Movements
Organised by APVVU,
An affiliate of NCL
Public Meeting
Seminar on Globalisation:
Challenges of Organising the
Unorganised
W.T.O. and Agriculture
Organised by APVVU
Globalisation: Challenges of
Organising the Unorganised
Impact of Globalisation on
the Mine Workers of K.G.F.
Globalisation and the challenges
for the Urban poor.
KKNSS / Women’s Voice /
AVAS / NCL/NAWO
Impact of Globalisation.on
Unorganised Sector Workers
and Remedies Facilitated by
CEC and initiated by NCL
Venue
From Secunderabad
Railway station to Indira .
Park
Indira Park,
Secunderabad
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
Jayaprakash Narayan
Pranganam (Linganpalli
. Function. Hall)
ASF-epe^aee^T^
Movements.
v
St. Paul’s Primary -p« i i>
School Hall
Saraswatha Parishat Hall
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
Asian social forum
CONFERENCE ON
©th@r S©dd ®(r©ops
Globalization
Date: January 5th 2003
Time: 8.30 AM to 1.00 PM.
National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and other Dalit Groups in India
Indian Institute for Dalit Studies
Buraku Liberation League, Japan
Federation of Dalit NGOs, Nepal
Dalit Groups in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan
Asia Dalit Solidarity Network
The Conference on “Dalits, Other Social Groups aind Globalization” will address the issue of impact
of Globalization and Liberalization of the econonny in Asia and Africa on the marginalized groups
such as Dalits from India, Nepal and Srilanka, Buiraku from Japan and similar groups from Africa.
Liberalization of the economies in these countriees has led to “withdrawal of the State” and shift
towards the channelization of resources through tlhe market mechanism. The Governments in these
countries have also gone for massive privatizatioiin. The economic planning has also taken a back
seat. The withdrawal of the State from Economic aind Social Governance has thrown the Marginalized
Groups to the market where they face discriminato>ry access and exclusion. This has lead to increase
in unemployment and poverty. This specific confeerence will discuss the impact on livelihood of the
Dalits another Social Group and suggest the new measures.
i
Programme
Registration and Cultural Programme
Welcome
Mr. Vincent Manoharan, Gen. Secretary, NCDHR
Introducing the Conference
Prof. S.K. Thorat, Coordinator of the Conference
Will Globalization Help Dalits and Poor?
Dr. Bhalchan Mungekar, Chair Person of the
Conference
Liberalization, withdrawal of the state and
consequences on Buraku in Japan
Ms. Nozomi Bando, Buraku Liberation League,
Japan
Liberalization and Dalits in Nepal
Mr. Padmalal Viswakarma, Dalit Preparatory
Committee ASF, Nepal
Globalization and social groups and Plantation
worker in Sri Lanka
P. Siva Paragasam, Human Development
Organization, Sri Lanka
Structural Adjustment and the Future of the
Discriminated Groups in Africa
Dr. Victor Dyke, Nigeria
Liberalization in A.P and the future of the Dalits
Mr. Bojja Tarakam, Republican Party of India
Voices
Mr. Laxman Singh, Rajasthan
New Economic Policy in India and Dalit Women
Dr. Ruth Manorama, National Federation of Dalit
Women, Bangalore
Political Economy of Liberalization and Dalits in
India
Prof. K.S. Chalam, Andhra
Vishakapatnam
Concluding Remark
Prof. S.K. Thorat
Vote of Thanks
Mr.P.L.Mimroth, Co-convenor, NCDHR
University,
DESK BACHAO-DESH BANAO
National Campaign to a National People's Movement
The globalisation, privatisation policies have infested our natural
resources, our living community, our democracy, economy & polity.
Communalism & Casteism has further violated our lives & attacked our
national unity.
We, the toilers & workers facing an attack on our livelihood, our jobs &
self employment,
We, Who are up against inhumanity & violence in the name of caste,
religion and nationalism,
We, Who care for gender equality & women's rights as human rights,
We, Who assert true democracy against corrupt politics,
We, the displaced & destitution alised for development have to
wake-up and fight,
Our battles need to be united to attain • Community's right to resources & human right to livelihood.
• Democratic development with appropriate technology &
co-operative industry
• Decentralised, accountable polity through peoples' power
Activists to artists, lawyers to mediapersons, students & teachers
all must join & strengthen -
A National Campaign
from Palakkad (Kerala) to Ayodhya
from Jan. 26th to March 30th
Rise to Acheive A Better Life, A United Nation
_____ True Development With Equity & Justice !
Contact : NAPM stall at Asia Social Forum
: National Alliance of People's Movements
Haji Habib Bldg, Naigaon Cross Road, Dadar, Mumbai - 400014.
Ph. 022-24150529 (off.) 022-25369724/22184779 (Res.)
Mobile : 94481 32018 (P. Chennaiah A.P.) or 0980324062 (Sanjay M.G. Mumbai)
E mail : sansahil@vsnl.net • medha@narmada.org
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WNT
As the Count down begins
Join us in a crucial side event for
Sharing experience, ideology and thoughts of how Sustainable
Agriculture enkindles the hope of Asian Farmers at large as their right to
life has been gradually deceased by the Developed World and Corporate
conspiracy
How the ray of optimism roars high with the alternative of
sustainable agriculture via a socio-economic transformation.
Organized By
Laya
YUVA (Rural)
ICOR
Panel : Dr. Denzil Saldanha (Social Scientist, TISS, Mumbai), Mr. Mohan
Surve (Social Analyst, VSP, Mumbai), Mr. Balakrishna Renke (Organic
Farmer), Mr. Vijay Jawandia (Farmers' Federation), Dr. Ashesh Tayal
(Greenpeace, India), Mr. Raghav Narsalay (Political Analyst, FOCUS on
the Global South), Mr. L. V. Prasad (Social Scientist, Laya), Miss. Deepika
Singh (Social Activist, ICOR) & Mr. Datta Patil (Social Activist, YUVA).
YUVA (Rural) Association
II Floor, Kamgar Bhawan, Baidyanath Square, Nagpur-3, Maharashtra (India)
Phone : (91) 712-2751811/2 Email : yuvan@naqpur.dot.net.in yuvan conf@indiatimes.com
Website : www:yuvaindio.org
# Refreshment will be served at the event site.
Speakers
SJnuitation
Sri V.P. SINGH
■Former Prime Minister of India
Political Convention
"AGAINST
GLOBALISATION"
Sri SURENDRA MOHAN
o Socialist Thinker
For the last ten years we have
witnessed lot of changes and
upheavels in the name of
Sri SITARAM YECHURI
Polit Bureau Member CP1(M)
globalisation. In different countries
whatever resources there may be (the
industrial or agricultural) there has
been an attempt to destroy them and
Sri S. SUDHAKAR REDDY
National Executive Member, CPI
'•
also to deny the rights of people by
■
Sri KANU SANYAL
Convenor,CPI (ML) Uni ty-Initiative COI(ML)Central Co-ordination Committee
the Imperialist
International
companies and try to impose their
monopolistic negemony by all means.
A number of countries who have tried
to adopt this path of development their
economy is getting worse day by day.
SriDEEPANKAR
BHATTACHARYA
General Secretary, CPI (ML) Liberation
They boast of work in the name of
Sri GANGADHAR REDDY
Central CommitteeMember, MCPI
countries are trying to capture and
exploit the markets and resources of
Third World countries in the name of
development resulting in crippling of
Sri KRISHNA CHAKRABARTY
Central Committee Member SUCI ...
progress and development but the fact
is that all this is a hoax. It may be
pointed out that multinational
organisations of the imperialist
industrial and agricultural structure of
these countries. And because of this
it has become very difficult for general
Sri K. VENKATESWAR RAO
M.L< Committee
public to survive. A number of farmers
committing, suicide is the worst
example of this globalisation process.
It is unfortunate to note that in our country during 1991-92, the ruling
class tried to give a red carpet welcome to these imperialist agents and
because of this people of our country are faced with a lot of hard ship. In
1998-99, when the Sangh parivar captured power at the centre they have
been engaging themselves to implement this sinister moves by all means.
To divert the people's attention from the negative impact of globalisation
they have indulged themselves in organising communal clashes by dividing
people on the basis of caste and religion. Poverty, hunger and unemployment
has increased as result of this process of globalisation. And instead
globalising and channelising people's anger against this process the Sangh
Parivar leadership has been acting as the agent of global forces. Thus
comming as stumbling block in the progress of our country. Till yesterday
their agenda was swadeshi but today they are working as the puppets and
dancing to the tune of these exploitative forces.
In the light of this it becomes our duty to expose these communal and
castist forces who are active and surviving on the support of multinational ■
and imperialist organisations.
It is also very important to create an
awareness among the people to fight against such forces. It is in this
context that we call upon the people of our country to join us in this historic
convention and make it success for a better tomorrow.
^an. 2003 (Sunday) 10.30 a.m.
ddaias/iam Jfafl'- Uzantf/ii S5/iaoan, JlyderaGad
With Revolutionary greeting.
CPI
SUCI
MCPI
CPI(M)
CPI(ML) UNITY INITIATIVE
CPI(ML) LIBERATION
ML COMMITTEE
Asian social forum
CONFERENCE ON
©fee3 Sood ©foopg
god
Globalization
Date: January 5th 2003
Time: 8.30 AM to 1.00 PM.
National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and other Dalit Groups in India
Indian Institute for Dalit Studies
Buraku Liberation League, Japan
Federation of Dalit NGOs, Nepal
Dalit Groups in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan
Asia Dalit Solidarity Network
The Conference on “Dalits, Other Social Groups and Globalization” will address the issue of impact
of Globalization and Liberalization of the economy in Asia and Africa on the marginalized groups
such as Dalits from India, Nepal and Srilanka, Buraku from Japan and similar groups from Africa.
Liberalization of the economies in these countries has led to “withdrawal of the State” and shift
towards the channelization of resources through the market mechanism. The Governments in these
countries have also gone for massive privatization. The economic planning has also taken a back
seat. The withdrawal of the State from Economic and Social Governance has thrown the Marginalized
Groups to the market where they face discriminatory access and exclusion. This has lead to increase
in unemployment and poverty. This specific conference will discuss the impact on livelihood of the
Dalits another Social Group and suggest the new measures.
Programme
Registration and Cultural Programme
Welcome
Mr. Vincent Manoharan, Gen. Secretary, NCDHR
Introducing the Conference
Prof. S.K. Thorat, Coordinator of the Conference
Will Globalization Help Dalits and Poor?
Dr. Bhalchan Mungekar, Chair Person of the
Conference
Liberalization, withdrawal of the state and
consequences on Buraku in Japan
Ms. Nozomi Bando, Buraku Liberation League,
Japan
Liberalization and Dalits in Nepal
Mr. Padmalal Viswakarma, Dalit Preparatory
Committee ASF, Nepal
Globalization and social groups and Plantation
worker in Sri Lanka
P. Siva Paragasam, Human Development
Organization, Sri Lanka
Structural Adjustment and the Future of the
Discriminated Groups in Africa
Dr. Victor Dyke, Nigeria
Liberalization in A.P and the future of the Dalits
Mr. Bojja Tarakam, Republican Party of India
Voices
Mr. Laxman Singh, Rajasthan
New Economic Policy in India and Dalit Women
Dr. Ruth Manorama, National Federation of Dalit
Women, Bangalore
Political Economy of Liberalization and Dalits in
India
Prof. K.S. Chalam,
Vishakapatnam
Concluding Remark
Prof. S.K. Thorat
Vote of Thanks
Mr.P.L-Mimroth, Co-convenor, NCDHR ,
(
Andhra University,
ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM 2003
SEMINAR ON
EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRACY: MAKING LOCAL GOVERNANCE
WORK FOR THE MARGINALIZED
“Democracy is not only the goal of development, it is the primary means of development” stated
Nobel Prize winning economist Amartya Sen. Only when all individuals experience greater freedom,
voice and opportunity, will each fully bring her or his creative powers to bear on solving the problems
of the community.
The present representative democracy paradigm is scuttling local self-governance particularly
in India and in other parts of Asia. The world economic forces are supporting theneo-liberal economic
policies by joining local oppressive, caste based feudal forces to undermine the constitutional rights
and responsibilities of the tribal, women, dalit, urban poor, and rural poor communities to make local-
self governance a farce.
The seminar will include presentations on local-self governance at the grassroots levels with
regard to tribal, women, dalit, and urban poor and rural poor communities. There will be special
reference to local-self governance in India. Following the presentations, a discussion will take place
on the concerns, challenges, strategies, and policies of local-self governance. It is expected that the
discussion will provide an opportunity to build relationships and resolve to make local-self governance
a success. In addition, resolutions on local-self governance will be developed to be addressed to
individual national governments.
Eminent academic, social activists, grassroots level elected representatives are being invited to
join in the deliberations.
The Asian South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education (ASPBAE), Astha Sansthan, and National
Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS) is organizing this seminar.
Date : January 5, 2003
Venue : Main Hall, Methodist School, Hyderabad, India
Time : 2.30 PM to 6.30 PM
For further details please contact:
Dr. Om Shrivastava
Mr. John Samuel
Astha Training Centre,
NCAS
Sukhadevi Nagar, Bedla - 313 011
Serenity complex, Ramnagar Colony,
Udaipur (Raj.)
Pashan, Pune-21 (Maharashtra)
asthatrg@sancharnet.in
ncas@vsnl.com
astha39@sancharnet. in
ncas@wmi.co.in
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2-7, 2003
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GENE CAMPAIGN
OPPOSE EPOVS
• SAVEFAMMEKSS
Gene Campaign’s Legal
Action against
Indian Government
(W
^GEIK
Gene Campaign’s Legal Action
against Indian Government
Viewing the inherent dangers of India joining
UPOV, Gene Campaign filed a PIL to block the
government's decision to join UPOV
Introduction
Indian PVP Law
India like many developing countries had rejected the
patent option offered on plant varieties (seeds ) in the
WTO/ TRIPS. It selected the sui generis option
(meaning ‘of its own kind’) of protection as an
alternative to the utility patent model for plant variety
protection (PVP).
TRIPS does not specify what constitutes a sui generis
system, only that the rights granted to the plant
breeders (which it does specify), should be “effective”. $ >
Nothing in TRIPs prevents the grant of Farmers’ Rights
along with the Plant Breeders’ Right. Gene Campaign
has been spearheading a campaign in India for the
incorporation of the rights of farmers alongside the
rights of breeders in India’s sui generis legislation.
The campaign was successful when the Government
enacted a sui generis plant variety protection law the Protection of Plant Variety and Farmers’ Rights '
Act, 2001 - granting a set of rights to farmers alongside
the breeders’ rights. (See Box 1)
Box 1: Rights of Farmers granted under Indian
PVP Act
• A farmer shall be deemed to be entitled to save,
sow, resow, exchange, share or sell his farm
produce including seed ofa variety protected under
this Act. Provided that the farmer shall not be
entitled to sell branded seed of a variety protected
under this Act.
• A farmer who has bred or developed a new variety
shall be entitled for registration and other protection
for his variety in like manner as a breeder of a
variety under this Act.
• A farmer who is engaged in the conservation of
genetic resources of land races and wild relatives
of economic plants and their improvement through
selection and preservation shall be entitled for
recognition and reward from the Gene Fund.
• Any person or group of persons (whether actively
engaged in farming or not) or any governmental or
non-governmental organisation may, on behalf of
any village or local community in India, make claim
attributable to the contribution of the people of that
village or local community in the evolution of any
variety for the purpose of staking a claim on behalf
of such village or local community.
• Where an essentially derived variety is derived from
a farmers’ variety, the breeder shall not authorise
the variety for commercial purpose except with the
consent of the farmers who have made contribution
in the preservation or development of such variety.
3
• A farmer or a group offarmers shall not be liable to
pay any fee in any proceeding before the Authority
or Registrar or the Tribunal or the High Court under
this Act or the rules made thereunder.
• A right established under this Act shall not be
deemed to be infringed by a farmer who at the time
ofsuch infringement was not aware of the existence
of such right.
t
The Indian PVP law, which has been hailed as aC
progressive, pro-developing country legislation, has
some notable features. Apart from strong and
proactive Farmers Rights, it has a well-defined
Breeder’s Right as well. The Indian legislation
succeeds in balancing the rights of Breeders and
Farmers and exploits the flexibility granted in TRIPS,
in an intelligent manner. The Act incorporating the
principles laid down in the 1992 Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) recognises farmers’ role as
conservers, breeders and cultivators. It provides legal
rights to farmers to “save, exchange and sell seeds of
all varieties.” The Act has provisions for registering
farmers’ varieties so that their ownership and
innovation is recognised. Though the Indian legislation
is far from perfect it is the first law in the world tof^
grant formal, legal rights to farmers.
Sudden turnaround: India decides to
join UPOV
After spending about eight years on wrangling,
negotiations, consultations and an investigation by a
Joint Parliamentary Committee, the Indian law with
Farmers Right was finally enacted. There was a
general consensus that India had broken new ground
and deviated from the UPOV (International Union for
4
tlie Protection of New Varieties of Plants) model of sui
generis legislation by enacting a legislation that
incorporated features of the CBD, and the
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) under which India has
also recognised and accepted Farmers Rights. Then
suddenly, without any discussions in Parliament, the
Cabinet decided to reject the developments of the last
few years and its own legislation, and decided to join
UPOV.
This decision to join UPOV has stunned national and
international experts, particularly when India has also
been taking an independent position in the TRIPS
Council, seeking greater national flexibility. Many are
legitimately asking what elements in the government
and for what reason have advocated this complete
about turn in India’s position. There are questions
raised about how the Cabinet without seeking the
approval of Parliament, can take a step that would be
a grave setback for Farmers Rights. More so, since
Parliament had enacted the legislation, only last year,
sending a strong message that Farmers Rights must
be protected in India.
UPOV, which is an international organization of plant
breeders, was established by the large seed industries
in 1961 to protect their market interests. UPOV
member states are predominantly wealthy developed
countries with huge industrialized economies that are
not dependent on agriculture. They certainly do not
have food security concerns nor do they have small
and marginal farmers that need protection. Developing
countries with agrarian economies like India must
oppose UPOV since it goes against their kind of
agriculture, their vulnerability in food sector and their
farmers’ interests.
In India, farmers supply over- 85% of the total seeds
planted in the country because today they have
complete right over seed. UPOV denies these rights
and propagates strong rights in favour of plant
breeders. If the UPOV model is accepted, it will lead
to shifting the control over seed supply from the
farmers to a handful of multinational corporations.
This will lead to livelihood concerns for small fanners
apart from posing threats to the national food security.
The powerful multinational seed companies, which
influence decisions taken in the UPOV. have clearly
pointed out that the Farmers’ Rights provision in the fV
current PVP (Plant Variety Protection) law of India is
not compatible with UPOV Convetion and will have to
go if India wants to become its member.
Gene Campaign has consistently opposed India joining
UPOV and has proposed a developing country
alternative called Convention of Farmers and Breeders
(CoFaB), which is being discussed in national and
international forums. In fact, the UNDP Human
Development Report (1999) describes CoFaB as “a
strong and coordinated international proposal which
offers developing countries a far better alternative to
European legislation, by focusing on the need to
protect farmers rights and food and nutritional
security goals of their people”.
When India enacted the PVP law in August 2001, it
was thought that the fight for Farmers’ Rights had
been partly won and that now India can proride other
developing countries with an alternative to the UPOV
model. Unfortunately, even before the ink was dry,
India has decided to join the UPOV. The Union Cabinet
approved the decision to join UPOV on 31s1 May 2002.
Gene Campaign made several attempts to discuss the
dangers of UPOV with officials of the Agriculture
Ministry and appealed to them not to take this
retrograde step. When there was no response, Gene
6
Campaign filed a Writ Petition in the form of Public
Interest Litigation in the Delhi High Court on
1 October 2002, to block the government’s decision
to join UPOV. The Court has accepted the PIL and
has asked the Indian Government to file a reply to
the Petition.
The Public Interest Litigation
Grounds
The Petition is based, inter alia, on the following
grounds:
• That India is among one of the richest countries in
terms of varied eco-system and bio-diversity
especially agro bio-diversity, which contributes
significantly to global food security. The Indian
farmers have developed and continue to develop
through their traditional practices hundreds of new
varieties of seeds in all crops. This agro-biodiversity
is the only source of the genetic biodiversity
sustaining the demands from agriculture, present
and in future.
f
Hence, it is necessaiy to protect the rich bio
diversity of the country through the traditional
conservation practices being followed by farmers,
for which protection and promotion of agricultural
practices, Farmers’ Rights entitled naturally arid
through national laws and the international treaties
as well as bequeathed by the Constitution of India
is most important. Article 21 of the Constitution
and the Directive Principles, namely, Articles 38,
47, 48 and 48-A provide for protection of
environment, Farmers’ Rights and the agricultural
practices. It is the bounden duty of the Government
of India to give effect to these rights.
7
That it is now a settled principle of law that any1.
aspect of the International Convention/Treaty
which is signed/ratified by the country can be read
into the constitutional provisions if the obligations
in such international instrument are in consonance
with our Constitution. The provisions in the
Convention on Biological Diversity as well as other
international instruments which seek to protect the
agricultural bio-diversity, indigenous knowledge
and practices can, therefore, be read within Article
21 of the Constitution. The action of the
Government in implementing Article 27.3(b) of
TRIPS can, therefore, be accepted to the extent it
seeks to protect our agricultural practices, rights
on seeds and rights of the farmers.
Any action, which is in violation of these rights,
will be in violation of the Constitution. The Act of
2001 is a legislative action protecting, to a larger
extent, the rights of the farmers as well as the
agricultural practices. The. Government is,
therefore, bound to follow the Act of 2001 nationally
as well as internationally protecting the farmers’
rights. Taking a decision to join UPOV is, therefore,
against the Constitution, against the Act of 2001,
as well as against the CBD and other international £
instruments including the ITPGR (International
Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture).
That the main objective of the UPOV is protection
of the commercial rights of the breeders operating
within industrialized agriculture of the developed
countries. Unlike the majority of Indian farmers
who have small, marginal holdings and meager
resource, the farmers of the developed countries
are rich, owning large farm holdings with resource
8
iTj
capability for high input and high technology
mechanized agriculture. More over, many of these
developed countries provide large subsidies on
various counts to their farmers as a major national
policy. Hence. Farmers’ Rights are of little
consequence to tire farmers from the developed
countries. The situation in India is quite different.
Moreover, under a liberalized agricultural policy,
most of the plant breeder’s rights are expected to
be monopolized by a few large multinational seed
companies. It is therefore crucial to protect the
farmer in this situation by the grant of strong and
definite rights.
If the provisions of UPOV are compared with the
provisions of the Act of 2001, it will be clear that
UPOV Convention is totally against the Act of 2001
in respect of definition of farmers, recognition of
farmers’ varieties, provision of Farmers’ Rights,
benefit sharing in lieu of commercialization of
biodiversity, etc.< The decision of the Government
to accede to UPOV is, therefore, clearly in violation
of the Farmers’ Rights which have been safeguarded
under the Act of 2001.
O
• That while the UPOV is an intergovernmental
organisation of countries, predominantly developed
countries, it is not an international governmental
organization created under the United Nations or
its charter. Hence, joining UPOV is not binding on
any member country of the UN. Since UPOV does
not feature in the WTO or TRIPS either, there is no
requirement to take cognizance of it. In accepting
UPOV by the impugned decision, the Government
is acting against its own representation to WTO that
India wants to protect its Farmers’ Rights and its
bio-diversity and is, therefore, opting for an effective
9
sui generis system. After giving that representation
to the WTO on behalf of the people of this country,
the Government cannot take an executive decision
in violation of this solemn representation in joining
UPOV which will not only be contrary to its own
stand but also against the public and national
interest.
• That if the impugned decision is implemented, it
will result in our farmers losing their rights over
their seeds and their indigenous agricultural
practices. It will mean denial of their rights as
innovators of new varieties and as conservers of
agro-biodiversity and associated traditional
knowledge, etc. Accession to UPOV Convention will
essentially result in severe limitation of Farmers’
Rights provided in the Act of 2001 to “save, use,
sow, resow, exchange, share or sell his farm
produce including seed of a protected variety?..” and
strengthening of large seed industries as the
breeders of plant varieties. These seed industry
giants through their money power and monopolistic
manipulation of seed market will be in a position
to totally overwhelm farmers’ contribution and
misappropriate farmers’ varieties with the support
of the UPOV Convention. This will ultimately have
a grave and debilitating impact on the livelihood of
resource poor farmers of this countiy and its
recently achieved self-reliance'in food production.
There can not be any other peacetime national issue
which attracts larger public.-interest than the
livelihood security of the majority of our people and
the food security concerns of our nation.
Remedies sought
In light of the above-said grounds, Gene Campaign
has prayed to the Court to declare the decision of the
Government dated 31.05.02 as illegal and
10
unconstitutional being violative of the Protection of
Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 as well
as Articles 14, 21, 38, 47 and48-Aofthe Constitution
of India. It further requests the Court to direct the
Government not to take any action which is not in
the interest of protection of farmers’ rights in the Act
and that those rights are neither impaired nor diluted
by any future act of the Government.
Box 2 : Chronology of Events
1 January
1995
The WTO Agreements comes into
force. The Agreement on TRIPs
requires all the Members to provide
protection ofplant varieties either by
patents or by an effective sui generis
system or by any combination there of.
14 December
1999
The Protection ofPlants Varieties and
Farmers' Rights Bill, 1999 gets
introduced in the Lok Sabha (Lower
House) of the Indian Parliament.
21 December
1999
The Lok Sabha refers the Bill of 1999
to a Joint Parliamentary Committee
(JPC).
The Joint Parliamentary Committee
submits its report to the Lok Sabha
suggesting several amendments. The
JPC recommends incorporation of
strong Farmers’ Rights in the Bill.
^August 2000
August 2001
The Indian Parliament passes the
revised Bill i.e. “Protection of Plant
Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Bill,
2001,” incorporating the sui generis
system for protection of the rights of
11
farmers. Chapter-VI of the Bill of 2001
is devoted solely to Farmers’ Rights.
31 May
2002
The Union Cabinet approves the
decision of the Ministry of Agriculture
to join UPOV
1 October
2002
Gene Campaign files a Writ Petition in
form of Public Interest Litigation in the
Delhi High Court challenging the Union
Cabinet’s decision of 31 May 2002
i
7 October
2002
Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court,
after hearing the Petitioner i.e. Gene
Campaign, accepts the PIL and asks
the Government of India to file a reply
to the petition on 26 November 2002.
26 Novembei The Government of India seeks more
2002 time to file the reply.________ __
8 January
2003
Next date of hearing when the
Government of India has to file its
| reply.
Gene Campaign is a non-government organization working on the
issues of bioresources, intellectual property rights, indigenous
knowledge, farmers’ rights and community rights. It is a grassroots
level organisation working in several states in India and its work is
focussed on ensuring food and livelihood securityfor rural and tribal
communities. Gene Campaign has played a significant role in
formulating national policies on biodiversity and international tra e
and has been involved with drafting legislation in these fields.
Contact:
Gene Campaign
J-235/A, Sainik Farms,
New Delhi - 110 062
Ph: +91-11- 26517248, 26856841
Fx: +91-11-26965961
Em:genecamp @ vsnl.com
http: //www.genecampaign.org
welcome address: 2.30-2.40p.m.
seminar
session 1:2.40-4.10 p.m.
contours of
'
percp«ttYg.c>n.asian solidarity \
walden hello, n. ram’.frances quimpo, mohammad tahseen/
session 2:4.10-6.15p.m.
ssian solidarity
focus nepal: listening to voices
i) deepening democracy: contours ft challenge
3 january, 2003
hari rokka, krishna kanal, shyam srestha
indira priyadarshim auditorium
ii) ethnicity, pluralism ft neighbourhood
public gardens
2.30-6.30 p.m.
c. k. lai, chitraiekha yadav
,
/
,/
concluding remarks: 6115-6.30p.m
heinrich boell foundation
, pravasi nepali sangh, all India nepalese free students union,
south asia network plan (esds), j p foundation for asian democracy
-
APA Program of Action
To achieve our goals, as stated in our Declaration, we, APA and APA-affiliated groups, will extend our network all
over the Asia region by developing collaboration in peace efforts towards the emergence of global people s power to end
violence and bring about peace and justice. To tlys end, we shall take action in the following areas:
Joint initiatives against the US-led global war on terrorism
Given the imminence of US invasion of Iraq, we will:
•
Launch the Asia People’s Action against War (APAW), regionally-coordinated actions against the US-led war on
©
®
terrorism.
Bring Asian anti-war voices to the US and Europe through messages, position papers and the like to influence
public opinion in these regions, especially in the light of the rift within the European alliance vis-a-vis the US-led
war against terrorism.
Closely monitor the movements of the US military and disseminate information on developments on US war
efforts within the APA network.
Linkage with anti-globalisation movements
We will participate in and build linkages with anti-globalisation movements and initiatives. In particular, we will
participate in the Asian Social Forum (ASF) that will be held in Hyderabad, India on January 2-7, 2003 by
sponsoring the conference, seminars and workshops on the sub-theme, Peace and Security.
Linkage with peace efforts and forces
We will build linkages and collaborate with peace efforts and peace forces in other regions, especially at the
grassroots level.
Support people’s peace initiatives to address internal conflicts
•
•
•
•
We will undertake action and build broad-based solidarity supportive of people’s initiatives to bring about peace
with justice in areas of conflict. To this end, we will:
Undertake simultaneous joint action that will bridge the struggles of peoples and movements across Asia
around common issues of conflict in the region—e.g., ethnic and religious conflicts as a common reality in
South Asia as well as in many countries in Southeast Asia; nuclear Japan and tire India-Pakistan nuclear
confrontation.
Support citizen-initiated peace actions or facilitation in Burma, Aceh, Sri Lanka, and Mindanao/ Philippines —
e.g., representations with governments and regional organisations like tire ASEAN in support of peace processes.
Help strengthen local peace initiatives and anti-war efforts already being undertaken by APA-affiliated groups in
their respective countries by forging region-wide solidarity, applying international pressure, and adding regional/
global dimension to these local campaigns.
Support processes and programs that would promote the involvement of women and basic sectors in peace
initiatives at the grassroots level.
Forms of further action
•
Missions. Conduct Fact-finding and Solidarity Missions to areas affected by US military' action or by internal
armed conflicts with the end in view of achieving concrete results particularly in terms of holding governments
accountable for reparation and remedial actions by using the facts and information gathered for advocacy in
people’s tribunals and UN bodies.
•
Media. Circulate anti-war voices and messages locally and globally through mainstream and alternative media
•
Advocacy. Undertake and support lobbying, petition-signing campaigns, peace marches, human chain, exhibi
and the Internet, and address the way US-led/global media have affected people’s perceptions and sensitivities
favouring war rhetoric and limiting their participation for transformative peace.
tions and other forms of demonstration to express demands against war and US military prescnce/intervention
in many countries in Asia.
•
•
Legal action. Engage in legal action and court struggle to end the culture of impunity and support victimised people.
Research and education. Promote research and education based on human rights and gender justice and
support efforts in reforming history' education towards one that does not justify past crime or glorify national/
ethnic and religious identities-to the exclusion of others.'
ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM
At Nizam College, Basheerbagh, Hyderabad.
2nd - 7th January, 2003
ALL INDIA BANK EMPLOYEES’ ASSOCIATION
A TRADE UNION WITH A SOCIAL VISION
JL WUME MO'VT'R JOK
34.
Af^^NST^ILL^FllL D'EJMIL'TE'RS
During the post second world war, the bank employees in India were the most exploited working calsss.
They were being paid paltry wages with no regulated service conditions at all. It was a rule of hire and fire.
Bank employees were suffering in silence but did not have the necessary courage to form unions. They
saw the workers in the factories fighting and making some progress in terms of wages and betterment in
service conditions. Bank employees also gathered some courage here and there and started to organize
themselves into unions in a sporadic way. All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA), the oldest and
largest national trade union centre of bank employees in India, was founded in 1946 on the 20th of April in
Kolkata.. With the advent of AIBEA on the scene, this gave a fillip to the formation of unions in different
banks. Some protest actions and strikes were undertaken but the disputes were referred to tribunals and
employees did not get justice or satisfaction. Hence unrest and dissatisfaction amongst the employees
were brewing and there were innumerable agitations, struggles and strikes in the banks. Banking was a
State subject at that time and hence there were number of Tribunals and Awards. The growing
discontentment amongst the bank employees was sensed by the management and the authorities and
banking was made a central subject.
Consequently, there were All India tribunals. The unduly long periods of waiting, the unsatisfactory awards
and the bias of the authorities made the AIBEA in 1964 to demand direct bilateral negotiations and
settlement. AIBEA succeeded in this effort when in 1966 the first ever industry level Bipartite Settlement
was signed between the AIBEA and the bank management's across the table. Today this bilateral
agreement constitutes a landmark achievement in the banking industry and 7 Bipart:‘~ Settlements have
been signed so far by the AIBEA. Thus from 1946 to 1966 - nearly two decades . ere the periods of
organising unions and fighting before the Tribunals.
From 1966, it has been an era of consolidation. Bank unions were recognised by the management's and in
each bank many policy issues on recruitment's, transfers and promotions were regulated by mutual
agreements. Along with the struggle for improvements in wages and service conditions, AIBEA also
campaigned for nationalisation of Banks. After years of continuous efforts and struggle, AIBEA achieved its
objective when major 14 banks were nationalised in July 1969. Subsequently in 1980 another set of 6
Banks were nationalized. This process established the objective of banks as “mass banking instead of the
then prevailing objective of “class objective”.
Following is a brief a/c of growth of banking in the post nationalisation era, spanning over three decades.
Branches
Rural
Branches
Deposits
in crores
Advances
in crores
Agri
Advances
Priority
Sector
Population
coverage ratio
per bank branch
1969
8268
1833
4665
3609
162
441
65000:1
Today
65000
32700
1250000
670000
53500
155000
15000:1
Post Nationalization Directed Lending through specialised schemes with concessional rates of interests
were formulated with the sole objective of uplifting poorer sections of the society. Even the green revolution
the crowning achievement of Independent India would be impossible without the financial support given to
the rural farmers by the PSBs under priority sector lending.
GROWTH Vs GREED:
Post nationalisation, the public sector character of the banks phenomenally changed the savings habits of
the Indian people. They trusted the national character of these banks and held their hard earned savings in
these banks. As more and more people are coming into the fold of these banks, the funds for investment
with these banks risen dramatically. Industrialists utilised these funds to expand their business interest.
The era of licence permit raj helped the industrialist with political patronage to garner the most of the
funds from these PSBs. The ever accommodating hand of politician's involvement made these banks
credit decisions favourable to the political climate. Now the industrialists utilised the public money in undue
capacity expansion and unrelated business diversification. Even politicians started throwing the public
money from banks by conducting loan melas for their supporters to garner their franchise. Foreseeing these
acts of Industrialists and politicians will harm the PSBs and came out with a massive campaign highlighting
the “HELATH OF BANKING INDUSTRY" during 1987 and conducted a massive rally to the Parliament.
POST REFORMS:
In 1991, Indian economy was going through a grave crisis encompassing all frontiers- abysmally low levels
of Foreign exchange, increased oil pool deficit, severe resource crunch, and downgraded credit rating. At
this juncture the govt, launched the New Economic Policy ushering in the Structural Adjustment Program
under the guidance of WOLRD BANK and IMF. This Program also included banking sector reforms and
towards the fulfilment of this objective the Narsimhan committee was formed. Major actions that followed
the recommendations of the committee which are as follows:-
i.
Deregulation of entry norms for the private sector and foreign banks.
ii.
Allowing banks to access capital markets
iii.
Deregulation of interest rates.
iv.
Greater autonomy to banks: The limit on minimum govt. Equity was brought down to 51 %..
vi. Introduction of Prudential Norms:- New comprehensive norms regarding income recognition asset
classifications & provisioning for NPAs have been notified and made compulsory for banks to adopt.
As a furthering of the reforms processthe2ndNarsimhan committee was set-up. Some of the major
recommendations were as follows:-
Reduction of govt, stake to 33%:- The ongoing process of PSU divestments has reached the banking
sector also, with the committee suggesting that govt, stake in banks should come down to 33%
a
Rehabilitation of weak banks with fresh infusion of capital of NPA adjustments.
Allowing consolidation in banking sector then mergers and acquisitions.
Better asset/liability management through the creation and use of Asset Reconstruction Companies
M.S.VARMA COMMITTEE was formed to look in to the matter of revival and reconstruction of the weak
banks. While luling out the merger, of these banks with stronger cousins among PSBs, this committee
advocated the freezing of wages to the employees and recommended the downsizing of the manpower for
the revival of these weak bank. This committee was humiliatingly silent on the action to be taken on the
wilful defaulters who are the main culprits for the huge losses suffered by these banks.
On the plank of above recommendations some vested interests in industrial lobby criticized the public
sector banks, and advocated the closing down of the weak PSBs.
Al BEA sensing the ultimate design in their campaign came out with the defaulters lists of PSBs which was
nothing but who’s who list of So called Industrialist’s lobby, with the efforts of AIBEA all bank employees
and Officers unions united under UFBU and drawn the fighting lines to protect the PSBs character together.
Especially AIBEA launched the March to Parliament Campaign to highlight the growing burden of NPAs on
the health of Indian Banking sector. These rallies were conducted in March, 2000 and during November
2002. Massive demonstrations by the members of AIBEA rallied in protest of wilful defaulters.
The following demands were made by AIBEA to make Public Sector Banks free from growing NPA burden:
i)
ii)
iii)
iv)
v)
publish the list of bank wilful defaulters.
Declare non-payment of bank loans as criminal offence.
Ban on contesting election/holding public positions for bank loan defaulters
Personal liability of company directors and promoters and attachment of their property.
Revamping of laws relating to bank loans, recovery and limiations etc.,
In November, 2002 the much awaited Securitisation Bill was passed by the Parliament.
The Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Bill is the
culmination of the fighting spirit shown by the AIBEA and its members along with all Other Bank
Employees unions. Even though the formation of Asset Reconstruction Company to take over the assets
from the lending banks is not acceptable to the AIBEA, as this route will be exploited by the Industrial Lobby
to loot the banks once again still this bill strengthen the hands of the lending banker. Armed with (his new
Bill , now PSBs can drastically lower their NPA figure, which was estimated at 57,000 crores witn a overall
figure of 1,10,000 crores across the entire Indian banking industry.
THE LOOT OF INDIAN BANKING SECTOR
Company
Mardia Group
Lloyds Group
Modern Group
Parasrampuria
Group
Core Healthcare
Group
Mafatlal Group
Nova Group
Patheja Group
Usha Ispat
Indian Charge
Chrome Ltd
Altos India
JK Group
Rajinder Group
Mesco Group
Prakash Industries
Ltd
Amount
in crores
-I 450
-1012
846
YES, AIBEA IS NOT JUST A TRADE UNION WITH AN AGENDA TO
PROTECT ITS MEMBERS, IT’S AN ORGANISATION WITH A SOCIAL
VISION, 30 YEARS BACK IT’S FIGHT FOR NATIONALISATION
PROVED TO BE THE ROCKBEAD OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF
POORER SECTIONS OF INDIAN CITIZENS.
705
ON THE ONSET OF GLOBALISATION & ECONOMIC REFORMS IN
INDIA, AIBEA HEARLDED THE FIGHT TO PROTECT THE FRUITS OF
NATIONALISATION AS WELL AS FUTURE OF MILLIONS OF BANK
598 EMPLOYEES IN INDIA. IN EVERY COUNTRY, FINANCIAL SECTOR IS
527 5 THE FIRST PREY TO REFORMS. IT HELPS TO LOOT THE PATIENT
547 BY REFORMIST’S DOCTORS VIZ., WORLD BANK, IMF, WTO.
751
391.7
493 3 IN INDIA, THEY WERE STOPPED IN THEIR TRACKS WITH THE
CONCERTED EFFORTS OF AIBEA
ALONG WITH ALL OTHER
437 BANKING TRADE UNIONS.
Com.PRABHAT KAR
Com.PARVANA
GLOABLISATION AND ITS IMPACT:
Swami Vivekananda once remarked that a society that systematically exploits one section of population for
the benefit of another is like a bird with one wing: it can never aspire to be free and growing. While the
context in which he made the remark was different, the saying per se seems to be relevant in the present
context of globalization .
Soon after the setback to socialism in Russia and allied countries in Europe, imperialist powers made tall
claims about building a crisis-free capitalism using the hi-tech revolution — the only sustainable system for
human progress. These claims are getting thoroughly exposed and discredited today. What we are
witnessing today is a different scenario. The capitalist system as a whole is facing a serious crisis and the
intensity of this crisis is on the increase. The crisis which overtook Mexico in 1994 and the East Asian
countries in 1997-98 were explained as only temporary phenomena. But today we find that even the mighty
economies of the world — the US and Japan which, put together, account for 46 per cent of the world's
output —have plunged into a recession. Other developed as well as the third world countries, too, are
facing a serious deceleration in economic growth, the only exception being China. The crisis is allembracing and pervades even the high-tech sector. Millions of workers in the developed countries have
been thrown out of employment; retrenchment and closures are becoming the order of the day. The
working masses are everywhere facing a serious threat to their livelihood as their achievements and rights
earned through bitter struggles are being increasingly curtailed.
Generally, the living standard of the working people is getting eroded everywhere. Besides, poverty and
bankruptcies are on the rise while huge fortunes are being accumulated by the giant multinational
companies. The prescriptions of the World Bank, IMF and WTO have failed to save the situation; they have
only helped to intensify the exploitation of the weaker nations by big multinational corporations of the
imperialist countries. This is the background in which new types of protest actions are developing in
different parts of the world against the system of capitalism.
1) NO to globalisation that drives down workers’ rights and job security;
2)
NO to globalisation that undermines education and health care;
3)
NO to globalisation that helps the rich and hurts the poor;
4)
NO to globalisation that stifles and denies democracy.
IN INDIAN CONTEXT:
In India the government has decided to go ahead with wholesale privatisation of all the public sector
industries. Plans about downsizing the government departments and labour law changes, based on the
reports of three committee, are copied from the blueprint of the WB-IMF-WTO trio.
The working class of India has to close its ranks, irrespective of political and organisational differences, to
fight back and defeat these policies so as to save the country from a disaster.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Against thoughtless privatisation of the profit-making and potential viable public sector units including
the defence sector industries.
Against the withdrawal of quantitative restrictions on imports as per WTO conditionalities much to the
detriment of Indian industry, agriculture and national interest as a whole.
Against the move to change the labour laws in favour of employers.
For immediate enactment of a comprehensive legislation for agricultural workers.
Against the policies leading to severe aggravation of joblessness and unemployment.
AIBEA is committed to fight back and defeat - the policies of Privatisation of Public Sector Banks, Change
in Labour Laws, the policies leading to the sufferings of the common man, worker etc.
JVBOl - MotHer of Trade Unions
in Indian 'Banking Industry
Corporate Crimes
On 3 December 1984, the world witnessed the worst chemical disaster ever when a gas leak in the Union
Carbide plant in Bhopal, India, killed atleast 8,000 workers and residents in the first 3 days after the disaster
and caused permanent and debilitating injuries to more than 150,000 people. The leak was caused mainly by
insufficient safety systems and cost cutting measures by Union Carbide. Eighteen years after this tragic
disaster, the legacy of poisoning continues. By deflecting responsibility for the disaster to the Indian government, Union Carbide managed to
escape its obligations, showing its moral and ethical bankruptcy. Justice remains more elusive than ever forthe victims of the disaster.
The Bhopal Principles addresses corporate accountability across a wide range of issues. We have chosen to call them “Bhopal Principles”
because this disaster highlights the current failure of governments to protect public welfare and the failure of corporations to observe basic
standards.
Bhopal Principles
.
States must as a matter of priority adopt national and international laws to implement
Principle 13 of the Rio Declaration, to address liability and compensation for victims of
environmental damage
.
Corporations must be held strictly liable for all damage arising from their activities, whether
it be to person, environment or property.
.
Corporations must be liable for injury to persons or damage to environment and property,
beyond the limits of national jurisdiction
Economic activity must not infringe upon basic human and social rights. Corporates must respect and uphold these rights
States must require companies to disclose to the public all information concerning releases to the environment and product
composition. Commercial confidentiality must not outweigh public interests.
Consistent with Rio Principle 14, States must not permit MNCs to deliberately lower their standards of operation and safety in places
where health and environment protection regimes are weaker.
States must co-operate to combat bribery and eliminate corporate influence on public policy through election campaign
contributions.
States must ensure that people maintain their sovereignty over their own food supply, including measures to prevent genetic pollution
and patenting.
States must fully implement the Precautionary Principle in national and international law. Corporations must take preventative action
before environmental damage or health effects are incurred. Governments must require companies to undertake Environment Impact
Assessments with public participation.
States must promote clean and sustainable development, phase out hazardous chemicals and use resources in a sustainable manner.
Dow (formerly Union Carbide), Bhopal, India.
Ji
Union Carbide was involved in chemical production. The Bhopal plant was primarily producing Methyl Iso
Cyanate (MIC) for pesticide manufacture. On December 31984, an accident led to leak of gases, chiefly
MIC, monomethylamine, carbon monoxide, among 20 others.
ri
—
Storage of MIC is to be done under very strict conditions, with multiple safety measures. Safety measures were reduced to cut operation costs.
The running of the plant was in contravention of company policies strictly practiced in its other plants. Routine maintenance was neglected,
staff under-trained, and critical equipment not replaced frequently enough. There were no Disaster Management Plans. The accident led to
loss of life that amounted to 8000 people in the first 3 days and 150,000 victims who are chronically ill even today. Many in later years died of
improper diagnosis due to Union Carbide India Limited's refusal to disclose details of the leaked gases.
Union Carbide has evaded responsibility by paying inadequate compensation and leaving the country. It has merged with Dow. The victims
today are still in search for justice, even as they sufferfrom incapacitating illnesses in the 3 generation.
(
Dow Chemicals, Brazil
Dow Chemicals in Brazil has many plants that produce different polymers. In 1999 it absorbed Union Carbide, which also had plants in Brazil. In
one such plant, toxic chemical carbon tetrachloride had been stored for 20 years, and was recently sent for disposal. The soil and the river in the
vicinity are highly contaminated by organochlorines and heavy metals. The company has not yet taken full responsibility.
The company has a pesticide plant in Bombay, manufacturing an organophosphate pesticide that kills
animals by attacking the nervous system. The pesticide, Dursban, was known to cause poisoning of people
and environment in the US. After strict laws were passed to ban Dursban, Dow continued to market and sell it
in India and poorer countries. Studies have not been done in India, but studies in the US show that prior to
restriction, it caused 1000 cases of poisoning and 7000 cases of accidental exposure every year in the US
alone. Dow continues to follow double standards of production and distribution of its products.
Dow Agrosciences NZ Ltd.,
This company was formerly Ivon Watkins Dow. IWD had first commenced producing a defoliant (to remove the foliage in a forest) that was used
in the Vietnam War. This chemical had dioxins in it that contaminated the environment and people. Subsequently, the company was guilty of
producing a weed killer that had dioxins. This was used all over forest and agricultural land in New Plymouth. Further, IWD has buried waste that
has leached into the ground, incinerated dioxin contaminated waste and had atleast 2 explosions that released dioxins into the atmosphere.
There has been no legal action as yet, but the community has taken steps to get assistance in health care. The company must be made to prove
that its products and processes are safe.
Dow Chemicals, Louisiana, USA
In June 2002, a former employee of Dow testified in court that Dow has been routinely dumping large amounts (about 5000kgs a month) of
Vinyl Chloride next to the railway tracks in Plaquemine for the last 30 years. In this case, Dow is guilty of poisoning the ground water and soil as
well as contamination of people, including its own employees.
In each case Dow has been guilty of causing damage, despite knowing the consequences of its actions The only instance of redressal has
been in the US. Dow cannot continue to take advantage of poorer nations with inadequate laws for its own benefits and commit its crimes
against the environment and people.
A Profile of Monsanto
Monsanto is a multinational agro-chemical company. It is the second biggest seed company in the world and the biggest Genetic
Engineering (GE) seed supplier. Monsanto has introduced GE canola (rape) seed in Canada that has had widespread damage to the
existing crops and fields. GE modified canola “superweeds" are emerging on a widespread basis in the Canadian prairies. As they are
resistant to a variety of herbicides, the only way to control them is by using known toxic chemicals. Also, those farmers who do not
want to grow the GE modified crop cannot do so because the “superweed” spreads uncontrollably. Ironically, instead of owning up
its responsibility for widespread contamination, Monsanto is suing farmers for illegal use when the modified canola crop has been
found growing on their fields! When the modified canola was imported into Europe, the crops in Europe have also been similarly
affected. The GE crops cause contamination to seed supplies in countries where the crop is not even grown.
GE companies like Monsanto dominate the commercial GMO market and hence take away farmers’ rights all over the world. There
is no system in place yet to protect farmers or the public from the damage that could be caused by these GE plants. GE companies
should be held liable for any harm and financial loss caused by genetically modified contamination of seeds and fields.
A Profile of Shell across the World
Brasil S.A.(Subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell Group, Netherlands)
Shell Chemicals manufactured pesticides in rural Sao Paulo from
Cyanamide Chemicals, it had to evaluate its environmental liability.
1975 to 1993. While in operation, the plant contaminated ground
In the process, it was found that ground water was contaminated
water with organochlorines. Three instances of leakage of this
and 86% of the population showed chronic contamination. In the
compound were officially reported. In 1985, sale of these
legal battle that followed, Shell was forced to provide necessary
pesticides was stopped in Brasil. However, manufacture of these
medical treatment, despite Shell trying to doctor results of
chemicals continued till 1990. When Shell sold the plant to
groundwater and medical treatment tests.
il, S.A.
The facilities involved at the site stored fuels and pesticides.
who live within 1 km. of the plant may have been affected by the
Beginning in 1993, soil samples at the location found high
contamination. Since 2000, Shell has removed and incinerated
concentrations of lead, heavy metals, hydrocarbons and
tonnes of contaminated soil and fuel sludge. It has committed to
organochlorines. In April 2002, tests on artesian wells used by 400
de-contaminating an area measuring 180,000 sq. metres by 2003.
people for drinking water found that concentrations of toxic
Shell did not acknowledge the contamination by “drins”, and
chemicals were 10 times higher than the maximum allowable limit
refutes the possibility that it has contaminated workers and the
for human consumption. One report estimates that 30,000 people
local community.
)aI
Shell chemicals started production of the “drins” (endrin, dialdrin
affected atleast 936 people and caused 26 deaths. Although the
and aldrin) in 1952, and finished completely in 1990. In Pernis, the
use of “drins” has been virtually banned in the USA and the
Netherlands, river sediments, residential areas and dumpsites
Netherlands since the late 1970s, Shell continued the production
were severely polluted. Leaking basins and pipes at the Rocky
and sales to industrialising countries until 1992. Shell refuses to
Mountain Arsenal, USA, have contaminated 70 sq. kms. of land.
take full responsibility for the complete removal of stockpiles all
There have been many reports of poisoning, for eg., the
over the world.
consumption of bread made from endrin contaminated flour that
Shell, Buenos Aires, Argentina
The soil surrounding the area of the Shell gas station is severely
must be held accountable for their
contaminated due to leaks from underground fuel tanks. In 1979,
actions and liable for clean up and
leaks from the Shell gas station led to an explosion in a nearby sub
compensation of the victims of
way station. Shell put new air extractors in the subway station but
contamination caused by their
removed them after some time. A legal verdict requires Shell to
pollution
replace the contaminated soil with clean soil. Yet it has not done so.
All these cases show that transnational corporations such as Shell
Other Cases in India
Hindustan Insecticides L t d . (H I L),Kera I a
Fully owned by the Government of India, HIL has three factories
affected. 20,000 people are directly affected by the contamination
producing insecticides. In Kerala, the plant produces DDT, dicofol
and 100,000 people are potentially exposed to the Persistent
and endosulfan, and also hydrochloric acid and sulphuric acid as
Organic Pollutants (POPs). Further, 1 million are affected through
by-products. The plant has caused permanent contamination and
eating contaminated fish. The public took direct action against the
emits pollutants. HIL releases effluents into a public stream. The
company after which, the company offered to fund part of the
effluent contains 111 toxic chemicals and it reaches the river
clean up. But the company's interest is to dredge the stream so
Periyar, which is a major source of drinking water and livelihood for
they can continue to dump toxins into it. The sediment will only be
fisherfolk. Many species of plant, fishes and animals have been
discarded into another open dump.
ation Corporation of Kerala (PCK)
Located in Kottayam, PCK is primarily involved in pesticide
application. Aerial spraying of toxic chemical endosulfan, intended
many species of animals. Pesticide residues have been found in
crops, butter, cow's milk, and cow fat. Three court cases have
only for agricultural uses has been used over densely populated
been filed with the help of the media. The lower courts have
area without following the basic precaution of covering all drinking
temporarily banned aerial spraying but the high court hearing is yet
water sources. No assessment has been made as to how many
to begin. PCK, meanwhile, has made no efforts to compensate
people have affected, but at least 15 villages are affected, exposing
those affected and has gone so far as claiming that endosulfan has
200,000 people. The population manifests wide variety of
not caused any damage.
problems that include cancer, hormonal disruptions, weakening of
Both the above companies are State-owned, indicating that they
immune systems and nervous system diseases. Workers' rights
must also be held liable along with the multinationals that create
have been violated and there has been a decline in the population of
havoc in the environment.
Its time to eliminate Corporate Crime
www.greenpeaceindia.org
incineration - A Global Hazard.
I Incineration of industrial waste is considered an alternative to land
.
but the reality is that it creates more toxic wastes. The process of
incineration breaks down bulk waste and disperses it into the
.
new chemicals formed during the incineration process.
Also, emissions into the air lead to the accumulation of
pollutants in food crops.
environment via air, water and ash emissions.
Incineration releases three kinds of dangerous pollutants into the
I environment: heavy metals, unburned toxic chemicals and entirely
It is difficult to pronounce the disposal method safe for either
human or environmental health.
filling. The common myth is that burning makes waste disappear
Did you know that 15-50% of the pollutants remain on the
crop/vegetable after washing?
Why are developing countries in Asia being swamped with
proposals to build waste incinerator plants?
I Metals are not destroyed during incineration.
Did you know that an average incinerator which burns 32,000
I tonnes of hazardous waste per year emits metals at the rate of 92
i tonnes a year into the air and 304 tonnes a year into residual ashes
I and liquids?
There must be a problem with incineration because developed
countries do not want this process on their own land. Apart from its
impact on the health and environment it has other difficulties:
.
deviate incinerator performance radically.
chromium from otherwise stable materials like plastics. The
impact on health can include cancer, birth defects, reproductive
In practice, equipment failure, human error and rapid
changes in the waste fed to the incinerator can alter and
I These toxic metals include lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury and
.
dysfunction, neurological damage, etc.
Incinerator plants are capital-intensive and to recover the
costs of building them and support profitable operations,
owners of the plants encourage generation of waste.
No incinerator process operates at 100% efficiency.
Smoke stacks of hazardous waste incinerators release gases that
.
Continued investment in incinerators inhibits the
development of products and processes that do not use toxic
contain unburned chemicals. These chemicals also escape into
chemicals in the first place.
the air as fugitive emissions during storage, handling and
transport. Wastes when burnt also transform into ash and effluent.
.
Did you know that from incinerators, 43 different semi-volatile
Did you know that only 10% of hospital's waste is potentially
organic chemicals and 16 organic chemicals were identified in ash
infectious and even this can be sterilised?
It also removes the incentive to re-cycle and re-use.
and scrubber water respectively? These, in turn, pollute the air,
The remaining 90% is similar to waste coming from hotels, offices
land and water bodies such as rivers and lakes.
and restaurants! By burning hospital waste, a biological problem of
During the combustion of hazardous waste, entirely new
disinfecting infectious materials becomes a formidable chemical
chemicals are formed due to recombination within smoke
pollution problem.
stacks, furnaces, etc.
Given the serious problem with incineration, Greenpeace believes
Out of 1000s of such chemicals, 100 have been identified. Among
these are dioxins and furans, which cause altered sexual
that ratherthan seeking to refine regulations, national governments
must implement the following policies:
development, reproductive problems, lowered immunity, diabetes,
organ toxicity and effects on hormones. Some qf them are
carcinogenic. Dioxins also have an ability to travel vast distances
.
on air and ocean currents, making them global killers.
.
waste incinerators or the expansion of existing ones;
The leftover ash can contain above-mentioned metals,
Development of programs to reduce waste and eliminate
toxics in the overall waste stream;
What are some of the other impacts of incineration?
.
A moratorium on the construction of new, hazardous
.
A rapid schedule for phase-out of all existing incinerators
dioxins and furans, and disposing of this waste is expensive
and quite tricky.
www.greenpeaceindia.org
Your Right to Know
Do you know about the industries in your neighbourhood? Do you know where they are located? If you
do, do you know about their nature, risks of hazardous substances, their waste disposal and
emissions, and their impact on your health and environment? Are you aware of environmentally
sensitive sites in your area? Are they getting harmed in any way? If so, how?
These are things that relate to you and your environment, and if you care about it you must have the
right to know. Apart from being able to get answers forthese questions, you as a citizen must have the
access to:
©
-J
Information on the assessment of chemicals, their location and management
Material safety data sheets
There must be a system of pre-notification of use of pesticides and a system for prompt and equitable
determination of commercially sensitive information. You must have access to this as well.
With information, you as a citizen, have a tool to protect yourself and your environment. Information
must be available in what is called Pollutant Inventory. The combination of an inventory that provides
information to the public and a general ecological awareness amongst the public has proven to be most
effective in improvement of environmental quality. Infact this has shown to result in....
o
Massive reductions in pollution
o
Commitmentto pollution prevention
•
A context for community health promotion including worker health and safety.
•
Inform and help policy makers evaluate howto spend resources
An inventory is the first critical step toward the greater goal of toxics reduction
All governments must implement the 'Right to Know’ legislation. A global company must also be
accountable to its subsidiary units in other countries even if that country doesn’t have legislation to that
effect. These principles have already been enshrined in Agenda 21 of UNECD.
In the US, it was found, that the promulgation of a 'Toxic Release Inventory' by companies actually
resulted in a 20% reduction in release of toxic chemicals into the environment. Inventories have also
become popular in Canada, Australia, Netherlands, U.K, and Japan. Material safety data sheets have
improved workers’ conditions in these countries.
You need to exercise your right to a clean environment and participate in the planning process, demand
your Right to Know.
www.greenpeaceindia.org
Pesticides:
A ‘Pestering problem
A pesticide is any substance or mixture of substances intended for
preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating any pest. Pests
can be insects, mice and other animals, unwanted plants (weeds),
fungi, or micro-organisms like bacteria and viruses. Though often
misunderstood to refer only to insecticides, the term pesticide also
applies to herbicides, fungicides, and various other substances
used to control pests. Pesticides are useful because of their ability
to kill potentially disease-causing organisms and control insects,
weeds and other pests. By their very nature, they create some risk
of harm to humans, animals or the environment in which they are
used.
Pesticides and their related problems are an impact of the green
revolution. Recovering from the euphoria of the Green Revoludon,
India is now battling the residual effects of the extensively used
chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the country's soils.
pesticides harmful?
isolated from each other at all but rather have been caused by just
one class of chemicals: organo chlorines. This class includes
DDT, Dioxins, HCH (HexaChloro Cyclo Hexane), and Aldrin.
Unfortunately, 40% of all pesticides used in India are
organochlorines. Another 30% are organophosphates, which
are equally hazardous. Most of these chemicals are banned in
other countries, and the rest are awaiting risk-assessment
reports!
Organochlorines are carbon-based substances that have one or
more chlorine atoms. Many organochlorines are persistent, lasting
in the world for years before degrading. Wind and air currents take
these chemicals far from their homelands, even in areas where the
chemicals have never been used.
Studies show that pesticides can cause health problems such as
birth defects, nerve damage, cancer, and other effects that might
occur over a long period of time. World Health Organization
(WHO) estimates one million pesticides poisoning cases and
20,000 deaths every year globally!
I it is now increasingly believed that many of the environmental
I problems that have come to light in the past 40 years are not
Effects on soil health:
.
They kill the vital microbial fauna present in the soil.
.
They persist in the environment and have been observed to
accumulate in the food chain.
.
It is due to their tendency to accumulate in the animal fatty
tissue, and move up the food chain, that their residues have
been found in the mother’s milk.
India has been reported to have the highest levels of DDT in
breastmilk!
What are the alternatives?
The real solution to replacing these chemicals seems to be
Integrated Pest Management (IPM). As the name suggests, IPM is
an approach to pest management, not pest elimination. It looks at
the pest in its environment, and comes up with solutions after
understanding its life-cycle, natural predators, etc.
Another solution is in replacing the chemical pesticides with bio
pesticides. Biologically based pesticides such as botanicals, bio
control agents and microbial pesticides are much safer than
traditional pesticides. Researchers are working on this alternative.
India’s battle
The decade from 1980 to 1990 alone saw the area under
pesticides in India increase a whopping 20-fold, from six million
hectare to 125 million hectare. Interestingly, India’s consumption
of pesticides per hectare is low when compared with world
averages. Yet, despite a comparatively low use of pesticides in
India, the contamination of food products in the country is
alarming. The reason lies in the non-judicious use of the
chemicals, lack of awareness among the farming community.
About 20% of Indian food products contain pesticide residues
above tolerance level compared to only 2% globally. No
detectable residues are found in only 49% Indian food products
compared to 80% globally.
Even today, India has the world’s largest DDT manufacturing
faculty. Many other pesticides are manufactured and exported to
countries where these chemicals are banned.
The Indian government and Indian pesticide manufacturers have
not yet made an inventory of dangerous and date-expired
pesticides stored in India.
It is imperative that there is a formulation of national policy on
pesticides that is rational. The policy must include establishment of
bio control and pesticide residue analysis laboratories. There is
also an urgent need for an implementation of a ban on pesticides
that are banned in more than 5 countries. The need of the hour is an
establishment of facilities for studying organic farming and IPM.
www.greenpeaceindia.org
Glean Production
The recognition that most of our environmental problems- global warming, toxic pollution and loss of bio-diversity- are caused by the way we
'transform natural resources into products’ and the rate at which we consume them, is the starting point of clean production. Society’s need
for products can be fulfilled through the use of renewable, energy efficient and water efficient systems and non-hazardous materials. Clean
Production also seeks to reduce consumption by looking at alternatives.
Clean production systems are non-polluting, preserve bio-diversity in nature and culture and support the ability of future generations to meet
their needs.
reduction has four elements in its approach:
Everybody affected by industrial activities-workers,
It reinforces the Precautionary Principle. This principle,
accepted in international law, makes it the producer's
consumers, communities etc. must have information on
emissions, access to pollution registers and toxic use
responsibility to prove that a substance or activity will do no
environmental harm, rather than the community's. It
reduction plans, as well as ingredients of products. Right to
information and involvement in decision making would
stresses the need for decisions on use/manufacture of
chemicals be taken by public decision-makers, as they have
ensure democratic control
clear social impacts.
A holistic approach would be achieved only by addressing
The Preventive approach emphasizes that it is cheaper and
the whole life-cycle of a product. The life-cycle includes all
the phases of the product- design, raw-material
more effective to prevent damage than to undo it. Pollution
prevention replaces pollution control. It calls for an
selection/production, product manufacture, consumer use
and waste management at the end of the useful life of the
emphasis on energy efficient practices rather than on
product. An integrated approach helps to phase out existing
hazardous materials and to use resources judiciously.
developing new fossil fuel energy sources.
towards Clean Production
Governments have traditionally approached environmental
management by setting limits on permissible pollution loads to
water, air and land. This is flawed because it assumes that the earth
can tolerate a certain amount of stress. It also fragments the
approach by separating water, air and land under different
regulation authorities. Governments can take steps toward clean
production at different levels:
.
Introduce national and regional bans and phase-outs on
production and use of hazardous products
.
Shift focus from waste management policies to policies on
resource-use, technical support and education on clean
production
.
Introduce legislations on producer responsibility, access to
information, tax reforms etc. and support measures for
worker and consumer health and safety.
.
Enter into international co-ordination to prevent transfer of
banned technologies/products, and instead aid transfer of
clean technologies.
Manufacturers can move into clean production at a small level,
which includes improvement in prevention of leaks and spills,
reduction of toxic use and introduction of in-house recycling
systems.
Further progress can be made in toxic-use reduction by
implementing the following techniques: input substitution, product
reformation, product unit re-design or modification, production
unit modernisation, improved operations and maintenance and
closed loop recycling.
A remarkable change was seen in the State of Massachusetts after
implementing these techniques.
Toxics use was down by 24%, waste generation by 34%, and total
toxics release by 73%. The economic efficiency achieved led to an
overall cost reduction by US$ 91 million in 6 years!
Changing the product design by allowing for reduced consumption
of resources, prolonging the useful life of a product, recycling,
easy dismantling and safe disposal can impact overall
environmental damages.
‘Clean Products’ are non-toxic, energy efficient, made using
renewable or re-processed non-renewable materials, durable, re
usable, and minimally packaged using reusable recycled or
recyclable materials.
www.greenpeaceindia.org
ft.
The Ship Breaking IndustryToxic Trade in Disguise
Of approximately 45,000 ocean going ships in the world, about 700 are put out of service every year. These are then broken-up to recover
steel, which constitutes 95% of their mass.
Ship breaking is hazardous to both the environment and human health. It contains asbestos, lead paint, heavy metals, oil and PCBs. It is
dangerous for a worker without protection who comes into contact with these ships. Also the wastes and scraps must be disposed of
properly, otherwise it is hazardous to the coastal environment
Basel Ban
The Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal banned the dumping or
exporting of toxic wastes generated in the rich countries, to the
poor countries. The treaty also banned the trading of hazardous
wastes underthe name of re-cycling.
Taking the hazardous nature of ship breaking into account, one can
conclude that it is another form of dumping toxic waste on poorer
nations.
Poorer Nations?
Due to strict pollution laws and health and safety standards in the OECD
(Organisation for Economic Co-operation) countries, it is very
expensive to dismantle decommissioned ships. On the other hand,
economic needs of the poorer nations and their lenient laws and the
cheap labour, the third world countries have become a good target for
the owners of the ships. The workers here are also ignorant of the
dangers or even their right to know about them. In desperation they take
up any job that might earn them a daily wage. The owners can maximise
their profit. The other dimension is that ships when broken down are a
source of cheap steel for these nations. Sending of ships to shipyards in
Asia isa directviolation of the Basel Ban.
The Impact of Ship Breaking
Most ships broken today were built before the 1970s, when
environmental laws were not strict. They therefore contain many
hazardous chemicals that are banned today.
The worker who is unprotected and exposed to asbestos and lead is
susceptible to breathing difficulties, lung cancers, anaemia and
damage to the nervous system and kidneys. Arsenic exposure can
result in cancers of different organs, damage of nervous tissue and
blood vessels and paralysis. Many other toxins can cause respiratory
problems, cancers, mutations, reproductive defects and loss of
immunity. Workers are also in risk of fire, explosions, suffocations and
falling beam plates. The choice for them seems to be between poverty
and poison.
The impact on the environment includes contamination of the seas and
ground water, and the destruction of marine and coastal life in the area.
A study of ship breaking industries across the world have revealed some
shocking facts:
.
The poorer a nation is, the more waste it will get. (These include
India, China, Phillipines and Bangladesh)
.
They all have polluted eco-systems along theshipyard
•
Many workers die in cramped conditions every year from lack of
care/knowledge/protection/equipment.
(360 deaths occur in Alang, India, every year.)
Greenpeace Demands
Greenpeace is not calling for the closure of the Asian ship breaking
industry, but it demands the industry keep the spirit of the Basel
Convention. It demands that the rich countries stop using Asia to
escape their responsibility of decontaminating their ships before
sending them for scrapping.
No toxic trade
Toxics free industry
Clean jobs and clean environment
Clean ships
GRteHreAcr
www.greenpeaceindia.org
The Ship Breaking IndustryToxic Trade in Disguise
Of approximately 45,000 ocean going ships in the world, about 700 are put out of service every year. These are then broken-up to recover
steel, which constitutes 95% oftheirmass.
Ship breaking is hazardous to both the environment and human health. It contains asbestos, lead paint, heavy metals, oil and PCBs. It is
dangerous for a worker without protection who comes into contact with these ships. Also the wastes and scraps must be disposed of
properly, otherwise it is hazardous to the coastal environment
Basel Ban
The Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movements of
Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal banned the dumping or
exporting of toxic wastes generated in the rich countries, to the
poor countries. The treaty also banned the trading of hazardous
wastes under the name of re-cycling.
Taking the hazardous nature of ship breaking into account, one can
conclude that it is another form of dumping toxic waste on poorer
nations.
Why Poorer Nations?
Due to strict pollution laws and health and safety standards in the OECD
(Organisation for Economic Co-operation) countries, it is very
expensive to dismantle decommissioned ships. On the other hand,
economic needs of the poorer nations and their lenient laws and the
cheap labour, the third world countries have become a good target for
the owners of the ships. The workers here are also ignorant of the
dangers or even their right to know about them. In desperation they take
up any job that might earn them a daily wage. The owners can maximise
their profit. The other dimension is that ships when broken down are a
source of cheap steel for these nations. Sending of ships to shipyards in
Asia is a direct violation of the Basel Ban.
The impact of Ship Breaking
Most ships broken today were built before the 1970s, when
environmental laws were not strict. They therefore contain many
hazardous chemicals that are banned today.
The worker who is unprotected and exposed to asbestos and lead is
susceptible to breathing difficulties, lung cancers, anaemia and
damage to the nervous system and kidneys. Arsenic exposure can
result in cancers of different organs, damage of nervous tissue and
blood vessels and paralysis. Many other toxins can cause respiratory
problems, cancers, mutations, reproductive defects and loss of
immunity. Workers are also in risk of fire, explosions, suffocations and
falling beam plates. The choice for them seems to be between poverty
The impact on the environment includes contamination of the seas and
ground water, and the destruction of marine and coastal life in the area.
A study of ship breaking industries across the world have revealed some
shocking facts:
.
The poorer a nation is, the more waste it will get. (These include
India, China, Phillipinesand Bangladesh)
.
They all have polluted eco-systems along the shipyard
.
Many workers die in cramped conditions every year from lack of
care/knowledge/protection/equipment.
(360 deaths occur in Alang, India, every year.)
and poison.
Greenpeace Demands
Greenpeace is not calling for the closure of the Asian ship breaking
industry, but it demands the industry keep the spirit of the Basel
Convention. It demands that the rich countries stop using Asia to
escape their responsibility of decontaminating their ships before
.
No toxic trade
.
Toxics free industry
.
Clean jobs and clean environment
sending them for scrapping.
.
Clean ships
www.greenpeaceindia.org
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17th December 2002
Amnesty International India and Habitat International Coalition invite you to a Seminar
on “Competing Rights and Obligations: Globalisation and Legal Frameworks to
Protect ESC Rights” on 4th January, 2003 between 2.30 and 6.30 pm at the Asia Social
Forum at Hyderabad. Please find a brief background is on the reverse.
Speakers:
The Changing face of Workers Rights: Babu Mathew
Bhopal: Human Rights Obligations Abandoned: Sathinath Sarangi
Communities at Risk: Usha Ramanthan
Conflicting Obligations: Right to Water and Housing: Miloon Kothari
We look forward to your participation in the Seminar.
Habitat International Coalition
Amnesty international India
Competing Rights and Obligations
Globalisation and Legal Frameworks for the Protection of ESC Rights
Background
One of the most important features of globalisation has been the increasing pressure on the legal
and policy frameworks that protect ESC rights. The three major sources have been:
1.
2.
3.
An institutional approach to human rights protection;
Resolving rights related conflicts without considering in full the whole range of human
rights obligations;
The conflict between obligations contained in trade related instruments and human rights
instruments.
The Seminar essentially seeks to explore the three areas above in the context of common property
resources (water), labour rights, accountability of capital (Bhopal) and industrial risk.
1 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL INDIA f
Programme Office
G-13, 1st Floor Hauz Khas Market, New Delhi-110016. Tel/Fax : (011) 651 0202, 685 4763
Email: admin-in@amnesty.org;cam-in@amnesty.org
ESC rights with respect to common property resources (in the natural resource economy) and
labour (in the industrial economy) arc two areas that have borne the most significant impacts of
globalisation. The institutional mechanisms and policy and legal frameworks governing rights
with respect to common property resources have been severely diluted by two: increasing
commercial and private control and management of land, water and forests in the natural resource
economy and the whittling down of labour laws and protection in the name of increasing
competitiveness and efficiency in the industrial economy.
Human rights obligations are increasingly being viewed from the perspective of good governance
rather than justice. As a result there is increasingly a tendency for human rights concerns to be
addressed from the stand-point of institutional efficiency rather social and economic justice.
Underlying this the fact that institutions like the WTO are seeking to enforce trade and capital
related obligations that are often at conflict with human rights obligations. The instruments
governing trade and capital are increasingly using the language of human rights but in a radically
different manner.
Judicial interpretation as well as policy making are tending towards resolving conflicts relating to
ESC right independently of human rights obligations. The classic case is industrial relocation
involving hazardous industries. The Delhi industrial relocation case essentially involves
relocation of risk rather than reduction of risk. While the SC ordered all polluting industries to be
relocated outside Delhi to protect environment no specific measures to actually contain their risk
in relocated areas was set down. At the same time the SC also paid scant attention to the rights of
thousands of workers except offering them an alternative to move with the risk or accept some
compensation.
While the forces of globalisation seek to create a level playing field for capital the same is not
true in terms of human rights obligations. On the one hand barriers to the movement of capital are
being lowered while human rights obligations of companies are increasingly being circumscribed
and limited allowing them to pass on the risk rather than enforce obligations. The struggle of the
Bhopal Gas Leak victims and survivors to bring UCC to justice is a case in point. While the UCC
claims that it cannot be prosecuted in India it also argued successfully against any liability in the
USA on the grounds that American courts cannot possibly assess the value of the lives of the
(poor) Indians living in Bhopal.
AMNESTY
AMNISTIA
AMNISTIE
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17th December 2002
Amnesty International India and the Human Rights Law Network invite you to a Workshop
on “Refugee Rights” on 5th January, 2003 between 2.30 and 6.30 pm at the Asia Social Forum at
Hyderabad.
Session 1: 2.30 to 4.30 pm
Refugees In India
Nandita Haksar - An Overview
Ravi Nair. Refugee Protection in South Asia - An Overview of Experiences
Discussion
Refugee Experiences- Case Studies
Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal - Tom Adhikary, DNC
Burmese Refugees in India -
Sri Lankan Refugees in India- Fr. Amalraj, JRS
Discussion
Session 2: 4.30 to 6.30 pm
Refugee Law - An Overview of Protection Experience in India
Human Rights Law Network
We look forward to your participation in the Seminar.
Human Rights Lawyers Network
Amnesty
1 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL INDIA f
Programme Office
G-13. 1st Floor Hauz Khas Market. New Delhi-110016. Tel/Fax : (011) 651 0202, 685 4763
Email: admin-in @amnesiy.org;cam-in@amnesty.org
17lh December 2002
Amnesty International India and the Criminal Justice Initiative (of the Human Rights Law
Network) invite you to a Seminar on “Criminal Justice” on 6th January, 2003 between 2.30 and
6.30 pm at the Asia Social Forum at Hyderabad.
Session 1: 2,30 to 4.30 pm
The Criminal Justice System - An Overview of recent changes and key issues
K.G. Kannabiran : The Malimath Committee and Criminal Justice Reforms
Usha Ramanathan: Fast Track Courts
Ravi Nair: NHRC/SHRCs and Criminal Justice
Discussion
Session 2: 4.30 to 6.30 pm
Legal Aid in Prisons and Other Custodial Institutions
D.K. Basu Monitoring by the SC and the Need for Intervention
Human Rights Law Network
Calcutta, Mumbai, Delhi
We look forward to your participation in the Seminar.
Human Rights Lawyers Network
1 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL INDIA |---------------------------------------- 1
Programme Office
G-13, 1st Floor Hauz Khas Market. New Delhi-110016. Tel/Fax (011) 651 0202. 685 4763
Email: admin in@amnesiy.org:cam-infelamnesty org
National Alliance of People's Movements *
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MWAVA SACHAO ANDOLAN
Dear friends,
We know that Asian Social l-'orum is to be an event in itself. The lens of conferences,
seminars, workshops are presenting an opportunity to come together, exchange and even
debate our views, perspectives and plans. This is a unique platform to reach alliance
amongst us. the people’s organizations and movements with intellectual and
professionals, artists and associates, to combat communal forces, challenge global powers
and also initiate a move towards a national people’s movement. Hope you loo will try
and attend.
Ils amidst these massive event and exercise that we bring to you opportunities to interact
on various issues of development. Do Participate. NARMADA BACH AO AN DO I.AN
will join NAPM - allied people’s movements to organize-
1.
4"'January-2.30-6 p.m.
Seminar on Development Planning, Displacement and Resettlement (Manohar Hall)
Speakers and resource persons will include Dr. B D Sharma, L C Jain, Aruna Roy,
Shalmali Guttal, Vijay Paranjapye, Shakthiman Ghosh, Thomas Kochery, Ravi
Pragada, Alok Agrawal, Sunilbhai and Medha Patkar with a few others. The
NAPM/Activists to facilitate are Sunithi S R, Karuna and Philip ( Release of the audio
cassettes of Adivasi songs by Adivasis in the Narmada Valley)
2.
4lh January - 2.30 - 6 p.m.
Seminar on Communalism : Religion, Communalism and towards a Secular
Democracy (IMA Hall) Speakers and Resource persons to include Anwar Rajan, Vijay
Pratap, Rohit Prajapathi (Gujarat) and Sandeep Pandey. NAPM
Conveners/Activists to facilitate are Nandalal/Arundhati Dhuru and Gabriele Dietrich.
3.
5th January - 2.30 - 6 p.m.
Meeting of Peoples Movements present al ASP. To be compeercd by National Alliance
of Peoples Movements. Activists Io attend include Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy, Kishen
Patnaik, Thomas Kocherry, Sandeep Pandey, Yogendra Yadav, P Chennaiah.
Sanjay M G and other conveners of NAPM. To be facilitated by all NAPMConveners.
Contact: Sanjay M. G - 9820324062, P. Chcnnaiah - 9848132018
4.
5lh January- 2.30 - 6 p.m.
Meeting of Dam -related people’s struggles, and concerned academicians, artists,
lawyers, activists,. This-is to be compeercd by Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save
Narmada Movement) To be facilitated by all NBA Activists.
5.
6,h January- 2.30 - 6 p.m.
Seminar on Water (Andhra Yuvati Mandal}To be organized jointly by Narmada
Bachao Andolan and NAPM Speakers and discussants include Ramaswamy Iyer ( ex
secretary, Water Resources), Rajendra Singh, Himanshu Thakkar, Anand Kapur,
D K Mishra/ Kalyan Rudra, Lima Shankari, Shripad Dharmadhikari and Oscar
Olivera (Bolivia) with other discussants. The facilitators include NAPM
Conveners/Activists stich as Arundhati Dhuru, Suniti S R, Karuna and Philip.
6.
6lh January - 2.30 - 6 “p.m.
Seminar on Energy (Vasavi Main Haii^To be organized by Narmada Bachao Andolan
and NAPM. Speakers and discussants include Dr AKN Reddy ( ex- director, IISc,
Bangalore), Subodh Wagle or a representative of Prayas, Pune, Dr Ravi
Kuchimanchi, Michael, Surendra Gadekar and Madhu (People's School of Energy).
The NAPM Conveners/Activists to facilitate are Gabriele, Anand, Aravinda and Madhu,
and other events organized by Andhra Pradesh Agricultural Labor Union (APVVU),
Dalit Alliance, Human Rights l-orum (AP), National Union of Construction Workers and
other allies of NAPM.
In Solidarity,
Sanjay MG
Karuna
P Chennaiah
Medha Patkar
Philip
Seminar on Corruption and Governance
Asian Social Forum
Date: January 6, 2:30-6:30 pm
Venue: Manohar Function Hall
Corruption and authoritarian rule are products of corporate globalization.
One significant issue related to the operations of TNCs is how governments especially in Asia and the
Third World are being nun like corporations in order to implement the neoliberal agenda and squeeze
the biggest profits for the TNCs. Such governance results in social neglect, breeds corrupt practices,
and coddles dictators.
But multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank treat the issue
of corruption and authoritarian rule like they are simply the wrongdoing of an individual or group of
individuals, or only systemic in the run of politics, thus leaving TNCs and neoliberal globalization out
of the question. They have even used the issue of good governance as conditionality for aid and debt,
in the process gaining the power to dictate the manner governments should be run.
Corruption and bad governance are inherent in backward countries that are foreign-dominated and
driven further to poverty by policies of liberalization, privatization and deregulation. TNCs and even
the World Bank, by the globalization policies they seek to strengthen, perpetuate corrupt practices
and create dictators.
In the Asian Social Forum, the International Initiative on Corruption and Governance, in
cooperation with IBON and Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangathan (MKSS) is sponsoring a Seminar on
Corruption and Governance on January 6, 2:30-6:30 p.m, Manohar Function Hall.
The Seminar aims to clarify the frameworks of good governance as peddled by the World Bank
against people’s governance as should be developed and pushed forward by social movements. The
Seminar will also lay out plans for campaigns to counter the concept being promoted by the
multilateral institutions as instruments of further globalization.
Program:
I Overview on Corruption and Governance
Tony Tujan, IBON Foundation Inc. - confirmed
II. World Bank’s “Good Governance” and People’s Governance
Teddy Casino Plunder Watch / BAYAN- Philippines
111 Counter-Campaign
Aruna Roy and Nikhel Dey (MKSS) - India
IV. Export Credit Agencies
Liam Phelan , Aidwatch - Australia
V. Summation
Tony Tujan
Tribunal on Corruption and Governance
People’s Movements Encounter at the ASF
January 4, 2:30-6:30 pm
Venue: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Pranganam, 1st Fir of Bhatriya Theliy Sangh (Theliy Society)
Function Hail, H. No. 3-5-1113/32, Rajamohall Road, Hyderabad
The People’s Movements Encounter (PME) at the Asian Social Forum that is taking place from 3-7
January- 2003 in Hyderabad, India is an opportunity to articulate people’s issues and struggles against
globalization as well as their perspectives, demands, aspirations and alternatives.
The PME shall gather social movements from Asia, organize several public hearings, seminars,
marches and expressions of people’s culture, and bring the message to the broader audience
throughout the globe.
The theme of the PME is ‘Drive TNCs to Hunger", and one of the significant issues with regard to the
operations of TNCs and corporate globalization is how governments especially in Asia and the Third
World are being run like corporations in order to implement the neoliberal agenda and .squeeze the
biggest profits for the TNCs. Such governance results in social neglect, breeds corrupt practices, and
coddles dictators.
Multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, however, treat the
issue of corruption and authoritarian rule like they are simply the wrongdoing of an individual or group
of individuals, or only systemic in the run of politics, thus leaving TNCs and neoliberal globalization
out of the question. They have even used the issue of good governance as conditionality for aid and
debt, in the process even gaining the power to dictate the manner governments should be run.
But corruption and bad governance are inherent in backward countries that are foreign-dominated and
driven further to poverty by policies of liberalization, privatization and deregulation. Who then should
be held liable for corrupt practices? Who are guilty of creating dictators?
In the PME, IBON Foundation, the International Initiative on Corruption and Governance and
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti Sangatan (MKSS) are sponsoring a Tribunal on Corruption and
Governance on January 4,14:30-18:30 p.m, at Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Pranganam, 1st Fir of
Bhatriya Theiiy Sangh (Theliy Society) Function Hall, H. No. 3-5-1113/32, Rajamohall Road,
Hyderabad.
Testimonies will be heard from India, Malaysia, Pakistan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines on the
origin and nature of corruption and authoritarian rule. The experiences shall be summarizea and
verdict shall be passed in order to confirm that, as alternative to corporate globalization, people’s
governance is possible.
Program:
Testimonies on Authoritarian Rule and Corruption:
Gujarat for corruption and communal violence;
Jadugoda for secrecy and corruption and the threat to life in uranium mining areas;
Bhopal for the information and corruption related issues in the Bhopal Gas tragedy and its aftermath;
Parivartan (Delhi) for corruption in urban development works;
Madhya Pradesh for World Bank Forestry Project;
Kashipur Orissa for corruption in land acquisition and displacement of tribals for a multinational aluminum
mining plant.
Aruna Roy, Nikhel Dey - MKSS
Chan Po Ying - Hong Kong Women Workers Association
Medha Patkar- NAMP India
Irene Fernandez (Tenaganita- Malaysia) Judgement
Teddy Casifio (Plunder Watch/BAYAN-Philippines) - Summation
EVENTS HOSTED
AT
ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM,
NIZAM COLLEGE, 2-7 JANUARY 2003
BY
PEOPLES SCIENCE MOVEMENTS
(All India Peoples Science Network, Bharat Cyan Vigyan Samiti)
MOVEMENTS WORKING FOR SHAPING SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
FOR
INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO GLOBALISATION
The All India Peoples Science Network is a federation of 40 Peoples
Science Movements that works for people oriented development and
resists imperialist globalisation and communalism. The movements are
the nodal agency/partners for several innovative movements like
literacy and continuing education, science communication, Jan
Swasthya Abhiyan (People's Health Movement), and technology
alternatives for sustainable development. The main sectors that the
movements work on are education, health, sustainable livelihood
programmes, ecology and sustainable resource use and womens'
livelihood.
List of Conferences, Seminars and Workshops By Peoples Science Movements and
Associated Organisations
3rd Jan 2003
S.No
2.
Workshop/
Seminar/
Conference
Title
Organiser
Venue
Speakers
Conference
Social
Infrastructure
Nizam
Action Aid, Bharat
Gyan Vigyan Samiti, College
Grounds,
Jan Swasthaya
Abhiyan, Right to Food Conference
Hall 1
Campaign
Shantha Sinha, Jean Dreze,
Antonio Tujan (Phillipines),
Kavita Srivdstava, Harsh
Mander, Wirapon (Thailand),
Zafarullah Chowdhury
(Bangladesh),.Anita Rampal,
Sarojini RengSm (Malayasia),
T.Sundaraman, Mr. P. Sainath
Seminar
Globalisation and
Forests
Institution
of
Engineers
Bharat Gyan Vigyan
NGOs
Samiti
Hall
Forum For Women’s
Jan Sewak
Health
Sangh,
Room
No.l
Community Health Cell Jan Sewak
Sangh,
Room
No.2
CEHAT
Dwaraka
Conference
Hall
A.K. Baneeijee., Grassroot
movement representatives
from various states
AIPSN
3.
Seminar
Education for All
4.
Seminar
Politics of Population
5.
Seminar
Environment and
Health : A People’s
Campaign
6.
Seminar
Right To Health Care
: Moving From Idea
to Reality
7.
Workshop
Towards Action For
A Tobacco Free
World
Community Health Cell
8.
Workshop
Reproductive Rights
in the 21s' Century
Women’s Global
Network on
Reproductive Rights
Methodist
School,
Room
No.9
Methodist
School,
Room
No, 17
Babu Mathew, Shrinath
Reddy, A.H.M. Nouman, Joga
Rao, Pradip Prabhu, Brian
Lobo, John Samuel, Sadhana
Hall, Colin Gonsalves_________
£h Jan 2003
S.No
Workshop/
Seminar/
_Conference
Title
Organiser
Seminar
Right to Health Care :
Moving From Idea to Realty
11
CEHAT
2.
Seminar
Fluid Finance and Global
Crisis
IDEAS
3.
Workshop
Globalisation and Forestry:
Agenda for Peoples
Movements
All India
Peoples Science
Network
4.
Workshop
Science as a Resource for
Transformation
All India
Peoples Sicence
Network
Venue
Speakers
H. Sudarshan, Ravi Duggal,
Jean Dreze, Father Sebastian,
Sarojini, Seeta Prabhu, Ravi
Narayan, T.Sundaraman
Ashok Mitra, Prabhat Patnaik,
Taj Hotel.
Narayanguda C.P. Chandrashekhar, Jayati
Ghosh_______________________
Methodist
Open Forum on Land
Evictions, Govenrnance,
School,
Displacement etc.
Room
No.7
Methodist
Ashish Nandy,
M.P.Parmeshwaran,
School,
Room
T.Jayraman, Lawrence
Surendra, Dinesh Abrol
No.8
Dwarka
Conference
Hall
5lh Jan 2003
Title
Organiser
Venue
Speakers
Seminar
Science and Exclusions:
Race, Caste and Genetics;
Science and Communalism
All India
Peoples Science
Network
Institute of
Engineers
2.
Seminar
Privatisation of
Infrastructure
AH India
Peoples Science
Network, Jubilee
South
Hotel
Anmol,
Conference
Hall
AKN Reddy, Pushpa
Bhargava, Satyajit Rath,
S.K.Thorat, T Jayraman,
Mohan Rao
C.P. Chandrashekhar,
D.K.Sangal, Rob Rees(South
Africa), Oscar Olivera
(Bolivia), Prabir Purkayastha,
Kjeld Jakobsen (Brasil),
Ashok Rao, Vinod Raina,
VAN Namboodri
3.
Seminar
Patents and Access to
Medicines
National
Working Group
on Patent Laws
4.
Workshop
Taking the People’s
Movement Forward
Community
Health Cell
5.
Workshop
Pharmaceutical Policy
AIDAN,
FMRAI,
NCCDP
Sundaraiya
Vigyan
Kendra
(Mini Hall)
Methodist
School,
Room No.
9
All Saints
School,
Room No.
12
S.No
Workshop/
Seminar/
Conference
1.
List of Conferences, Seminars and Workshops By Peoples Science Movements and
Associated Organisations
3rd Jan 2003
Title
Organiser
Speakers
Venue
S.No
Workshop/
Seminar/
Conference
1.
Conference
Social
Infrastructure
Nizam
Action Aid, Bharat
Gyan Vigyan Samiti, College
Grounds,
Jan Swasthaya
Abhiyan, Right to Food Conference
Hall 1
Campaign
Shantha Sinha, Jean Dreze,
Antonio Tujan (Phillipines),
Kavita Srivastava, Harsh
Mander, Wirapon (Thailand),
Zafarullah Chowdhury
(Bangladesh),.Anita Rampal,
Sarojini Rengam (Malayasia),
T.Sundaraman, Mr. P. Sainath
2.
Seminar
Globalisation and
Forests
A.K. Baneerjee., Grassroot
movement representatives
from various states
3.
Seminar
Education for All
4.
Seminar
Politics of Population
Institution
of
Engineers
Bharat Gyan Vigyan
NGOs
Hall
Samiti
Forum For Women’s
Jan Sewak
Health
Sangh,
Room
No.l
Community Health Cell Jan Sewak
Sangh,
Room
No.2
CEHAT
Dwaraka
Conference
Hall
AIPSN
5.
Seminar
Environment and
Health : A People’s
Campaign
6.
Seminar
Right To Health Care
: Moving From Idea
to Reality
7.
Workshop
Towards Action For
A Tobacco Free
World
Community Health Cell
8.
Workshop
Reproductive Rights
in the 21s' Century
Women’s Global
Network on
Reproductive Rights
Methodist
School,
Room
No.9
Methodist
School,
Room
No. 17
•
Babu Mathew, Shrinath
Reddy, A.H.M. Nouman, Joga
Rao, Pradip Prabhu, Brian
Lobo, John Samuel, Sadhana
Hall, Colin Gonsalves
4th Jan 2003
S.No
Workshop/
Seminar/
Conference
1.
Seminar
Right to Health Care :
Moving From Idea to Realty
II
CEHAT
2.
Seminar
Fluid Finance and Global
Crisis
IDEAS
3.
Workshop
Globalisation and Forestry:
Agenda for Peoples
Movements
All India
Peoples Science
Network
4.
Workshop
Science as a Resource for
Transformation
All India
Peoples Sicence
Network
Title
Organiser
Venue
Speakers
Seminar
Science and Exclusions:
Race, Caste and Genetics;
Science and Communalism
All India
Peoples Science
Network
Institute of
Engineers
2.
Seminar
Privatisation of
Infrastructure
All India
Peoples Science
Network, Jubilee
South
Hotel
Anmol,
Conference
Hall
AKN Reddy, Pushpa
Bhargava, Satyajit Rath,
S.K.Thorat, T Jayraman,
Mohan Rao
C.P. Chandrashekhar,
D.K.Sangal, Rob Rees(South
Africa), Oscar Olivera
(Bolivia), Prabir Purkayastha,
Kjeld Jakobsen (Brasil),
Ashok Rao, Vinod Raina,
VAN Namboodri
3.
Seminar
Patents and Access to
Medicines
National
Working Group
on Patent Laws
4.
Workshop
Taking the People’s
Movement Forward
Community
Health Cell
5.
Workshop
Pharmaceutical Policy
AIDAN,
FMRAI,
NCCDP
Sundaraiya
Vigyan
Kendra
(Mini Hall)
Methodist
School,
Room No.
9
All Saints
School,
Room No.
12
Title
Organiser
Venue
Speakers
H. Sudarshan, Ravi Duggal,
Jean Dreze, Father Sebastian,
Sarojini, Seeta Prabhu, Ravi
Narayan, T.Sundaraman
Taj Hotel,
Ashok Mitra, Prabhat Patnaik,
Narayanguda C.P. Chandrashekhar, Jayati
Ghosh
Methodist
Open Forum on Land
School,
Evictions, Govenmance,
Room
Displacement etc.
No.7
Methodist
Ashish Nandy,
School,
M.P.Parmeshwaran,
Room
T.Jayraman, Lawrence
No.8
Surendra, Dinesh Abrol
Dwarka
Conference
Hall
5th Jan 2003
S.No
Workshop/
Seminar/
Conference
MAI U ■Peoples' organisation
A movement of people
uprooted from their soil in Uttarakhand___________
Add-Village Chham, Post-Chham, Tehri, Uttarakhand.
D-105, Ganesh Nagar, Pandav Nagar Complex,
Delhi-110092Ph.-91+11+22063871
<vimal bhai@hclinfinet.com > <vimal bhai@indiatimes.com>
arbitrarily. Land acquisition is taking place even after 25-26
years of the cut off date there should be rational criteria for
determining the rate etc. However, this is not being done.
It has been observed that there is as much as ten times
variation in fixing land rates for the same kind of land.
The displaced people have not been given residential and
agricultural land in spite of the fact that there land had
been acquired and compensation paid many years earlier.
As
a result, the land prices shoot up by as 2-3 times in the
'MATU'-Peoples' organisation published a report on Tehri
Dam Project: Environment - Rehabilitation "Towards Failure rehabilitation sites by the date of rehabilitation.
and Devastation”. This organisation is rasing the issues of In the contest of villages, the land acquisition policy is
oustees since 2001. Hear we are giving some important part more unrealistic.
of the report.
(For full report please write us. Hindi 30/- & English 35/-) After conditional Environmental Clearance of the Dam
The Ministry of Forest and Environment had given
conditional clearance in July 1990 for the construction of
Affected Population, Families, Township and Villages
The Tehri Dam Project has affected around 125 villages the Tehri Dam. One of the stipulated Conditions specified
that
a comprehensive study of the standard of the life of
including the old Tehri town. Tehri Township along with 39
stages is going to be fully affected and another 86 villages the displaced the undertaken. The Administrative Staff
^Fmber may possibly increase) would be partially affected. College of India, Hyderabad, was asked to conduct the
Wherever less than 75 percent of the families are in the study related to the standard of the life of the affected
displaced category and have to be rehabilitated, all those people due to the construction of Tehri Dam. The report
villages have been categorised as partially affected. That was not only submitted after an inordinate delay of two
means that even where 74 families out of a total population years in contravention of the recommendations of Ministry
of 100 families are eligible for rehabilitation, they have been of Forests and Environment it also did not take into
account the data of urban areas (particularly Tehri
classified as belonging to partially affected villages.
township). As a result, the report was unable to truly reflect
According to a new estimate made by the Rehabilitation the educational and literacy levels, economic self-reliance
Directorate, around 5291 urban and 9238 rural families and alternative sources of income in the region. In a
would be affected due to construction of Tehri Dam. 3810 similar vein, a rehabilitation package for the rim area could
rural families have been partially affected by the Dam.In not be worked out as specified by the Ministry of Forests
reality, however the number of affected families is much and Environment. The Working Plan, which was
higher. As of now, the number of urban families displaced by enumerated for the cut off area, is still in the preliminary
the dam has reached 5,500 and the number of rural stage. The full working plan is yet to be accepted. The
construction work of two important bridges linking
displaced families is more than 12,000.
Bhagirathi and Bhilangana Valleys is also at a preliminary
The State Government has deliberately submitted lower stage. While on the other hand, the government and the
figures of the displaced families in the affidavits filed in the project authorities have announced that Novemberareme Court of India this year (2002) while ignoring the December 2002 would close Diversion Tunnels No. 1 and
ual situation on ground. The Govt, has still not compiled 2. The process rehabilitation and construction of the dam
aggregate statistics of the affected people. However, if it is could not take place simultaneously, emphasized as
assumed that each urban family has roughly 5 and each condition for Environment Clearance. It is a travesty of
rural family consists of 7 members, the total number of imagination that the two affidavits, which have been
submitted, by the Uttar Pardesh Government and Tehri
affected persons, may in fact, be more than 1 lakh.
Hydro Development Corporation state that generation of
hydroelectric power would start by March 2003 while
Land Acquisition Process and Unrealistic Land
rehabilitation process would be completed by June 2003.
Distribution Program
There are great irregularities in the policy and practice of
land acquisition. Land is not being acquired and PartialySubmerqence: Unrealistic Demarcation
rehabilitation measures given effect to in accordance with 86 villages would be partially submerged by the Tehri Dam
the principle that the land, which would be submerged, first Project. This includes those villages where 70-75 percent
should be rehabilitated first Land acquisition and distribution of families and land is going to be affected. However, to be
has been carried out in those villages, which are located at a eligible for the status of a fully affected village has been
higher level, rather than those villages, which are located at determined as 75 percent or more families and land, even
a lower level. It has been observed that in those villages those villages where 25-30 families would remain after
where people were not influential enough in spite of the fact submergence, have been affected. Although denomination
of villages as partially affected has been done on a
that these villages would be submerged first.
mathematical formula (wherever the land of 75 percent of
Since there was long gap between the cut off date (1976 in the families is involved), no estimates have been prepared
villages) and land acquisition the rates for land was fixed to take into account the existence of link roads, grazing
places, local markets, civic amenities, 'Ghats' along the
«
banks of the river drains and the disintegration of social life.
Cut off Area
Around 80,000 people are going to be indirectly affected by
the construction of the dam. The area is in Pratapnagar
Tehsil. This area has been dependent on Tehri Township for
various civic amenities. Due to the construction of the dam
and the resultant reservoir, 6 bridges (two motorable and
four pedestrian) on the Bhagirathi and Bhilangana river
would be submerged, thereby completely disrupting the
roads connecting the district, block, state and national capital
and other areas. As a result, the distance to be traversed
between these places would increase by 100 to 150 km. A
large part of the cut off area falls in the rim area of the dam
and partially submerged area.
The Secret Reports Of Geological Survey of India
The idea to construct a big Dam in the unstable and
geologically sensitive mid-Himalayan region has been mired
by innumerable controversies. The government, on the other
hand, claims that the dam design has been prepared
^jping in view the geological aspects. Yet many questions
arise. What would be the impact of the reservoir on the
mountain habitations?
The Geological Survey of India has identified as unstable
large tracts above the rim area, which may face land slides
in future due to the reservoir. Many villages are located in
this area. Though
The report has been classified as secret; many significant
issues highlighted by the report have become public. The
Geological Survey of India's report on the construction of
New Tehri Township has also been kept secret and its
findings have been ignored. Government and project officials
are guaranteeing the safety of the dam, whereas similar
concerns regarding the safety of habitations have not been
expressed so far. Rampant use of explosives for the
construction of Tehri Dam has shaken the edifice of nearby
villages, which are not even going to be rehabilitated.
such secrecy is being maintained with sensitive issues
of public safety? In the context of Tehri Dam Project, is
national interest contradictory to public good?
Main Demands of MATU- Peoples' Organisation: The process of land acquisition should be time bound:
The process of land acquisition should be based on
displacement and rehabilitation, in that order: All adults
of 18 years of age and above should be considered
when section 4 is applied: The rate for valuation of land
should be determined on the basis of rates prevailing in
Uttarkashi, Chinyali Sourd and Chamba districts: First
give us possession of the land, then acquire our land: A
village should be resettled as a community and should
be provided with basic amenities: The cut-off date far a
village should be determined at par with the Township:
A Master Plan must be devised which addresses the
question of land and other resources and a work plan be
prepared to execute the same: The camps organised by
the Rehabilitation Department should be at the village
level: After determining all such farms including potato
farms and tea gardens which are running at a loss,
should be handed over to the displaced people: The
displaced should be given priority in government
horticulture projects: The administration should be
made responsible to ensure the right of information at
the village level: The process of public hearings on
village problems should be expedited: The height of
the dam should not be increased as long as
rehabilitation process is not completed.
Tehri
Bhoomidhar
Visthapit
Sangthan
(Tehri
Landowners' Organisation) leading a DHARNA, Rally
and relay fast from 7-7-2001 in Tehri. Their Main
Demands are:-Assistance for construction of houses:
A minimum of Rs. 5 lakh should be granted at the
rehabilitation sites in New Tehri, which is equivalent to
the cost of a two-room tenement in New Tehri.
Compensation should be paid in accordance with the
recommendations of Tehri Dam Project Rehabilitation
Coordination Committee and the Government of
Uttaranchal. Land ownership rights should be
conferred on the distributed land.
In fact.'the amount of silt, which has already accumulated
in the reservoir, should have occurred in the next 25 years.
In this context, the following issues are most topical:
V
Why the reports of Geological Survey of India
have not been made public so far?
v
Why the meeting of Co-ordination Committee on
Rehabilitation has not been held for the past one
year?
s
Why the Special Grievance Cell as recommended
by Dr. Hanumantha Rao Committee and approved
by the Central Government, has still not been
constituted?
Now the situation is before of you. It is clear that even
if govt, emphasis on the dam to fulfill the needs of
power, they are on the wrong path. They are by
passing every leagal, human, environment, economic,
issue and to close down the remaining gates of the
tunnel no. 1 & 2. Unofficially they have already closed
the tunnel no. 1.
You are requested to send your protest letter to
following address. Govt, should take immediate step
for proper rehabilitation.
Shri Anant Ram Gite, Power Minister, India
Shram Shakti Bhawan , Rafi Marg, New Delhi
Ph: 011-23710411, 23717474, Fax:011-23710065
Residence Ph: - 011-23381901, 23737595
Shri N. D. Tiwari, C. M., Secretariat, Dehradoon
Uttarakhand.
Ph.0135-2677090 Fax: 0135-2678722
Residence Ph: 0135-2755100,2755103
Fax:0135-2755102
_____
STOP THE HI J ACK OFOUR :
LAND, WATER, BIODIVERSITY". AND KNOWLEDGE
’. . • . Western Asia is being pushed to war to teed corporate lust for control .over-rfs oil
■ ■©
Multinational corporations like Monsanto and Syngenta are stealing our seeds, plants
and life fonts' arid our’knowledge through biopiracy and patents w '
' ■ ■
© ■ Our rives, lakes and ponds are being handed over to Multinational Corporations like
' . Vivendi, Suez and .Coca Cola through, water privatization.
®
\
Millions of.tribal people are being..evicted from their forests through corpofafedriven policies of the government *
•<?; Genetically engineered seeds and plants are being;introduced into our agriculture '
- creating new environ mental and health hazards, and driving more farmers to suicide - •
THE MAIN VICTIMS OF CORPORATE HIJACK OF NATURAL RESOURCES
I. AND KNOWLEDGE ARE. WOMEN, CHILDREN, DALITS, TRIBALS,
-LANDLESS, AND SMALL AND MARGINAL PEASANTS ■
To find put more about these issues, ond how to stpp the theft/ come and hear . .
Dr. Samdhdhg Rinpoche, Vandanc Shiva, Walden. Bello, Tony Clarke,
Sundarlal B.ahuguna,: Banwarilal Sharma, BiD. Sharma, Rajendra Singh,
Medhg Patkar, Oscar. Oliviero, Ashdk'Rdoy Jabbar Suleiman, C.R. Bijoy,
. .Walter Fernandes, Prafulla Samantam, Ravi Rebba Pragada and others :
At the
Conference on
ECOLOGY, CULTURE AND KNOWLEDGE:
DEFENDING THE EARTH AND
PEOPLE’S RIGHTS TO RESOURCES
Organized by Navdan.ya,
Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology,
' Diverse Women for Diversity
-Date and time: 6th January 2003, 9am to 1 pm
Verjue: Nizam's College Grounds
A Series of Conferences and Seminars on
Globalisation and the Corporate Hijack of
our Biodiversity, Seed, Food and Water
Date and
time
Venue
Event
3rd January
2.30pm to
•,30pm
Golden Rose
School
Seminar on Food Sovereignty.
4th January
2.30pm to
6.30pm
Press Club
Seminar on Beyond Bhopal and Bt: Taking on the
Biotech Giants
Speakers include Sathinath Sarangi, Tony Clarke,
Pushpa Bhargava
5th January
2.30pm. to
6.30pm
Press Club
Seminar on Seed Sovereignty
6th January
£am to
d pm
Nizam's
College
Grounds
Speakers include P. Sainath, Arun Bhatia, Vpndana
Shiva, Antonio Tujan (Philippines), K.G. Kannabiran,
Kancha llliha
Speakers include Vandana Shiva, Ilina Sen, Malla
Reddy, PAN Malaysia, SEARICE
Conference on Ecology, Culture and Knowledge:
Defending the Earth and People's Rights to
Resources.
Speakers include Dr. Samdhong Rinpoche, Dr. B.D.
Sharma, Vandana Shiva, Tony Clarke
6th January
2.30pm to
6.30pm
Press Club
Seminar on Water Sovereignty.
Speakers include Ramaswamy Iyer, Rajendra Singh,
Vandana Shiva, Sripad Dharmadikary, C.R. Bijoy
Organized by Navdanya
Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology
Diverse Women for Diversity
^* ie Internat*ona* College for Sustainable Living
Bija Vidyapeeth
Living Waters
March 7 - 22, 2003
with Ricardo Petralla, Oscar and Marcela Olivera, and Dr. Vandana Shiva
*
2003 has been declared by the UN as the year of Fresh Water. As fresh water becomes scarcer,
village women are walking longer distances to fetch water for their families, city dwellers are
paying more and getting poorer quality water, and a handful of companies are looking to cash in
on the new “blue gold.”
Around the world, water is being privatized. What was once seen as a commonly held resource,
to be managed by communities and governments for the public good, is fast being redefined as a
commodity to be managed “market forces.”
In Bolivia efforts by the Bechtel Corporation and the World Bank to privatize the water supply
led to 200% increases in the price of water and resulted in protests, strikes, and riots. In Kerela,
southern India, communities are dependant on bottled water as the Coca-cola bottling plant has
depleted all the ground water for miles. The French company Suez has even secured a contract
to take 685 million litres of water a day from- the holy Ganges river.
Will water stay a commons, for communities to conserve, share, and sustain as a resource,
or will water become a commodity to be appropriated, exploited, and controlled?
Bija Vidyapeeth invites you to participate in a course designed to explore this question with a
set of faculty who are on the forefront of the global movement to safeguard water. .
The Course
*
The course will begin on the Bija Vidyapeeth campus, set on Navdanya’s organic farm (a few
kilometers outside of Dehra Dun, Uttaranchal, India). Faculty and participants will explore the
ecological and social impact of water management from a local, national, and global perspective.
The highlight of the course is a “Ganga Yatra,” where we will travel down the Ganges. Starting
close to the origins of the river, we will stop at the site of the controversial Tehri dam, and the
holy city of Rishikesh. The course will conclude in Delhi, with an optional component of 2 days
in Varanasi to visit groups doing pioneering river-cleaning work.
Faculty:
Dr. Vandana Shiva is the founder of Navdanya and director of the Research Foundation for
Science, Technology and Ecology, founded to do research in a participatory mode with people,
not on them - and to do research with an interdisciplinary approach, r reflecting the
interconnections in the web of life. She is the recipient of the 1993 Right Livelihood Award -
often called the “Alternative Nobel Prize”, the award recognizes “vision and work contributing
to making life more whole, healing the planet and uplifting humanity.” Her books, “The
Violence of Green Revolution,” “Stolen Harvest” and “Monocultures of the Mind” have become
basic challenges to the dominant paradigm of non-sustainable agricultural practices.
Oscar Olivera is executive secretary, Cochabamba "Federation of Factory Workers; spokesperson
for The Coalition for the Defense of Water and Life (La Coordinadora). He gained international
recognition for leading a grassroots protest against the privatization of water in Cochabamba,
Bolivia. In April 2000, Olivera entered into successful negotiations with the government to
cancel Cochabamba's water privatization contract with Aguas del Tunari, secure the release of
persons arrested during the protests and have troops withdrawn from the city. Management of
Cochabamba's water system was turned over to Olivera and La Coordinadora. Olivera, a native
of Cochabamba and former shoe-factory worker, has been likened to Cesar Chavez in his
appearance and manner as well as in the strength of his populist convictions. A year after the
Cochabamba crisis, he was honored as a 2001 Goldman Environmental Prize winner from
Central/South America. For Olivera, the struggle in Cochabamba signified more than a collective
refusal to pay excessive rates for water. It was, instead, an expression of the belief that "water is
a shared right, and that right is not for Sale."10.
Dr Ricardo Petrella is a professor of political and social sciences at the University of Louvain,
Belgium. He has pioneered an international movement behind his water manifesto, calling for a
global contract to guarantee water as a right of all people. His Manifesto is a collective effort
undertaken by the Mario Soares Foundation in Lisbon.
About Bija Vidyapeeth
In a world dominated by greed and competition, speed and restlessness, pollution and ecological
destruction, war and violence, Bija Vidyapeeth offers a unique opportunity to explore and
practice the art and science of sustainability. Bija Vidyapeeth offers a unique insight into the
tenets of sustainability and deep democracy through interactions with the foremost intellectuals
and sustainable communities of our times.
Based on the principles of sustainability and diversity, the campus is located on Navdanya’s
organic farm in Doon Valley. Nestled in the foothills between the Himalayas and Shivalik
mountains, it offers an ambience that reinvigorates our vital link with nature and promotes
contemplation, enquiry and dynamic action.
For more details, contact
Coordinator, Bija Vidyapeeth
A-60, Hauz Khas,
New Delhi, India
Tel: 91 1126561868,26562093
Fax:91 11 26562093
bijavidyapeeth@vsnl.net
www.bijavidyapeeth.org
* Schedules and Resource Faculty are subject to change due to unforseen circumstances
Defend Public Services and Workers' Rights Against Privatization
A global storm of privatization is creeping over us behind neo-liberalistic globalization.
Privatization forces all of us to be involved in competition leading to the destruction of our life and
employment. Privatization produces poverty. Our demand is very simple: Defend Public Services!
Now we call on all people in the world for fonning a global network for defending public services
against privatization. Please join us in a discussion forthe Global Network for Defending Public
Services!! Why don't you discuss or form strategies to bloc privatization in the world? This seminar
is sponsored by three Japanese workers of rail, postal and telecom services representing
ZENROKY 0 (a Japanese abbreviation), the National Council of Trade Unions fighting against
dismissal, intimidation, worsening working conditions and the like in their respective workplace.
hi Japan, above all, the privatization of the Japan National Railway (JNR) in 1987 was a
major turning point of Japan's politics as well as a warning to us. The government forcibly
accomplished privatization of JNR to destroy the movement of trade unions: the government
dismissed all workers, and the newly established corporation rehired JNR workers who were not
union members and refused employment of union members.
* For your reference, 1,047 rail workers dismissed when privatized have still fought for
reinstatement and asked the corporation and government to take responsibility for unilateral
dismissal or discriminatory rehirement for sixteen years. The touch of their struggle will make you
know the seriousness of privatization in Japan.
The JNR privatization represented a start of the government's attack on social movements
as well as trade unions. Traditional big national centers of trade unions accepted privatization and
gave up their policy of struggle. Such a compromise or concession as to keep the management rather
than workers stable or continued became the best policy to them.
No or little struggle became popular in Japan or preferred by most Japanese. The
government initiated deregulation in every field by revising stringent rules in order to make all
people so involved in competition as to meet the market needs.
Now, here in Japan, unemployment, unstable employment, dismissal, poor working
conditions, less income, recession, etc. are spreading over the whole country. The establishment has
everything their own way.
What created such conditions - it is just the JNR privatization in 1987.
In addition, this forcible step for privatization moved to South Korea. The President Kim
tries to follow or imitate a Japanese way for privatization.
Now we'll make every government stop privatization immediately.
We call on all people in the world to struggle against privatization to defend public services
for our rights or life.
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SOME BURNING ISSUES OF NEPAL-INDIA RELATIONS
Presented at Asian Social Forum, 1-7,2003
Hyderabad, India
by Chentendra Jung Himali
Founding Higli Command Member, Green Nepal Party
2/110 Banasthali, Kathmandu 16, Nepal
Tel: 0977-1-350699 E-mail: chetshante@hotmail.com
Dear delegates, friends, ladies and gentlemen I
At the outset allow me to express my sincere thanks to die organizers for providing me this wonderful opportunity of
participating in this exalted Forum. Friends do accept the warm greeting of twenty three million people of Nepal that I have
brought with me for you. Nepal has a long history of friendship and close relations with India and all the countries near and
far. As far India is concerned, many Nepalese have fought shoulder to shoulder with their Indian friends in their fight for
) India's independence against British colonialism. One name that stands out prominendy in this connection is that of Durga
Bahadur Malla. whose statue decorates the beautiful hilly city of Shimla, the capital of Himanchal Pradesh. This historical
city of Hyderabad is witness to the strong bond of friendship that exists between Nepal and India, for whose deliveranve
Nepal had sent a posse of her valiant Nepalese army forces in the aftermath of Indian independence in 1947 at the personal
request of their illustrious first prime minister of independent India-Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru. Similarly India has actively
come to Nepal's help in ushering Nepal to democracy more than fifty years ago.
Friends, it is needless for me to emphasize since we all are well aware of the religious and cultural commonalties existing
between Nepal and India. Moreover, the social intercourse and familial ties that have developed between the two peoples in
the course of centuries have further strengthened the relationship into indissoluble bond. The geographical proximity and
contiguity on three sides have further made good and friendly relations, that are so needed in mutual interest, almost
indispensable. Moreover, India's size, huge population, her ever-growing energy crunch and Nepal's unmanageable water
resources make it imperative for both countries to jointly exploit the nature's munificent gift to Nepal for common good and
benefit. Nepal is the second richest country in water resources in the world. But she is not in a position, either to exploit or
market it without the active cooperation of her friends. And one friend that has the motive, means and mechanism to
cooperate with Nepal in this sphere is her closest friend and neighbour, India. Unfortunately relations between Nepal and
India are not free form serious problems. Despite all the commonalties, despite the proximity and close social intercourse
the two countties have not been able to forge ahead hand in hand. The overbearing behaviors of the Indian establishment
and the colonial mindset they have still not been able to forsake have continuously muddled the bilateral relations. I am,
indeed, much grieved to state that, a small and poor neighbor, Nepal has always been deprived of the equitable share from
all the hydro power agreements she has entered into with her friend and neighbor so far.
Her geographical constraints, material backwardness and political inexperience have been exploited to the fullest degree by
Nepal's giant neighbor in the south. And this factor has even been a matter of great resentment. That this trend is still
persisting with impunity is not only regrettable but is causing big strains in the bilateral relations. Consequently, it becomes
the paramount concern of all countries in the region and the votaries of peace and human potential for ameliorating the
groveling poverty of one fifth of world's population be harnessed in a manner that will contribute to the well being of the
poor billions. As such, for achieving the optimum result from the huge power resources not only Nepal and India but all the
countries that are fed by mighty rivers form the Himalayan Catchment area, viz China, Bangladesh and Pakistan, must cone
together to form a consortium and jointly work for the common good of the region as a whole. This kind of arrangement, if
reached by all the countties of the region will not only contribute towards their development but also lessen the tensions
persisting between neighbors for decades. However the continuing mistrusts and misgivings bedeviling the relations
between bigger nations make it look like and utopian dream. But let me emphasize, dear friends, if we want to improve the
living standards of the millions of poor of this region there is no alternative but to sink all our differences and join hands for
common endeavor to change our destiny. And, dear friends, it is always the bigger, stronger and more powerfill partner that
must be prepared to work for the common good and benefit by generating trust, confidence and respect amongst the smaller
partner.
My dear colleagues, since this is a very vast topic and can consume a lot of time. I will not like to test your patience. So, I
will limit myself to the problems Nepal is facing in her bilateral relations with India only in these spheres. As far as the
various agreements Nepal has signed in ±e hydropower sector with India, Nepal has always been at the receiving end so
much so that the late Nepalese King Birendra was even prompted to say, "Nepal had been cheated by India." Even the latest
treaty on Pancheshwar Integrated Project, popularly known as the Mahakali treaty, has generated overwhelming resentment
with the Nepalese. Since India is the only potential market for Nepal to sell her excess energy, India's good will and sincere
cooperation is almost indispensable for any major hydropower plan to be successfully implemented in Nepal. It might not
be irrelevant to bring to your notice here that the Arun IH hydropower project that could have changed the face of Nepal to a
great extent had to be abandoned on Indian pressure. And also the entire Nepalese people are against the Kosi High Dam
project.
Nepal has almost 1800 kilometers of open border with India. Traditionally, since the days of the British-India, the border
between the two countries has remained open. If they did not generate serious problems before, after Indian independence in
1947, these open borders have become a grave cause for concern for both the countries and both have started to think
seriously what to do about it. Specially, in recent years the Maoist rebels in Nepal are making a free use of the open border
in their insurgency against the Nepalese governments. Of course, India has expressed her inability to control the porous
border and the problem has become a cause of serious strain in the bilateral relations. As it is, between the north eastern
point of Zhin Zhiang and the north -western point of Limpiyadhura, there are sixty two points of border problems,- of which
mostly are encroachments of Nepalese territory. The Indian outpost at Kalapani inside Nepalese territory in northwestern
Nepal near the Chinese border has become a bone of contention and raised Nepalese emotions to fever pitch many a time. In
the best interest of both countries, the government of India must seriously think of vacating the Nepalese territory she has
been illegally occupying for about four decades.
Beside these border problems, India's unnatural construction of bunds on rivers near the border on Lite south has inundated
thousands and thousands of acres of Nepalese land at many points. Nepal has. no doubt, made serious protests to the
government of India but the problems have still to be addressed. In view of the traditional friendly relations, Nepal wants
this problem to be resolved through amicable negotiations.
Another burning issue, in the changed political context, in Nepal, is the unequal treaty. Both governments are conscious of
the necessity of reviewing the treaties. But no concrete steps are being taken by either side.
At a time when no country, howoever big and powerful can ignore utility of regional cooperation it is very unfortunate that
the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) which was founded about seventeen years ago has not yet
been able to take off properly. For the speedy economic development of one of the poorest regions of the world, it has
become most imperatives that the two bigger, yet belligerent, members of the organization give up the proactive of hurting
the development of the organization on account of their bilateral rivalry. This South Asian region is ver}’ rich not only in
natural resources but human resources as well. The need of the hour is to solve all bilateral issues and to join hands in
strengthening SAARC so that the region might be able to face the international competition and forge ahead speedily. Since
India is the largest and most powerful of the countries in the region, it becomes her responsibility to take all other member
into confidence and work together for the common good of all. Thank you.
2
STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE
Workshop on Action Towards a Tobacco Free World "
3rd JANUARY 2003
ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM, HYDERABAD, INDIA
FIGHT, TOBACCO THE KILLER !!!
We,
the
participants
of
the
Workshop on Action Towards a
Tobacco Free World in the Asia
Social Forum, issue this statement
and call upon Governments, the civil
society, media and the people to
take urgent action to ...
Realising that tobacco and its products
including cigarettes, bidis, guthka, and
chewed tobacco.......
■
cause serious adverse reactions such as
cancer of various organs, diseases of heart
and blood vessels, diseases of the lungs
and other organs leading to suffering,
disability and death.
■
release
poisonous
gases
including
hydrogen cyanide, sulfur dioxide, carbon
monoxide, arsenic, nitrosamines and the
residual pesticides in tobacco and its
products
adversely
affecting
health,
including reproductive health of men and
women;
■
increase awareness among people about (lie
extremely harmful effects of tobacco and its
•
produce addiction directly attributable to
nicotine and other chemicals contained in
it;
*
affects the health of the workforce
adversely, draining the economy of
families, and their countries;
■
cause considerable amount of funds to be
spent in treating the persons affected,
leading
to
economic
losses
far
outweighing any economic gain to the
governments.
*
■
are being promoted through aggressive
advertisements and sponsorships of
sports and cultural events by the
tobacco companies;
■
affect millions
of non-smokers and
particularly pregnant women, retarding the
growth of the foetus and causing abortion
through passive smoking.
products: smoked, chewed, sniffed or used in
any other form and effectively dissuade its
use.
■
gauge the health problems and economic
losses created by tobacco including loss of
productivity of the workforce; and hold (he
tobacco companies responsible for the losses
thus incurred.
■
ban all direct and indirect advertisements of
tobacco
and
its
products
including
sponsorships of sports and cultural events by
tobacco companies and affiliated bodies.
■
ban the manufacture and sale of chewed
tobacco in any form.
•
progressively reduce the area of cultivation
of tobacco, utilising the area thus freed, for
other beneficial crops.
■
prevent effectively the cutting down of trees
and denudation of forests for curing and
packaging tobacco.
■
increase progressively the tax on tobacco and
its products and utilise the revenue thus
received for health promotion.
1
implement
effectively
the
laws
for
prohibition of smoking in any public spaces.
Where there is no effective legislation at
“WORKING TOGETHER FOR TOBACCO CONTROL”. TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT I
Produced by :
Fact Sheet
PATH Canada
Work for a Better Bangladesh
Tobacco and Poverty
The contribution of tobacco to
Fear ofjob loss
disease and death is well-known.
Given
But less attention has been given
population, the tobacco industry is
food
to the ways in which tobacco
unlikely to decline rapidly enough
problem, and where a significant
increases poverty.
to cause workers to lose theirjobs.
share of income
For the poor,
Food versus tobacco
the growth
tobacco
Even
if tobacco
represents a daily drain on scant
family resources.
falls,
shifts
daily
Yet
in
on
spending
many
precisely
countries
the poor who
it
in
in
world
consumption
spending
will
generate new jobs—often more
In the case of the poorest, where
shortage
ongoing
an
is
is going to
purchase
food,
expenditures
may
tobacco
make
the
difference between an adequate
than were generated by tobacco,
diet and malnutrition.
is
as other products are more labor-
tobacco is regarded as a basic
use
intensive to produce.’ As shifts in
need, food for oneself and one's
spending gradually occur, those
children becomes a luxury.
tobacco the most. In Bangladesh,
While
smoking rates are twice as high in
leaving tobacco work over the
the lowest income group as in the
highest.1 Tobacco use, even when
next few decades are likely to find
In both urban and rural areas of
safer and better-paid employment
Bangladesh, per capita spending
elsewhere.
on tobacco is higher than on milk.
widening the gap even further
I n d ivid u a 1 workers
male smoker spends on cigarettes
between rich and poor.
Transnational
considering
the
employment
thereby generated, contributes to
What the average Bangladeshi
companies
are
each day would be enough to
gaining an ever-increasing share
purchase almost 3,000 calories of
Tobacco benefits the wealthy,
not the poor
of the world tobacco market,
rice. Researchers estimate that in
replacing
less
local
Bangladesh 10.5 million people
The main beneficiaries of the
operations.
The manufacture of
are going hungry and 350 children
efficient
cigarettes
highly
tobacco business are not farmers
foreign
I or factory workers in developing
mechanized,
countries, but the businessmen
fewer people, even as cigarette
from wealthy countries who take
consumption rises.
is
employing
ever
Comparing the price of various
the profits while leaving behind
the disease.
are dying each day due to
diversion of money from food to
tobacco.'
Tobacco
farmers
often
find
brands of cigarettes to food is
What food might a
themselves in a cycle of debts to
informative.
National economies
repay farm input loans in the event
family have access to if the main
In many countries far more money
of a bad crop or low prices of
tobacco.2
Those employed in
pack a day of a well-advertised
is spent importing tobacco than is
income earner were not buying a
gained exporting it, causing losses
tobacco
or selling
cigarette?
of millions of dollars annually for
tobacco on the streets often earn
companies
the government.
starvation
Governments
factories
wages.
Far from
When transnational
promote
high-cost
cigarettes in poor countries, and
where it is mainly the poor who
also must utilize scarce health care
growing rich from their work,
resources to treat the diseases
many of those working in tobacco
smoke, the results are obvious.
caused by tobacco use.
are
multi-generational
Nutritious foods such as milk,
poverty compounded by illiteracy
and poor-health.
eggs, and meat are considered
facing
luxury items for the poor, whereas
a daily
tobacco is considered
necessity.
In
on the prospects of children.
are
Instead, the money is wasted on an
unpalatable,
addictive, deadly product.
resource to the addicted while
being
many developing countries
men control the income, and have
the first access to what food is
available in the family.
cases,
In these
their
when men spend
money on tobacco,
they
may
continue to eat adequately.
It is
minimally advertised
For those who become ill or die
young
from
they
unlikely
and
attract
to
a
be
may
the
In addition, if the
uninitiated.
tobacco-related
policy benefits a large number of
illness, there are further costs in
poor smokers but harms a few,
terms of medical care and the
then the decision may have to be
impoverishment
made to tolerate the harm in order
of family
members ifthe major wage-earner
However, the costs do not
to benefit the many.
Negative
their wives and children who are
dies.
most likely to go hungry as a
begin at the point of illness, but
result.
rather from the moment when
to subsidize a food substance
valuable resources are diverted to
generally consumed only by the
tobacco.
poorest.
While not all the savings people
gained
from
ceasing
tobacco
effects can be addressed through
programs to help the poor quit, or
The solutions
Low taxes can be regressive
purchases would necessarily be
invested in basic needs,
it is
People
express concern
Advertising and low taxation rates
that the
encourage people to spend money
often
they
about taxes harming the poor,
currently spend on tobacco is not
since they are both most likely to
on tobacco rather than on food or
going towards essential
items.
smoke and the least able to afford
other basic needs.
Even if only a portion of tobacco
it. But the opposite argument can
eliminating all forms of tobacco
users spent some of their savings
equally be made.
promotion
on basic goods, the net gain could
prices are kept low, more poor
be tremendous.
people use
certain
money
Tobacco versus basic needs
In
Vietnam,
show that
national
annual
statistics
household
expenditure on tobacco is
1.7
times higher than expenditure on
education, and 1.5 times higher
than that for health.4
In poor
countries, even a small increase in
expenditure on
education and
health could have a large impact
When tobacco
tobacco,
and
thus
tobacco
By
both
and raising taxes on
products,
wastage of
money can be diminished.
waste more of their money on it.
those
currently
For
employed by
loss is a distant
In Bangladesh, as prices have
tobacco, job
remained low over the years, per
potential,
capita spending on tobacco has
increased.1 While raising taxes
unlikely to decline sharply in the
near future.
as
tobacco
use
is
But where concerns
may harm some poor individuals
about job loss exist, it is helpful to
who are unable to quit, in many
remember that in many cases,
situations
this
problem
is
people might prefer and benefit
alternate
employment.
alleviated by the existence of
from
alternate
tobacco
Tobacco control is one area where
products. To the degree that these
poverty reduction and health goals
low-cost
go hand in hand.
'Debra Efroymson and Saifuddin Ahmed, Hungryfor Tobacco: an analysis ofthe impact oftobacco on the poor in Bangladesh. Dhaka:
July 2000.
' John Kapito, "Tobacco Farming And Public Health In Developing Countries The Case OfMalawi," 2001.
' World Bank. Curbing the Epidemic: Governments and the Economics of Tobacco Control, 1999.
' Hoang Van Kinh and Sarah Bales. "Tobacco Consumption Pattern An Analysis Using Viet Nam National Living Standard Survey data".
Vietnam: 1999.
NO DAMS ON THE SALWEEN
RELATED NEWS
ENERGY: MDX signs dam deal with Burma
AFP, Bangkok Post; Business Section page 3.
December 25, 2002.
Burma's military government says it has signed a deal with Thailand's MDX Group of Companies
to build a massive hydro-electric dam in southern Shan state, which would help ease the
country’s chronic energy shortage.
The Ministry of Electric Power said MDX would build the Tasang power plant on the Than Lwin
river. Electricity generated from the plant would be sold to Thailand and other countries in
Southeast Asia.
"Power will be supplied for local use in accord with the ratio of shares held by Myanmar," the
ministry said in a statement.
The semi-official Myanmar Times quoted MDX Group managing director Swarng Champa as
saying that, with a capacity of 4,600 megawatts, the dam would be the biggest in Southeast
Asia.
MDX would finance the project through its own resources and loans raised in Thailand, he told
the weekly newspaper.
Mr. Swarng said the project would be a build, operate and transfer project, which would
eventually be turned over to government ownership, although details on the transfer and the sale
of electricity to Thailand were yet to be finalised.
A preliminary study carried out three years ago had resulted in plans for a dam 800 meters long
and about 220 meters high, he said.
The first phase of the project, due to be completed in 2007, involves the installation of a 200
megawatt turbine to provide power for construction purposes and to supply nearby communities.
The second phase covers the installation of another three turbines capable of generating 2,100
megawatts. In the third phase another three 700 megawatts turbines will be installed and the
200 megawatts turbine upgraded to 400 megawatts.
Mr. Swarng said the phase would require an investment of about US$400 million, and the
Myanmar Times estimated the total cost of the project at $4 billion.
[END]
Concerned Individuals: iciab@mailasia.com
We are grassroots activists concerned over international aid to Burma.
CONCEEMEV INVIVIVUALS
Statement on International Assistance to Burma
July 20, 2002
We, individuals from Burma, who have been actively involved in the struggle for
democracy and self-determination of ethnic nationalities, and who have been working in
the development fields of women’s rights, health, education and environment for and
with the people at the grassroots level; met on July 13-14th 2002 to discuss the role of
international aid in Burma. The following issues and concerns were raised at this
meeting.
During the past year, UN agencies and INGO's, together with some governments
particularly Japan and Australia, have been calling for large scale increases of
international aid to Burma to respond to the ongoing humanitarian dilemma in the
country.
A report published in April 2002 by the International Crisis Group states that" the human
costs of social deprivation in Myanmar (Burma) are simply too large to be ignored until
some indefinite democratic future, which could be years or even decades away...There
should be more international assistance in Myanmar, more resources, more agencies and
more programs..."
We are concerned that the root causes of the humanitarian dilemma have been ignored in
such analyses resulting in an obscured representation of the situation and responses. The
ICG report called into question the role for the Burmese opposition in the international
aid debate by stating that even Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party
"simply does not have the capacity to make professional judgements on priorities or
methodology" on international assistance. However, in May 1999, Daw Aung San Suu
Kyi stated that the underlying cause of the political, social and economic hardships
Burmese people are facing is the lack of good governance in Burma.
Moreover, at a Strategic Consultation Meeting held on 20 January 2002, all leaders of the
ethnic nationalities, the democracy movement and women leaders of Burma have agreed
that:
"The root causes of the humanitarian crisis in Burma are:
a) the lack of a democratic government accountable to the people and
b) the military's focus on power instead of promoting the interest of the people".
We, individuals from the democracy, women, health, education and environment
grassroots movements, fully support the analysis that the root cause of the ongoing
humanitarian dilemma is the system of military dictatorship.
In addition, we are concerned that international aid delivered through Rangoon in this
present environment will:
1.
Increase military strength and weaken democracy and human rights activities.
2.
Prolong the life of a structure that systematically violates basic human rights and
damages the environment.
3.
Condone the current denial of the rights of ethnic nationalities.
4.
Delay the start of a tripartite dialogue process and the transition to democracy.
5.
Potentially reduce attention to both internally displaced persons and refugees.
6.
Cause further division among the people of Burma by allowing the regime to dictate to
which areas assistance can be delivered.
7.
Create divisions between democracy activists and their communities by diverting
attention away from the root causes of the ongoing humanitarian dilemma.
8.
Create divisions among the people of Burma by fostering false beliefs that
international aid can be de-politicized.
9.
Strengthen GONGOS which are organizations under the control of the military
government.
10.
Foster aid dependency among the people and reduce self-reliance.
11.
Provide the opportunity for the military regime to use international NGOs as shields
to mask their human rights violations.
12.
Create an environment whereby increased foreign investment can take place under
the current system of military rule.
13.
Indirectly subsidize the military regime which will allow it to increase its military
expenditures.
14.
Strengthen the military regime which in turn is prolonging the civil war.
15.
Will not reach the real needy people in the remote areas, internally displaced people
and refugees along the borders
Therefore, we call on the international community to respect the above concerns and
engage Burman and non-Burman democratic groups and civil society organisations in a
transparent and constructive debate before taking any decisions on increasing
international aid to Burma to respond to the military made humanitarian crisis.
We demand a role for all people of Burma, including the democratic opposition, in any
international assistance delivered to our country.
Signed by individuals concerned for Burma’s development:
Email? icial)@m4ailafri^.co-m/
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Other boo(c<; a/a liable from
the Hesperian ■Foundation
Volver a VivirIReturn to Life
by members of the PROJIMO community rehabilitation
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$ 16
PROJIMO is a world-renowned community
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disability.
The Struggle for Health
by Roland Bunch
by David Sanders
Sanders traces the connection between economic
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^ailable in English only.
Tcducacion especial para alumnos con
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by Christine Miles
$ 10
In this excellent guide to practice, Miles clearly
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Title
Dos mazorcas de maiz:
Una guia para el mejoramiento
agricola orientado hacia la gente
Wind In the Blood: Mayan Healing
and Chinese Medicine
by Hernan Gama, Antonio Sierra and Gilberto Balam,
translated by Jeff Conant
$20
Originally published to help health workers on Mexico's Yucatan
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Total
Wind in the Blood ($20)
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A Book for Midwives ($22)
Un libro para patterns ($22)
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HIV, Hfealfh anJ Your
A
for Action
Ke-ube-n &ranic-h and Jonathan Merwin
Illvs+ra-fionC by Mona Sfelvr
paper, 256 pages, $16
“Clear, concise and accessible. ”
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This book is a comprehensive, easy-tounderstand guide for health workers
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Another T^mil Nadu Is Possible
PASUMAI THAAYAGAM
PASUMAI THAAYAGAM, which means “Green Motherland” in Tamil, is a mass based
voluntary non-Govemmental, non-profit, non-partisan citizen organization with a
membership of over 65,000 volunteers. The Cardinal objective of our organization is
sustainable environmental, social and economic development.
It is a registered trust was founded in 1995 by Dr.S.RAMADOSS, and headed by
Dr. R. ANBUMANI. In each and every village as well as urban centres in Tamil Nadu,
Pastimai Thaayagam has its members and supporters (including five Members of Indian
Parliament (MPs) and 19 Members of the Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly).
So far, our organization is actively involved in creating awareness and actions for
environmental protection, water resources management, education for all, human rights
and people mobilization for self-governance.
Among many other activities, National Seminar on Water Resources Management has
organized at Chennai on March 2002, Union Cabinet Minister Mr.Aijun Charan Sethi,
Former Supreme Court Judge Justice V. R. Krishnayyar, and Sri. Mohan Dhariya and
others participated.
On August 2002 State level people’s seminar had organized in Chennai “Towards
Johannesburg: World Summit on Sustainable Development”. Union Cabinet Minister
Mr. T.R. Baalu and otheis participated.
Pasumai Thaayagam has recently participated in the World Summit on Sustainable
Development at Johannesburg, and also in the CoP8 of UNFCCC at New Delhi.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest, Government of India declared Vellore as one
of the 17 critically polluted districts of India in view of the great havoc caused by the
toxic effluents unleashed by the tanning industries in Vellore. Pasumai Thaayagam
organized a seminar on “Tannery pollution”at Vellore in 1995 followed by 150 kms.
Bi-cycle rally by 5000 activists from Vaniambadi to Wallajah led by the Founder
Chairman Dr. S. Ramadoss. As a sequel to these actions, the Honble’ Supreme Court
ordered the closure of tanneries with no effluent treatment plant. But when the captains of
tanneries floated the order, the Founder Chairman Dr. S. Ramadoss organized and unique
protest of raising a brick wall around the polluting industries. An important event in the
fight against the tannery pollution was the organization of a “National Conference of
Tannery Pollution” in December 2000 at Vellore in which Supreme Court green
Advocate Shri M.C. Mehta, and prominent environmentalists participated
Recently Pasumai Thaayagam organized an Exhibition, a Seminar and a Children’s
Human Chain on the issue with Greenpeace at Vellore, as a part of No More Bhopals
Jatha.
The River Bavani was another victim of pollution caused by 70 larges scale chemical
industries, which destroyed about 50000 hectares of productive farmlands. Pasumai
Thaayagam took up this issue and a protest bi-cycle rally of 4000 volunteers for 120 km,
was organized in October 1995. It also released a booklet in Tamil entitled “River Bavani
is loaded with poison” highlighting the evil effects of chemical pollution.
Pasumai Thaayagam has taken up the task of restoring the glory of the multi irrigation
Tanks and Ponds in Tamil Nadu; it has initiated an innovative programme of desilting
thousand Lakes and ponds. The programme commenced in June 2002 and as on 16
August 2002, till date the organization has successfully desilted 240 lakes, tanks and
ponds, strengthened the bunds, cleaned the waterways and planted trees on the
embankment.
Pasumai Thaayagam will reach the goal of desilting and restoring 1000 lakes, tanks,
ponds in the International Year of Freshwater 2003. At local level, a community
sponsored and managed water security system will be formed with the help of elected
local bodies. It is also planning to undertake watershed development plans in appropriate
places.
PASUMAI THAAYAGAM (Green MotherLand)
No. 9, Lynwood Lane, Mahalingapuram, CHENNAI -600 034, TN, India.
Ph : 044 - 2817 2120, 2817 2122, Email: pasumaimail@yahoo.co.in
Dr.ILAnbumani President Pasumai Thaayagam, hails from a renowned and reputed
family with social and political traditions of Tamil Nadu. Bom to an illustrious couple,
Mrs. Saraswati Ramadoss and Dr. S.Ramadoss on 09.10.1968. Dr. Anbumani is now
emerging as a committed environmentalist and a social reformer. His vision - sustainable
environmental, social and economical development for all. His father, the FounderChairman of Pasumai Thaayagam, is the champion of ecological balance and lover of
Green Motherland; besides being a crusader for social justice and upliftment of the poor
and downtrodden. Dr. R. Anbumani, who holds a Degree in Bachelor of Medicine and
Bachelor of Surgery, has grown with a background of exceptional education
He did a signal service by planting 1,60,000 tree saplings in one day on 25.07.2000,
which was declared a “Pasumai Thaayagam Day” throughout Tamil Nadu. This is
perhaps a world record, which no organization has done so far under his visionary
initiative, 5,00,000 tree saplings in 5000 places have been planted so far, in schools,
hospitals and municipal offices in Tamil Nadu.
1
IK SMI
Water is an essential public resource
Water is a human right
We OPPOSE
CORPORATE CONTROL
over WATER
PASO MAI THAAYAGAM (Green Motherland)
President: Dr. R. Anbumani, M.B.,B.S.
No: 9, Lyn wood Lane, Mahalingapuram, Chennai, TN-600 034, India.
Email: pasumaimail@yahoo.co.in, web: www.greenmotherland.org
Founder: Dr. S. Ramadoss,
Glean Production
The recognition that most of our environmental problems- global warming, toxic pollution and loss of bio-diversity- are caused by the way we
‘transform natural resources into products’ and the rate at which we consume them, is the starting point of clean production. Society’s need
for products can be fulfilled through the use of renewable, energy efficient and water efficient systems and non-hazardous materials. Clean
Production also seeks to reduce consumption by looking at alternatives.
Clean production systems are non-polluting, preserve bio-diversity in nature and culture and support the ability of future generations to meet
their needs.
production has four elements in its approach:
It reinforces the Precautionary Principle. This principle,
accepted in international law, makes it the producer’s
responsibility to prove that a substance or activity will do no
environmental harm, rather than the community’s.
•
emissions, access to pollution registers and toxic use
reduction plans, as well as ingredients of products. Right to
information and involvement in decision making would
It
stresses the need for decisions on use/manufacture of
chemicals be taken by public decision-makers, as they have
clear social impacts.
Everybody affected by industrial activities-workers,
consumers, communities etc. must have information on
ensure democratic control
•
The Preventive approach emphasizes that it is cheaper and
more effective to prevent damage than to undo it. Pollution
prevention replaces pollution control. It calls for an
emphasis on energy efficient practices rather than on
A holistic approach would be achieved only by addressing
the whole life-cycle of a product. The life-cycle includes all
the phases of the product- design, raw-material
selection/production, product manufacture, consumer use
and waste management at the end of the useful life of the
product. An integrated approach helps to phase out existing
developing new fossil fuel energy sources.
hazardous materials and to use resources judiciously.
Steps towards Clean Production
Governments have traditionally approached environmental
management by setting limits on permissible pollution loads to
water, air and land. This is flawed because it assumes that the earth
can tolerate a certain amount of stress. It also fragments the
approach by separating water, air and land under different
regulation authorities. Governments can take steps toward clean
production at different levels:
.
Introduce national and regional bans and phase-outs on
production and use of hazardous products
.
Shift focus from waste management policies to policies on
resource-use, technical support and education on clean
production
.
Introduce legislations on producer responsibility, access to
information, tax reforms etc. and support measures for
worker and consumer health and safety.
.
Enter into international co-ordination to prevent transfer of
banned technologies/products, and instead aid transfer of
■ clean technologies.
Manufacturers can move into clean production at a small level,
which includes improvement in prevention of leaks and spills,
reduction of toxic use and introduction of in-house recycling
systems.
Further progress can be made in toxic-use reduction by
implementing the following techniques: input substitution, product
reformation, product unit re-design or modification, production
unit modernisation, improved operations and maintenance and
closed loop recycling.
A remarkable change was seen in the State of Massachusetts after
implementing these techniques.
Toxics use was down by 24%, waste generation by 34%, and total
toxics release by 73%. The economic efficiency achieved led to an
overall cost reduction by USS 91 million in 6 years!
Changing the product design by allowing for reduced consumption
of resources, prolonging the useful life of a product, recycling,
easy dismantling and safe disposal can impact overall
environmental damages.
‘Clean Products’ are non-toxic, energy efficient, made using
renewable or re-processed non-renewable materials, durable, re
usable, and minimally packaged using reusable recycled or
recyclable materials.
www.greenpeaceindia.org
Pops - Global Killers
are POPs?
Persistent Organic Pollutants are highly toxic, synthetic chemicals
that have been produced and released into the environment: up
chimneystacks, down outflow pipes, in agricultural sprays. POP's
are contained in some consumer products, such as computers,
paints and household products, and can also find their way into the
environment when products like these are used, or disposed in
landfill orincinerated.
Once released into the environment, POPs can travel vast
distances across air and sea currents to contaminate areas far
away from where they were released. POPs evaporate quickly in
warmer climates, and so are found in higher concentrations in cold
places. In fact, the Arctic, due to geographical factors, has become
a global sink for POPs. Studies have shown that the chemicals can
reach the pole within 10 days of their release from Asia!
POPs take decades to breakdown, and bio-accumulate in the
environment. They also do not easily dissolve in water, but readily
dissolve in fats. As a result they build up in fatty tissues of animals.
So, animals with high fat content- humans, whales, dolphins, polar
bears- are highly susceptible to the build up of POPs
POPs also bio-magnify as they move up the food chain. So,
animals at the top of the food chain, like humans, whales and polar
bears are again most affected. The magnification or multiplication
in concentration of POPs is by factors of millions as they go up the
food chain.
Thus, POPs are a global problem that needs a global solution.
POPs and Health
POPs have been seen to have numerous detrimental effects on global environmental and human health. Their effects on wildlife and humans
are not surprisingly similar:
.
Multiple cancers and tumors
.
Learning disorders
.
Reproductive problems/failure
.
Hormone dysfunction
.
Suppression ofthe immune system
.
Decreased lactation periods
•
Increased incidence of diabetes
Affected women who were pregnant had children who suffered from the above problems. The newborn also ingested the chemicals through
breastmilk.
The Dirty Dozen
The United Nations, through the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP), has decided to eliminate POPs from our environment. A
A
list of 12 extremely hazardous POPs have been made, which includes dioxins. Most of these are either industrial by-products like dioxins, or
pesticides. Many of these have been banned for use in developed countries but are still manufactured and in use in developing countries.
The 12 POPs that constitute the 'Dirty Dozen' are:
POPs
Source
PCBs
Industrial Chemicals
Dioxins
Industrial By Products
Furans
Industrial By Products
Aldrin
Pesticide
Dieldrin
Pesticide
Endrin
Pesticide
DDT
Pesticide
Chlordane
Pesticide
Hexachlorobenzene
Pesticide
Mirex
Pesticide
Toxaphene
Pesticide
Heptachlor
Pesticide
It is vital that global measures are taken to stop the production and use of the 'dirty dozen' are urgently adopted and plans for their
elimination implemented.
www.greenpeaceindia.org
Incineration - A Global Hazard
Incineration of industrial waste is considered an alternative to land
but the reality is that it creates more toxic wastes. The process of
incineration breaks down bulk waste and disperses it into the
human or environmental health.
.
environment: heavy metals, unburned toxic chemicals and entirely
new chemicals formed during the incineration process.
Metals are not destroyed during incineration.
Did you know that an average incinerator which burns 32,000
tonnes of hazardous waste per year emits metals at the rate of 92
i tonnes a year into the air and 304 tonnes a year into residual ashes
i and liquids?
Also, emissions into the air lead to the accumulation of
pollutants in food crops.
environmentvia air, water and ash emissions.
Incineration releases three kinds of dangerous pollutants into the
It is difficult to pronounce the disposal method safe for either
.
filling. The common myth is that burning makes waste disappear
Did you know that 15-50% of the pollutants remain on the
crop/vegetable after washing?
Why are developing countries in Asia being swamped with
proposals to build waste incinerator plants?
There must be a problem with incineration because developed
countries do not want this process on their own land. Apart from its
impact on the health and environment it has other difficulties:
In practice, equipment failure, human error and rapid
•
changes in the waste fed to the incinerator can alter and
I These toxic metals include lead, cadmium, arsenic, mercury and
I chromium from otherwise stable materials like plastics. The
I impact on health can include cancer, birth defects, reproductive
deviate incinerator performance radically.
Incinerator plants are capital-intensive and to recover the
.
i dysfunction, neurological damage, etc.
costs of building them and support profitable operations,
owners of the plants encourage generation of waste.
No incinerator process operates at 100% efficiency.
Smoke stacks of hazardous waste incinerators release gases that
contain unburned chemicals. These chemicals also escape into
the air as fugitive emissions during storage, handling and
I transport. Wastes when burnt also transform into ash and effluent.
I Did you know that from incinerators, 43 different semi-volatile
organic chemicals and 16 organic chemicals were identified in ash
Continued investment in incinerators inhibits the
•
development of products and processes that do not use toxic
chemicals in the first place.
It also removes the incentive to re-cycle and re-use.
•
Did you know that only 10% of hospital’s waste is potentially
infectious and even this can be sterilised?
and scrubber water respectively? These, in turn, pollute the air,
The remaining 90% is similar to waste coming from hotels, offices
land and water bodies such as rivers and lakes.
and restaurants! By burning hospital waste, a biological problem of
During the combustion of hazardous waste, entirely new
disinfecting infectious materials becomes a formidable chemical
chemicals are formed due to recombination within smoke
pollution problem.
stacks, furnaces, etc.
Given the serious problem with incineration, Greenpeace believes
Out of 1000s of such chemicals, 100 have been identified. Among
that rather than seeking to refine regulations, national governments
these are dioxins and furans, which cause altered sexual
development, reproductive problems, lowered immunity, diabetes,
must implement the following policies:
organ toxicity and effects on hormones. Some qf them are
.
on air and ocean currents, making them global killers.
The leftover ash can contain above-mentioned metals,
Development of programs to reduce waste and eliminate
.
toxics in the overall waste stream;
What are some of the other impacts of incineration?
.
A moratorium on the construction of new, hazardous
waste incinerators or the expansion of existing ones;
carcinogenic. Dioxins also have an ability to travel vast distances
.
A rapid schedule for phase-out of all existing incinerators
dioxins and furans, and disposing of this waste is expensive
and quite tricky.
www.greenpeaceindia.org
GENE CAMPAIGN
-1
of
Biopiracy
Imitations
Not
Innovations
Contact:
Gene Campaign
J-235/A, Sainik Farms,
New Delhi -110 062
Ph: +91-11-26517248, 26856841
Fx: +91-11-26965961
Em.genecamp@vsnl.com
http: //www.genecampaign.org
GENE CAMPAIGN
^^•2.003
Biopiracy
Imitations
Not
Innovations
Contact:
Gene Campaign
J-235/A, Sainik Farms,
New Delhi -110 062
Ph: +91-11-26517248, 26856841
Fx: +91-11-26965961
Em:genecamp@ vsnl.com
http: //www.genecampaign.org
GENE CAMPAIGN
Biopiracy
Imitations
Not
Innovations
Contact:
Gene Campaign
J-235/A, Sainik Farms,
New Delhi -110 062
Ph: +91-11-26517248, 26856841
Fx: +91-11-26965961
Em:genecamp@ vsnl.com
http: //www.genecampaign.org
The patent system was put in place by countries to reward inventors. This
encouraged the inventors to keep inventing useful products and the society benefited
from these products. To get a patent, a product had to be novel, that is, it should not
be already existing. Also, usefulness of the product on which the patent was sought,
was a necessity. If an invention had no utility for the public, no patent was granted. But
in a departure from the philosophy and aims of the original patent system, many
provisions are being changed in their implementation at the behest of MNCs (multi
national companies) who exercise a great deal of influence in this area. In the US it is
now possible to get patents not only for inventions but also for discoveries. That means
even things that are existing and are not novel, can be patented in the American
system. These changes have been made to satisfy the economic aspirations of big
MNCs. These MNCs are in a hurry to get control of valuable bio-products and are
seeking patents on everything under the sun. The patent system has been corrupted
to such levels that MNCs can now easily get patents on imitations as well. This has
implications for biopiracy because the US patent system allows the grant of patents
on products derived from Indigenous Knowledge (IK). Biopiracy is the name given to
the unauthorized use of biological material and indigenous knowledge.
Why Biopiracy:
I
There is an increasing demand from consumers in industrialized countries for
herbal products. This has driven pharmaceutical companies to seek possible leads in
indigenous systems of medicine and the information present with the traditional healers
of indigenous and local communities. India and other developing countries rich in
bioresources and IK are favourite targets and victims of biopiracy. Multi-national
companies hire people who camp in villages and interact with local communities to
identify plants and their local, indigenous use.
Take the case of turmeric (haldi). Its use in wound healing, treating common cofd,
etc. has been known in India for ages. If someone claims to have invented this use
now and gets a patent for it, then this is biopiracy. The list of biopiracy is long. Here
Gene Campaign gives some examples of biopiracy. You can see how the so-called
invention on which the patent has been granted, is nothing but the imitation of
indigenous knowledge, by the striking similarity between their traditional use and the
modern patented use.
The list is neither exhaustive with regard to plants nor comprehensive with regard
to the indigenous and patented uses. However, it does make it amply clear that the
patented uses are not innovations but mere imitations of existing indigenous knowledge.
Something urgently needs to be done
Different groups of actors, such as government departments, industry, intellectual
property experts, members of local communities, organizations working with indigenous
and local communities and members of civil society need to cooperate in order to
define mechanisms for preventing biopiracy.
....
=&=======.■.
.=J
Examples of Biopiracy
S.No
1.
Plant Name
Indigenous Use
Use for which patent is
granted
• Treating diabetes.
• Treating diabetes.
Aloe vera
• Skin disorders
• Skin care formulations
(Ghritakumari)
• Hair tonic
• Cleansing articles for hair
Aegle marmelos
(Bel)
2.
3.
• General weakness
• Nutritional composition
• Lowering body fat
• Method for treating
• Skin diseases
• Cosmetics and Skin
Curcuma longa
• Wound healing
• Wound healing
(Haldi)
• Skin diseases,
• Skin conditioning, anti-irritant,
Commifora mukul
hyperlipidemia (excess fat)
(Guggul)
lightening compositions
4.
discolouration of skin,
anti-inflammatory agents
allergic conditions
5.
6.
7.
8.
• Jaundice
• Hepatic disorders
Nigella sativa
• Oral hygiene
• Dental care
(Kalajira)
• Jaundice
• Treatment of hepatitis
• Skin disorders
• Chapped skin
Emblica
• Skin diseases
• Cosmetic formulations
officinalis
• Grey hair dyeing
• Grey hair dyeing composition
(Amla)
composition
• Health tonic
• Nutritional formulations
Piper nigrum
• Treatment of skin diseases
• Treatment of skin diseases
(Kalimirch)
• Arthritic diseases
• For healthy joints
• As a condiment
• Flavouring agent
• Epilepsy, schizophrenia
• Treating impulse control
• High blood pressure
• Treatment of heart diseases
Rauwolfia
diseases
serpentina
(Chandrabhaga)
The globalisation of waste
Toxics Link
Fositoon
The past couple of decades have witnessed rapid
globalisation of the world economy aimed at merging the
paper
economic activities of all countries within a single
homogenised model of development. This has fuelled new
levels of economic growth, particularly in the industrialised
nations of the North1, and has brought with it side effects,
including the generation of new kinds and increasing
volumes of waste and new types of global waste flows. The
impacts are mosdy on the poorest communities within the
South.
Prior to die 1970s, countries of the industrialised North
disposed most of their waste within their own borders with
sont regard to environmental and health hazards.
cBFvever, incidents such as the one in the Love Canal,3
which occurred in the United States, were eye openers to
the public on the consequences of improperly disposed
waste. Eventually this resulted in them cleaning up through
implementing strict environmental standards and demon
strating a NIMBY (not in my back yard) syndrome.
In the late seventies the world was rocked by news of toxic
ships from USA dumping their hazardous waste onto
African shores. The export of hazardous waste to
unsuspecting Southern countries again gained attention in
the 1980s when the media and environmentalists the world
over, protested over several incidents of such dumping.
Shocking examples include the dumping of toxic fly ash
from a Philadelphia incinerator on a beach in Haiti in 1986,
or that of an unsuspecting farmer in Nigeria renting his
back yard for USD 100 a month to an Italian waste firm for
dumping 8000 barrels of PCBs5 and asbestos, labeled as
‘fertilizer.’ The world was shamed into waking up and
Saddled for the next decade to come up with international
^Pllation to stop such trade, popularly called ‘waste
imperialism’. Conventions such as the Bamako Convention,
and the Basel Convention came into being.4
Today, if anything, the waste trade has changed form and
become more sophisticated. It is now carried out in other
subde ways. Besides other types of wastes, estimates show
that between 300-500 million tonnes of hazardous waste
alone,5 are generated annually the world over, with 90 per
cent originating in industrialised nations. Much of it finds
its way to the South. Global waste flow, like the free flow
of finance and goods in the new free trade regime is now a
reality akin to imperialistic aggression on our vulnerable
ecological space.
December 2002
Cleaner North, Dirtier South:
New Forms of Waste Flows
Expensive disposal: Waste became a problem as safe
disposal became increasingly expensive and products
increasingly toxic. Today plastic wares made of PVC, release
toxic fumes when incinerated or recycled; computers
contain heavy metals like mercury, lead and cadmium;
beverage cans use toxic paints; pesticide containers have
residual chemicals; and ships are laden with asbestos, PCBs,
TBTs 6 eta All these are simply shipped to countries like
India and Bangladesh where environment and health
standards are relaxed and recycling poses as an issue of
livelihood alone, without focusing on the derelict conditions
it is carried out in.
From the straightforward waste trade of the eighties, today
waste is globalised in hitherto unrecognised ways.
The Globalisation of Production and Products
The acts of production, consumption and disposal have
been geographically separated like never before. While
production may take place in one country, products are
consumed in another, and disposed in a third. Hence a
computer may be produced in Asia, used in North America
and disposed off in India.
As the product-life-cycle is becoming global, so is the trail
of waste it leaves enroute. Besides, production bases that
include mining as well as processing are shifting South.
Likewise, products at the end of their life-cycle, or when
they become waste are being dumped back into tire South.
As the North gets cleaner, the South gets dirtier. The rich
communities and financial institutions of industrialised
nations of the North have brought forth alarming side
effects for the poorest communities of the South with
increasingly huge volumes of new hazardous wastes,
emanating from rich countries and being dumped in poor
countries. The impact is mostly on the poorest communities
of the Southern nations. Global sustainable development
has become mere rhetoric once again.
Toxics Link Position Paper / December 2002
Poor communities at the receiving end of waste
♦ Poorly run production and recycling bases pollute the environment
♦ Loss of livelihood of farmers is caused due to siting of new production bases
♦ Loss of livelihood of recycling workers due to waste corporatisation
♦ Health hazards are magnified for people involved in waste scavenging and
recycling - especially the poor and marginalised
♦ Dumping of waste
♦ Dumping of low cost, polluting and obsolete technology
♦ Displacement of community waste management by corporates
New forms of waste globalisation
Direct waste dumping: Despite various international
conventions, direct dumping still occurs in different guises.
Countries such as the United States, which generate the
highest volumes of waste, are not parties to these
conventions, and flout their provisions routinely. For
example, electronic waste labelled as second-hand comput
ers is regularly dumped in India, China and Bangladesh.
The US alone exports over 10 million tonnes of it
annually. Likewise, over 700 ships’ and tankers bearing
hazardous waste find their way to scrap yards in China,
transported South, technologies to treat it follow suit.
However, these technologies are not the same as are used
in die developed world and have the benefit to conforming
to the much weaker standards that exist in developing
countries. Examples abound. Norms for medical waste
incinerators are at least 100 times more rigid in Europe and
the US than they are in India. Yet multinationals sell them
to India, sometimes along with die carrot of foreign aid.
Technology vendors sell obsolete technologies into
developing countries espousing their benefits but hiding
their polluting nature.9 The Royal Dutch government
India, Pakistan and Bangladesh exposing workers to
funded two such incinerators in Pakistan in 2000.
serious occupational health hazards apart from environ
Even agencies such as WHO and UNICEF have been
party to this. They have been promoting low cost polluting
incinerators ostensibly to dispose off new types of plastic
syringes used for immunisation drives. There has been no
effort to find safer technologies, even though the
incinerators being recommended do not meet the weakest
of environmental standards.10
mental hazards8. Plastics are sent overseas under the guise
of recycling, driven by improved collection in Europe and
North America.
•Jkides, as regulation is forcing dirty plants out of
business in the West, their waste is being exported instead
of being locally contained. In February 2001, an interna
tional coalition of environmental and labour organisations
Currendy, the municipal waste technology industry is
managed to prevent 118 tonnes of mercury stockpile from
a closed chlor-alkali plant in the US from being exported
to India, disguised as ‘raw material?
seeing huge emerging markets in the South. There are
innumerable proposals for technologies like incinerators
and gasifiers (types of incinerators). India has over 20 such
proposals, costing upto 300 crore" rupees, from
international companies, some even selling untried tech
nologies. 12
Export of dirty products: Extremely hazardous or
difficult to recycle products are also being exported to
developing countries in the new globalisation regime, but
without the same safety standards under which they are
used in home countries.
Lead-Acid batteries (for example invertors and car
batteries), which are highly polluting and unsafe if
recycled in the type of facilities which exist in India are
imported to end up as waste in rudimentary smelters.
Asbestos, banned for use in many countries, is exported to
India in massive quantities, with more than 80 per cent of
^^merging from Canadian mines, even though use of
Wlesros is banned in Canada. New types of packaging
materials, such as multi-layered juice packs, are being sold
in India. These are recycled in home countries, but cannot
be recovered here and therefore litter the countryside.
Second-hand computers and other end-of-life electronic
goods are examples of export of dirty products. Comput
ers, mobile phones, and telephones are discarded and
shipped overseas owing to obsolescence. Labelled as
donations under the pretext of being usefill in the South,
thev very soon become waste. A similar dynamic occurs
when used cars are imported into developing countries.
AH the above products, which are at the end of their life
cvcle eventually become waste. The waste is often
extremely toxic, and difficult to dispose or recover.
Export of waste technologies: With waste being
New markets for international waste companies: Post
consumer waste in countries like India had so far remained
off limits for corporate entities. But not any' more. The
international waste industry has descended in India to get a
grip on municipalities and municipal waste, as waste
quantities are growing exponentially with urbanisation.
The finance for these ventures is sourced from national
governmental subsidies, financial institutions as well as
international agencies like the Global Environmental
Facility; die World Bank or the IFC, under mechanisms
such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).”
However, most of the technologies adopted by these global
corporations are economically unviable and
environmentally hazardous.
Shifting production bases: In many of the above cases
there has been a shift of the production base of these
products to the global South. Chemicals, electronics and
plastics are increasingly being manufactured in Asian
countries, which are emerging as major production centres
for the North. The waste generated in the production
processes are locally dumped, even though the production
caters to international consumers.
Mine and Mineral Waste: Waste is produced from aU
types of mining operations in the form of rubble de
stroyed topsoil and toxic tailings. Recovery of minerals
Globalisation of waste
from the ore is a small percentage of what is mined.1'1 The
most widespread problem associated with mining waste
dumps is acid drainage since once the process of acid
generation starts, it is difficult to stop. The combination of
acidity and dissolved toxic contaminants kills almost all
forms of aquatic life.
Impacts of ‘wasting’ of die South
The problems associated with waste today are looked upon
merely as local management issues. However, the
management of waste is only a subset of an overall myriad
of issues connected with it.
When waste and its associated forms of trade take place it
impacts the poorest communities of the world. In fact,
even within the South, while richer consumers often use
internationally produced products, the poorest communities
are left with the greatest burden of the globalisation
process. Hence, who suffers is the key question.
As the world globalises, the burden of its waste is being
borne by the poorest and most marginalised communities
of the world, who are often not protected even in their own
national context
Waste recycling in developing countries: who suffers?
There is a sharp contrast in the technology and conditions
in which recycling takes place in developing and developed
nations. In the South, recycling occurs in unhygienic and
shanty conditions with little or no environmental and health
safeguards since the technology used is crude and
rudimentary.
Workers earning less than subsistence wages15 bear the
brunt of toxics from imported electronic waste, car
batteries, plastics, used syringes, etc apart from the long
term health impacts they suffer from regular injuries at the
work place and risks of disease transmission. They have no
access to any health care or insurance. For women and
children the effects are even greater owing to their very low
nutritional status, making them more susceptible to even
especially small and marginal ones - turn to becoming
labourers in cities, upon losing their land for industrial
activities, which is often funded or owned by multinationals.
Secondly, the adjoining and hitherto pristine agriculture
fields are impacted by industrial pollution. Recent studies
indicate contamination of food which has grown there.18
In developing countries workers exposed to hazardous
conditions suffer die most in the absence of proper health
and safety standards. Over 90 per cent of the workers are
casual, migrant workers and not part of any trade union and
hence cannot negotiate any compensation claims. It is
common to see workers suffering in asbestos factories,
recycling units as well as computer plants. Ship breaking
workers are almost 100 per cent casual and have no recourse
to justice, even though many face risks to their lives on the
job.
The Bhopal gas disaster in 1984 showed the double
standards that corporations adopt when they site production
bases in the South. Contaminants from the factory have
sullied the site with extremely hazardous chemicals, which,
as studies show, are finding their way in to the breast milk of
the surrounding communities 19. Drinking water is
contaminated, even as the survivors of the disaster that
killed over 5000 people suffer long-term impacts and
struggle with their, lives. This is not an isolated instance. The
Unilever mercury thermometer plant in Kodaikanal, South
India that manufactured solely for export to the US, has
irrevocably poisoned its workers as well as the surrounding
environment.20
Who gains from privatisation?
Waste corporatisation in cities has led to various types of
displacement. Community projects as well as the urban poor
who are dependant upon recycling are at risk. In India,
communities have made tremendous efforts to manage
waste, often with a multistakeholder involvement.21 These
outstanding and commendable efforts are being decimated
through the privatisation of municipal zones, such as in
Chennai.
lower levels of exposures.
Waste siting
In most Asian cities, waste dumps or incinerators are made
either on the outskirts or on low value lands.16 These are
the areas where the poor live. Poor communities living
around such areas are impacted through polluted ground
water and noxious air emissions besides insanitary
surroundings.
Effects on farmers, workers and communities: The
siting of new emerging production bases, as mentioned
above is often carried out in what were agricultural
areas.” This has a twin impact. Firstly, the farmer loses his/
her livelihood and is forced to shift. Often, farmers
Apart from this, a large number of people are involved in
the informal management of waste as a source of livelihood.
In India alone, over one million people find livelihood
opportunities in the area of waste collection and recycling
through informal but well-organised systems.22
In most cases, international private entry is abetted through
government subsidies by government funds and
international grants. Their viability depends upon installing
polluting waste-to-energy technologies on which they can
avail subsidies upto 50% of project cost.23 Municipalities,
lured by international waste companies, instead of helping
community projects proliferate and making conditions for
recycling of waste safer, are merely displacing both.24
’ The terms ‘North’ and ‘South’ are terms popularly used to connote ‘rich
and developed’ countries and ‘poorer and less developed’ countries
respectively. Other similar words in usage are ‘developed countries’,
‘developing countries’, ‘OECD’, ‘non-OECD’ countries, ‘third world’,
eta
15 Less than USD one per day as per Srishti study ‘Recycling Responsibil
ity’ on informal sector recycling, 2002
York, USA, which was dumped with 20,000 tons of toxic waste and found
leaking when proposed for a school site in 1977, causing residents to
protest and flee.
17
For example hazardous industry was shifted out from New Delhi,
through a Supreme Court order in 1996, and ordered relocation near
Alwar, to what were agricultural areas.
’ Poly Chlorinated Biphenyl, an extremely toxic chemical, a POP, or
persistent organic pollutant, which is now banned under the new UNEP
Stockholm treaty. It was once commonly used as transformer oil, all over
the world.
18
Ongoing Imperial College, UK, study along Indian partners, show
industrial air pollution caused heavy metal contamination of vegetable
crops at production sites in Varanasi, 2000-ongoing.
’ The Basel Convention on the Trans-boundary Movement of Hazardous
Wastes with its Ban amendment is an UNEP multilateral environmental
treaty to stop the trade of such waste from OECD to non-OECD
countries. The Bamako Convention is a regional African treaty.
5 The US is the largest generator of hazardous, and in fact, waste per se in
the world. It is not a party to die Basel Convention.
16
In fact tlris is true even in developed countries such as the USA, where
waste disposal amongst people of color has led to an ‘environmental
justice’ movement, a term which now recognized in US law.
19
Toxic Past, Toxic Future, A Study of Contamination in Bhopal, SrishtiBhopal Fact Finding Mission, December 2001, New Delhi
20
Action was taken by Greenpeace to expose the double standards of
Unilever, one of the largest corporate and multinational in India, in
March 2001.
21
These exist in Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi, Ahmedabad,
Lucknow, Shimla, and Bangalore eta
6 A toxic paint used on the hulls of ships.
22
7 The US in November 2002, ordained to send its rusting fleet of over 300
old naval ships to Asia for breaking.
23
The Ministry of Non Conventional Energy Sources in the Govt of
India provides upto 50 per cent subsidy for waste to energy projects.
These projects do not differentiae between polluting incinerator/
gasification technologies from colder bio-methanation ones for example.
6 Alang in Gujarat, India, is the largest ship-breaking yard in the world
employing over 25,000 casual migrant workers. Intensive action by
environmental and labour activists has helped in marginally improving
working conditions, and taking the issue to international bodies such as
International Maritime Organization (IMO), International Labour
Organization (ILO) and UNEP. They are demanding ship owner
responsibility. Other large facilities are in China and Turkey.
’ Australian and US companies made a beeline for South Asian markets as
soon as medical waste became an issue in these countries in 1997. They
professed ‘pollution free’ equipment ‘conforming to USEPA standards,’
even though in reality new stricter US standards were driving costs of
incinerators up exponentially, which resulted in over 4,000 medical waste
incinerators closing down in the US alone during the past four years.
‘Recycling Responsibility’ Ravi Agarwal et at Srishti, New Delhi, 2002
24
The Chennai municipality awarded a contract to the international waste
giant Vivendi and displaced successful community-led waste management
by a NGO, Exnora, from 3 municipal zones in 2001.
23 A contaminated site in the US is cleaned up under their Superfund
program which has cost over 35 billion dollars. Some sites cost over
USD100 million to cleanup, a typical figure being about USD 30 million,
through a polluters pay principle. There has been a reported slowdown in
cleanups of late.
10 In a new drive to rid the world of Hepatitis B, measles, etc, and to limit
cross infections from un-sterilised syringes, WHO has been promoting
new A/D or single use plastic syringes. India alone administers 4.2 billion
injections annually, creating substantial amount of plastic waste. Small
furnace like, extremely polluting incinerators are being promoted in Africa,
South East Asia, South Asia, Central Asia and China, some of which are
imported from Europe, even though these would be unacceptable there.
No attempt has been made to use safer alternative technologies such as
autoclaves, despite protests by environmentalists.
" 1 crore is equivalent to 10 million rupees or about 2 million USD.
12 Gries include Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Chandigarh, Jaipur, amongst
others.
15
The CDM is a mechanism under the Kyoto Protocol or the Climate
Change convention io fund ‘dean’ and ‘rencuable’ eneigy in lieu of
carbon credits in developing countries. What is renewable is arguable.
14 India produces 89 minerals, resulting in diverse kinds of potentially
hazardous waste. For example every 5 gm of gold produced generates 1
tonne of waste, ot 80 per cent of coal mined is waste, while a mere 12-14
gm of copper produces 1 tonne of waste. Toxics Link paper on Mines
and Minerals, November 2002
Contact: Ravi Agarwal/Papiya Sarkar
Toxics Link
H2 Jungpura Extension, New Delhi 110 014
Tel: 91-(0)11-4328006, 4320711, 4321747
E-mail: tldelhi@vsnl.com, ravigl @vsnl.com,
Dapiya25@yahoo.com
Website: www.toxicslink.org
B;
Sunrise
2002
Why ss 'ite fiW Arctic Sawise here?
The MV Arctic Sunrise is on a five-week
tour of Southeast Asia to raise awareness
about the problem of climate change
caused by burning fossil fuels like coal
and to raise support for dean renewable
energy alternatives.
We are asking you to reject negative dirty
energy such as coal, oil and gas, and to
choose positive renewable energy such
as solar, wind, and modern biomass.
What is climate change?
imate change, sometimes called global
Irming, is affeding the whole world. But it
doesn't just mean hotter temperatures.
Extreme weather events such as floods,
droughts and storms are becoming more
unpredictable, more frequent qnd more
intense. Climate change impads include
sea-level rise, coral bleaching, melting
glaciers, increased flooding, wild fires, the
spread of diseases such as malaria, borne
by inseds that thrive in warm temperatures.
The average global temperature has steadily
increased in the past 100 years, and United
Nations scientists have said most of this
temperature increase can be blamed on
human activities-especially the burning of
fossil fuels.
a
Climate Change Impacts In Southeiast Asia:
• Sea-level rise and an increase in intensity of tropical cyclones would displace tens
of millions of people in low-lying coastal areas of temperate and tropical Asia.
• Increased extreme weather events including flooding, droughts, and forest fires.
.. ....
..... • Decrease in agricultural productivity and aquaculture
. ?■
due to thermal and water stress. Sea-level rise, floods
tytyj ' .
and droughts, and tropical.cyclones would diminis®)
t|l
. 5” i.•' tyVg,-■ .1
food security.
• Increased exposure to vector-borne infectious diseases
■/.
and heat stress.
tj,.■>
fo."5?'“
• Increased threats to biodiversity due to land-use and
land-cover change and population pressure. SeaI
level rise would put ecological security at risk,
including mangroves and coral reefs.
|
pfei • Many species of mammals and
birds could
be
exterminated.
The’Choose Posffive lEnergy Campaign:
Greenpeace is spearheading the Choose Positive Energy campaign, with the
support of groups like The Body Shop, which aims to protect the climate by
promoting renewable energy such as solar, wind
and small-scale hydro power instead <^|
greenhouse
gas
-
producing
energy, such as coal, oil and gas.
The campaign aims to secure a
commitment at the World Summit
on Sustainable Development to
provide renewable energy to two
billion
of the
people,
many
world's
of
poorest
whom
are
without access to any form of
electricity
services.
or
decent
energy
.
What’s ws'orsg with coal?
Coal-fired
power
stations
are
dirty
and
dangerous sourcesof electricity. We are heavily
dependent on coal for energy needs, but besides
being extremely dirty, the burning of coal is an
Hdustrial process that creates huge quantifies of
IPrbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas
causing global warming.
This is one of the
reasons why coal is no longer popular for new
power stations in rich and developed countries.
So why as-e Northern countries pushing coaS in Asia?
Multinational
companies
that
are
now
having difficulty selling their.obsolete coal
technology in Europe and North America are
looking for new markets,
particularly in
countries that are not yet putting restrictions
on greenhouse gas emissions. To maintain
profitability they are trying to dump this old-
fashioned,
polluting
technology . on
developing nations, where the demand for
electricity is rapidly expanding. Ifs up to
developing countries to reject this dirty energy and demand the best, cleanest,
newest energytechnology--and that's renewables.
What choices are there?
£
Renewable
energy
can
provide
growing
communities with the electricity they need, without
harming the climate. Solar energy is projected as
being able to provide 26% of global electricity
demand by 2040, and wind power could provide
12% of global electricity needs by 2020. Asia has the
opportunity to utilize this clean energy now.
Why is the tour happening now?
Greenpeace is campaigning for governments to make a commitment at the
Johannesburg Earth Summit, to provide renewable energy to the two billion people
around the world who currently live without access to sustainable energy services.
During the coming weeks, as the world's leaders prepare to meet in Johannesburg,
the Choose Positive Energy tour will illustrate that renewable energy is ready and
able to replace dirty coal, oil and gas - not only in the future, but today.
Join uss take action now!
YOU CAN
SAVE YOUR
FUTURE
BY TAKING
NOW!
THINGS YOU CAN DO TO SAVE THE CLIMATE
AND PROMOTE CLEAN ENERGY
I.
Internationally, sign the Choose Positive Energy petition
that will go to the Johannesburg Earth Summit, asking for
renewable energy for the 2 billion of us who don't have
electricity or access io energy services.
2.
Nationally, demand heads of government to support
renewable energy and reject negative energy like coalfired power plants.
3.
Locally, practice energy saving and energy efficiency where
you can, for example, by using energy saving light bulbs,
joining a car pool and using electric appliances wisely.
Follow the tour ot www.greenpeacesoutheastasia.org
Contact Greenpeace Southeast Asia
IN THE PHILIPPINES:
Unit 329 Eagle Court Condominium
26 Matalino St., Ditiman,
Quezon City Philippines 1101
(63-2)434-7034
IN THAILAND:
Monririn Bldg., Rm. 201, 60/1
Soi Sailom, Phaholyothin 8
Bangkok 10400, Thailand
(66-2)272-7100
NAVDANYA
Organic Foods and
Natural Products
(Sa- (Cyanic
Join Navdanya's Field-to-Table Movement
•
conserve biodiversity through your consumption
pattern
©
protect the environment and; your "health.
NAVDANYA brings you diverse, nutritious foods
and natural products
& diverse organic rice, wheat and corn varieties
A1
diverse organic pulses like rajma, gahath, arhar
(toovar), urad and mung
millets like ragi and jhangora
pseudocereals like amaranth, buckwheat and bathua
&
pure virgin oils like mustard and sesame
£’
natural organic sweetners like honey, gur, shakkar
&
thirst Quenchers like litchi, burans, malta. ginger,
pudina, lemon squashes, bel and mango panna, sattu
r&
homemade pickles, preserves, jams and
marmalades
For further enquiry contact:
NAVDANYA
A-60, Hauz Khas
New Delhi-1 10016
■ India
Ph: 91-1 1-6968077, 6853772, 6561868
Fax: 6856795, 6562093
E-mail: vshiva@vsnl.com, rfste@ndf.vsnl.net.in
Website: vshiva.net
105, Rajpur Road
Dehradun-248001
Uttaranchal.
India
Ph: 91-135-749931
E-mail: navdanya@sancharnet.in
Why are our people dying of hunger?
Why our farmers are committing suicides?
Hear leading farmer and food rights activists on the
hijack of our food and agriculture through globalisation
and people’s alternatives at t|ie
Seminar On
Food Sovereignty
1
Speakers:
Vandana Shiva, Arun Bhatia, K. G. Kannabiran, Tony
Tujan, Colin Gonsalves, K. R. Chowdry, Ramesh
Nandwana, Prafulla Samantha,
P. Sainath, Kancha llliha,
Gopal Iyer, Sunilam, Atul Kumar Anjan,
Suneet Chopra, Gurmeet Singh Dittupyr,
G. Nammaiyar
Date: 3rd Jan 2(^03
Time: 2:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Place: Golden Rose School
I
<oo.el, 0|>k.
Organised by
JisKk.va
Navdanya
Research Foundation for Science, Technology & Ecology
Diverse Women for Diversity
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STOP BABY TRAFFICKING
IN THE NAME OF ADOPTION
Since 1977, Andhra Pradesh has been continuously rocked by scandals have
proved of the purchase of babies by private adoption agencies. Peeling
layers of the scandals have proved conclusively adoption agencies and their
agents prey on vulnerable communities like the Lambada tribe and induce
families having more than one or two girl children to part with the newborn
girl baby. Deals of liquor or petty amount of money about Rs. 100/- 150/are struck while the baby is yet in the womb. The babies are then supplied
to childless women in the west. More than a million rupees per baby make
its way of donation to the corpus fund, building fund etc.
WHO ARE DOING THIS?
Under the umbrella of adoption rules and regulations wealthy, healthy,
educated sections of the society by using their power of religion, positions in
government and access to top level politicians. (In Andhra Pradesh police
registered cases against one nun from Tender loving care home of St.
Theresa’s Hospital (run by the congregation of Jesus, Mary' and Joseph),
Precious Moments run by one police officer’s wife Mrs Anita Sen in the CSI
Bible College, Indian council for Social Welfare run by one ex minister Mrs
Roda mistry, John Abraham Memorial Bethany Home run by Mrs.
Savitramma who has influence in embassies with ambassidors, Mr. Peter
Subbaiah who was the congress leader in chittor district was suspended from
the party because of the exposure, arrest in 1999, and Mr.Sanjeevarao and
Mr. Premkumar who are trained by Mrs Roda mistry ) and Sparsh run by
Dechu Benarji has influence with one Ex Chief Minister’s family.
Middlemen are appointed and paid for the delivery of each baby.
In the age of globalization it is to be expected that white western women
who face the problem of infertility will turn to the developing countries for
cheap supply of babies. We run call centres, we supply cheaper software
professionals, we also supply cheap babies.
While globalization removing labour from their fields of work, unable to
introduce positive trade ,what kind of impact does this have on the
vulnerable communities themselves. Girl children already are being
devalued and the trading of girl children further devalues them and increases
gender disparities. The break with traditional culture and values that this
entails has enormous consequences for the communities themselves. The
white woman who does not have time for carrying a child in her womb,
opting a choice to pick up a baby in the adoption market has never known
that her act has entailed, at the other end, a tremendous devaluation of the
girl child being converted into commodities to be commercialized, the
women made into baby producing machines, the men made into sellers of
baby crops.
1997 the movement against trafficking in babies in Andhra Pradesh has met
great resistance from private adoption agencies, and more importantly from
Since Foreign Embassies, especially the U.S. Consulates and Senators, who £
exert great pressure on the State Government to get their programme of child
transfer going.
Our seminar will highlight the changes in the vulnerable communities here
represented by their own people, will explain the processes by which
trafficking is made possible.
We call on you to attend and help us to dispel the fog around adoption that
leads to baby trafficking.
GRAMYA RESOURCE CENTRE FOR WOMEN
VENUE OF THE SEMINAR
Plaza function hall,
Near to Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
Barkathpura, Hyderabad.
Time: 2.30 to 5.30
Date: 5/1/2003
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LABOUR (NCL)
(An apex body of labour organisations in the Unorganised Sector)
8/10, Naina Shetty Palya, Bannerghatta Road Cross, Bangalore - 560 076.
Dear Comrades and Friends,
Season’s Greetings and New Year wishes from National Centre for Labour(NCL), an apex body of labour organisations
in the unorganised sector. Through its constituent members, NCL represents the interests of Agricultural labour,
Construction labour, Fish workers, Forest workers, Contract labour, Domestic workers, Hamalis, Granite and Marble
workers, Anganwadi workers, Self-employed persons, women workers etc. NCL has a membership of over 7,25,000
from ten states in India.
NCL is organising the following seminars in the Asian Social forum (ASF) in Hyderabad, to highlight the issues of
unorganised labour and putforth their demands, concerns and aspirations to the larger audience from Asian countries.
Through these seminars, NCL is trying to collate the experiences and knowledge, consolidate its techniques and
strategies in organising the unorganised and share the same with others since organising the unorganised is the most
challenging task ahead. NCL joins with the effort to examine the impact of Globalisation on the workers so far and
Iprepare the unorganised to challenge the process of Globalisation in India as part of a process facilitated by CEC,
New Delhi with the other Central Trade Unions. NCL also shares its experience of working with the organised labour
particularly with the mine workers of KGF Town in Karnataka, interms of its efforts with other social, trade union,
women’s movements to oppose the closure of Mines.
Joining hands with other social movements like KKNSS (Karnataka Slumdwellers Federation) Women’s Voice (Move
ment for poorer and women involved in the unorganised sector of labour) AVAS ( expert on Shelter issues) NCL is
paving way to understand the challenges before the Urban Poor in Globalising India. Associating with National
Campaign on Dalit Human rights (NCDHR), it is trying to articulate certain issues of labour from Dalit perspective.
Hence, on behalf of NCL, I invite you and your friends to attend the seminars for sharing and learning as well
exchange your ideas and views on the following subjects.
LIST OF SEMINARS:
SI.
No.
Date
Time
1
03-01-2003
11a.m. to 1 p.m.
2
03-01-2003
1 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
3
03-01-2003
4 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
4
04-01-2003
9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
5
04-01-2003
2.30p.m.- 6.30p.m.
6
04-01-2003
2.30p.m -6.30p.m.
04-01-2003
2.30p.m -6.30p.m.
05-01-2003
2.30p.m.-6.30p.m.
•
7
8
.
Topic
Public Rally with other
Peoples Movements
Organised by APVVU,
An affiliate of NCL
Public Meeting
Seminar on Globalisation:
Challenges of Organising the
Unorganised
W.T.O. and Agriculture
Organised by APVVU
Globalisation: Challenges of
Organising the Unorganised
Impact of Globalisation on
the Mine Workers of K.G.F.
Globalisation and the challenges
for the Urban poor.
KKNSS / Women’s Voice /
AVAS / NCL/NAWO.
Impact of Globalisation on
Unorganised Sector Workers
and Remedies Facilitated by
CEC and initiated by NCL
Venue
From Secunderabad
Railway station to Indira .
Park
Indira Park,
Secunderabad
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
Jayaprakash Narayan
Pranganam (Linganpalli
Function Hall)
ASF open space for
Movements.
St. Paul’s Primary
School Hall
Saraswatha Parishat Hall
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
THE FOLLOWING SPEAKERS HAVE AGREED TO ADDRESS NCL SEMINARS:
1.
Dr. L.C. Jain
Former Indian Ambassador to South Africa
and Former Member of Planning
Commission of India.
2.
Shri. R.K.A. Subramanya
Secretary General, Social Security
3.
Dr. Devaki Jain
Former Member, Karnataka State Planning
Board.
4.
Dr. Pravin Sinha
Labour Advisor, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung,
New Delhi.
5.
Prof. Abdur Rahim
Dept, of Communation and Journalism,
Osmania University. Hyderabad.
Association of India.
6.
Dr. Sarath Babu
Karnatak University, Dharwad.
7.
Shri. D. Thankappan
President, Kamani Employees Union and
Secretary, NCL.
8.
Shri. J. John
Director, Centre for Education and
Communication(CEC), New Delhi.
9.
Shri. M. Subbu
General Secretary, National Federation of
Construction Labour (NFCL) and Secretary, NCL.
10.
Shri. Chennaiah
General Secretary, Andhra Pradesh
Agricultural Workers Federation (APVVU)
11.
Shri. Tom Kocherry
12.
Shri. K. Loganathan
President, Tamil Nadu Agricultural Labour
Movement.
13.
Dr. Ruth Manorama
President, National Allinace of Women
(NAWO), Secretary, NCL.
14.
Shri! M.A. Patil
President, Sarva Shramik Sangh and
Secretary, NCL.
15.
Shri. Ashok Choudhry
National Forest Workers and Dwellers Forum
and Secretary, NCL.
and Secretary, NCL.
Chairperson, World Fishers Forum and
Secretary, NCL
16.
Shri. Ashim Roy
President, Chemical
17.
Shri. Arbind Singh
Co-ordintor, National Alliance of Street Vendors.
Hon. Director, AVAS.
Mazdoor Panchyat, Gujrat.
18.
Smt. Anita Reddy
19.
Shri. Kirtee Shah
President, Habitat International Coalition.
20.
Shri. N.P. Samy
Hon. President, KKNSS and
Secretary, Co-ordination, NCL.
21.
Shri. R. James Jeyaraj
For details: Please contact:
Convenor, Bangalore District, KKNSS.
N.P. Samy, Secretary, Co-ordination, NCL, - 09844118491
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1
Testimony by Hibakusya I Miyoko Matsubara
2
Peace Movement in Japan Now—Against Bush’s War and Militarization of Japan
report: Kenji Kunitomi (APA-Japan)
3
Peace Movement and Human Rigthts Activity
report: Kinhide Musyakohji(Professor, Chuhbu University)
4
Against Intensification of Stale Oppression System on the pretext of Anti=Terrorism
report: Toshimaru Ogura(People’s Plan Study Group)
5
Discussion: People’s Security and Military Strategy of the United States in Asia-Pacific region
We welcome your contribution in discussion
ACTION TOWARDS A TOBACCO FREE WORLD
Asian social Forum
Hyderabad.
2 - 7th January 2003
TOBACCO KILLS
It contains over 4000 poisonous chemicals
40 of them cause cancer
Do you know ?
Q
Tobacco use is associated with over 25 major diseases
©
Long-term tobacco use could reduce your life span by
15-20 years ?
@
Nicotine is as addictive as cocaine or heroine and you
could be hooked on for life.
®
Chewing tobacco can cause oral cancer or oral cancer
progresses fast.
WHY DIE OF HEART ATTACK EARLY
Quit smoking today
Beware !
TOBACCO CAN CAUSE IMPOTENCE
Join the tobacco control initiative in your area
if you have one
or you start because
TOBACCO FREE WORLD IS POSSIBLE!
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WORKSHOP
"WIDOWS
AND
SEPARATED
ORGANIZING
Monday, January 6
FOR
WOMEN
CHANGE!"
2:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Place - Room No. 18th, Methodist School
Low income widows and separated women in Rajasthan, India face many problems - illtreatment by in-laws and sons, land rights being grabbed by brothers-in-law, being considered
inauspicious, corruption in accessing government resources, sexual vulnerability, illiteracy -
and the worst - feeling alone.
“Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan: is a Rajasthan-wide ' Organization of Strong Women Alone"
fighting for their rights! In less than 2 years, over 9,000 low income widows and separated
women have joined together, and are making remarkable changes all over the state.
Organized and Aware, these women are changing their lives, and are working on other
issues of society as well.
Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan is organizing this Workshop, hoping others will come from
other countries and states,
• To share their strategies, case studies of successes (and failures)
• To identify reasons for the marginalization
• To identify and analyse the problems low income women alone face
• To explore ways Asian organizations may work together with empowered Women Alone
to bring widespread social change
We invite to this Workshop, women and men concerned about the social, economic,
educational, health, and political problems of low income widows and separated women.
The languages of the Workshop will be English and Hindi.
Contact Information: Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan (The Association of Strong Women Alone),
39 Kharoi Colony, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. 313 004.
Ph. 0294-245-1348 Fax: 0294-245-1391 E-mail: astha39@sancharnet.in
Asian Social Forum 2003
Hyderabad, India
INVITATION
Testimonial
of a
Hibakusha
(An Atom Bomb Victim of Hiroshima)
MS. MIYOKO MATSUBARA
January 4, 2003 at 7:00 p.m.
At:
Hotel Anmol International
(Roof Top)
Chapel Road, Nampally.
(The venue is about 1 km from Nizam College)
Organised by:
APA, CNDP
Local Secretariat:
CDVA
List of Speakers Invited to Make a Presentation at the Seminar
‘■Right to Health Care: Moving from Idea to Reality ’
at the
Asian Social Forum, Hyderabad
Sr
Name
3rd January 2003, Day I- Session I (2:30p.m. to 4:45p.m.)
Legal and Constitutional Framework for Right to Health Care
1
Abhay Shukla
Jean Dreze
Co-ordinator, SATHI Cell, CEHAT
Professor of Economics,
Delhi School of Economics, New Delhi
3
Prof. Joga Rao
4
Colin Gonsalves
5
Brian Lobo
6
John Samuel
Former Professor, National Law School, Bangalore
Director, Pegasus Health Law Consultants
Advocate, Supreme Court and
India Centre for Human Rights and Law, New Delhi
Advocate and activist of Kashtakari Sanghatana, Dahanu,
Thane District
Director, National Center for Advocacy Studies, Pune
2
Tea Break ( 4:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Session II (5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
_____________ Relevant International Experiences towards Right to Health Care
7
Sadhana Hall
8
Dr. A.H.M. Nouman
Director, Global Partnerships Department,
Global Health Council, U.S.A.
Chairperson,
PHM Bangladesh Circle, Dhaka, Bangladesh
,
4"' January 2003, Day II- Session I (2:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.)
Operational and Financial Mechanisms to attain Right to Health Care
9
Abhay Shukla
Co-ordinator, SATHI Cell, CEHAT
10
Prof. Babu Mathew
11
Dr. Shrinath Reddy
12
Ravi Duggal
Professor of Law,
National Law School and India University, Bangalore
Professor of Cardiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Chairperson, Health Committee,
National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi
Co-ordinator,
Centre for Enquiry into Health and Allied Themes, Mumbai
13
14
Dr. H. Sudarshan
Chairman, Task Force on Health of Karnataka Government
Director,
Catholic Health Association of India, Secunderabad
Father Sebastian
Tea Break (4:45 p.m. to 5:00 p.iTi.)
Session II (5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
Campaign Strategy for Right to Health Care
15
Sarojini
16
Dr. Ravi Narayan
17
Dr. T. Sundaraman
Convenor, Medico Friend Circle and
Member of SAMA, New Delhi
Advisor, Community Health Cell, Bangalore
Professor of Medicine,
Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and
‘
!
RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE
MOVING FROM IDEA TO REALITY
You are cordially invited to participate
in this two day seminar organised by
CEHAT
(Centre For Enquiry Into Health and Allied Themes)
in partnership with
NCAS
(National Centre For Advocacy Studies) and
GHC
(Global Health Council)
at the
ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM
Hyderabad
on the 3rd and 4th of January, 2003
This seminar is one of the events being organised under the aegis of
‘Jan Swasthya Abhiyan’
Day I
Constitutional and Legal Framework
to attain ‘Right to Health Care’and
Relevant International Experiences
Day II
Operational and Financial Mechanisms
and Campaign Strategy to attain
‘Right to Health care’
Date- 3rd January 2003
Time- 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Date- 4th January 2003
Time- 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
We earnestly look forward to your presence at this seminar.
Venue- Dwaraka Conference Hall
Hyderabad
|
Tentative programme schedule of some health related events during ASF,
Hyderabad
Jan Swasthya Abhiyan / Peoples Health Movement________
______
Time
Topic
Venue
3rd Jan
9 am to 1 pm
Nizam College Grounds
3rd Jan
2,30 to 6.30 pm
3rd Jan
3“ Jan
2.30 to 6.30 pm
2.30 to 6.30 pm
3rd Jan
2.30 to 6.30 pm
3rd Jan
4m Jan
2.30 to 6.30 pm
2.30 to 6.30 pm
4th Jan
4“ Jan
2.30 to 6.30 pm
2.30 to 6.30 pm
4“ Jan
7 to 10 pm
Conference on
Social Infrastructure including
Health
Right to Health Care -1
Legal / constitutional
framework. International exp.
Politics of Population
Environment and Health - a
peoples campaign
Towards action for a Tobacco
free world
Women and Food sovereignty
Right to Health Care -11
Operational / financial,
Campaign strategy
Right to Food in India
Disasters, war, conflict and
globalisation
JSA-NCC / NWG meeting
(with dinner)
Date
5th Jan
2.30 to 6.30 pm
5th Jan
2.30 to 6.30 pm
5"'Jan
2.30 to 6.30 pm
5th Jan
5“ Jan
2.30 to 6.30 pm
2.30 to 6.30 pm
5“ Jan
6" Jan
2.30 to 6.30 pm
2.30 to 6.30 pm
6th Jan
2.30 to 6.30 pm
Dwarka Hotel Complex,
Lakadi ka Pul, opp.
Legislative Assembly
Jain Sewak Sangh -1
Jain Sewak Sangh - II
Taj Mahal Hotel, Abid
Rd.
Methodist School 17
Dwarka Hotel Complex,
Lakadi ka Pul, opp.
Legislative Assembly
Andlira Yuvali Mandal
All Saints school 10
Dwarka Hotel Complex,
Lakadi ka Pul, opp.
Legislative Assembly
Globalisation and Dalit Womens IMA Hall
Health status
Taking the PHM forward
Taj Mahal hotel Abid
Rd.
Early childhood care and
Methodist school 12
development
PIL on Right to Food
All Saints school 8
Health issues in adivasi areas
Nizam College 216
and globalisation
Pharmaceutical policy
All Saints school 11
Alma Ata and Primary Health
Taj Mahal Hotel, Abid
Care: The Asian experience
Rd.
Women’s access to Health:
Nizam College 210
Proposal for a campaign
(strategy building workshop)
Please join us to ensure that a Healthy Asia is Possible!
We’ve come all the way from Goa
to participate in the World Social Forum
So please come and visit us
OTHER INDIA BOOKSTORE
India’s best known outlet for activist literature
and alternative books
SPECIAL 25% DISCOUNT ON ALL
BOOKS SOLD AT WSF
NOTE: THE BOOKSTORE WILL BE OPEN FOR ONLY
THREE DAYS (JANUARY 2-4, 2003)
11 Books on Gandhi, environment, organic farming, edu
cation, WTO and globalisation, wildlife, health, law.
Only the very best.
Other India Bookstore
Above Mapusa Clinic,
Mapusa 403 507 Goa, India
email: oib@goatelecom.com
www.goacom.com/books (for on-line catalogue and book orders)
EXCLUSIVE STALL FOR SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions to the following newspapers, magazines andjournals. All under
one roof! With discounts!
KAMIRIITHU
Thefirst issue ofa new tabloid sized newspaper published by the Multiworld .
Network. The paper is dedicated to undermining the education system (at school
and college) in the interests offree learning and to frustrate the easy recruitment
ofyouth into the global consumer economy dominated by transnationals.
SANCTUARY ASIA
Clearly India’s best wildlife magazine, brought out by wildlife activists.
ECOLOGIST ASIA
Indian edition of the London-based Ecologist Carries reports on several major
Indian environmental battles and campaigns.
CUB MAGAZINE
A wildlife magazine designed exclusively for children.
THE LAWYERS
The only legal journal that looks at the law from the activist perspective. Edited by
Indira Jaising and published by the Lawyers Collective.
THIRD WORLD RESURGENCE
The only magazine surviving today that reports on the Third World through Third
World eyes. Excellent reportage of Third World issues. Published by the
Third World Network, Malaysia.
THIRD WORLD ECONOMICS
Also published by the Third World Network, Malaysia. Deals exclusively with
economic matters, with special emphasis on liberalisation, international trade,
Third World debt, WTO, and a host ofother important issues. .
FARMERS’
Fruit Juices, Pickles, Preserves
&
other products
farm fresh from the Himalayan foothills
made by
Women’s and Small Farmers’ Co-operatives
in modern Units with hygienic processes
with minimum preservatives
available in Food Stalls area
Many such Co-ops promoted by CTD are successfully
running in India including in other sectors such as Leather
Tanning/Products, Pottery, Construction etc. To share
experiences and discuss such efforts towards forging
alternatives:
PLEASE ATTEND!
—"seminar---on
Sustainable Livelihoods:
appropriate technologies &
alternative development strategies
by
All India Peoples Science Network
&
Centre for Technology & Development
6 January, 2003
Institution of Engineers, Main Hall
Cat toon Festival on International Women’s Day 2003, Dhaka
convention the cartoons are anti-women where women are mostly seen as
consumer, if not consumer then a helpless creature. More often they are
illustrated as 'greedy', 'seductive', or as 'silly', 'seducer'. Even the body
outi'nes in the cartoon reflects the sexist, gender segregated notion of body.
A very common example of it is the women prime ministers in the cartoons of
daily newspaper from this continent. This particular offense to women is
embedded into the masculinist system. Cartoons are class chauvinist as well.
Whether this is the case of Bangladesh or elsewhere.
We want to raise a debate around this practice and also compile the feminist
practices on the area, which represent women's reality, or draw images for
women. Feminist cartoonists, from the West and from the rest, moved differ
ently to subvert the dominant styles of cartoon. In Bangladesh, initiative of
its kind is for the first time taking place from March 8 to 13,2003 to observe
International Women's Day at BRIK Gallery. We also want the festival with
Southern responses. Cartoon exhibited in the festival from Bangladesh and
South Asian countries altogether at the gallery would satire the male domi
nant system. Series discussion and feminist cartoon drawing session will ac
company the exhibition.
Thus we invite activists, artists, cartoonists, feminists and persons, women's
groups and collectives who already are doing such works or would be enthu
siastic to work with us in the initiative to join us in this festival.
We await your responses and joyful participation
Saydia Gulrukh
Manosh Chowdhury
S M Mayeen Ahmad
Organizers
Cartoon Festival on Internationa! Women's Day
March 8 - 13, 2002 Drik Gallery
DrikPicture Library
email: saydia@bd.drik.net
manosh@bd.drik.net
mayeen@drik.net
Motes on the organizers: Some feminists, activists and media professionals unite them
selves in this Cartoon festival with Dnk Gallery, brik Gallery is a wing of Drik PictureLibrary, a library that is committed to promote photographs, images from, for and by the
majority world.
Seminar on
GLOBALIZATION
and TERRORISM
Asian Social Forum
January 4, 2003; 2:30 - 6:30,p.m.
Birla Science Museum, Hill Fort Rd. (next to Birla
Mandir and Planetarium. Take route A bus from Niz
College)
People’s Movements Encounter (PME)
January 5. 2003; 9:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
2nd Fir. Bhatriya Theliy Singh Function Hall
Jajomohall Road
International League of People's Struggles, Bayan-Philip
INVITATION
Imperialist Globalisation and Wars
3rd January 2003
American New Strategy and the War on Iraq
Speaker : H.Rasheed (Iraq)
4th January 2003
Market Wars in Globalisation
Speaker : M.Kassim (Iraq)
VENUE : VASAVI MINI HALL
Time : 2.30 pm
Organised By:
BAYTUL HIKMA (IRAQ)
Asia Social Forum
Schedule of Workshops
Organised by
Action Aid
Workshop on Organisation of Disabled People
For Assertion of Rights
Date: January 04,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Nizam College Block-6/Commerce Department Room No. 267
Theme of Workshop: Disabled persons are highly invisible and highly
discriminated in all spheres and stages of life. For an estimated 50 million disabled
persons in India it is a daily battle to keep away from destitution. Welfare
provisions have been made, and the needs of the disabled persons have been
typified as social welfare concerns and development interventions for the
differently abled have followed a paradigm of benevolence. While legal
provisions have been made to protect the rights (as typified in the Persons with
Disability Act, 1996) in actual practice, there has been a systematic denial of
rights. ■
The workshop plans to bring together disabled activists from across the country,
and from some of the Southeast Asian countries. As a case the situation and
initiatives in Andhra Pradesh would be shared. Disabled persons would also share
their struggles and experiences of collective assertion.
Workshop on Deprivation....
Destitution ...Impact of Globalisation
on
Urban Poverty
Date: January 04,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Nizam College Grounds, Room No. 629
Theme of Workshop: Urban poverty has engaged governments in India far less Aan
rural poverty, in terms of range of interventions and financial allocations. The dBm
marginalized groups face denial of the basic human right “ right to life -right to shelter”
as guaranteed in our constitution and are totally left out of the different urban
development programmes. The urban poor face an insecure life/low wages under and
low employment, poor and uncertain shelter, low access to basic amenities like safe
drinking water, sewerage and sanitation and poor nutritional levels.
During the workshop urban communities like rickshaw pullers, homeless persons, rag
pickers, street children, streetwalkers, pavement dwellers would share their life
struggles/experiences. The panel and speakers will comprise of activists/lawyers/ non
government organizations/community based organisations and community leaders
working with these urban vulnerable groups across the Asian countries.
Workshop on Securing Equity in Education
Date: January 05,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Nizam College, Centenary Block Room No. 302
Theme of Workshop: Despite differing cultures and historical legacies, our country
has to recognize that education is at the heart of sustainable development. Investing in
education, and especially primary education, is the key to shaping the futurea^an
increasingly inter-dependent world. It is not only the fulfillment of a basic human"nt,
but also the bridge toward slower population growth, higher economic productivity
and a more peaceful, tolerant and democratic society.
The workshop will focus on the Equality and Equity in education and the need to define
these concepts clearly for the attainment of basic quality education for all. Equality
has mainly been confined to 'access' however to do justice to this concept it has to
extend beyond mere access. Equity needs to address issues relating to fairness of
operating environment for all people. In education, if source groups or districts are
poor, the assumption is that the central government will provide sufficient subsidies to
offset the deficit, for even if there is equal access to schooling the prevailing conditions
are inequitable.
In addition, to the presentations made by the speakers, children belonging to various
age groups would give testimonials.
Seminar on Ordinary People for Peace and Healing
Date: January 05,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Rabindra Bharati Mini Hall
Theme of the Seminar - Events in the world today are compelling all those who
believe in peace and harmony to come together, reclaim and restore the humanistic
j^^alistic traditions of our society, economy and polity.
Today, a stronger civil society action is required to ensure harmony and justice. All of us
must reinforce the foundation of our society based on diversity, peace, equity, justice,
truth and compassion.
The seminar will discuss these issues with Asian Social Movements. Mr Saeed Mirza
would open the seminar with presentation of Voices of India a photo documentation of
what the ordinary Indians have to say about peace and harmony. Sharing of experiences
on contributions towards building peace and harmony and strengthening pluralistic
traditions would follow this. Aman Pathiks from Gujarat, Aman Parirakhshana Vedica
from Andhra Pradesh activists from Mynamar, Cambodia and Afghanistan would share
their experiences. Approaches for healing including issues of mental health would also
be discussed.
Seminar on Search for Dignity
Date: January 6,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: RavindraBharti Mini Hall
■erne of the Seminar: The magnitude of the situation of trafficking and commercial
sexual exploitation is complex and has multifarious contributing factors. The trend of
migration for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation is ever increasing.
Different stakeholders need to come together to play the role of catalyst to enable these
women/children to assert their rights. Findings of recent studies on the various
dimensions of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children and
women conducted in three regions of Andhra Pradesh will also be shared in the seminar.
Speakers will be from different Asian countries like Nepal, Cambodia, Pakistan,
Bangladesh and India who have experienced the process of marginilisation and
stigmatization leading to acute destitution.
Book release of“Taboo” authored byMsFouzia Saeed, an eminent writerand activist
from Pakistan.
Workshop on Rights over resources: Empowering Gram
Sabha
Date: January 06,2003
Time: 2.00PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Nizam College Grounds, Room No. 119
Theme of the Workshop: The workshop focuses on bringing out the
current realities of the tribals from the states of Orissa, Chattisgarh, Madhya
Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Chennai and evolving strategies to
establish tribal self-rule.
Tribals are undergoing a process of marginilisation irrespective of number
of development programs run by government and non-govemment
agencies. Lack of control over their natural resources, ineffective
governance and land alienation, eviction are leading to chronic hunger,
distress migration and bondage of the primitive tribal groups. The workshop
focuses on bringing out the current realities of the tribals from the states of
Orissa, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Chennai
and evolving strategies to establish tribal self-rule.
Workshop on Changing Scenario on Seed Sector and
Sinking Voices of Small and Marginal Farmers
Date: January 06,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Nizam College Grounds, Room No. 606
Theme of the Workshop: Today the windows of economic liberalization
have opened new vistas for the multinational companies. The lure of high
returns forced thousands of small and marginal farmers to adopt new hybrid
seeds irrespective of their investment capacities, available resources and
other risk factors such as damage to the environment and land. The workshop
will highlight the following:
• Understanding the responses of the fanners in addressing the
situation
• Drawing conclusionsforfurther intervention andpolicy
influence
• Takingforward the IPR&Protection oftraditionalsustainable
variety
EVENTS HOSTED
AT
ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM,
NIZAM COLLEGE, 2-7 JANUARY 2003
BY
PEOPLES SCIENCE MOVEMENTS
(All India Peoples Science Network, Bharat Cyan Vigyan Samiti)
MOVEMENTS WORKING FOR SHAPING SCIENCE AND SOCIETY
FOR
INNOVATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO GLOBALISATION
The All India Peoples Science Network is a federation of 40 Peoples
Science Movements that works for people oriented development and
resists imperialist globalisation and communalism. The movements are
the nodal agency/partners for several innovative movements like
literacy and continuing education, science communication, Jan
Swasthya Abhiyan (People’s Health Movement), and technology
alternatives for sustainable development. The main sectors that the
movements work on are education, health, sustainable livelihood
programmes, ecology and sustainable resource use and womens’
livelihood.
List of Conferences, Seminars and Workshops By Peoples Science Movements and
Associated Organisations
3rd Jan 2003
S.No
2.
Workshop/
Seminar/
Conference
Title
Organiser
Venue
Speakers
Nizam
College
Grounds,
Conference
Hall 1
Shantha Sinha, Jean Dreze,
Antonio Tujan (Phillipines),
Kavita Srivastava, Harsh
Mander, Wirapon (Thailand),
Zafarullah Chowdhury
(Bangladesh),.Anita Rampal,
Sarojini Rengam (Malayasia),
T.Sundaraman, Mr. P. Sainath
Conference
Social
Infrastructure
Action Aid, Bharat
Gyan Vigyan Samiti,
Jan Swasthaya
Abhiyan, Right to Food
Campaign
Seminar
Globalisation and
Forests
Institution
of
Engineers
Bharat Gyan Vigyan
NGOs
Samiti
Hall
Forum For Women’s
Jan Sewak
Health
Sangh,
Room
No.l
Community Health Cell Jan Sewak
Sangh,
Room
No.2
CEHAT
Dwaraka
Conference
Hall
AIPSN
3.
Seminar
Education for All
4.
Seminar
Politics of Population
5.
Seminar
Environment and
Health : A People’s
Campaign
6.
Seminar
Right To Health Care
: Moving From Idea
to Reality
7.
Workshop
Towards Action For
A Tobacco Free
World '
Community Health Cell
8.
Workshop
Reproductive Rights
in the 21s' Century
Women’s Global
Network on
Reproductive Rights
Methodist
School,
Room
No.9
Methodist
School,
Room
No.17 ,
A.K. Baneerjee, Grassroot
movement representatives
from various states
Babu Mathew, Shrinath
Reddy, A.H.M. Nouman, Joga
Rao, Pradip Prabhu, Brian
Lobo, John Samuel, Sadhana
Hall, Colin Gonsalves________
4th Jan 2003
S.No
1.
Workshop/
Seminar/
Conference
Seminar
2.
Title
Organiser
Venue
Speakers
H. Sudarshan, Ravi Duggal,
Jean Dreze, Father Sebastian,
Sarojini, Seeta Prabhu, Ravi
Narayan, T.Sundaraman
Taj Hotel,
Ashok Mitra, Prabhat Patnaik,
Narayanguda C.P. Chandrashekhar, Jayati
Ghosh
Methodist
Open Forum on Land
School,
Evictions, Govenmance,
Room
Displacement etc.
No.7
Methodist
Ashish Nandy,
M.P.Parmeshwaran,
School,
T.Jayraman, Lawrence
Room
Surendra, Dinesh Abrol
No.8
Dwarka
Conference
Hall
Right to Health Care :
Moving From Idea to Realty
II
CEHAT
Seminar
Fluid Finance and Global
Crisis
IDEAS
3.
Workshop
Globalisation and Forestry:
Agenda for Peoples
Movements
All India
Peoples Science
Network
4.
Workshop
Science as a Resource for
Transformation
All India
Peoples Sicence
Network
Title
Organiser
Venue
Speakers
Science and Exclusions:
Race, Caste and Genetics;
Science and Communalism
All India
Peoples Science
Network
Institute of
Engineers
AKN Reddy, Pushpa
Bhargava, Satyajit Rath,
S.K.Thorat, T Jayraman,
Mohan Rao
C.P. Chandrashekhar,
D.K.Sangal, Rob Rees(South
Africa), Oscar Olivera
(Bolivia), Prabir Purkayastha,
Kjeld Jakobsen (Brasil),
Ashok Rao, Vinod Raina,
VAN Namboodri
5th Jan 2003
1.
Workshop/
Seminar/
Conference
Seminar
2.
Seminar
Privatisation of .
Infrastructure
All India
Peoples Science
Network, Jubilee
South
Hotel
Ahmol,
Conference
Hall
3.
Seminar
Patents and Access to
Medicines
National
Working Group
on Patent Laws
4.
Workshop
Taking the People’s
Movement Forward
Community
Health Cell
5.
Workshop
Pharmaceutical Policy
AIDAN,
FMRAI,
NCCDP
Sundaraiya
Vigyan
Kendra
(Mini Hall)
Methodist
School,
Room No.
9
All Saints
School,
Room No.
12
S.No
6lh Jan 2003
Organiser
Venue
Speakers
Conference Alternatives and
Peoples Movement
Focus For
Global South,
All India
Peoples Science
Network
Nizam
College
Grounds,
Conference
Hall 1
Sustainable Livelihood:
Appropriate Technology
and Alternative "
Development Strategies
Privatisation of
Infrastructure
AH India
Peoples Science
Network
Institute of
Engineers
All India
Peoples Science
Network, Jubilee
South
Hotel
Anmol,
Conference
Hall
Workshop
Whose Information
Technology Is It?
Nizam
College,
Room
No.302
5.
Workshop
Globalisation and Climate
Change
All India
Peoples Science
Network, Free
Software
Foundation
Tamil Nadu
Science Forum
Prabir Purkayashta, Walden
Bello (Philippines), Sulak
Sivraksha (Thailand),
Medha Patkar, Rajendra
Singh, Ashok Mitra, Kishan
Patnaik, Sitaram Yechury,
Oscar Olivera (Bolivia), Eva
Morlis (Ecuador),
M.Parameswaran, Minar
Pimple
A KN Reddy,
D.Raghunandan, Gautam
Ray, Joginder Walia, Ajay
Khare
Prabir Purkayastha, Girish
Sant, Chittoroopa Palit,
Nepomuceno Malaluan
(Phillipines), Maristela Dela
Cruz, Ana Maria Nemenzo,
Kusfiardi, Henrikus
Bonefasius Henry, Abdul
Majeed Kanjoo
Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Rajiv
Sangal, G.Nagarjuna,
P.V.Unnikrishnan, Madan
Mohan Rao, P.V.S. Kumar
6.
Workshop
The Marginalisation of
Sahariya Tribe
BGVS
Rajasthan,
BGVS M.P.
7.
Workshop
Women Access To Health
8.
Workshop
Alma Ata and Primary
Health Care: The Asian
Experience
Women’s Global
Network on
Reproductive
Rights
Community
Health Cell
S.No
Workshop/
Seminar/
Conference
1.
2.
Seminar
3.
Seminar
4.
Title
Nizam
College,
Room No.
211
Methodist
School,
Room No.
12
Nizam
College,
Romm
No.210
aefegonaid
nepal
A50A S@OAL FOKUM
6th January 2003, Hyderabad.
KIGHTS EASED MOVEMENTS
IN NEPAL
Nepal is an independent Himalayan Kingdom bordering
in between India and China.
A Country where a massive political instability is ongoing
Still people are continuing their struggle for their Rights
and dignity.
We need your Solidarity
MAJOR ISSUES :
Land Rights
Dalit Rights
"S’
Bonded Labour
Indigenous people and
their Resource Rights
Womens’ Rights
Organized by : ACTION AID NEPAL AND ITS ALLIANCES
Place
: Nizam College
Centenary Block Room # 325
Time
2.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m
6th January, Monday
5emmor- Socialism of the Future/
Future of Socialism/
An Alternative Polity
(Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,
Al! India Federation of Trade Unions,
Nation Alliance of People's Movements)
V.V. Function Hall
Contact: Vijay Pratap,
P K Murthy,
Sanjay M.G.
Workshop: indo-Pak Dialogue on Desertification
(South Asian Dialogue on Ecological
Democracy-CSDS)
Methodist, Room No. 8
Contact:
Arun Kumar Panibaba
M P Parameswaran, Kishen Patnaik, Bagaram Tulpule,
Chico Whitaker, Geetha, Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy,
PradipGiri, Karamat Ali, Director Noor, Sandeep
Pandey, Sudhakar Reddy, Vijay Pratap, Sanjay M.G.,
Yogendra Yadav, Tord Bjork, [Yet to confirmDipankarBhaftacharya, Samir Amin, Walden Bello]
Moderator: Annanya Bhattacharya, AjitJha
Co-Chair: Surendra Mohan, Kanu Sanyal
Thardeep (Pakistan), Arun Kumar
8ih January, Wednesday
8.00 a.m.-4.30 p.m. Jain Sewa Sangh
Forms of Global Solidarity/Evaluation of the ASF Experience/Perspectives for Future Struggles for Radical Democracy
Accomodation hr participants:
CSDS Events Coordination Office:
Jain Sewa Sangh (Dharamshala)
Near Kachchi Bhavan & Ram Court Crossing,
Edin Garden Road,
Hyderabad - 500 027
Taj Mahal Hotel
Phone: 24758221, Fax.: 24760068
1 • Office, Room No. 37
2. Arun Kumar, Room No. 55
The autorickshaw will take 15-20 rupees from the Hyderabad railway station,
30-40 from the Secunderabad railway station to the dharamshala.
It will take 8 rupees from the dharamshala to Nizam College.
For anything regarding ASF secretariate:
1. Anil Mishra - 9818220556
2. Uma Shankari - 23392726
Vijay Pratap, Dialogue Convener, Loknifi, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, 29, Rajpur Road, Delhi - 110 054
Email: vijaypratap@vsnl.net Mobile for ASF: 9885059445
You are invited to the events organised by the
Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS)
and its programmes in collaboration with other organisations/networks at the
ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM
2nd-7th January 2003 • Hyderabad
3rd January, Friday
Title & organisers
Venue & Contact
Speakers
Seminar. Religiosity, Identity and Democracy 1
the Spiritual Quest and Global Struggles
(CSDS, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)
Holl - A.V. College of Arts,
Science & Commerce,
Gaganmahal
Contact: Rajni Bakshi
Prabhash Joshi, JPS Uberoi, D.L Sheth
Ashis Nandy, Shail Mayaram,
Moderator: Rajni Baksni
Chair: V.B. Singh
Workshop: Nepal India Dialogue on
Nizam College
Room No. 606
Contact: Hemant,
Gopal S. Chinlan
Shubhamurti, Sudhirendra Sharma,
Gopal S. Chintan, Hemant
Indira Priyadarshini
Auditorium
Contact: Mukul Sharma,
Richa Singh
Walden Bello, N. Ram,
Frances Quimpo, Mohammad Tahseen,
Hari Rokka, Krishna Kanal,
Shyam Srestha, C. K. Lal, Chitralekha Yadav
i ■ i
(South Asian Dialogues on Ecological
Democracy-CSDS)
Seminar. Contours of Asian Solidarity
(Heinrich Boell Foundation, South Asia Study
Centres, Pravasi Nepal. Sangh, All India Nepal.
Free Students Union, South As.a Network Plan
(CSDS), JP Foundation for Asian Democracy)
4th January, Saturday
Conference: Democracy,
Nation State & Exclusions
(HBF, CSDS, National Campaign for Dalit Human
Rights, Pakistan Human Rights Comission, Dawn)
Seminar: Religiosity, Identity and Democracy IITowards Liberation Theology
(CSDS, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)
Workshop: Strengthening Democracy:
A View from Below
(CSDS/CADAM & VK)
Nizam College Grounds
Contact: MukuI Sharma,
Richa Singh
Amiya K. Bagchi, Aruna Roy,
Ashis Nandy, Gopal Guru
A.V. College Hall
Contact:
Gabriele Dietrich
Swami Agnivesh, Valson Thampu, Sandeep
Pandey, Ali Anwar, Amarjeet Singh Narang,
Suresh Sharma, Keshav Rao Jadhav
Chair: Andreas D'Souza
Moderator : Gabriele Dietrich
Methodist, Room No. 15
Contact: Ashok Bharali
Gopal Guru, Arun Kumar Pani Baba,
Kanval Bharati, Ashok Bharati
Methodist, Room No. 16
Workshop: Rethinking AIDS as
Contact: Rilu Priya
Social Responsibility
(CSDS, Swasthya Panchayat-Lokayan, Action Aid)
Deepak Singh, Vijay Thakur, C. Sathyamala,
Alpana Sagar, Manimala, Roy Laifungbam,
Pradeep Krishnatray, Flavia Agnes
Workshop: Corporatisation and Privatisation of
Wester in ted is
(^uth Asia Dialogues on Ecological DemocracyCSDS, Manthan Adhyayan Kendra)
■
Methodist, Room No. 14
Contact:
Shripad Dharmadhikiry,
Suresh Nautiyql
Shripad Dharmadhikary, Anastasia Laitila,
Sudnirendra Sharma, Arun Kumar Panibaba,
Uma Shankari (Release of Neethi Samakhya
book 'Let the Waters Flow', a backgrounder for
citizen's on water issues in A. P.)
Workshop: Alternative to Globalisation:
The Experience with Cooperatives
(CSDS)
Methodist, Room No. 1
Presentations on Tawa Fishworkers Coop. (MP),
Contact:'Yogendra Yadqv, Malar Women's Cooperative (TN), Land
Archana Prasad
Cooperative of Shramajivi Samaj (Gujarat),
Rope Making Coop. (HP), Mustard Oil Producers'
Coop. (Haryana), Moderator: Thomas Franco
5th January, Sunday
Seminar. Religiosity, Identity and Democracy III- A.V. College Hall
Islam, Muslims and Democracy
(CSDS, VK)
Contact: Javeed Alam
Workshop: Plight of Rickshaw Pullers and
Equal Road Rights
(CSDS & South Asia People's Transport Network)
Workshop: Engagement with Gandhi
All Saints, Room No. 7
Contact: Rajendra Ravi
(CSDS,VK)
Methodist, Room No. 5
Contact: R. Manivannan
Workshop: Alternatives to the Media Empires
(Sarai-CSDS)
Room 19, Methodist college
Contact: Ravi Sundaram
Workshop: Dangers of Nuclear Power
Methodist Room No.20
Contact: Kamal Chenoy
(CNDP, CSDS)
Rakesh Bhatt, Fatima Shahnaz, Haji Abdul
Sattar Ansari, Sardar Ali Khan, Harsh Mander,
MohammadTahseen and Karamat Ali (Pakistan)
Moderator: Javeed Alam Chair: D.L Sheth
Geetam Tewari, Dinesh Mohan, Anchita Ghatak,
Rickshaw Pullers Union Kolkata
Shudhdhabrata Sengupta, Ravi Kant, Aditya
Nigam, Sunil Abraham, Shekhar Krishnan
Workshop. Uranium Mining, Nuclear Power:
Issues of People, Security and Safety
(CSDS, CNDP)
Methodist, Room No. 16
Contact: Bela Bhatia
Workshop. Survival of Adivasis Glebab'y
{Working Group on Ecological Democracy-V.K.)
Methodist, Room No. 15
Contact:
Prof. B.K. Roy Burman
Ram Daval Munda, Netaji Raigadkar, Sukhdev
Babu Dike, Roy Laifungbam, Vilas Bhongade
Gini Shrivastav (Adivasi Mahila Samaj)
Workshop. Democracy in Nepal
Methodist, Room No. 11
(South Asia Study Centres, Think India, South Asia ■ Contact: Arun Joshi
Network Plan (CSDS), Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam)
Shyam Shreshtha, C.K. Lal, Hari Rokka,
Suneel Manander, Pradip Giri
Moderator: Deepak Bhatt Chair: Vijay Pratap
Seminar
Urban Land Rights in the context
of Evictions and Livelihoods
I
Date : 4/1/2003
Time : 2:30 p.m.
Venue : Sundarayya Vigyan Kendra (Mini Hall),
Opp. Garden, Baugh Lingan Palli
First
: Sharing experiences of struggle and alternatives
that are ongoing in cities like Mumbai, Delhi,
Calcutta, Chennai, Madurai etc.
Second Session
: Presentations by Experts :
• Urban Planning - Issues and Alternatives with
respect to Eviction and Livelihoods
• Oppression of Women and their struggle.
Third Session
: Open Forum :
Means of struggle, alternatives and process of
networking Urban poor at the National level.
Fourth Session
: Consolidation of issues by the Chairperson.
"Sawaal Jeene Ka" film will be screened at the end of the Seminar. The
film essays problems of Hawkers, Economy of Urban Poor and linkages
with agriculture, globalization, privatization and liberalization policies.
Organised by:
• YUVA - Maharashtra
• National Alliance for People's Movement
• Lokayan - Delhi
• Pennurimai Eyyakam-Tamilnadu
: 4/1/2003
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DESH BACHAO-DESH BANAO
National Campaign to a National People's Movement
The globalisation, privatisation policies have - infested our natural'
resources, our- living community, pur democracy, economy & polity.
■ Communalism & Casteism has further violated our lives & attacked our
national unity.
We, the toilers & workers facing an attack on our livelihood, our jobs &
self employment,
We, Who are up against inhumanity & violence "in the name of caste,
religion and nationalism,
.
We, Who care for gender equality & women's rights as human rights,
We, Who assert true democracy against corrupt politics,
We, the .displaced & .destitution alised for development have to
wake-up and fight,
Our battles need to be united to attain ® Community's right to resources & human right to livelihood.
• Democratic development with appropriate technology &
co-operative industry'
• Decentralised, accountable polity through peoples' power'
Activists to’artists, lawyers to mediapersons, students & teachers
all must join & strengthen -
A National Campaign
.
from Palakkad (Kerala) to Ayodhya
from Jan. 26th to March 30th
Rise to Acheive A Better Life. A United Nation
True Development With Equity & Justice !
Contact : NAPM stall at Asia Social Forum
: National Alliance of People's Movements
Haji Habib Bldg, Naigaon Cross Road, Dadar, Mumbai - 400014.
Ph. 022-24150529 (off.) 022-25369724/22184779 (Res.)
Mobile : 94481 32018 (P. Chennaiah A.P.) or 0980324062 (Sanjay M.G. Mumbai)
E mail : sansahil@vsnl.net ® medha@narmada.org ’
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NATIONAL CENTRE FOR LABOUR (NCL)
(An apex body of labour organisations in the Unorganised Sector)
8/10, Naina Shetty Palya, Bannerghatta Road Cross, Bangalore - 560 076.
Dear Comrades and Friends,
Season’s Greetings and New Year wishes from National Centre for Labour(NCL), an apex body of labour organisations
in the unorganised sector. Through its constituent members, NCL represents the interests of Agricultural labour,
Construction labour, Fish workers, Forest workers, Contract labour, Domestic workers, Hamalis, Granite and Marble
workers, Anganwadi workers, Self-employed persons, women workers etc. NCL has a membership of over 7,25,000
from ten states in India.
NCL is organising the following seminars in the Asian Social forum (ASF) in Hyderabad, to highlight the issues of
unorganised labour and putforth their demands, concerns and aspirations to the larger audience from Asian countries.
Through these seminars, NCL is trying to collate the experiences and knowledge, consolidate its techniques and
strategies in organising the unorganised and share the same with others since organising the unorganised is the most
challenging task ahead. NCL joins with the effort to examine the impact of Globalisation on the workers so far and
are the unorganised to challenge the process of Globalisation in India as part of a process facilitated by CEC,
Delhi with the other Central Trade Unions. NCL also shares its experience of working with the organised labour
particularly with the mine workers of KGF Town in Karnataka, interms of its efforts with other social, trade union,
women’s movements to oppose the closure of Mines.
B
Joining hands with other social movements like KKNSS (Karnataka Slumdwellers Federation) Women’s Voice (Move
ment for poorer and women involved in the unorganised sector of labour) AVAS ( expert on Shelter issues) NCL is
paving way to understand the challenges before the Urban Poor in Globalising India. Associating'with National
Campaign on Dalit Human rights (NCDHR), it is trying to articulate certain issues of labour from Dalit perspective.
Hence, on behalf of NCL, I invite you and your friends to attend the seminars for sharing and learning as well
exchange your ideas and views on the following, subjects.
LIST OF SEMINARS:
. si.
No.
Date
Time
/^^a.m. to 1 p.m.
1
' 03-01-2003
. 2
03-01-2003
1 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.
3
03-01-2003
4 p.m. to 6.30 p.m.
4
04-01-2003
9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
5
04-01-2003
2.30p.m.: 6.30p.m.
6
04-01-2003
2.30p.m -6.30p.m.
7
04-01-2003
2.30p.m -6.30p.m.
8
05-01-2003
2.30p.m.-6.30p.m.
•
Topic
Venue
Public Rally-with other
Peoples Movements
Organised by APVVU,
An affiliate of NCL
Public Meeting
From Secunderabad
Railway station to Indira .
Park
Seminar on Globalisation:
Challenges of Organising the
Unorganised
W.T.O. and Agriculture
Organised by APVVU
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
Indira Park,
Secunderabad
Jayaprakash Narayan
P.ranganam (Linganpalli
Function Hall)
Globalisation: Challenges of
Organising the Unorganised
Impact of Globalisation on
the Mine Workers of K.G.F.
Globalisation and the challenges
for the Urban poor.
KKNSS / Women’s Voice /
AVAS / NCL/NAWO
Impact of Globalisation on
Unorganised Sector Workers
and Remedies Facilitated by
CEC and initiated by NCL
Movementsr<arz^L.fSt. Paul’s Primary
School Hall
Saraswatha Parishat Hall
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
THE FOLLOWING SPEAKERS HAVE AGREED TO ADDRESS NCL SEMINARS:
1.
Dr. L.C. Jain
Former Indian Ambassador to South Africa
and Former Member of Planning
Commission of India.
2.
Shri. R.K.A. Subramanya
Secretary General, Social Security
Association of India.
3.
Dr. Devaki Jain
Former Member, Karnataka State Planning
Board.
4.
Dr. Pravin Sinha
Labour Advisor, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung,
New Delhi.
5.
Prof. Abdur Rahim
Dept, of Communation and Journalism,
Osmania University. Hyderabad.
6.
Dr. Sarath Babu
Karnatak University, Dhanwad.
7.
Shri. D. Thankappan
President, Kamani Employees Union and
Secretary, NCL.
8.
Shri. J: John
Director, Centre for Education and
Communication(CEC), New Delhi.
9.
Shri. M. Subbu
General Secretary, National Federation of
Construction Labour (NFCL) and Secretary, NCL.
10.
Shri. Chennaiah
General Secretary, Andhra Pradesh
Agricultural Workers Federation (APVVU)
and Secretary, NCL.
11.
Shri. Tom Kocherry
Chairperson, World Fishers Forum and
Secretary, NCL
12.
Shri. K. Loganathan.
President, Tamil Nadu Agricultural Labour
Movement.
13.
Dr. Ruth Manorama
President, National Allinace of Women
(NAWO), Secretary, NCL.
14.
Shri. M.A. Patil
President, Sarva Shramik Sangh and
Secretary, NCL.
15.
Shri. Ashok Choudhry
National Forest Workers and Dwellers Forum
and Secretary, NCL.
16.
Shri. Ashim Roy
President, Chemical Mazdoor Panchyat, Gujrat.
17.
Shri. Arbind Singh
Co-ordintor, National Alliance of Street Vendors.
18.
Smt. Anita Reddy
Hon. Director, AVAS.
19.
Shri. Kirtee Shah
President, Habitat International Coalition.
20.
Shri. N.P. Samy
Hon. President, KKNSS and
Secretary, Co-ordination, NCL.
21.
Shri. R. James Jeyaraj
Convenor, Bangalore District, KKNSS.
For details: Please contact: N.P. Samy, Secretary, Co-ordination, NCL, - 09844118491
Assam Social Forum
2OCJ3-HYDERABAD,
INDIA
INVITATION
4th January 2003 Programmes
Seminar on
Conducive Environment for the Voluntary Sector:
Problems and Prospects
2:00-6.00 pm, Indian Medical Asssociation (IMA) Hall, Koti
(IMA Hall is about 2.5 kms from Nizam College.
All buses bound towards Malakpet will go to IMA Hall, Koti)
Speakers:
Dr Vittal Rajan, Prof. Rama Melhote,
Mr. Ravi Nair , Mr. John Samuel,
Mr. K. Shiv Kumar, Mr. Mazher Hussain
Organised by: VANI & COVA
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
A Play on Communalism
Sare Jahan SeAccha
by Koshish Theatre Group
8:30-8.45 p.m
Conference Hall.II, Nizam College Hyderabad
Organised by: COVA
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Qawwali Programme
Iqhal Hussain Kh an Bandanawazi
Internationally Renowned Qawwal from Hyderabad
9:00 pm, Conference Hall No. I, Nizam College Ground
Organised by: COVA
ASIA SOCIAL FORUM
2-7 January 2003
Hyderabad
Seminar
on
LOCAL SELF GOVERNMENT - A FRONTIER OF RESISTANCE.
Date: 5 January 2003 2.30-6.30pm Venue: Saraswatha Parishad Hall (2 km away from Main ASF
Venue-Nizam College)
Considering tire ongoing corporate globalisation and liberalisation process on die one hand,
localization and decentralisation process on the other, it is extremely important to pitch on the
latter set of developments to combat the former. For that, local self-governments have to be
empowered with adequate powers and capabilities to put restraints on free market forces that
destabilize local systems in diverse ways-water privatization, waste management, assigning
waste lands to private players in the name of waste land development and tourism
development. In this scenario we believe that local governments are focal points of resistance to
increasing centralisation. Strengthening the democratic governance institutions at various levels
to question and challenge die present paradigm of development, proactively lobbying for
alternative regulatory mechanisms that will provide leverage to the local community and
governance systems to challenge the disempowering process unleashed by globalisation are
important pointers to the way ahead.
Objectives
> To critically assess the functioning of Panchayats and locate the role of Panchayats in
Tourism Development.
> To unearth the pressures of liberalisation on Local Govemments-in terms of water usage,
waste disposal and land exploitation and focus on the resistance points of Panchayat
Issues to be deliberated
Stocktaking of a decade of Decentralisation
It is ironic that the age old localization process has got turning point by way of constitutional
mandate in 1992 while this empowering process has been put under great risk due to initiation
of globalisation process at the same time. The behavior of various state governments in
translating the vision of Constitutional Amendment during the last decade (1992-2002) is to be
critically looked in to and learn lessons out of it to arrive at logical conclusions.
Local Self-Governments and Tourism
This current practices and trends in tourism as well as allied tourism developments have come
in to conflict with people's interests and local bodies as these plans are formalized at higher
level without consultation and participation of local stakeholders and their institutions. The
downward accountability and transparency have been largely ignored in the process of
economic development. Micro planning is largely remain as rhetoric without much practical
operational space. These have made Panchayats perpetually subservient to agencies of State
Government and hamper the democratic functioning of these bodies. The interface between
Panchayats and these tourism initiatives need to be analysed. The congruence between tourism
development and Panchayats and inter-linkage is forming a core part of our investigation
Local Self- Government and Issues of Liberalisation
Water privatization and waste disposal services which hither to considered as public services
and handled by Local Self Govemments-both urban and rural-as civic services -are going to be
put under litmus test because of present globalisation policies. The introduction of wasteland
development concept is also leads to directly harmonizing the laissez-faire polices and bring in
alien elements in control over common property resources which are precious and scarce in our
country. The pressures that local self-government is confronting with liberalisation process and
resistance by local governments are going to be deliberated up on here.
The Programme
Theme: Local Self-Government: A Frontier of Resistance
Introduction to the Seminar: Dr.P.Krishnamoorhty, EQUATIONS
Chair: K.T.Suresh, EQUATIONS
Session I: A decade of Experiences of Decentralisation in the Backdrop of 73rd and 74th
Constitutional Amendment
Key note address: Dr.L. C. Jain, Former Planning Commission Member
Session II: Experiences of Tourism Development (Site- specific)
Chair: L.D.Sagayam, People's Governance Cell (PGC)
• Kumarakom Panchayat and Tourism Development-Jo/i Kootummal, Environment Cell
Coordinator -Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad and Kumarakom Nature Club
Voices of Panchayat: P.G.Padmanabhan, Member, Kumarakom Panchayat
• Masinagudi -Tourism in Ecologically sensitive region - M.S.Selvaraj, Vivasaya Thozhilargal
Munnetra Sangam
Voices of Panchayat: Varghese, Member, Masinagudi Panchayat
• Uttranchal - Dr.Sunil Kainthola, Janadhar
Session III: Experiences from other Sectors
Chair: Joseph P.John, Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), South Zone
• Wasteland Development - Fatimson, Environmental Activist Madurai & Martin Taylor,
Church's Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA)
• Dalits, Globalisation &Panchayats-Dr.K«nc/m Ilaiah, Osmania University
• Privatisation of Public Services - Antonysamy, Tamilnadu Social Action Movement (SAM)
• Adivasis & Globalisation, Ranganathan, Tribal Associations for Fifth Schedule Campaign
Session IV: Discussion
For more information contact:
Dr. P.Krishnamoorthy, EQUATIONS - Mobile 09886013551
L Antonysamy, TNEC - Mobile 09842125020
Sagayam, PGC - Mobile 09884164725
Ranganathan, TAFSC - Mobile 09842742192
Organised by:
★ EQUATIONS, Bangalore *
The TAMIL NADU ENVIRONMENT COUNCIL, Dindigul * SOCIAL
ACTION MOVEMENT, Tamilnadu * PEOPLES GOVERNANCE CELL-Chennai * TRIBAL
ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE FIFTH SCHEDULE CAMPAIGN, Salem * CHURCH'S AUXILIARY FOR
SOCIAL ACTION (CASA), Chennai
Asia. Social Forum 2003
Joinit^che Asia Social Forum 2003:
2-7 January 2003, Hyderabad, India
Design your own process and event !
The 6 days of the Asia Social Forum will offer a variety of events :
Connecting Across Asia
Asia’s own diversity and spread invites and demands interaction and con
nections across the continent. The variety of Asian cultures, faiths and
traditions provides to the process a rich resource to explore. The Asia
Social Forum 2003 proposes and seeks participation from all the many Asian
sub-regions so that the process builds and yields a rich exchange bringing
=> 2 public/ plenary sessions, '<• e,' opening session on 2nd afternoon/cvening and _
closing session on 7th morning.
& conferences daily P Per day — total 8) from 3rd to 6th Jan.
25 parallel seminars daily (total 100)
o Upto so workshops daily (total 100-200)
Testimonies, Panels, Peoples' Voices, a,,d open "spaces for mass movements
together Central Asia, West Asia/Middle East, South Asia, North Asia,
All participating networks and organisations must arrange to cover
South-East Asia, and reaching out to the Pacific.
The WSF India is working to build contacts across Asia to develop an
costs of their travel and local stay, and to pay basic costs of Forum
facilities. These are:
initiative to form an Asia Solidarity Group/Network, which will mobilise
participation, support and assistance from organisations, movements and
networks from all over Asia. We welcome ideas, advice, and suggestions
for the WSF-India Working Committee, to help make the Asian Social Fo
rum a working example of unity in diversity. We invite proposals on content
and specific activities and events. We hope especially for interest and re
sponse from groups and networks in Asia, to give the Hyderabad setting a
genuinely truly Asian heart and character,
To join the network, organisations and interested individuals can register
(add your email in ‘Join the ASF Network’ on the website www.wsfmdia.org)
The Forum Focus
Event
No. of
Participants
Conference
Seminar
Seminar
Seminar
Upto 4000
1000-1200
800-1000
200-300
200’300
50-75
50-75
50-75
Seminar
Workshop
Workshop
Workshop
Facilities
Costs
AC, Auditorium
Non AC Hail
AC, Auditorium
Non AcTIiiil
AC, roundtable
AC Hall
Non-A/C, Simple
Rs.2,50,000 (S5000)
Rs. 30,000 (5600)
Rs. 3,000 (560)
Rs.25,000(5500)
Ils, 2,000 (SlO)
~Rs.2O,000(5400)
Rs. 15,000(5300)
Rs.500 (SI0)
Note: All Events are offour hour duration.
WSF India has identified key issues and broad themes :
Peace and Security
=> Debt, Development, Trade, Finance and Investment
=> Nation State, Democracy and Exclusions
o Social Infrastructure
=> Ecology, Culture and Knowledge
& Alternatives and Peoples Movements
Proposals for the organization of conferences /seminars/workshops are
invited from interested organisations and movements. Interested
organisations are requested to make their initial proposals for the pro
posed activities online to meet the deadline given below:
AC — air-conditioned
Equipment such as OHP, Slide Projector and LCD Projector are additional costs:
Equipment
Cost
Equipment
Cost
OHP
Slide Projector
Rs.400 (S10)
Rs.500 ($10)
LCD Projector
Rs.2,500 (560)
Meeting Spaces and Services: Conference halls, meeting rooms, open forum space;
translation and on site interpretation (limited languages, please enquire); display
and exhibit space; audio-visual and photocopying services, limited internet facili
ties (Please enquire on rates).
Delegate RcgistratiomThe individual registration fee for the Asian Social Forum
will be Rs. 100 ($2) per delegate, for individual delegates and Rs.25 per head for
groups (of groups with 50-200 delegates).
Local Stay/Accoinodation: Delegates will have to pay separately for their board
and lodging directly to the providers. The Hyderabad local organising committee
will help with information regarding logistics and help with bookings, etc, for del
egates. For all other details, contact ‘WSF India, (Delhi) Secretariat’.
Forum Schedule
Date
9.00 am to
1.00 pm
1.30 pm to
2.30 pm
2.30 pm to
6.30 pm
5.30 p= V 7.00 pm Io
7.30 p=
11.00 pm
2nd Jan.
Thursday
Registration
Opening Plenary
(open to public)
3rd Jan.
Friday
Conferences People’s
2 per day
Voices
25 Seminars in
Testimonies, Film shows;
Cultural
Panel
parallel
50-100 W’shops Discussions Performances
in parallel
41h Jan.
Saturday
Conferences People’s
2 per day
Voices
25 Seminars in
Testimonies, Film shows;
parallel
Panel
Cultural
50-100 W’shops Discussions Performances
in parallel
5th Jan.
Sunday
Conferences People’s
2 per day
Voices
25 Seminars in
Testimonies, Film shows;
parallel
Panel
Cultural
50-100 W’shops Discussions Performances
in parallel
6th Jan.
Monday
Conferences People.’s
2 per day
Voices
25 Seminars in
Testimonies. Film shows;
parallel
Panel
Cultural
50-100 W’shops Discussions Performances
in parallel
7th Jan.
Tuesday
Closing Plenary
(open to public)
Ifyou are interested in submitting films or participating in the cultural events
please contact us with your proposals.
Youth Camp: Young people are organising a special space for themselves
within the Asia Social Forum. Focusing mainly on the under privileged, the
unemployed, the marginalized the youth camp will feature special work
shops, films, music, and other events of, by and for Asian youth. Details
about participating in the youth camp and its activities are available on:
www.vouth4wsf.org. I ,r>g in and join the mailing list.
WSF-lndia Secretariat,
, 204, Elite House,
36 Community Centre
Zamrudpur.
New Delhi: 110048, India
Tel: +91 -11 -6221870,6285744
email: wsfindia@vsnl.net
WSF-lndia. Hyderabad Secretariat
1st Floor, Green Channel
opp. Nasr High School,
Khairatabad
Hyderabad-500 007
Andhra Pradesh, India.
Ph: 91-40-3392726.
Email: wsfhYd@hd2.dot.net.in
Register online at:
www.wsfindia.org
Another World is Possible!
Another Asia is Possible!
Let’s Build It!
World Social Forum - India invites you to join
the process of conceiving and constructing
alternatives to globalisation in Asia.
People’s movements across the world are working to identify and
demonstrate that the path to sustainable development and social
and economic justice does not lie in neo-liberal globalisation but in
alternative models for people-centred and self-reliant progress.
In 2001 and 2002, the World Social Forum process has explored and
proposed such alternatives, and questioned the rules of governance
and investment being set by the World Economic Forum. The people’s
argument is diat Another World is Possible. It is an argument based
on both vision and reality.
The World Social Forum developed as a response of the growing in
ternational movement questioning the neo-liberal economic policies
being pursued in most countries, and contesting both the merit and
inevitability of capitalist-led globalisation.
As the clock moves towards the 3,d international gathering of the
2003 World Social Forum at Porto Alegre in Brazil, WSF-lndia in
vites you to the city of Hyderabad, to take leadership in dialogue,
discourse and design to formulate, an Asian blueprint for building
another world — a plural, just, responsible and shared world which
accords equal dignit)''and rights to all its people.
The Asia Social Forum 2003 will focus not only on the impact but
also the processes of neo-liberal globalisation that is creating a small
global, ‘over-class’ and a vast, increasingly marginalised and vulnerable
under-class in every country. Every part of the process seeks to draw
out people’s perceptions regarding the impact of neo-liberal economic
policies and their attendant divisiveness on their daily lives. Local
forms and idioms will inform the language of resistance and the
formulation of alternatives.
Jubilee South Asia/Pacific
Asia/Pacific Movement on Debt and Development
Seminar on Ecological Debt
“Debt, Trade and Development” and “Ecology, Culture and Knowledge”
4 January 2003
Banquet Hail, Hotel Harsha, Mampally, Hyderabad,, India
Sponsors Jubilee South Asia/Pacific - Asia/Pacific Movement on Debt and Development (JSAP-APMDD)
Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC)-Philippines
Asian Regional Exchange (ARENA)
Southeast Asia Regional Institute for Community Education (SEARICE)
Objectives:
1.
Familiarize participants with the notion of Ecological Debt.
2.
Provide basic information and understanding of key issues within the Framework of Ecological
Debt
3.
Provide information on ongoing initiatives on Ecological Debt
Proposed Program: (Time Slot: 2:00 to 6:00)
Moderators: Aditi Chowdhury (ARENA) and Ian Rivera (FDC-Philippines/KALAYAAN)
Time
Session
1:45 to 2:00
2:00 to 2:15
Registration
Welcome Remarks - K.S. Gopal, Center for Environment Concerns
Major In-puts:
The Notion of Ecological Debt - VINOD RA1NA, Chairperson JSAP-APMDD
2:15 to 2:50
2:50
2:50 to 3:20
3:20 to 3:50
3:50to 4:00
4:00 to 4:30
4:30 to 5:00
5:00 to 5:30
5:30 to 6:00
5:30 to 6:00
Issues and Case Studies
■ Extractive Resources and the Mining Industry, Philippine Experience - Row’ll
Aguillon, FDC Philippines / Kalayaan
■
Earth and Forest, Indonesian Experience - Titi Soentoro - Solidaritas
Perempuan/KAU
Break
The Experiences of the Pacific Island Countries - Shelly Emalin Rao, Ecumenical
Center for Research, Education and Advocacy (ECREA) Fiji
■ Thai Experience - Ms. Preeyanut Ponpai, NGO COD North East
■ Indian Perpsectives - Carbon Debt - C.E. Karunakaran — Tamilnadu Science Forum
Open Forum
Wrap Up - K.S. Gopal
■
■
SAMGAT
(South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers)
SEMINAR ON
MILITARISATION, GLOBALISATION
AND RESURGENT PATRIARCHIES
ON
4th January at 2-30 to 6-30 p.m.
IS NOW AT
Ambedkar Bhavan, Lower Tank Bund Road
Speakers :
Anuradha Chenoy, India
Neloufer Demel, Srilanka
Nasrene Huq, Bangladesh
Indira Shreshtha, Nepal
Neelam Hussain, Pakistan
Gigi Francisco, Philippines
Meghna, North East India
and Others
There will also be songs
A Bus will leave at 2 p.m. From Nizam College Gate
Opposite the Registration Area (Route No.1)
Another World is Possible!
£ movement questioning the ndo-li^ral
economic policies being pursued in most
Another Asia is Possible!
Let’s Build It !
countries and capitalist-led globalisation.
As the clock moves towards the 3rd
international gathering of the 2003 World
Building
Another
World
World Social Forum - India
invites you to join the process
of conceiving and constructing
Asian
alternatives
to
globalization
working to identify and demonstrate that
the
path to sustainable development and
social and economic justice does not lie in
neo-liberal globalisation but in alternative
models for people-centred and self-reliant
WSF-India invites you to the city of
Hyderabad, to take leadership in dialogue,
discourse and design to formulate an Asian
blueprint for building another world - a
plural, just, responsible and shared world
which accords equal dignity and rights to
all its people.
The Asia Social Forum 2003 will focus not
only on the impact but also the processes
a small global, ‘over-class’ and a vast,
increasingly marginalised and vulnerable
under-class in every country. Every part of
the process seeks to draw out people’s
perceptions regarding the impact of neo-
liberal
economic policies
and
their
attendant divisiveness on their daily lives.
progress.
In 2001 and 2002, the World Social Forum
process has explored and proposed such
alternatives, and questioned the rules of
governance and investment being set by the
World Economic Forum. The people’s
argument is that Another World IS Possible.
It is an argument based on both vision and
reality.
The World Social Forum developed as a
response of the growing international
2-7 January 2003
Hyderabad, India
Social Forum at Porto Alegre in Brazil,
of neo-liberal globalisation that is creating
People’s movements across the world are
Asia Social Forum 2003
Local forms and idioms will inform the
language of resistance and the formulation
of alternatives.
Connecting Across Asia
Asia’s own diversity and spread invites and
demands interaction and connections across (he
continent. The variety of Asian cultures, faiths
and traditions provides to the process a rich
resource to explore. The Asia Social Forum 2003
proposes and seeks participation from all (he
many Asian sub-regions so that the process builds
and yields a rich exchange bringing together
Central Asia, West Asia/Middle East, South
Asia, North Asia, South-East Asia, and reaching
out to (he Pacific.
The WSF India is working to build contacts
across Asia to develop an initiative to form an
Asia Solidarity Group/Network, which will
mobilise participation, support and assistance
from organisations, movements and networks
from all over Asia. Wc welcome ideas, advice,
and suggestions for the WSF-India Working
Committee, to help make the Asian Social Forum
a working example of unity in diversity. We
invite proposals on content and specific activities
and events. Wc hope especially for interest and
response from groups and networks in Asia, to
give the Hyderabad setting a genuinely truly
Asian heart and character.
To join (he network, organisations and
interested individuals can register (add your
email in ‘.Join the ASF Network’ on (he website
.www.5vsfindia.org).
•
The Forum Focus
Joining the Asia Social Forum
2003:
Design your own process and event!
The events that are envisaged over a
period of 6 days, from 2nd to 7th January
are:
• 2 public/ plenary sessions, i.e. opening
session on 2nd afternoon/evening and
closing session on 7th morning.
• 2 conferences daily (total 8)
• 25 parallel seminars daily (total 100)
• Upto 50 workshops daily (total 200)
• Testimonials, and open "spaces"for mass
movements
All participating networks and
organisations must arrange to cover costs
of their own travel and local stay, and to
pay basic costs of Forum facilities.
The individual registration fee for the Asian
Social Forum will be Rs.100 (S2) per delegate.
Delegates will have to pay separately forlheir
board and lodging directly to the providers. The
Hyderabad local organising committee will help
with information regarding logistics and help with
bookings, etc, for delegates. For all other details.
contact ‘WSFIndia, Delhi Secretariat’.
'
Forum Schedule
>
Date^nd January 2003
0.00 am to 1.00 pm
2.30 pm to 6.30 p.m.
'.00 to 11.00p.m.
: Registration
Opening Plenary (open
to public)
: Film Shows;
Cultural Performances;
Testimonials, Open spaces
Date : 3rd January 2003
9.00 am to 1.00 pm
: Conferences - 2 per day
(3-4,000 people);
2.30 pm to 6.30 p.m.
; 25 Seminars in Parallel
(200-300 people); 50-100
Workshops (50-100 .people)
'.00 to 11.00p.m.
; Film Shows;
Cultural Performances;
Testimonials, Open spaces
Date : 4th January 2003
9.00 am to 1.00 pm
: Conferences - 2 per day
(3-4,000 people);
2_5O pm to 6.30 p.m.
: 25 Seminars in. Parallel
(200-300 people); 50-100
Workshops (50-100 people)
7.00 to 11.00p.m.
: Film Shows;
Cultural Performances;
Testimonials, Open spaces
Date : 5th January 2003
9.00 am to 1.00 pm
: Conferences - 2 per day
(3-4,000 people);
2.30 pm to 6.30 p.m.
: 25 Seminars in Parallel
(200-300 people); 50-100
Workshops (50-100 people)
7.00 to 11.00p.m.
: Film Shows;
Cultural Performances;
Testimonials, Open spaces
Date : 6th January 2003
9.00 am to 1.00 pm
: Conferences - 2 per day
(3-4,000 people);
6-30_p.m^
: 25 Seminars in Parallel
■ (200-300 people); 50-100
Workshops (50-100 people)
7.00 to 11.00p.m.
: Film Shows;
Cultural Performances;
Testimonials, Open spaces
Date : 7th January 2003
9.00 am to 1.00 pm
Closing Plenary (open to
public)
Those interested in submitting films or participating in the
{.cultural events are welcome to set in touch with their proposals. >
•
Youth Camp:
Young people are organising a special space for
themselves within the Asia Social Forum. Focusing
mainly on the under privileged, the unemployed,
the marginalized the youth camp will feature special
workshops, films, music, and other events of, by
and for Asian youth. Details about participating in
the youth camp and its activities are available on:
www.youth4wsf.org. Log in and join the mailing
list.
WSF-India, Delhi Secretariat,
204, Elite House, 36 Community Centre
Zamrudpur.
New Delhi: 110C4S
Tel: + 91 116476580 Tele-fax: 91 116435441
wsfindia@vsnl.net
Registration for events is online at:
www.wsfindia.org
WSF-India, Hyderabad Secretariat
1st Floor, Green Channel
opp. Nasr High School,
Khairatabad
Hyderabad - 500 007
Andhra Pradesh, India.
Ph: 91-40-3392726.
_ ______ Email: wsfhyd@hotmail.com
wsfhvd@hd2.dot.net.in
Jana Swasthya Abhiyan
People's Health Movement
at Asia Social Forum
2-7th January 2003, Hyderabad
An evolving plan o f the J ana Swasthya Abhiyan I
People’s Health Movement process and related
events at ASF.
The People’s Health Movement including Jana
Swasthya Abhiyan, India, is a process of
‘conceiving and constructing’ alternatives to
globalisation and its ‘ill effects on health’ so we
are an integral part of the evolving movements
around the world, in Asia and in India. Our
enthusiastic and collective presence in ASF
Hyderabad is an imperative!
Overall Objectives
I. To meet in Hyderabad as JSA, 32 months after
we all launched Jana Swasthya Sabha in Hyderabad
on 7lh April 2000 and 24 months after JSS became
Jana Swasthya Abhiyan in Kolkata / Dhaka, to (a)
take stock, (b) share initiatives and campaigns and
(c) plan future strategies.
To enhance collaboration with PHM Asian
2.
partners so that Asian PHM solidarity and
collectivity is enhanced.
3. To discuss certain newer emerging concerns and
to link them into PHM / .ISA mobilization process.
These include:
a.
b.
Right io Health
Environment and Health
Right to Food
Access to Drugs and Patent Law V
Externally funded Health Sector Reform
programmes - Social Audit
Globalisation and women access to health.
Right to water / privatization of water
War, conflict and Natural Disasters and Health
Tobacco and Health--------------
r Tentative Programme (As of T' November, this^
will include)
4. To utilize the strategic intersectoral opportunity
of ASF to link health concerns on the agenda of
other movements and in turn recognise the
intersectorality of health and its deep socio
economic-political-cultural determinants. All the
themes of WSF India have a health dimension
2.Right to Health Care - Moving from idea to
reality (Seminar 1)
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
11
i.
a. Peace and Security;
b. Debt development and trade;
c. Democracy and exclusion;
d. Social infrastructure;
e. Ecology and culture;
f. Alternative development and people's
movement.
The closest link will be sessions on social
infrastructure.
5. To initiate the celebration / reflection of 253
Anniversary of Alma Ata Declaration and its links
with the People’s Health Charter and the movement
- in India and Asian region by evolving a
Hyderabad declaration as an expression of concern
and collectivity. This will re-endorse the Alma Ata
Declaration and its 2000 AD enlarged version the
People’s Health Charter.
To enhance information - perspective 6.
enthusiasm - solidarity sharing with JSA - PHM
arid boost the ongoing JSA/PHM.morale, spirit and
strategy.
1.Social Infrastructure (Conference-1)
Focus Will cover Education in the Era of
globalization; Health in a globalised world; food
security under threat; Entitlements and “safety
—nets”--------------------------------------------------
Focus will cover the content, constitutional,
legal, operational and financial aspects of the
Right to Health Care.
3.Environment and Health (Seminar 2)
Focus Will cover testimonials and reports from
20 situations in India where toxins / pollutants
are affecting environment and health of local
communities and where local action and
campaign have begun. (It will be preceded by a
Green Peace ‘jatha’ which between 10lh
November 2002 and 3rd January 2003 will link
all these ‘hotspots’ as part of the 1000 Bhopal’s
campaign.
4.Right to Food (Seminar - 3)
S.Externally funded Health Sector Reform
Programmes
A cross country Social Audit (Workshop -1)
Focus There are many states in India which have
large externally funded health sector reform
programmes. The experience of EAPs in Health
wil] be reviewed and subjected to a social audit.
6.Access to Drugs and Patent Laws
(Workshop 2)
' 7.Building People’s Action for Right to Health'
(Workshop 3 - Sharing experiences)
from different stales and
PHM
13.
Declaration which was re-endorsed and strengthened
Focus Many participants from India and Asia have
by the People’s Health Charter. Depending on the
number of Asian country participation, this will be
also been involved with follow up action after PHM
an Anniversary' Reflection focusing on ’where are
Dhaka and Kolkala. Those who have been actively
involved as indixiduals. organizations, networks will
we in Asia’ in the context of both AAP / PHM. It
will also be an occasion to strengthen the signature
be invited to share their initiatives and make
campaign.
suggestions for follow up action and strategy.
launched soon.
Privatization of Water (Workshop 5)
Jakkasandra 1 Main.
I Block, Koramangala.
Bangalore - 560 034.
Phone:080-553 15 IS
Telefax: 080-552 5372
Email: sochara@vsnl.com
‘The million for Alma Ata’ being
Dr. Amit Sen Gupta.
Delhi Science Forum.
Focus Issues ofprivatization of water supplies; Right
A public hearing on Pesticidesand Health is being
to safe adequate, potable water; issues of water
planned by Pesticide Action Network and Asian
quality and impacts on health.
partners
B-l, 2nd Floor.
LSC, J Block, SakeL
New Delhi -110 017.
Phone ; 011 -686271616565036 (O)
Email: ctddsf@vsnl.com
War, Conflict and Disasters (Workshop 6)
Focus The People’s Health Charter has a separate
implications. The focus will be on Gujarat,
Sri Lanka,Nepal, Palestine.
Women’s Access to Health Care in a
Globalising Economy (Workshop 7)
Focus WGNRR are in the process of developing
an International working circle on this theme and
—havewelcomed al! health activists and researchers
interested in the topic to participate in the workshop.
12.
14.
Dr. Ravi Narayan.
Community Health Ceil.
#367. ‘Srinivasa Nilaya’.
Pesticide'Action Network (Public Hearing)
section on war, conflict and disasters and their health
11.
An Alma Ata Anniversary Reflection
(Working Group)
Focus 2003 is the 25"' Anniversary of Alma Ata
8.Taking the PHM forward : A sharing and
conceptual discussion (Workshop 4)
10.
Abhiyan related conference . seminars and
workshops, write to one of the following :
control.
/ JSA
experiences.
9.
' For Further information on the Jana SwasthyaN
local level). Discussions will be held on
working together at various levels for Tobacco
Focus Report on experiences / campaigns
constituents, learning from each others
T^acco control initiatives (al the global ano
Tobacco and Health
Focus
Will present a canvas of the entire range
of activities and effects related to Tobacco
production; supply; distribution; consumption;
health effect etc and include an overview of
Details are awaited.
WORKSHOP
"WIDOWS
AND
ORGANIZING
SEPARATED
FOR
WOMEN
CHANGE!"
Monday, January 6 2:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Place - Room No. 18th, Methodist School
Low income widows and separated women in Rajasthan, India face many problems - ill-
treatment by in-laws and sons, land rights being grabbed by brothers-in-law, being considered
inauspicious, corruption in accessing government resources, sexualvulnerability, illiteracy and the worst - feeling alone.
"Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan: is a Rajasthan-wide "Organization of Strong Women Alone"
fighting for their rights! In less than 2 years, over 9,000 low income widows and separated
women have joined together, and are making remarkable changes all over the state.
Organized and Aware, these women are changing their lives, and are working on other
issues of society as well.
Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan is organizing this Workshop, hoping others will come from
other countries and states,
• To share their strategies, case studies of successes (and failures)
• To identify reasons for the marginalization
• To identify and analyse the problems low income women alone face
• To explore ways Asian organizations may work together with empowered Women Alone
to bring widespread social change
We invite to this Workshop, women and men concerned about the social, economic,
educational, health, and political problems of low income widows and separated women.
The languages of the Workshop will be English and Hindi.
Contact Information: Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan (The Association of Strong Women Alone),
39 Kharol Colony, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. 313 004.
Ph. 0294-245-1348 Fax: 0294-245-1391 E-mail: astha39@sancharnet.in
jor thousands of years,
women have produced
their food and guaran
teed food security for
their children and
Creeping t
wod
*
|
communities. Even
today, the primary work
of maintaining
household food security
in Women's Hands J
through local food
production, processing
and distribution is done
by women.
The patriarchal mindset
not merely devalues
women's role in food
security, it also destroys
biological and cultural
diversity through the
concepts of monoculture
and corporate
monopolies on life and
knowledge embodied in
Intellectual Property
regimes and technologies
What tamper with life
The Diverse Women for Diversity (DWD),
itself such as genetic
an international network of women,
engineering.
emerged as a Southern response to the
Globalisation of the
threats to cultural and biological diversity
market puts trade above
posed by globalisation. Founded in 1997,
sustainability and profits
following the Conference on Plant Genetic
above life. The
commodification of all
Resources in Leipzig in June 1996,
resources and
the movement today has a presence in all
relationships that ensure
continents. The moment aims at building
sustainability and peace
and concentrating women's energies to
has led to a global
increase in hunger and
starvation, in violence
and terrorism.
DIVERSE WOMEN
FOR
DIVERSITY
articulate and provide alternatives
based on equality, justice, sustainability
and peace.
DWD's
Excerpts from The Leipzig Appeal for Women's Food Security
Statement of Concern
FOOD SECURITY IN WOMEN S HANDS:
We women, in all our
vibrant and fabulous
diversity, have witnessed
the increasing aggression
against the human spirit,
human mind, and human
body and the continued
invasion of and assault upon
the Earth and all her
diverse species. And we are
enraged.
FOOD SOVEREIGNTY FOR ALL,
NO TO NOVEL FOOD AND
NO PATENTS ON LIFE
For thousands of years women have produced their own food and guaranteed
food security for their children and communities. Even today, 80 percent of the
work in local food production in Africa is done by women, in Asia 50 to 60
percent and in Latin America 30 to 40 percent. And every where in the world,
women are responsible for food security at the household level. In patriarchal
society, however, this work has been devalued.
All societies have survived historically because they provide food security to their
people. This policy, however, has been subverted by the globalisation, trade
liberalization, industrialization and commercialization of all agricultural products
under the auspices of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the World
Bank/IMF.
organisations, transnational
World-wide, women are resisting the policies which destroy the basis of their
livelihood and food sovereignty. They are also creating alternatives to guarantee
food security for their communities based on different principles and methods
than those governing the dominant, profit-oriented global economy. They are:
corporations and individual
♦ localization and regionalisation instead of globalisation
men who share our rage,
♦ non-violence instead of aggressive domination
that they address the crisis
♦ equity and reciprocity instead of competition
We demand of
governments, international
that has been caused by
the creation of
monocultures and the
reduction, enclosure, and
extinction of biological and
cultural diversity.
We insist that those who
would address the crisis
listen to and take
leadership from women,
indigenous peoples, farmers,
and all who have raised
these concerns at the local
level. We ask them to heed
those whose wisdom,
stewardship, knowledge
and commitment has
already been demonstrated
by the preservation of the
diversity we celebrate
today.
♦ respect for the integrity of nature and her species
♦ understanding humans as part of nature instead of as masters over nature
♦ protection of biodiversity in production and consumption
Food security for all is not possible within a global market system based on the
dogma of free trade, permanent growth, comparative advantage, competition and
profit maximization. On the other hand, food security can be achieved if people
within their local and regional economies feel responsible, both as producers and(
as consumers for the ecological conditions of food production, distribution and
consumption, and for rhe preservation of cultural and biological diversity where
self-sufficiency is the main goal.
Our food security is too vital an issue to be left in the hands of a few
transnational corporations with their profit motives, or up to national governments
that increasingly lose control over food security decisions, or to a few, mostly male
national delegates at UN conferences, who take decisions affecting all our lives.
Food security must remain in
women's hands everywhere!
And men must share the
necessary work, be it paid or
unpaid. We have a right to
know what we eat! No to
Novel Food and No to Patents
on Life. We will resist those
who force us to produce and
consume in ways that destroy
nature and ourselves.
Leipzig, June 20, 1996
Maria Mies, Vandana Shiva
DWD organised a Women's Day of Food at the VIn Rome in November 1996 to highlight women's c
impact of globalisation on household and ncK ■
atement on
Water Resources
Water is life. It's a gift of nature.
The access to water is a natural and fundamental
right. It is not to be treated as a commodity and
traded for profit. People shall have the right to
freedom from thirst, and shall have adequate
.<
access to safe water for all of their living needs.
The increased walk of women to access water
and the pollution, depletion and diversion of
H water
have undermined women's ability to keep
H
Children plant the Neem tree with Diverse Women at Nairobi to reaffirm their
nurturing relationship with the Earth
DWD
Statement on Biodiversity
Biodiversity is a gift of nature.
We have used our biodiversity and
knowledge cooperating with other life
forms.
We have created and sustained the basic
knowledge, which meets our societies'
needs for food, health, clothing and shelter.
Our knowledge is now being pirated and
locked up in patents. Our relationship with
the Earth and all its beings is being
ruptured and poisoned, and our
community rights destroyed.
Biodiversity deprived of its local roots and
rights is being turned into a commodity.
We will resist with all our talents and
strengths and imagination this destruction
of our biological and cultural diversity.
We will rebuild our connections with the
earth and all her species, and we will
rebuild our communities for the well being
and happiness of all.
In the face of corporate takeover, such
defence and recreation of community rights
requires solidarity and COOPERATION
BETWEEN all people.
We call upon governments to abolish
patents on life and recognise community
rights and strengthen the Convention on .
Biological Diversity for this purpose.
their families healthy and their homes clean.
Citizens across the world are committed to work
globally in solidarity for the defence of community
rights to local water resources.
1i
.J
For us, the "global water commons” means the
global solidarity of defending and recreating such
rules, rights and responsibilities.
Diverse women of the world will not allow our
water to be made a commodity for profit.
We demand that governments acknowledge
community rights to water, protect them globally
and initiate an international legally binding
framework for such protection at the World
Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002.
Women of different regions have organised as Diverse
Women to provide an alternative voice and vision to
the dominant paradigm of commercialization and
corporatisation of Food Security and the privatization
of natural resources through the Agreement on
Agriculture and TRIPs Agreement of the WTO at the
World Food Summit in Rome (1996 and 2002)
WTO meetings in Seattle in 1999, the World Bank
meeting in Prague in 2000, the Convention on
Biological Diversity in Bratislava (1998) and Nairobi
(2000) and Rio+10 at Johannesburg (2002).
Diverse Women and Raging Grannies organised a candle light march during
the protest against the WTO-Ministerial Meet at Seattle, 1999.
Charter of the
National Alliance for Women's Food Rights
Women and children suffer most when food rights are threatened therefore womens and
children's food rights must be at the centre of our country s concerns.
I. We women from diverse groups and organisations demand that our Food Rights as enacted in the Constitution be protected under
E
any economic regime, and by all governments.
2. We demand that the government immediately act through policy intervention to arrest rising food prices and inflation which are
E
E
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clearly linked to structural adjustment policies.
3. We call for the reintroduction of the Essential Commodities Act since unregulated markets create freedom for hoarders and black
marketeers and make the ordinary public victims of harsh scarcities of essential commodities like food.
4. We call upon the Government to strengthen the public distribution system (PDS). We demand an expanded system wh.ch w,ll
include many more essential commodities. We demand that ration cards be given without hindrance to all those who require them. /,
Foodgrains at half the price of ration supplies must be supplied to those below the poverty line. In particular, tribal areas must be
given priority in the distribution of cheap foodgrains and other essential commodities. Women should be given a special role in the
running of these PDS networks and the community should be encouraged to play a bigger role. This is essential to make a system /
more accountable and to prevent pilferage and black marketing. A multi-tiered system needs to be established consisting of; *
■
national grain banks in which the Government must play a stronger role, all the way to the micro level where community run and
women run grain banks become the basis for household food security and a community level public distribution system.
WB
EH
5. We demand proper land use policy guidelines to prevent diversion of agricultural land for commercial purposes including
aquaculture and horticulture. Common land and panchayati land is being handed over to commercial interests depriving the
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village poor of their use. We demand this practice be stopped and that the land be used for production of fodder, fuel etc. We
demand a full and genuine implementation of land reforms, and an immediate halt to the removal of land ceiling laws and a stop
to foreign direct investment (FDI) in agriculture. The removal of land ceilings and the opening of FDI in agriculture is increasing
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the numbers of landless and increasing the burden on the landless.
6. Declining public investment and encouragement of the corporate sector in agriculture leaves the farmers vulnerable to rural
capitalists and multi-national corporations (MNCs). We call upon the Government to encourage public investment and restrict
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MNC investment in agriculture.
7. We women call on the WB to stop the deliberate creation of hunger and malnutrition in India through structural adjustment
policies especially those forced on agriculture.
8. We demand safe and healthy food for all. We demand the Government ensures that our food is free from chemical and
non-chemical adulteration. Effective food safety provisions need to be in place to prevent adulteration, thereby enabling the
public access to safe and healthy foods of our choice.
■fiS
9. We outrightly reject genetically engineered foods. Genetically engineered foods are proving to cause retarded growth and
immune deficiencies (The Hindu, 13/8/98). Since women and children are the worst victims of malnutrition, health hazards
due to the consumption of genetically engineered foods will be most severely felt by poor women and children.
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10. We call upon the Government to immediately stop the license free importation of I million tonnes of soyabean (for our
edible oil industry) which is not necessary - from a point of view of people's food rights and will pose threats to livelihoods of
farmers, a large section of whom are women. It will also pose a threat to women and children's health since the Government
SSR
has failed to take action to ban the importation of genetically engineered soya or demand the separation and labeling of all
genetically engineered foods.
^B
■
■
B
■
I
I
I
1 I. We demand a halt to the use of imported food and unsafe food for welfare schemes such as the ICDS (Integrated Child
Development Scheme) Mid day Meal programme, in which such foods as pre-processed corn soya blend is being used extensively.
Not only is such imported food hazardous to our health due to the use of genetically engineered soya, but our local, nutrient-high
cereal and grain economy is being marginalised to support resource intensive production systems of the developed countries.
12. The government price support system must be reoriented to ensure the meeting of basic food needs for women and children.
We call upon the Government to increase procurement prices of staple foods, especially those of millets and legumes, in order to
encourage farmers to return to growing essential food crops. Non-food crops (for example, cotton, tobacco and jute) cultivated as
raw materials for industries should have no government procurement prices since industries can directly pay remunerative prices to
farmers.
13. Women have always played an important role in the production and processing of food. Cottage and small industries in the food
processing sector which gave some employment and income are being taken over by MNCs and big business companies encouraged
by the Government. Apart from destroying women's livelihoods, this also leads to the flooding of the market with expensive, unhealthy
junk food. Food resources are being diverted on a large scale to this elite consumer market, creating scarcity for households and rising
price rises. We demand that food processing should be reserved for the small scale sector. Such a reservation of the food processing
industry for the small scale sector would be consistent with WTO requirements of national treatment, since we would be treating
domestic industries in the same way as MNCs by excluding both from entry into the food processing industry.
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I
;
14. We call upon the Government to restrict and ban all exports of essential food till all are fed. We demand that the food needs of
women and children of this country are met first, and only the surpluses from meeting this need should be used for trade exports.
Instead of women eating last and least relying on the leftovers for their sustenance, we demand that global trade be left with the
leftovers only after the food rights of all within the country are met. The Government needs to maintain vigilant monitoring of production.
consumption and the food needs of all.
In India, DWD articulates its commitment to diversity and non-violent technology to ensure c ■ ;
security through the National Alliance for Women's Food Rights, which has been in the fordr
protecting women's and children's right as producers and consumers of food.
/
In 1999, women came together to protest the
entry of Cargill, the agribusiness giant in world
food trade, in India's domestic markets. Besides
taking over larger flour mills, which led to the
closure of thousands of small, cottage-industry
based mills in the country, they introduced their
brand of flour “Nature Fresh”.
Consumers have a right to know... how
fresh is "Nature Fresh"?
Women Demand:
• That Cargill immediately withdraw the "Nature
Fresh” advertisements and render an apology for
insulting all women and workers of India who use
their hands to work.
Q • That Cargill allow representatives of the National
Alliance for Women's Food Rights and ordinary
women to visit the Cargill processing mill to issue
a report on the actual processing.
Highlighting the voices offarmers and consumers
A’"4
Together with farmers' unions and Navdanya,
DWD organised the People's Seed Tribunal —
Bija Panchayat in 2000, where small farmers from
across the world gave evidence of the crisis in
agriculture as a result ofglobalisation.
a Panel
on Hunger. Food ’
2001, Rudrtorium Raje
Globalisation has resulted in the re-emergence
offamine. DWD, together with Research
Foundation for Science, Technology and
Ecology, organised the Public Hearing on
Hunger and Food Rights - Anna Panchayat in May 2001 to highlight the crisis of
widespread human and starvation and the
total collapse ofPeople's food security.
^ndatioi
Mionl
Women Say “No” to Genetic Engineering
Women visionaries who have founded the DWD movement have
provided alternatives to a global economy dominated by capitalist
patriarchy and have pioneered the resistance to genetic engineering at
the scientific and movement level. DWD has been organising a series
of BIODEVASTATION workshops and public panel discussions to
focus attention on
the hazards of the
patriarchal technology
of genetic
engineering.
The NAFWR has
spearheaded the movement
against GE in India by
taking up issues such as the
1998 dumping of GE soya
that had been rejected by
European countries and
Japan, under pressure from
corporations like Cargill,
and which resulted in the destruction of the local mustard oil
economy. Through demonstrations, rallies, and public awareness
campaigns, women protested the destruction of their oil economy as
well as their cultural diversity that mustard represented. DWD is also
campaigning
against policies
that lead to the
destruction of
natural sources of
Vitamin-A to
make way for
genetically
engineered rice
and mustard.
DWD Statement on
Contraceptive Corn
We call for an Immediate halt to any further development and
application or release of contraceptive com, a corn genetically
engineered by EPICYTE of San Diego using a rare human disease
to create human Infertility.
Any release to the environment can spread the pollen of such com
and turn one of the major food sources Into a contraceptive hazard.
Therefore we also call for strengthening of regulation and strict
implementation of biosafety and human rights laws to prevent any .
further development of this technology to prevent any such
disasters.
Women as
knowledge keepers
and custodians
of cultural diversity
Nature has given us abundance, women's indigenous
knowledge of biodiversity, agriculture and nutrition
has built on that abundance to create more from
less, to create growth through sharing.
* Women farmers share seeds freely and with
sharing as a base, there can never be scarcity.
* The giving and sharing of food in abundance has
been the basis of ensuring food security.
*J The giving and sharing of knowledge has been
Bie basis of the growth and evolution of knowledge.
An economy of sharing is an economy of
abundance.
BRINGING MILLET BACK; DWD's Forgotten Foods organic lunch brought nostalgic memories
of grandmother’s millet and amaranth based recipes.
DWD celebrated the Basmati Victory - the revocation of the broadbased patent claims of
RiceTec Inc. by the USPTO with a rice dinner. Over 20 rice dishes from various parts of India
gave an insight to participants of the role of cultural diversity in food.
• This worldview of abundance is based on sharing
and on a deep awareness of humans as members of
the earth family. This awareness that in
impoverishing other beings, we impoverish ourselves
and in nourishing other beings, we nourish ourselves
is part of our present ecological knowledge and
ancient wisdom.
• Without giving and sharing there can be no
sustainability; without sustainability, there can be no
peace.
• DWD movement celebrates sharing for
sustainability and peace through food festivals,
exposure tours, training programmes in biodiversity
Jbnservation, sustainable agriculture, indigenous
healing systems, water conservation, capacity
building for leadership and good governance.
Flowers of Tesu (flame of the forest)
are the traditional cause of colour for the spring festival of Holi.
We, Diverse Women for Diversity
Given the extent of such structural terror in the world
(DWD) committed to a peaceful
it is perhaps surprising that direct terrorist attacks, like
world, celebrate our differences.
that of September II, are not more common. If we
From our differences come our
want to end terrorism we must pay attention to all
strengths. We come from all the
sources of injustice that widen the gap between rich
continents, and from different
and poor, men and women, nature and human beings,
cultures and races, and are united in
and which create the hopelessness that can lead to
our vision for peace and justice for
terrorism. We stand with those who are working to
the world today. We want to leave a peaceful and
remove the structural causes of injustices.
just world for our children and for the generations to
Women, children, the differently-abled and the
aged are the worst victims of this reign of terror:
come. We celebrate and uphold cultural and
biological diversity. We will defend all forms of
diversity and resist all forms of monoculture,
fundamentalism and violence from which intolerance
D W D S tatem ent on Peace
and hatred arise.
♦ the terror of not having water to drink and food to
eat;
4- the terror of food and water contamination;
The tragedy on September I I has shown us another
♦ the terror of loss of livelihood;
face of terror.
+ the terror of losing home, homeland, family and
We join in the pain of all people who have faced the
terror of those who do not value the sanctity of
human life. We especially abhor the use of human
beings themselves as weapons. In this regard the
terror of September I I cannot be viewed as a lone
event. Many acts of such terror have been inflicted
on the peoples of this earth. The sacredness and
dignity of life, and the right to peaceful existence and
justice have been destroyed through imperialistic
globalization and all forms of fundamentalism.
Among the many tools of terror in the modern
world are:
economic sanctions and structural adjustment
policies by the WB, IMF, WTO, the transnationals,
and their accomplices in the different governments
that lead to starvation and disease epidemics;
community and becoming a refugee;
4 the terror of persistent poverty that leads to the^
sale of life and body organs;
V
♦ the terror of being forced into prostitution as a
means of survival;
4- the terror of living in communities where drug
abuse has become a way of life;
4- the terror of losing our children to a culture of
violence;
4 the terror of increased violence, in all forms, against
women;
4 the terror of patriarchy, racism, and casteism which
affects the vast majority;
4 the terror of living in a society where basic human
rights for women are not respected.
biotechnologies that threaten the roots of life;
We, Diverse Women for Diversity, pledge to over
monocultures that destroy social and biological
come this capitalist patriarchal terrorism. We will work
diversity;
towards a world free of war, hunger and social and
degradation of the environment for monetary gain;
4 widespread application of pesticides that lead to
deformities, illness and death;
pollution of soils, water and ecosystems at large;
economic injustices. We condemn all acts of war anW
call on all nations to boycott pacts of aggression. We
invite all women of the world to join with us in
stopping governments from rushing into a mindless
global war. Together, we will find peaceful, creative
the pursuit of profit by global corporations which
and non-violent ways to end terrorism in all its forms.
is the driving force behind terrorism - terrorism
We ask all peoples of the world to stand with us in
which destroys sustainable livelihoods, cultural
defending and celebrating diversity, peace and hope.
identities and the right of people to basic
necessities of life;
October I, 2001
New Delhi, INDIA
the marginalization of indigenous peoples through
continuing colonization, and the loss of
sovereignty;
the growing disparity between the rich and the
poor between countries, and within countries,
Including countries of the "developed" nations;
the US-led NATO alliance with its new strategy
which is fostering war all over the globe, with
other governments being blackmailed to join in-this
leads to further militarization and violence within
all countries.
(P
diverse women
FOR
DIVERSITY
A-60, Hauz Khas,
New Delhi-110 016, India
Tel,: 91,11-6561868, 696£0/-
Fax: 91-11-6562093, 685f
E-mail: divwomen@vsui /- j
www.diversewomen.'.
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% The International College for Sustainable Living
VW Bija Vidyapeeth
Biodiversity, Biotechnology, Biopiracy
February 9 - 22,2003
with Pat Mooney, Jacqueline McGlade, and Dr. Vandana Shiva
*
Biodiversity today is being threatened by attempts to pirate and control it through patenting and
by the biotechnology of genetic manipulation. But biodiversity is also being conserved, and
communities around the world are fighting to ensure that the natural heritage they have preserved
for centuries is not stolen or destroyed.'
Biotechnology and Biopiracy
Genetic Engineered (GE) seeds such as “BT Cotton” and “Round Up Ready Soya” are replacing
biodiverse agriculture around the world, and spreading genetic pollution. Contrary to claims,
Genetic Engineering is not bringing new benefits to farmers or consumers, though it is creating
new risks.
New definitions of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRS) are creating an infrastructure for an
epidemic of piracy, which has already started. A handful of multinational companies are
claiming to have invented, and thereby patent, centuries-old staples such as Wheat Flour, and
Rice, as well as traditional uses of everything from the Neem tree to Haldi (Tumeric).
Biodiversity Conservation
Since 1987, Navdanya (of which Bija Vidyapeeth is an educational programme) has been
working to preserve biodiversity through promoting sustainable organic farming (from the field
to the table), and by fighting the threats of biotechnology and biopiracy. Navdanya has set up a
network of community seed banks across the country, helping preserve and promote the
incredible diversity of Indian agriculture. It successfully fought and won cases to prevent
foreign companies from patenting India’s indigenous Neem tree and Basmati rice, by forming
the largest conservation movement in the area of agro- biodiversity and seed conservation.
Navdanya is also working on defending community rights, especially over traditional knowledge
and local resources, through its living Democracy movement.
The Course
*
The course will begin on the Bija Vidyapeeth campus, set on Navdanya’s organic farm (a few
kilometers outside of Dehra Dun, Uttaranchal, India). Faculty will provide a framework for
exploring the impact (ecological, social, and environmental) of current trends in modern
agriculture. We will also look at the benefits of sustainable farming, which produces more
nutrition per acre without destroying the ecological base. The highlight of the course will be a
field trip in the Himalayas to visit communities who have been practicing sustainable agriculture
to conserve biodiversity. The course will then proceed to Delhi for the final day of exploring
how we can integrate theory and practice.
Faculty:
Dr. Vandana Shiva is the founder of Navdanya and director of the Research Foundation for
Science, Technology and Ecology, founded to do research in a participatory mode with people,
not on them - and to do research with an interdisciplinary approach, - reflecting the
interconnections in the web of life. She is the recipient of the 1993 Right Livelihood Award often called the “Alternative Nobel Prize”, the award recognizes “vision and work contributing
to making life more whole, healing the planet and uplifting humanity.” Her books, “The
Violence of Green Revolution,” “Stolen Harvest” and -‘Monocultures of the Mind” have become
basic challenges to the dominant paradigm of non-sustainable agricultural practices.
Jacqueline McGlade is the Natural Environmental Research Council Professorial Fellow in
Mathematical Biology at University College London. Her research is primarily concerned with
developing a theory of governance of natural resources. Professor McGlade is the author of
Governance ofNatural Resources and Theoretical Ecology, and has appeared in many radio and
television programmes, including her own BBC series The Ocean Planet and Learning from
Nature. She is chairman of the Millennium Project, The Earth Centre, a Board Member of the
Environment Agency, and a member of the UK-China Forum.
Pat Mooney is Executive Director of ETC group, (formerly RAFI - the Rural Advancement
Foundation International), and was the first to inform the world about Terminator seed
technology. For more than thirty years, Pat Mooney has worked with civil society organisations
(CSOs) on international trade and development issues related to agriculture and biodiversity.
Born in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, Mooney has lived most of his life on the Canadian prairies.
The author or co-author of several books on the politics of biotechnology and biodiversity,
Mooney received The Right Livelihood Award (the "Alternative Nobel Prize") in the Swedish
Parliament and the American "Giraffe Award" given to people "who stick their necks out".
About Bija Vidyapeeth .
In a world dominated by greed and competition, speed and restlessness, pollution and ecological
destruction, war and violence, Bija Vidyapeeth offers a unique opportunity to explore and
practice the art and science of sustainability. Bija Vidyapeeth offers a unique insight into the
tenets of sustainability and deep democracy through interactions with the foremost intellectuals
and sustainable communities of our times.
Based on the principles of sustainability and diversity, the campus is located on Navdanya’s
organic farm in Doon Valley. Nestled in the foothills between the Himalayas and Shivalik
mountains, it offers an ambience that reinvigorates oiir vital link with nature and promotes
contemplation, enquiry and dynamic action.
For more details, .contact
Coordinator, Bija Vidyapeeth
A-60, Hauz Khas,
New Delhi, India
Tel: 91 II 26561868,26562093
' Fax: 91 11 26562093
bij a vidyapeeth@vsn 1. net
www.bijavidyapeeth.org
’ Schedules and Resource Faculty are subject to change due to unforseen circumstances
BIJA
Issue No. 29 - December 2002
GMO’s: The Failed Promise
September 2002 saw the large-scale failure of Bt cotton in
India, which had been commercialized with much fanfare
in barely six months earlier in April, when the Genetic
Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) had given
permission to Monsanto/MAHYCO for commercialization
of three Bt varieties. The failure was so total that farmers,
researchers and academics joined voices in denouncing
Bt cotton.
Failure of Bt. Cotton
Despite the Research Foundation's case in the Supreme Court
against Monsanto and Mahyco for the illegal and inadequate
In addition, rather than making Monsanto-MAHYCO respon
sible for ensuring that the refugia conditions are me, the rules
put the onus on the farmer for compliance. In the case of small
farmers, compliance will be practically impossible.
The failure of Bt. cotton has completely exposed the companies
who are trying to market their GM seeds at the cost of the
farmers’ live and livelihood.
The GEAC is equally responsible for a great loss that Bt. cotton
growers are facing, a loss caused by the GEAC’s hasty
and irresponsible decision to give clearance to an untested
technology.
trials of Bt. cotton as well as a worldwide citizens movement
against GMO’s, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
Rather than learning any lesson from the Bt fiasco that has
pushed farmers to penury, Instead of accepting their mistake,
(GEAC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests gave
the MoEF Minister insisted that the failed Bt. cotton crop is
the approval for commercialization of Bt. cotton in March
successful and hence cleared the way for approving the Bt. for
this year.
northern region as well as the other GM crop that is in the
pipeline - transgenic mustard.
The Bt. was planted in 40,000 hectares in seven states but
has been found to be a total failure in controlling the
American bollworm, as it was designed to do. The maximum
yield is expected to be not more than 4 quintals as found
by the field study team of the Research Foundation in the
states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
and Karnataka. In most of the Bt. fields the plants are
almost matured and farmers have uprooted their Bt.
plants to sow another crop while the other varieties have
yet to give second and third flush and expected to reach
an yield of 12 quintals. In Vidharba farmers have got only
30% yield from Bt. while in Andhra due to heavy pest
attack farmers had to spray the same amount as on any
other hybrid cotton variety to control American bollworm.
Moreover almost every Bt. farmer made several sprays
to control sucking pests like Jassids, aphids and trips
after 40 days with the reduction in expression of the
treated chemicals to control sucking pests. RFSTE field
study proved that the claims made by Monsanto-Mahyco
GM Mustard: creates a risk of food contamination
The adulteration in mustard in 1998 caused more than 50
deaths in Delhi, which led to banning of mustard oil in
several states. This ban resulted in the import of genetically
engineered soya oil into India. It also led to the collapse of
the Indian mustard growing farmers, who reduced the
acreage under this oilseed, thus paving the way for the
introduction of a new type of adulteration of mustard - through
transgenic mustard.
The new type of adulteration through genetic engineering is by
introducing different bacteria, Barnese - a highly toxic male
sterile gene (which is an RNA and if not controlled, can code
for destruction of any living cell) and Bar-the glufosinate
tolerance gene from Streptomyces hygroscopicus.
If a little extra mixture of argemone weed seeds can cause a
dreaded disease like dropsy and can kill hundreds of people, no
an effective pest resistant crop
one knows how these living organisms would behave and create
what new disease and how many more people will die. The
has been proved false by large scale commercial planting
Multinational company PGS-Aventis-Bayer with the help of an
this year.
Indian company ProAgro claims to have spent just 5 crores on
The Bt. farmers have not only lost their savings in
protecting the Bt. crop but their cotton staple is of lower
middle grade which has not much demand in the market
hence the farmers would lose on the market front too,
its trial in 5 years, and is now putting pressure on the
government, even through media, to get the clearance from
Ministry of Environment and Forests. By spending just 5 crores,
the corporations are ready to play with the lives of more than
50 crores Indians who use mustard oil every day as edible oil.
These companies have acknowledged the fact that the oil and
about Bt. cotton as
keeping in mind that the cotton prices have already gone
after US declaration of export subsidy to its farmers under
the new farm bill.
oil meal of the glufosinate resistant transgenic mustard was not
very extensively tested for safety on human beings. Through the
Neglecting Biosafety
transgenic mustard, these Biotech companies basically warns to
sell their herbicide glufosinate as the GE mustard is supposed
The GEAC has stipulated that farmers sowing Bt cotton
must plant 20% of their fields with non-Bt varieties.
However, there is confusion amongst scientists as to what is
the distance of pollen transfer. The ranges claimed vary from
2 metres to 3 miles.
to be resistant to glufosinate.
Besides being harmful to humans, it would also be dangerous
to our biodiversity and the various wild and local mustard
varieties, of which India has many. These could be transformed
BIJA
Issue No. 29 - December 2002
into weeds and super weeds through cross pollination and other
recently extended its operation to 98 villages in Udaipur,
means of pollen transfer.
Chittorgarh and Banswara districts of Rajasthan and so
far about 80 tonnes of seed have been sold to the farmers of
So far the citizens’ movements e.g. RFSTE, Greenpeace and
others have managed to put pressure on the GEAC and the
the region.
government in delaying the clearance to this dreaded and
most toxic food product. However, the way the failed Bt. cotton
For corporations like Monsanto, profit making through the sale
crop has been magically been declared as successful, this
of chemicals is vital. Thus even while they proclaim that
their GE crops require less pesticides, they are actually
transgenic mustard can also been declared as safe and get a
clearance from GEAC.
promoting the use of chemicals, even as they point their
fingers (as done in the Bt. cotton case in SC) at RFSTE as
Corporate Motto:
stooge of pesticide lobby for opposing the Bt. cotton.
Actual commercialization of Monsanto’s Bt cotton in India
GMO’s or No GMOs, chemicals should sell
resulted in farmers having to used far more pesticides to
It is not just in the case of Bt. cotton or the glufosinate resistant
control not just other pests, but also the American bollworm
transgenic mustard that corporation like Monsanto or Aventis
(now Bayer) are deceiving poor farmers. All corporate seeds
against which Bt is supposed to provide protection.
Monsanto’s much-lauded project “Humsafar” actually
are chemically intensive seeds. Monsanto is pushing the
farmers of drought stricken and famine-ridden Udaipur and
involves the introduction of its eco-narcotic, Roundup (the
controversial glysophate-based herbicide) to small and marginal
neighbouring districts of Rajasthan to take to industrial
peasants of Udaipur, and turning an important local food and
fodder crop into raw material for industry,
farming of maize, and to use its hybrid corn and its herbicide
Roundup, no doubt as a prelude to introducing the genetically
engineered Roundup Ready varieties once the poor and debtridden farmers are further pushed on to this ecologically
genocidal herbicide trap.
For Roundup, farmers are being totally misled about its safety
in a region, which is drought prone, the ready recipe for
desertification.
Herbicide use is supposed to reduce labour involved in tilling
Monsanto claims that as a result of the Humsafar programme,
the yield of maize rose from 25 quintals per hectare to 50
quintals per hectare and the profitability of the farmers also
doubled, from Rs. 7500 per hectare to Rs. 15000 per hectare.
In fact, its publicity brochures distributed among the farmers
and weeding, and at the same time, reduce competition for
nutrition and space by killing of the weeds. The concept of
weeds as competing for nutrition and space with cultivated crops
is claiming even much higher yields i.e. 50-90 quintals per acre
(125-225/ ha).
such as the farmers in Rajasthan, traditionally cultivate more
than one crop at a time. In fact, in typical traditional Indian
However, a study conducted by RFSTE shows that Monsanto’s
agriculture, there is no concept of weeds. Plants that are not
sown often provide food for humans, cattle, and finally for the
claims are utter lies. Monsanto’s own field staff at Wana and
Menar villages in Udaipur reported that the varieties have
yielded only 12 quintals/acre (30 quintal/hec.).
Three Different and Contradictory Productivity Claims by
Monsanto:
❖
❖
soil as green manure. Many of these plants and their roots form
the most critical ingredient of food security in the droughtstricken region, where people stave off famine through
consuming these plants.
Often, the supposed weeds are a source of medicine for humans,
Reported by Monsanto field staff:
for animals and for plants; they also may have pesticidal or other
2.4 qtls/bigha; 12 qtls/acre; 30 qtls/hectares
❖
is the result of monocultures, where all crops other than the one
being “cultivated” is considered a weed. However, small farmers,
beneficial properties. Udaipur region in fact, is rich in its
Reported by Monsanto for the Humsafar Award:
4 qtls/ bigha; 20 qtls/acre; 50 qtls/hectares
naturally growing medicinal plant diversity used by thousands
of traditional healers for ayurvedic preparations.
Reported by Monsanto in its brochure:
18-20 qtls/bigha; 50-90 qtls/acre; 125-225 qtls/hect.
The killing of agro-biodiversity by the broad spectrum herbicide
However discussion with farmers growing Monsanto varieties
and desi (local) varieties reveals that there is hardly any
difference in the yield compared to the desi maize varieties.
While desi maize varieties yield 6 quintals per acre (15 quintals
per hectare) Monsanto varieties yield 7 quintals per acre (17.5
qtls/ hectare).
Moreover the price of Monsanto seeds vary from Rs. 250 to 275
for a packet of 5 kg., whereas the same quantity of Desi/Local
varieties costs only Rs. 25/-. However there have been no tests,
whether these “high yielding” hybrid varieties seeds are genetic
engineered. This is urgently required since Monsanto has
2 .................................................
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will not only wipe out the rich medicinal plants biodiversity but
also the fodder for animals, which has become more scarce due
to drought. Already hundreds of animals have died in Rajasthan;
the scarcity of fodder will lead to increased starvation and deaths
of animals.
The case of both Bt. cotton and hybrid corn-Roundup sales
confirms that the corporations like Monsanto arc not selling
farmers’ prosperity but disaster. It is time for an independent
assessment of Monsanto's seeds and products worldwide.
Meantime the scientific call for a freeze on commercial release
of any genetically engineered crop must be headed if poor
peasants have to be saved.
BIJA
Issue No. 29 - December 2002
IPRs & Biodiversity:
How New Laws Promote Biopiracy & Biopatenting
India has passed the Patent (Second Amendment) Act, 2002,
the Plant Variety Protection Act, 2001, and the Biodiversity Act,
2002. These acts open the door for biopiracy and biopatenting.
The Convention on Biological Diversity provides a comprehen
sive and internationally binding legal framework for the
protection of biodiversity for the recognition of sovereign rights
of the Third World over biodiversity and its components, and
to protect and to strengthen the indigenous knowledge systems
and patents of use of biodiversity by local communities.
The TRIPs Agreement of the WTO, on the other hand,
promotes corporate hijack of biodiversity and knowledge, as
well as the patenting of life forms. The changes in the Indian
IPR laws reflect a commitment to WTO rather than to CBD.
Whether it is the Patent (Amendment) or the Plant Variety
legislations or the Biodiversity legislation, the national imple
mentation process increasingly moved from openess to secrecy,
from the protection of public interest and national interest to
the protection of global corporate interest.
Corporate Pressure Shapes National Laws
The conflict between the global corporate interest and the
national public interest was very apparent on the processes of
drafting all legislations related to IPRs and biodiversity
But ultimately under the pressure from the US government and
corporations our national legislations on IPRs, which got
through the Indian Parliament in last couple of years, ignored
the national interest and favoured the corporate interest through
its provision for the patenting of life and indigenous knowledge.
The biodiversity law, passed during the winter session in 2002,
has been made an access law endorsing for biopiracy and
allowed IPRs on our seeds and genetic resources.
Amending Patent Laws
In 1995, the Government tried to amend the Indian Patent Act
to implement TRIPs but failed.
In 1996, the US initiated a dispute against India on non
implementation of TRIPs.
In September of 1997, the WTO ruled against India in the
TRIPs dispute.
In October 1997, the Government set up a committee to
implement articles 70.8 and 70.9 of TRIPs.
In March 1999, the Government of India amended the Patent
Act 1970, through the Patents (Amendment) Act, 1999 to allow
Exclusive Marketing Rights (EMRs) when the review of
TRIPS was due in the same year 1999 in the Ministerial at
Seattle. This was also done despite the disclosure of patent on
Basmati taken by the RiceTec Inc in US.
The 1999 Act provided for the grant of Exclusive Marketing
Rights (EMRs) with regard to pharmaceuticals and food articles
to those who apply for product patent in these areas pending
the disposal of their patent applications. Under the amendment,
these EMRs shall be granted if the applicant has obtained a
product patent for that product in any other member country
which is a signatory to the new GATT Agreement. The only
examination before the grant of such EMRs has been restricted
to the matters mentioned under Sections 3 &. 4 of the Indian
Patents Act. Thus a person having obtained a product patent
in a member country would be almost automatically be granted
Exclusive Marketing Rights (EMRs) for the sale and distribu
tion of that product in India merely on his making a patent
application in India. Though the Amendment makes a
provision for the grant of compulsory licence for marketing the
product in India, there is no provision made for the grant of
compulsory licence for manufacturing the product in India.
The Act does not provide any safeguards against biopiracy of
indigenous knowledge systems. It does not have any provision
to safeguard against the allopathisation of the Indian traditional
medicine systems.
It has not exempted plant-based medicines and drugs from
patenability. India is a rich source of medicinal plants, many of
which are commonly used everyday - e.g. ginger, turmeric, tulsi,
ajwain, etc. Patents on these plants and drugs and medicines
derived from them, leading to biopiracy. Once these patents
become legalised in our country, our people will, over time, lose
all access to these plants and will be forced to buy the patented
drug from the companies holding the patents. Often they may
not even be able to use these plants as foods. This will have a
very serious impact on indigenous medical practitioners, who
now cater to over 70% of the health needs of the country. In
addition, granting these patents will turn a free and freely
accessible resource into a highly priced, difficult to access
product of the company.
In April 1999, RFSTE challenged the Patents (Amendment)
Act, 1999 as being against public interest, public health, national
interest and violative of the Constitution of India. Though the
case continued till 2001, on 8,h January 2002 the Bench
comprising Justice Kripal, Justice Bala Krishanan, and Justice
Pasyad heard the case for hardly 5 minutes and dismissed it, but,
on the appeal of our counsel Mr. Prashant Bhushan, gave us the
liberty to come to the court again if the government failed to
protect the public interest in this law.
The Doha Declaration
The Doha Declaration aims at providing ‘access to medicines
for all’ and recognises and reaffirms the flexibility of
TRIPS provisions and the right of Members to use to
the maximum these flexibilities by adopting effective
compulsory licences systems to provide affordable medicines
for its citizens. Unfortunately India failed to address the
public interest angle of the Doha Declaration in the Patent
(Second Amendment) Act, 2002. The amended Act does
not reflect the spirit of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS
Agreement and Public Health.
The Doha Declaration: silent on patents on
seeds and life
The Doha TRIPs declaration completely fails to include the
same for seeds and farmers’ rights. Therefore the NGO
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community issued a statement on “TRIPs, genes, seeds and
medicines” at the Doha Ministerial, which stated:
The fundamental rights to rural livelihoods, food and
health, depend on affordable seed and affordable medicine.
TRIPs is threatening farmers survival by creating seed
monopolies, and making seeds more expensive. Farmers
particularly in the developing world are being pushed into
heavy debt and suicide as a result of rising cost of seed and
related inputs.
There are 900 patents on staple food crops with half of
them controlled by just 4 multinational corporations. Seeds
that small farmers have evolved over centuries such as the
famous Basmati from India and Pakistan, have been
claimed as being the “invention” of corporations such as
Texas based RiceTec. TRIPs is unbalanced and asymmetric
and is promoting such biopiracy.
Surprisingly, the Ministerial Declaration issued at Doha did
refer to “protection of traditional knowledge and folklore” but
the mandatory review of 27.3 (b) which started in 1999 and
which should have addressed issues of biopiracy is being stalled
by the rich countries. Further, neither the ministerial declaration
nor the TRIPs declaration addresses the issue of seed monopo
lies or farmers rights under suigeneris systems, which recognise
their collective, cumulative contributions to breeding.
The Government of India had already amended the Patent Act
1970, in March 1999, and in the same year introduced the
patent (Second Amendment) Bill, 1999 when the review was
due the same year. Government’s rush to introduce the second
amendment within the same year was not a response to TRIPs
obligations but to the pressure of global pharmaceutical and
agri-chemical and biotech industry.
Patents on Seeds and Life Forms Allowed
The Patent (Second Amendment) Act, 2002 was cleared by the
Parliament in May 2002 under the cover of the national
emergencies - the genocide in Gujarat, the spread of terrorism,
and an impending war. And the main reason to clear this Bill
in May was not only providing product patent for drugs; it was
done to have the IPR system in place to ensure protection for
the genetically engineered seeds through allowing patents on
life. It was in the month of March that the first genetically
engineered seed, Bt. cotton of Monsanto and Mahyco was
cleared for commercialization by the Genetic Engineering
Approval Committee of the Ministry of Environment and
Forests and in May the patent amendment bill law was cleared.
The amended legislation provides for changes in the scope of
patentable inventions, grant of new rights, extension of the term
of protection, provision for reversal of burden of proof in case
of process patent infringement and conditions for compulsory
licenses.
There are two amendments in the definition of what is not an
invention that has opened the floodgates of patenting of
genetically engineered seed.
First, in Section 3(i) “plants” have been omitted.
According to Section 3(i), the following is not an invention:
Any process for the medical, surgical, creative, prophylactic or
other treatment of human beings or any process for a similar
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_______ Issue No. 29 - December 2002
treatment of animals or plants or render them free of disease
or to increase their economic value or that of their products.
The omission of“plants” from this section implies that a method
or process modification of a plant can now be counted as an
invention and can hence be patented. Thus the method of
producing Bt. cotton by introducing genes of a bacterium
Bacillus thurengensis in cotton to produce toxins to kill the
bollworm can now be covered by the exclusive rights associated
with patents. In other words, Monsanto can now have Bt. cotton
patents in India. The Amendment of 3 (i) is clearly a Monsanto
Amendment.
The Second Amendment has also added a new section 3(j).This
is also a Monsanto Amendment since it allows production or
propagation of genetically engineered plants to be counted as
an invention, and hence patentable. The section 3(j) excludes
as inventions “plants and animals.......... including seeds, varieties
and species and essentially biological processes for production
or propagation of plants and animals”. However, the emergence
of new biotechnologies is often used to define production of
plants and animals through genetic engineering as not being
essentially biological. Without a clear definition that all
modifications of plants and animals, is essentially biological, 3(j)
allows patents on GMOs patentability and hence opens the
flood gate for patenting transgenic plants. The language of 3(j)
is a verbatim translation of Article 27.3 (b) ofTRIPs into India
law. Article 27.3(b) of TRIPS states:
Parties may exclude from patentability plants and animals
other than micro-organisms, and essentially biological
processes for the production of plants or animals other than
non-biological and microbiological processes. However,
parties shall provide for the protection of plant varieties
either by patents or by an effective sui generis system or
by any combination thereof. This provision shall be
reviewed four years after the entry into force of the
Agreement establishing the WTO.
It is not surprising that the Monsanto Amendments have been
made in India’s patent laws according to TRIPS. After all
Monsanto had a hand in drafting the TRIPS agreement.
As a result of sustained public pressure, after the agreement
came into force in 1995 many Third World countries made
recommendations for changes in Article 27.3 (b) to prevent
biopiracy. India in its discussion paper submitted to the TRIPs
Council stated:
Patenting of life forms may have at least two dimensions.
Firstly, there is the ethical question of the extent of private
ownership that could be extended to life forms. The second
dimension relates to the use of IP Rs’ concept as understood
in the industrialized world and its appropriateness in the
face of the larger dimension of rights on knowledge, their
ownership, use, transfer and dissemination
Informal system, e.g. the shrutis and in the Indian tradition
and grandmother’s portions all over the world get scant
recognition. To create systems that fail to address this issue
can have severe adverse consequences on mankind, some
say even leading to extinction.
Clearly there is a case for re-examining the need to grant patents
on life forms anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, it may be
advisable to:
BIJA
1.
Issue No. 29 - December 2002
Exclude patents on all life forms.
2.
If (1) is not possible then exclude patents based on
traditional/ indigenous knowledge and essentially derived
products and processes from such knowledge.
3.
Or at least insist on the disclosure of the country of
origin of the biological source and associated knowledge,
and obtain the consent of the country providing the
resource and knowledge, to ensure an equitable sharing
of benefits.
A global movement is calling for a ban on patents on life and
recovering of the generic basis of life as “commons” which
cannot be owned and privatised.
On 26th March, Monsanto used GEAC to gets its own
Biosafety clearance for Bt. Cotton, while earlier it had instigated
the GEAC to declare Navbharat Seeds’ Bt cotton as unsafe, and
had it uprooted. However, if Monsanto’s Bt. cotton is now
deemed to be safe and Navbharat’s Bt. cotton would have to
be declared safe, and hundreds of Navbharats would multiply
and sell Bt. cotton seeds, undercutting Monsanto’s market
monopoly.
To prevent competitors from selling seeds and to prevent
farmers from saving seeds, Monsanto has now turned to the
patent laws to get monopoly rights. The Monsanto Amend
ments of India’s patent laws are a logical consequence of the
clearance for the commercial planting of GMOs in Indian
agriculture.
Corporations like Monsanto genetically manipulated seeds to
get control over seed sector not to help farmers. If the seeds
could be freely reproduced and patented, Monsanto's monopo
lies would not have been established.
Patents on seeds are a necessary aspect of corporate
deployment of GM seeds, and crops. When combined
with the ecological risks of genetically engineered seed like
Bt. cotton, patents on seeds create a context of total control
over the seed sector, and hence over our food and agricultural
security.
There are 3 ways in why the 2nd Amendment of the Patent
Laws jeopardised our seed and food security and hence our
national security.
Firstly, it allows patents on seeds and plants through 3(i) and
3(j). Patents are monopolies and exclusive rights which will
prevent farmers from saving seeds and seed companies from
producing seeds. Patents on seed transform seed saving into an
“intellectual property crime”.
Secondly, since genetic pollution is inevitable, and the condition
of 2% refugia in the GEAC clearance is a recognition of the
inevitability of genetic pollution, Monsanto will use the
patents + pollution to claim ownership of crops on farmers
fields where the Bt. gene reached through wind or pollinators.
This has been established as precedence in the case of a
Canadian farmer, Percy Schmeiser whose canola field was
contaminated by Monsanto’s Round up Ready Canola, but
instead of Monsanto paying Percy on the basis of the polluter
principle, Monsanto demanded $200,000 fine for “theft” of
Monsanto’s “intellectual property". Thousands of U.S. farmers
have also been sued. Will Indian farmers be blamed for
theft when Monsanto’s GM cotton contaminates their crops?
Or will the government wake up and enforce strict monitoring
and liability?
Finally, the emergence of resistance in pests like Bollworm
and creation of super pests is another inevitable consequence
of Bt. cotton. Monsanto’s research strategy of“gene pyramiding”
is an acceptance of the creations of super pests. As super
pests spread, farmers will be forced to turn to Monsanto for
seed supply and hence will be trapped in Monsanto’s patent
monopoly.
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’
Rights Legislation
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Bill,
2000, (PVP Bill) was passed in both the Houses of the
Parliament in the Monsoon Session in August 2001. This Act,
made under the obligation of TRIPS Agreement, allows
MONSANTO VERSUS PERCY SCHMEISER: PATENTS AND POLLUTION
Mr. Percy Schmeiser, a farmer in Bruno, Saskatchewan of Canada has been farming in the region for more than SO years. Since
the early 1950s he has primarily been planting canola (also known as rape seed) from his own seed stock. He has been following
the practise of growing canola year after year by saving his own canola seed from his annual crop.
In 1997, Percy’s crop was contaminated by Monsanto’s Roundup Ready canola which was being grown by neighbouring farmers.
Monsanto used a private detective agency, Robinson Investigation, to illegally collect samples of canola from Percy’s fields. In 1998,
they sued Percy for having infringed their patent No. 1,313,830.
On March 29, 2001, Judge Mackay ruled in favour of Monsanto. Instead of Monsanto the polluter paying Percy, Percy is being asked
to pay Monsanto. The “polluter-pays principle" is being perverted through patents, into "the polluter-gets-paid principle".
By doing so a wrong precedent is set - the judgment in effect implies that farmers can be compelled to pay damages to the company
owning patents of GE seeds for such seeds found on the farmers' land, irrespective of how they got there. Percy did not buy
Monsanto’s seeds and neither did he obtain the GE seeds illegally; the GE canola had drifted into his farm.
With GE technology being ushered in Indian agriculture, it is not unlikely that Indian farmers whose seeds are contaminated through
pollution may be accused of IPR infringement, even if they do not buy GE seeds!
The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 does not provide against situations of GE contamination by seed
MNCs. The Indian farmers must be protected against such contamination and subsequent erroneous legal action against patent
infringement. Likewise, changes in other IPR-related legislation do not provide adequate safeguards to our farmers. The Patent
(Second Amendment) Act, 2002, provides product patents to MNCs on agri-chemicals. The Biological Diversity Act, 2002, does
not appropriately provide for biosafety measures to deal with genetic pollution, nor does it reinforce the farmers' right to save
seeds. Seed saving is a fundamental right of farmers. This needs to be adequately protected by all IPR related legislations.
■
5
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Issue No. 29 - December 2002
combination of parent lines. Given the wide patent and IPR
claims made by MNCs’ this would in effect mean that the
genes from farmers’ varieties and extant varieties become
the breeder property. By doing this, the government has
gone beyond the TRIPS Agreement. There is no novelty
involved in the derived variety and therefore no exclusive
rights to be given to the breeders. The ‘essentially derived
varieties’ provision also seeks to restrict the rights of the
researchers and broadens the rights of the plant breeders.
Researchers have to take permission of the breeders for
repeated use of a protected variety as parental lines. No
breeder would ever authorize others for repeated use of his
protected variety for commercial propagation. And no
researcher would ever do research on a variety if he can not
commercialize it.
Intellectual Property Right (IPR) protection on seeds of all
agricultural crops, and thus denies farmers’ their rights to
agricultural biodiversit}'.
The government believes that the plant variety protection to
commercial plant breeders will lead to increased food
production, greater food security and development of new
varieties. But the fact is the commercial seed sector is
primarily engaged in research on hybrid technology in a few
commercial crops like sunflower, maize, soybean, cotton etc.
The food production is almost entirely in the hands of
small farmers who largely use farm saved/ open-pollinated
seeds. The focus of the private sector is to convert over 80%
of farmers who still use farm saved seeds to hybrids (and
increasingly to transgenic varieties) and thereby, wittingly or
unwittingly, from primarily growing food crops to cash crops.
Providing for private monopolies in agriculture will only
❖
encourage private companies to mount increased pressure on
the small farmer to purchase their commercial seed which
will adversely affect cropping patterns and food production.
Several attempts is being made in different parts of the
country to replace farmers collection of indigenous varieties
with hybrid and HYV varieties to make them dependable on
purchased seeds.
India is one of the world’s twelve mega-biodiversity centres.
Indian farmers have used this diversity for thousands of
years to develop varieties with desired characters like taste,
cooking quality, aroma, medicinal properties, resistance to
pests, etc. It is this knowledge that is being appropriated
by companies which are then seeking IPRs on their “inventions”
as seen in the case Basmati. Once granted, patents or other
IPRs discourage rather than encourage the development of
new varieties.
The PVP legislation does not provide against situations of
GE contamination by seed MNCs, even as the Biological
Diversity legislation does not appropriately provide for
biosafety measures to deal with genetic pollution, nor does it
reinforce the farmers’ right to save seeds. Seed saving is a
fundamental right of farmers. This needs to be adequately
protected by sui generis law.
Plant Variety Protection is a life and death issue for India’ small
peasants. The suicides of farmers in different states of India
in recent years can be clearly linked to the irresponsible
marketing and promotion of hybrid seeds by the private seed
industries. The phenomenon will become worse with companies
equipped with monopoly rights. The PVP fails to prohibit
irresponsible marketing by seed companies, which is at the
root of farmers indebtedness and suicides. It also totally fails
to legally protect our farmer variety such as Basmati, which
was patented by RiceTec Inc, but due to peoples efforts USPTO
cancelled the patent claims on Basmati. The case of the Basmati
biopiracy creates urgency for a sui generis law for India that
recognises and protects the breeding embodied in our seeds
and crop variety.
❖
6
The PVP legislation provides that in the case of derived
varieties “novelty” is not the primary criteria for seeking
protection (as also given under UPOV, ‘91). Under
essentially derived varieties, the Act allows IPR protection
for varieties derived from farmers’ as well as any existing
variety (extant variety) as long as it contains the genes and
The PVP legislation stipulates four basic criteria for the
protection of a plant variety, which has been taken from the
UPOV (1991) - that is besides distinctiveness, uniformity
and stability as the basic criteria for a variety to be registered
and legally protected, “novelty” has been added. This
requirement is also applies on farmers' varieties. Under this
new provisions farmers’ varieties cannot be protected, as
they show no “novelty”.
Besides this the farmer varieties or extant varieties are bred
for diversity and not for uniformity or stability of the
essential characteristics. Hence the Act restricts the scope
of the farmers varieties and extant varieties by subjecting
them to fulfill basic requirement for protection.
❖
The PVP legislation has enlarged the coverage of number
of plants and species under the proposed legislation, by
bring in the entire plant range, going far beyond even
UPOV (1991) demands.
❖
The new legislation severely limits the rights of farmers to
save and exchange seed, or even to varieties of plants, which
are not proprietary. Though with the pressure from the
people organisations and farmers unions, a separate chapter
on farmers’ rights has been added but in effect it restricted
the fundamental rights of the farmers to save and sell the
produce as seeds. Under Clause 39(l)(iv) the farmers will
not be able to sell the produce from protected variety as
seeds which the right holder will be selling under his
registered brand name. This is true for even essentially
derived varieties developed from farmers varieties with little
or no improvements. And if a farmer dare to sell seeds of
any variety which has got IPR protection, he will have to
pay a fine upto Rs. 5 lakhs (half a million rupees) or jail upto
two years or both.
❖
The legislation does not have any provision to ensure that
all the millions of farmers who have contributed to
develop a farmers’ variety will get royalty if a corporation
gets IPR protection for that variety. It only pays lip
service to the idea of royalty payment to farmers when
essentially derived varieties are based on their varieties,
and no novelty criteria is attached. However, given the
fact that farmers’ varieties have been developed by
millions of farmers across large geographical regions,
it is difficult, even in a well-structured system to identify
the beneficiaries and distribute equitably the benefits
among them.
BIJA
Issue No. 29 - December 2002
The Biodiversity Act: facilitation or Prevention
of biopiracy?
By Dr. Vandana Shiva
The Biodiversity Act passed by the Parhament was to
implement India’s obligations under the Convention on
Biodiversity Conservation (CBD) of the United Nations.
The breakthrough achieved in the CBD was
1.
The need to conserve biodiversity;
2.
Recognition of community rights and indigenous culture
and knowledge (Art.8 (j));
3.
The prevention of adverse impact on biodiversity by mega
development projects and by the release of genetically
engineered organisms (GMOs) (Art 19.3) and
4.
The potential to prevent biopiracy — the theft and
patenting of indigenous knowledge related to biodiversity.
Earlier drafts of the Bill in which I was involved had all four
components. However, the draft passed by Parliament has no
conservation element, no recognition of community rights to
Biodiversity (even though this is necessitated by the Panchayati
Raj Amendments of the Constitution and the extension to
Schedule Areas) no regulation ofadverse impacts. Given that the
Environment Ministry, through the Genetic Engineering Ap
proval Committee has been rushing ahead to commercialise
genetically engineered crops like Bt. cotton in spite of known
risks to biodiversity and in spite of exaggerated claims ofbenefits,
it is clear that pressures were put on the ministry to drop clauses
on regulating adverse impact in earlier drafts. The act is reduced
to an act to facilitate access to biodiversity and indigenous
knowledge for intellectual property rights. It facilitates and
legalises Biopiracy, instead of preventing it. All that Biopirates
will need is a cosy relationship with the National Biodiversity
Authority based for some inexplicable reason in Chennai!
In the case of indigenous seeds and agricultural crops, the
Biological Diversity Act has allowed full scope for Biopiracy.
Section (6) on intellectual property has an exemption 6(3).
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person
making an application for any rights under any law relating to
protection of plant varieties enacted by Parliament.
Laws protecting plant varieties include the Patent (Second
Amendment) and the Plant Variety Protection Act. Exemption
6(3) in the Biological Diversity Act in effect says that companies
Syngenta’s Attempts to Rob the World’s Rice
Genes Foiled
On December 10, Syngenta India announced that it had no
intention of collaborating with the Raipur-based Indira Gandhi
Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (IGK.V) for developing new rice
hybrids from the collected local germplasms held in the
University’s gene bank. Ten days later, the ICAR director
general, Dr. Panjab Singh, said that the germplasm was the
property of the National Biodiversity Board and the State
Biodiversity Boards.
The news that Syngenta and IGKV were entering into a MoU
to give the corporation access to India’s largest rice collection
came in the wake of Syngenta’s joining the Board of the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
can take varieties farmers have evolved over millennia with
unique traits of aroma as in Basmati, salinity resistance as in
drought resistance as in as in floor resistance and patent the
traits and qualities which arc a result of farmers breeding.
The biopiracy that the Texas Company RiceTec engaged in and
we fought against in the U.S. would be allowed in Indian law.
Recently, we as an alliance of movements against Biopiracy
forced Syngenta to cancel its MoU with the Indira Gandhi
Agricultural University which holds Dr. Richaria’s invaluable
collection of 20,000 rice varieties. Syngenta’s access to this rice
diversity would have allowed it to patent traits tribal farmers of
Chattisgarh had evolved collectively over centuries. The
Biopiracy which was stopped by people’s movements would be
allowed under the Biological Diversity Act.
The Act fails doubly to do what it was designed to do — stop
Biopiracy.
Firstly, it has failed to recognise the legal standing of local
communities and their inalienable rights to their biodiversity
and collective innovation in spite of the Constitutional
framework provided to 73'd and 74lh Amendment and Art. 8(j)
of CBD. Secondly, it has deliberately excluded the gene giants
and seed giants like Monsanto, Syngenta, Dow, Avantis,
Dupont, from regulation to prevent pirating and patenting
farmers varieties, thus undermining farmers’ rights which are
recognised in the FAO treaty on Plant Genetic resources.
The law is not designed to regulate the seed giants and stop
Biopiracy. But like the earlier Forest Laws, carried the risk that
it could allow the huge new Biodiversity Bureaucracy that the
Act creates to criminalise innocent tribals and rural communi
ties, since every day life and survival in rural areas is dependent
on biodiversity. Communities will have to be vigilant to not
allow the Act to become another weapon in an unaccountable
bureaucracy’s arsenal against the people of India. Art. 59 of the
Act prevents ordinary citizens from bringing legal action against
arbitrary decisions made by the National Biodiversity Authority
or State Biodiversity Board by allowing only these authorities
to bring complaints to courts.
Movements for biodiversity conservation defense people’s right
to biodiversity and people’s resistance against biopiracy will have
to continue to be the prime movers for Biodiversity Conserva
tion. Biodiversity will be conserved and people’s rights defended
in spite of the Biodiversity Act, not because of it.
(CGIAR). CGIAR controls the International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI), the International Crops Research Institute for
the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the International Labora
tory fro Research on Animal Diseases (ICRAD) and the
International Livestock Centre for Africa (ILCA).
The Indian collection being handed over to Syngenta was the
collection made by Dr. Richharia, the rice sage of India. He had
collected thousands of rice varieties first in the Cuttack Rice
Research Institute (which later became the Central Rice
Research Institute, and is older than IRRI) and then the Raipur
Research Institute (now called the Indira Gandhi Agricultural
University). Dr. Richharia then director of CRRI was removed
when he resisted handing over his collection of rice germplasms
to IRRI, and when he asked for restraint in the hurried
introduction of HYV (High Yield Varieties) from IRRI.
7
BI|A
Issue No. 29 - December 2002
The Madhya Pradesh Government gave a small stipend to Dr.
Richharia the ex-director of CRRI so that he could continue
his work at the Madhya Pradesh Rice Research Institute
(MPRRI) at Raipur. On this shoestring budget, he conserved
near about 20,000 indigenous rice varieties in-situ in India’s rice
bowl in Chattisgarh. Later the MPRRI, which was doing
pioneering work in developing a high yielding strategy based
on the indigenous knowledge of the Chattisgarh tribals, was also
closed down due to pressure from the World Bank (which was
linked to IRRI through CGIAR) because MPRRI had
reservation about sending its collection of germplasms to IRRI.
Since this news became public several groups working on
people’s rights to natural resources from Chattisgarh and
outside firmly opposed this deal between Syngenta and IGAU.
Several peoples organisation came together and a mass based
agitation was started from 3rf December, the Bhopal Gas
Tragedy Day and a Chattisgarh Seed Satyagarh was launched on
10,h December 2002, the International Human Rights Day.
Under the “Chhattisgarh Seed Satyagrah" thousands of work
ers, peasants, women and youth from all over Chhattisgarh
started their protest by courting arrests in large numbers to
protect their sovereignty for survival and sustenance of human
community and to re-assert their rights over the rare varieties
of rice seeds. They were agitated over the decision taken by the
Vice-Chancellor of Indira Gandhi Agriculture University,
Raipur, to sell the 22,972 varieties of paddy germplasm,
collected by the great scientists, Dr. Richharia, which is in their
custody to a gene giant Syngenta.
Peoples’ victory and challenges:
The mass agitation by the peoples organisation, farmers unions
and civil liberty groups, women groups, students groups and
biodiversity conservation movements against Syngenta and
IGAU borne result and Syngenta called off the deal
Intellectual Piracy: ConAgra’s Patent on Indian Atta Chakki
THE US Food major, ConAgra, has taken a US patent No.
6,098,905 on the Indian atta chakki -flour grinding device (sec
box for story). ConAgra is not a new multinational corporation
for India. Before taking patent on atta Chakkis ConAgra has
already established its base with the help of Indian companies
and Government agencies to capture the atta market, especially
the packed atta market, in India. With the help of patent
ConAgra will get rid of all the competitors including millions
of small chakkis. As seed saving is considered as a crime because
the saving of seed will create dent in the profit margin and seed
monopoly of the gene giants. Similarly the small chakkis will
now be considered as a rival of ConAgra because if people will
continue to buy atta from small chakkis, it will affect the atta
market monopoly and create a dent in the profit margin of the
food giant ConAgra.
ConAgra has an Indian subsidiary called Agro Tech Foods Ltd
(ATFL), ATFL, formerly known as ITC Agro-Tech Ltd.
ConAgra, a $24 billion food major, has acquired 51.3 per cent
stake in ITCA, through CAG-Tech Ltd, Mauritius, three-anda-half years ago from ITC Ltd. In 1995, ITCA acquired the
edible oil brands from ITC for a consideration of Rs 25 crore.
Last fiscal, the company made a turn-around and, for the first
time since its acquisition, posted a net profit of Rs 1.9 crore.
ConAgra expect that it will become a $500-million company
within the next five years. ConAgra is expecting ATFL’s sales
to grow at a rate of 20 per cent per annum.
Now, a US Patent for atta Chakkis
New Delhi, December 9: Now it is the turn of atta chakkis. The traditional knowledge of producing atta has become a victim
of the patent rights regime. Hundreds of atta chakkis and modern flour millers and wheat exporters may fall into the trap being
laid by a Nebraska-based company, ConAgra.
The US Patent Office has granted patent rights to ConAgra Inc for the "method for producing an atta flour” vide no 6,098,905.
The patent application filed by ConAgra said, “the present invention relates to a method for producing an atta flour, which is typically
used to produce Asian breads such as chapati and roti. The atta flour method includes passing an amount of wheat through a device
designed to crack the wheat so as to produce an amount of cracked wheat, followed by passing the cracked wheat through at
least two smooth rolls designed to grind the cracked wheat into flour, with the smooth roll importantly grinding the wheat to a
smaller particle size and shearing the wheat to cause starch damage in the finished otto flour. The atta flour will have an amount
of starch damage equal to between about 13% and about 18% and an amount of ash equal to at least 1%.”
The declaration made by ConAgra does not claim any novel innovation in the plant or machinery needed for processing flour, but
on the very traditional method for producing atta. Incidentally, the three co-inventors mentioned in the ConAgra’s application Ali Salem, Sarath K. Katta and Sambasiva R. Chigurupati - have Asian ancestory. The patent application, however, admits that “atta
flour is typically used in the countries of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia and is the flour of choice for making food products
such as chapati. naan, parota, roti and roti-breads.”
Dr O.R Agarwal, advisor and head of R&D, CSIR said, "The filing of such patents rights by foreign companies should be a wake
up call for us to not only go for documentation of our traditional knowledge on a war footing but also to immediately identify areas
of traditional knowledge which are likely to fall as an easy prey to piracy in a fast growing industrial economy."
Deputy DG of ICAR, Dr Mangla Rai, said that "not only attempts should be made to document and preserve our traditional knowledge
but also we should make innovations on the basis of our traditional knowledge and patent the same."
CSIR DG, Dr Raghunath Anant Mashelkar, however, said that “there is no need for panic as the patent right is only valid in US.
The domestic atta chhakis and roller flour millers can do business as usual."
Indian Express. I Oth December 2002, New Delhi
Published by Navdanya, A - 60. Hauz Khas, New Delhi - 110016 - INDIA • Tel: 0091-11- 26561868, 26968077, 26853772;
Fax: 0091-11 - 26S62093, 26856795 • Email: rfste@vsnl.com ; vshiva@vsnl.com
8 - -------
SANGAT
(South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers)
SEMINAR ON
MILITARISATION, GLOBALISATION
AND RESURGENT PATRIARCHIES
ON
4th January at 2-30 to 6-30 p.m.
IS NOW AT
Ambedkar Bhavan, Lower Tank Bund Road
Speakers :
Anuradha Chenoy, India
Neloufer Demel, Srilanka
Nasrene Huq, Bangladesh
Indira Shreshtha, Nepal
Neelam Hussain, Pakistan
Gigi Francisco, Philippines
Meghna, North East India
and Others
There will also be songs
A Bus will leave at 2 p.m. From Nizam College Gate
Opposite the Registration Area (Route No.1)
A Socialist World is necessary
Enough is Enough
1 I ’he System of Capitalism world over stands damned. Capitalism, which came
-1 on to the scene with the objective of development of the world, has failed miserably in
its primary and fundamental task. From Americas to Zimbabwe without exception, this
system of the greedy and profiteers has ruined the lives of ordinary working class people
& their families. The so-called, sovereign countries have become subjects in a neo-colonial
world. Imperialism has returned in a different avataar as the New World Order.
Global capitalism ruthlessly plunders the whole world, especially Africa, Asia &
Latin America. Multinational companies, which are the main profiteers of world capitalism,
account for 80% of the world industrial output and nearly 70% of the world trade. While
boom periods have only increased the profits of the rich, the slumps and recession have
further intensified the poverty and squalor of the working class and the poor. The fact that
over half the world's population lives in poverty and billions lack food, clean water,
education and health care demonstrates the crisis of 21st century capitalism.
Global capitalism can not find solution to the fundamental contradiction of its system,
i.e. the productive forces outliving the framework of capitalist nation states and the private
ownership of the productive forces. This eternal crisis of capitalism forces it to seek new
markets. The capitalist vulture agencies such as IMF, World Bank and WTO which came
as a result of that crisis to facilitate a way out for world capitalism.
Globalisation, neo-liberalism & "reforms", the buzzwords of the big business that
we hear these days are the latest tricks to force the ordinary working people to pay for the
crisis of the bosses. Capitalist globalisation & neo-liberalism are not new phenomena as
the capitalists and their bafoons persuade us to believe. It is the intensification and universal
^jlication, which is a new trend in the last two decades.
We the working people and youth are not fooled by the jugglery of words. The
enormous suffering of our brethren in the Latin American and African countries, brought
upon them by the forces of imperialism through capitalist globalisation and neo-liberalism
is a warning example for the entire human world.
One need not quote distant examples to explain the devastating nature of neoliberalism. Our neighbor Sri Lanka is a bleeding victim of that monster. Neo-liberal
policies of withdrawal of state from essential sectors of the economy were introduced in
this country not in the 1990's, but way back in late 1970's itself. The ruination of the
people of Sri Lanka, by this suicidal policy of neo-liberalism is hard to believe but yet
a stark reality. Thirty years ago Sri Lanka's human indices were the best in relation to
education, health and nutrition in the whole of South Asia, but now they have slipped to
the last in the table.
Preying on India
The economic terror of neo-liberalism and capitalist globalisation has not spared
India either. The neo-liberalism, which was intensified in the early nineties, has turned
India from a giant manufacturing economy in the region in to a vendor economy. The
spree of neo-liberalism introduced by the successive governments from P V Narasimha
Rao to Vajapayee has taken a toll on the ordinary working people both in urban and rural
areas.
The backdoor privatisation in the name of disinvestment is rendering thousands of
workers in public sector units' jobless. The voluntary retiring schemes has preyed up^j
many a thousands of workers in the Banks, Insurance and State Sectors. To many of the
workers both in private and public sector who accepted the golden handshake, it was an
experience of the Kiss of Death. Since the WTO regime started to rule India nearly, 500,000
thousand factories have closed in the State of Maharashtra alone. While Bangalore boasts
of being the Silicon Valley of India, more than 200,000 workers have lost jobs in the small
scale industries due to closures.
The naked dance of the monster capitalist globalisation & neo-liberalism is starker
in rural India. Marginal and small farmers of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Karnataka are
committing suicides. The fall in commodity prices and the resultant impoverishment is
growing rapidly into epidemic proportions.
Over a period of struggle, the downtrodden of India, the Dalits had earned few reforms
in education and jobs. With the IMF prescription of austerity, there are overall attacks on
jobs, employment, and education both at the central government level and at the state
level. Dalits hard won right of Reservations is being proved useless.
In every country women face the sharp edge of any capitalist offensive. WTO
American imperialism's rules on textile quotas have proved disastrous for lakhs of women
employed in the garment industries. Having been uprooted from the nearby villages to the
urban manufacturing ghettos, they have been forced to prostitution to eke out a life.
The smashing of the public distribution system in the name of creamy layer policy
(all Indians who earn just Rs.2000 per month are not poor!) is nothing but following the
orders of the IMF bosses to cut food subsidies. This has resulted in mass scale mall nutrition
of the children and deaths of the aged.
The politics of hate
The bankruptcy of capitalist class in solving any one of their fundamental tasks is
universal, but in India, it is a specific feature. The Indian capitalist rulers instead of solving
the problems faced by the masses have perfected the art of deception. The political lesson
of divide and rule', which they learnt from their British imperialist masters, is coming
handy to them to this day. The recent Gujarat pogroms and the subsequent communally
charged victory of the B JP in Gujarat is a warning to the working class and its organisations.
Using the communal poison BJP has tried to polarise the class on communal lines.
In this atmosphere of communal tensions in the past many anti-working class and
anti-poor legislations have been pushed in the parliament to please the capitalists. In the
coming period, the crucial laws such as the draconian labour "reforms" are waiting to be
enacted. The working class must defeat all the attempts of the bosses to divide them on
religion, language, region and caste lines. Working class unity is the only answer to the
communal cancer spread by the BJP & co.
• Only an independent working class mobilisation based on a socialist programe can
defeat communalism and capitalism. The working class must reject the class collaborationist
politics of the so called communists who are stuck in their wrong theories of people's
democracy and national democracy which are nothing but fig leafs to cover their sheer
opportunism. It is time that the Indian working class moves to establish a mass working
class party to challenge and defeat capitalism.
Say NO to War
Since the collapse of Stalinism, the world imperialism led by the American
imperialism has found a new whipping toy 'terrorism'. The 9/11 events have further
intensified the attempts of the imperialists to bully errant countries. The war on Afghan
people in the name of routing out al-qaeda has literally bombed Afghanistan to the Middle
Ages. Workers & youth internationally have rejected the American imperialism's theory
of 'Axis of evil' through the mass mobilisations against the war on Iraq.
The looming war on Iraq by the American Imperialism will see further deterioration
w lives of ordinary working class people not just in Iraq but in the entire world. It is time
Wat we fight and defeat this world system of bosses, which breeds poverty, unemployment,
violence, environmental degradation, terrorism and wars.
The process of capitalist globalisation and neo-liberalism are not unstoppable as
some apologists for capitalism claim. A mass anti-globalisation movement has developed
internationally over recent years, and has taken on an increasingly anti-capitalist
complexion. From Seattle to Florence protests have taken place at every economic summit
of the capitalists involving millions of young people and workers. On a world scale, the
capitalist globalisation is the most hated political phenomena. As long as the system of
capitalism remains on the face of the earth, such draconian measures continue to haunt
humanity. Hence, it is the duty of every anti-capitalist individual to join the forces of
genuine socialism to defeat capitalism on a world scale.
Socialism is the Answer
When we advocate socialism we definitely do not mean the caricature of socialism in
the Stalinist States of former Soviet Union or for that matter the beuracratic regimes of China
and Cuba. What we mean by Socialism as an alternative to Capitalism is Socialist planning.
The combination of public ownership and the planned use and distribution of resources through
democratically elected committees of workers and poor poeple, which would enable the
world's resources to be used to meet humanity's needs, instead of the profits of a few.
The Committee for a Workers' International (CWI), an organisation of socialists
with members in 35 countries on every continent, is engaged daily in the struggle of workers,
of young people, of the oppressed and of the poor, against capitalism and all its
consequences. We fight for jobs for all, for a shorter working week, against privatisation,
for decent pay, homes, education, health and democratic rights.
f)
In the South-Asian region we have organisations and parties in India, Kashmir (POK),
Sri Lanka and Australia. The CWI strives to channel the anger of all workers and youth
against the capitalist system into a struggle for genuine socialism as the only way to eradicate
the mighty problems that capitalism has created. The time has come for 'system change'. A
Socialist world is necessary and should be made possible.
Join us in the New Socialist Alternative (CWI - India) to fight against
global capitalism. Fight together with us for a socialist future.
New Socialist Alternative
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^Thub an opportunity to know tkc.
currant situation oft /^epal.
SRRWflNfiM Presents :-
D)(ga™ FOTWBL
a street play with installation Art
Venue
: Nizam College Ground
Time
: 5.00 RM.
Date
: 5 January 2003
S®wi»
SARWANAM is the pioneer of Street Theatre and
the leading proscenium theatre group in Nepal.
It has been involved in various current social issues
through street theatre to make people aware to use
their fundamental rights in their own development
process.
SARWAFIAM
G.RO. 8367
Kathmandu, Nepal.
E-mail: sarwanam@enet.com.np
SARWANAM
SARWANAM is a group of energetic personalities working for
the development of drama of multi-dimensional objectives. Established
in 1982 and registered under His Majesty Government in Kathmandu
Districts in 1992, it is an intellectual group, which is also active in
intellectual exercises. It is a membership organization and has formed
42 member groups in different parts of the country. Currently, it has a
pool of 42 member actors/actresses including 5 staff directly associated
with the group and they are active players in the field of theatre,
especially the street drama.
SARWANAM is a pioneer in many respects adding new
dimensions in the history and development of drama in the country.
SARWANAM introduced street drama in 1982 and experimental drama
for the first time in the history of drama, breaking the sequel of
traditional dramas in Nepal. It pioneered Poetry and Stories
Performances in the country. SARWANAM introduced the new chapter
of The Play Back Theatre in Nepali drama and initiated advertisement
drama for the first time in the history of drama in Nepal.
Synopsis of Drama for ASF :
The drama “Death Festival” portrays the trauma the Nepali
society is going through. The drama revolves on the burgeoning poverty
scenario in the country, which is a layman’s story and portrays how
the politicians has been cashing on this problem for their individual
and “ideology’s” benefits. The story sketches the ongoing Maoists
warfare, politicians’ and the government’s attitude to this war and how
the people are sandwiched between the state and rebellion. It also deals
with the state’s dilemma of resource scarcity and how it perceives and
presents the poor to acquire the fund from the donors. The dialogues
like “You are Nepali. You must die of hunger and conflict!” and “You
commoner must not die. If you do, who will we present in front of the
developed world (donors) to extract money!?” reflects the fate that the
underprivileged section of the Nepali society (the majority of populace)
have to live up with. And the killing of the same populace by the
rebellion in the name of People’s War is another brutal reality, which
the drama pictures. Also the concluding dialogue of the triumphant
politician (bursting into laughter) that...” ..I am the ruler of
corpses...emperor of demised...king of the dead city...” is an attempt to
show the feature of the Nepali rulers.
The drama will be performed with installation Art along with
typical Nepali Music.
Director
Duration
Presented by
ASHESH MALLA
30 Minutes
SARWANAM
aofcionaBd
nepal
AS0A §©OAL F©0WM
6th January 2003, Hyderabad.
KIGHTS ‘BASED MOVEMENTS
IN NEPAL
cfe^tattoira
Nepal is an independent Himalayan Kingdom bordering
in between India and China.
A Country where a massive political instability is ongoing
Still people are continuing their struggle fortheir Rights
and dignity.
We need your Solidarity
MAJOR ISSUES :
■S’
Land Rights
■S’
Dalit Rights
"S’
Bonded Labour
■S’
Indigenous people and
their Resource Rights
■S’
Womens’ Rights
Organized by : ACTION AID NEPAL AND ITS ALLIANCES
Place
: Nizam College
Centenary Block Room # 325
Time
2.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m
Revisiting the 73rd Amendment in Indian Constitution from the
Perspective of the Vulnerable Groups
(a workshop)
ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM (JANUARY 2-7, 2003)
Since India’s independence several efforts have been made to strengthen grass root level
democracy, particularly with regard to involvement of common people.
The 73rd Constitutional
Amendment to the Indian Constitution, passed in 1992, is a milestone in democratic decentralization
in India. This amendment is an effort to ensure participation of the women, dalit, tribal, and backward
communities in local-self governance.
Since 1992, local-self governments (Panchayati Raj) have been initiated in many locations. In
some cases, the local-self-government has completed one cycle of five years and is running on the
second cycle. During this period we have gained enormous experience with regard to functioning of
grass root democracy. However, there is a need to critically analyze these experiences to provide
further direction in decentralizing democracy.
To fulfill this need, the Panchayati Raj Resource Centre of Astha Sansthan, Udaipur (Raj.) is
organizing a workshop at the Asian Social Forum. We envision this workshop to be a participatory
event so that we can share our experiences, learn from each other's experiences, and develop
strategies to make local-self governance effective.
The workshop attendees will include elected representatives as well as non-governmental
organizations who work in the field of local-self governance. Presentations at the workshop include:
->
Panchayati Raj Sahyogi Sangh (a forum of 28 NGOs and peoples' organization) will present
their work with the tribal communities.
->
ALOCHANA (Pune) will share their work with women elected officials.
-►
A dalit organization from northern Rajasthan will discuss their experiences.
The workshop is limited to duration of two and a half hours; therefore presentations from various
groups need to be in an effective and useful format. The material may be presented in several ways
(discussion, case studies, role plays, photo exhibitions, video presentations etc.).
We look forward to your participation in this workshop. Please contact us by telephone (0294243130, 0294-2441884) or email (astha3@vsnl.com, asthatrg@sancharnet.in) if you would like to
participate and inform us of any special needs you may have for your participation.
Revisiting 73rd Amendment in Indian Constitution from
the Perspective of the Vulnerable Groups
Date : January 4th, 2003
Time : Between 2.30 PM to 6.30 PM
Venue : Room No. 13, Methodist School, Hyderabad
Organised by : Astha Sansthan, Udaipur, India
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WORKSHOP
"WIDOWS
AND
ORGANIZING
SEPARATED
FOR
WOMEN
CHANGE!"
Monday, January 6 2:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Place - Room No. 18th, Methodist School
Low income widows and separated women in Rajasthan, India face many problems - ill-
treatment by in-laws and sons, land rights being grabbed by brothers-in-law, being considered
inauspicious, corruption in accessing government resources, sexual vulnerability, illiteracy -
and the worst - feeling alone.
"Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan: is a Rajasthan-wide "Organization of Strong Women Alone"
fighting for their rights! In less than 2 years, over 9,000 low income widows and separated
women have joined together, and are making remarkable changes all over the state.
Organized and Aware, these women are changing their lives, and are working on other
issues of society as well.
Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan is organizing this Workshop, hoping others will come from
other countries and states,
• To share their strategies, case studies of successes (and failures)
• To identify reasons for the marginalization
® To identify and analyse the problems low income women alone face
• To explore ways Asian organizations may work together with empowered Women Alone
to bring widespread social change
We invite to this Workshop, women and men concerned about the social, economic,
educational, health, and political problems of low income widows and separated women.
The languages of the Workshop will be English and Hindi.
Contact Information: Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan (The Association of Strong Women Alone),
39 Kharol Colony, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. 313 004.
Ph. 0294-245-1348 Fax: 0294-245-1391 E-mail: astha39@sancharnet.in
jJnoitah'on
Political Convention
"AGAINST
GLOBALISATION"
For the last ten years we have
witnessed lot of changes and
upheavals
in
the
name
of
globalisation. In different countries
whatever resources there may be (the
industrial or agricultural) there has
been an attempt to destroy them and
also to deny the rights of people by
■Sri KANU SANYAL
Convenor,CPI(ML)Unity Initiative COI(ML)Central Co-ordination Committee
the Imperialist International
companies and try to impose their
monopolistic negemony by all means.
A number of countries who have tried
to adopt this path of development their
economy is getting worse day by day.
I
SriDEEPANKAR
BHATTACHARYA
General Secretary, CPI (ML) Liberation
They boast of work in the name of
progress and development but the fact
is that all this is a hoax. It may be
pointed out that multinational
Sri GANGADHAR REDDY
Central .Committee Member, MCPI
organisations of the impersialist
countries are trying to capture and
exploit the markets and resources of
Third World countries in the name of
Sri KRISHNA CHAKRABARTY
development resulting in crippling of
Central Committee Member SUCI ..
industrial and agricultural structure of
these countries. And because of this
it has become very difficult for general
Sri K. VENKATESWAR RAO
public to survive. A number of farmers
M.L. Committee
committing suicide is the worst
example of this globalisation process.
It is unfortunate to note that in our country during 1991 -92, the ruling
class tried to give a red carpet welcome to these imperialist agents and
because of this people of our country are faced with a lot of hard ship. In
1998-99, when the Sangh parivar captured power at the centre they have
been engaging themselves to implement this sinister moves by all means.
To divert the people's attention from the negative impact of globalisation
they have indulged themselves in organising communal clashes by dividing
people on the basis of caste and religion. Poverty, hunger and unemployment!
has increased as result of this process of globalisation. And instead of
globalising and channelising people's anger against this process the Sangh
Parivar leadership has been acting as the agent of global forces. Thus
comming as stumbling block in the progress of our country. Till yesterday
their agenda was swadeshi but today they are working as the puppets and
dancing to the tune of these exploitative forces.
In the light of this it becomes our duty to expose these communal and
castist forces who are active and surviving on the support of multinational
and imperialist organisations.
It is also very important to create an
awareness among the people to fight against such forces. It is in this
context that we call upon the people of dur country to join us in this historic
convention and make it success for a better tomorrow.
^an. 2003 (Sunday) 10.30 a.m.
7>ra£as£am J~[alT - Sand£i J3£auan, £Hy<Jera£a<f
With Revolutionary greeting.
CPI
SUCI
MCP1
CPI(M)
CPI(ML) UNITY INITIATIVE
CPI(ML) LIBERATION
MI. COMMITTEE
1. About the Philosophical Society
of Perspective Independence
The Philosophical Society of
Perspective Independence is a non-profit
organization striving to promote social
justice worldwide through innovative
application of Information Technology. It is
registered in Andhra Pradesh, India on
September 28,2001 with a registration
number of 6666.
During the Asian Social Forum,
Hyderabad, we propose an initiative of good
governance named 'Public Democracy’. We
intend to use this forum to demonstrate the
public interest associated with the above
topic.
2.
What is Public Democracy?
Public
Democracy
is
a
comprehensive design solution consisting
of an incentive for participation known as
Public Interest Intellectual Property Right
and infrastructure providing a nondiscriminatory opportunity of participation
known as Internet Panchayat System.
In the proposed model, the rights of
the educated citizens will be promoted to
that of proposing and proving social visions
in a public forum. In addition, there is an
element known as 'Coordinating Business’
and another element for resolving social
concerns effectively. During the Asian Social
Forum, Hyderabad, we are releasing a
small 30-page booklet titled 'Unite &Serve’
which provides sufficient details of the
proposed design.
3.
Invitation for Social Action
In modem democracy, in order to
realize a vision, we must demonstrate the
public interest first. Hence we intend to
utilize the opportunity to set up a stall in the
Asian Social Forum as a means of gathering
the feedback of concerned citizens. We
request everyone to come to our stall for
learning about the overview of the concept.
Those interested in may buy a
carefully developed brief booklet, which
provides the details clearly. We are
gathering the signatures of the concerned
citizens who believe that the media,
business leaders and the government of
India should investigate the concept in detail
in order to protect the fundamental rights of
the citizens and in order to promote the
competitiveness of India in the international
arena.
4.
Sources of Additional
Information
Have information about our initiative
hosted at the web site www.reformindia.com
under the section “Dear People of India”. Our
web site www.perspectiveindependence.org
will be a good source of information about
the development of our ideas. Our web site
is not ready yet and we hope to have it
hosted sometime after the Asian Social
Forum.
The booklet ‘Unite &Serve’ will be
made available for the general public after
the Asian Social Forum. This booklet will be
an ideal source of information. We make
every attempt to have the book distributed
through various channels.
5.
About the Founder
Balarama K. Varanasi, the founder of
the Philosophical Society of Perspective
Independence has a Bachelors degree in
Mechanical Engineering from SVU College
of Engineering, Tirupati, AP, India and a
Masters Degree in Industrial Engineering
from The University of Oklahoma, Norman,
Oklahoma, USA.
The founder is an Information
Technology professional with about a
decade of experience in the field, which
includes opportunities to work in USA, India
and Finland. The founder believes in utilizing
his design skills to develop robust fixes to
contemporary social problems and also
believes in motivating the fellow
professionals in Information Technology to
follow the example.
Perspective
We, The Philosophers
independence
Another World is Feasible
Ideas shared during the Asian
Social Forum (2nd Jan to 7th 2003)
Please visit stall 1 in zone D1
for further information
Venue : Nizam College Grounds,
Hyderabad.
The Philosophical Society of
Perspective Independence.
Plot #11, House # 12-2-417/11, Sarada Nagar,
Gudimalkapur, Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad,
Andhra Pradesh - 500028, India.
Phone No. +91-40-23531882
Email: balaramav @ rediffmail.com
2-7 January 2003
Hyderabad, India
FORUM
Against fiwaSsaEan and Dfsawesunem
January 3,2003
Sundarayya Vignana Kendram (Auditorium), Hyderabad
Speakers
Mahadevan, AITUC
Michael Fernandes
H. Narasingha Rao, CITU
C.
Janardhan Reddy, APPSEF
Ashok Rao
Nageshwar Rao
S. Fernandes, NTUI
Chairperson: Umraomal Purohit
(tommunaBsm aim Impact on IJMess
January 3,2003
Rabindra Bharti, Hyderabad
Speakers
M.K. Pandhe, CITU
Surendra Mohan
Shanti Patel
Narsimha Reddy
Ashim Roy
P.K. Murthy
Chairperson: K.L. Mahendra
Glcteiisa'Jon and labour Rights
January 4,2003
Sundarayya Vignana Kendram (Auditorium), Hyderabad
Speakers
Sukomal Sen, AISGEF
Tazneen Javaid, Pakistan
Babu Mathew on “FDI, Subcontracting and Labour Rights (Labour
and Capital Intensive)"
AITUC on "Globalisation, Migration and Labour Rights"
V.S.Nirmal on "Impact of Globalisation on the Rural Sector”
Swami Agnivesh on "Globalisation, Bonded Labour and Child
Labour”
Sujata Ghotoskar on "Women, Labour Rights and Globalisation"
AMRC on “International Jurisprudence Instruments"
Nurul Anowar, Bangladesh
AICCTU on "Globalisation and Impact on Agricultural Workers"
Shatadru Chatopadhyay on “Impact of Globalisation on Plantation
Workers"
Arvind Koshal on ‘Globalisation, Media and Labour Rights"
Chairperson: Shanti Patel
financial Sector Reforms
January 5,2003
City Central Library-Hall, Hyderabad
Speakers
N.M. Sundaram, AIIEA
Akbar Zaidi, Pakistan
Venkatachalan, AIIBEA
un
IDBI
IRRB
Gautam Mody, NTUI
Chairperson: Venkatesh Athreya
Impact of Globalisation on Unorganised Sector Workers and
Remedies
January 5,2003
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali, Hyderabad
takers
WN.P.Samy,NCL
Thomas Kocheny, NFF on "Globalisation and Rsh Workers"
K. Hemlata, AITUC on "Globalisation and Anganwadi Workers'
Sharafat All, Pakistan
Thai Labour Campaign on "Impact of Globalisation Home Based
Workers"
NaTrni Nayak on "Women and Unorganised Sector”
M. Subbu, NFCL on "Impact of Globalisation on Construction
Workers"
Ruth Manorama, Women's Voice on "Impact of Globalisation on
Domestic Workers"
Shaktiman Ghosh, Hawker Sangram Committee oh Impact of
Globalisation on Hawkers"
AITUC on "Impact of Globalisation on Bidi Workers"
Ashok Choudhry, NCL on "Impact of Globalisation on Forest
Workers"
J. John, CEC on "Umbrella Legislation for Workers in the
Unorganised Sector”
HMS
Chairperson: D. Thankappan
Oact of GlttteSsaiion on Wortdng Class and Bunding Global
Resistance
January 6,2003
Sundarayya Vignana Kendram (Auditorium), Hyderabad
Speakers
HMS
KCTU on "New Forms of Organising in a Global World"
Thai Labour Campaign on Trade Union and Peoples' Movement
Linkages"
AMRC on "Role of IT in International Labour Solidarity"
GEFONT on "Building Regional Solidarity"
W.R. Vardarajan, CfTU
AITUC
Gul Rehman and Qamar-ul-Hassan, Pakistan
Srilata Swaminathan, AICCTU
D. Thankappan, NTUI
Chairperson: Amarjeet Kaur
For these seminars kindly contact:
Centre for Education and Communication, 173-A Khirki Village, Malwya Nagar,
New Delhi -110017, Phone: 91-11-26688455/26671084/26680841, Fax: 91-1126686842, Email: pallavi@iabourfile.org or cec@nda.vsnl.net.in
WSF-lndia Secretariat, 204, Elite House, 36 Community Centre, Zamrudpur. New
Delhi: 110048, India, Tel: +91-11-26476580,26435441, email: wsfindia@vsnl.net
WSF-lndia, Hyderabad Secretariat, 1st Floor, Green Channel, Opp. Nasir High
School, Khairatabad, Hyderabad - 500007, Andhra Pradesh, India
Ph: 91-40-23392726, Email: wsfhyd@hd2.dot.net.in
5. Peace,Security and Development in
Crisis Situation in Sri Lanka
Synopsis
03 January 2003 (Friday) Time: 15.00 hrs.
1.
Dalit Women’s Access to Credits
Synopsis
Synopsis
Dalit women have not benefited from the micro-finance programmes
provided by the A.P. Government neither in absolute terms nor
proportionately. The main concern regarding Dalit women access to
micro-finance programmes is that, how much stake Dahl wome^.
have in DWCRA? The scope and the actual participation of DalitjBBen
in them need to be examined thoroughly. The DWCRA programmers
started by the A.P. Government with a big fanfare. The ground realities
are very different and other programs have not delivered as per the
expectations. The need for new strategies to ensure that these
vulnerable categories of women are catered to under micro-finance
programmes.
Dalit women right and source of livelihood needs to be safeguarded in this
age of Globalisation. Dalit women face three kinds of major problem on
account of gender, class and caste, i) Working in organised and
unm^oised sectors are exposed to various kinds of discriminatory
pral^^. 2) The adverse impacts of Globalisation are felt by Dalit
women on their prospects of better sources of livelihood.
3) The space for this vulnerable section is shrinking very fast under
die impact of Globalisation. There is a need to be more vigilant about
protecting the rights of Dalit women as far as their livelihood is concerned.
Proposer
: Ankuram Sangamam Poram
Proposer
: NFDL
Resource Team
: Ruth Manorama, Jyothi Raj, Jndu
Agnihotri, Neela Kttmari
Resource Team : Neelaiah, C.S. Reddy. Devarajan,
Vijayalakshmi Das, Pushpa Vivek
4
Peace, security and development in crisis situation in Sri Lanka has
become an important issue to be discussed now at this stage itself.
The process of Globalisation has affected the people of Sri Lanka in
more ways than one. The long years of internal conflict situation and
the diversion of development funds by the Government to fight it has
badly effected the development activities there.Then the question
of heavy borrowing from International Monetary Fund and other Donor
agencies put unnecessary burden on the Government of Sri Lanka
to go for cut in the Budget for Development activities.The global
integration of die economy and also the global reach of terror regitt^B
have deprived die people of Sri Lanka the much needed development.
There is certainly a need to discuss and strategise ways and means to
redress the People's wretchedness and also give peace the much
needed chance..
Proposer
: Internal Movement Against
Discrimination and AU Forms of Racism
Resource Team : Vasudevan, Nanayakkara, Anton Marcus.
Ramaya, Rev. Fr. Guy Fontgaland.
Nimalka Fernando
Dalits and Housing I
04 January 2003 (Saturday)
Tune: 15.00 hrs.
Synopsis
1.
Synopsis
The fate of fisherfolks needs to be examined in this age of Globalisation.
The adverse impacts of Globalisation are felt by the fisherfolks in a
big way. The fishing rights vis-a-vis the source of livelihood of tltM^
fisherfolks. The concept of aqua farming and unregulated
commercialisation of fishing sector is hitting the common fisherfolks
very hard up to die extent that they are not allowed to continue in
this profession any longer by big companies and also the MNCs.
Now the time has come to spearhead a movement to protect the
rights of the fisherfolks in a much more organised way.
fl
SB
Proposer
:
Dalit Bahujan Front
Resource Team
:
Veera Raju
|
Right to proper housing to Dalits has been denied to Dalits over the years
by die successive Governments. As it was and still being practiced the
houses of Dalits are to be located outside the main village. The housing
policies pursued by the Governments under various schemes have
folkA this tradition. Even dten they are not provided witit good
quauBnouses with minimum shelter. The question that needs to be
asked here is that, how long Dahls would be treated as unworthy of
being a human being? Are Dalits not entided to proper housing? If the
Government will not provide these basic requirements, then who else ?
Proposer
:
DalitaChaitnyaVediak
Resource Team
:
Narasimhulu, Boss
Dalit Women and Health
Synopsis
Dalit women and their access to health has not improved even in thi^
age of Globalisation. As a matter of fact access to health has become^®
limited. The non-availability of Doctors, Midwifes/N'urses and also lesser
number of Primary Health Centres have further aggravated the health
problems of Dalits in general and Dalit women in particular. The
privatisation of health sector has further limited their access to health
facilities. Health has become a very profitable business venture which
made the treatment of health problems cosdy. In this age of Globalisation,
right/access to health has been turned into capacity to afford health.
Proposer
: joint Women's Programme and Jana
Vignana Vedika
Resource Team : Alex George, Renta Devi, R. K. Padma,
Brahma Reddy, Rajini Tilak.
Rabiyal Mallaick. Dr. Vijay Kumar
6.
2.
Dalits and Local Governance
Dalits have never been provided represenlation of any worth in the
local governance. There are provisions for a meaningful participation
of Dalits in the local governance through 73" and 74
* Amendment i.e.
new provisions regarding Panchayati Raj Institutions and Municipal
Bodies, but the fact is various obstacles actually nullifies the provisions
meaningfill participation. Under the influence of Globalisation and
Wnew economic policies, w hich are being pursued, many problems
are being created to debar Dalits from even contesting the elections
for the Panchayat bodies. Under two children norm as a precondition for
contesting Panchayat elections has specifically targeted Dalits. Under .
the garb of reforms, the Government is further delegitimising the
Panchayati Raj Institutions by creating new associations and giving
more powers to them. Now the time has come to take a stock of the
emerging situations in this age of Globalisation and make new strategies
to protect Dalit rights.
.9
Proposer
: Sampark
Resource Team
:
How much impact Globalisation is having on education vis-a-vis Dalits.
It is a matter of common knowledge that States have lagged behind in
providing education to Dalits. As per the 1991 Census the.literacy rates among
Dalits was only 37.41 %.A very pathetic condition indeed. The curse of illiteracy
has not been yviped.even after 55 years of independent governance. Though
the participation of Dalits, Adivasis and women have improved in the hist 5
decade relatively, the unequal development in a hierarchical social
continues to be reflected in die educational status of various commiMFs.,
What needs to be asked today is that - how much progress is made regarding
education for Dalits? What does it mean to be a Dalit child in school in the.
rural Bharat and also the urban India? Is social opposition to Dalit education
an aberration of the past? These are the basic questions that this country owes ;
an explanation.
Proposer
: Bhavitha
Resource Team
: Anitha B. Singh, Prof. Ratnam,
Ravichandran. Sukuinar David
Communalism, Dalit and Muslim Alliance
Synopsis
The problem of communalism has acquired a monstrous character in .3
£&it years. A deeper analysis would reveal that it is not merely a
Wrau-Muslim conflict over trivial issues. There is a greater design
by the Caste Hindu anti-national forces to keep Dalits and Muslims at
loggerheads. By doing this the Caste Hindu forces can maintain the status
quo in society’, economy and polity. Any challenge to dteir hegemony is
iso thwarted. Dalits and OBC's are instigated to fight against a perceived
common enemy. The togetherness of Dalits and Muslims would certainly
herald a new era. The initiative must be taken jointly. After all Dalits and
Muslims are the natural allies in their fight against die Caste Hindu Nation.
Resource Team
:
:
|
|j
[I
I
!
|
•;
■
Ambedkar's relevance in the context of Globalisation has become a
reality which can not be ignored anymore. The credit goes to Ambedkar
who single handedly fought for die rights of the disadvantaged
(Dalits,Adivasis,Women and others).It was Ambedkar who long years
ago talked about the need to fight against Brahmanism and Capitalism,
because Ambedkar thought them to be the main enemy of Dalits
and <xter disadvantaged sections of society.lt was Ambedkar again who
insi^Bm incorporating adequate safety’ measures for weaker sections
of society when Constitution was being drafted.Be it the question of social
security, decent living and working conditions,education,health and
many other aspects concerning Dalits life and dignity,Ambedkar
played a revolutionary role and emerged as a champion.He worked
very hard to ensure that rights of these vulnerable sections are
protected at any cost.Even now Ambedkar is the rallying point for
mass mobilisation and bis ideas are still relevant very much.
Resource Team
Bojja Tarakkam
:
05 January 2003 (Sunday) Time: 15.00 hrs.
Synopsis
Mines have been badly affected in this age of Globalisation and tints Kolar\
Gold Mines is not an exception. The present policy of the Government
under the influence of Globalisation is heavily tilted in favour of.
privatisation and also retrenchment of the workers. The closure of
is also an option, which the Government has decided to pursue serie".
It is actually a total sell-out to private parties without bothering much about
die workers interest. The golden goose is being handed over to the private
parties at a much lower prices. The otiier Mines are also facing same
situations as die Kolar Gold Mines. The question which needs to be asked
here is dial, are workers not human enough to be consulted before deciding
their fate ?
: National Agricultural Forum
Dalit Bahujan Front
Kanwal Bharti, Syed Salar
: Bojja Tarakkam
Proposer
Impact of Globalisation on workers in Kolar Gold Mines
Proposer
Proposer
I
I
I
I
I
Sabastin Raju. Parthasarathi,
Anwar Pasha
5.
3.
Synopsis
Synopsis
Synopsis
Relevance of Ambedkar in the context of Globalisation
Resource Team : Dr. Le Jain, Ruth Manorama,
J. Bhagyanathan,
Synopsis
Landlessness has been a characteristic feature of Dalits life. Land is not
onlyjgtoie source of income but also a symbol ofsocial status in rural India
It is ^Ponder dial an overwhelming majority of Dalits have been
deprived of possessing land. Consequently, a very large proportion
of Dalits population is found to be in the ranks of landless labourers.
Under die influence of Globalisation, Government has initiated new policy
measures which certainlyhelps die Caste Hindu land owners and not the
Dalits. Commercialisation and mechanisation has further alienated
Dalits from land. Land reforms has been a failure mainly because
die State lacks political will.
Proposer
: Dalit Bahujan Front
Resource Team
:
Paul Raj, Karuppan IAS
I
4.
2.
2.
Globalisation and its impact on drought prone areas I
Eradication of the practice of Manual Scavenging in
India
Synopsis
Synopsis
Is Globalisation having any impact on drought prone areas? The ground
realities confirm an affirmative answer to this question. The welfare
programmes meant for die people are being cut down to maximum limit.
People die of hunger and in many places food for work programmes
are not taken up seriously by die administration. It is a very paradoxical
situation - on one hand the proponents and the defenders of Globalisation
are^ting dreams to chosen few and on the odier hand the lesser humans
arej^fcd to die as diere is paucity of food, water and the sources of
livclirnJbds are being threatened in a big way. These issues must be
liighlighted to present a tine picture.
Changing Forms ofJogini System
Synopsis
Hie tradition of religious prostitution has its origin in die caste system.
The jogini system is made by birth and by caste. This system is practiced in
various forms in Karnataka. Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra and some
other states under different names. The sexual exploitation of j
is
rampant, in the name of religion, how can this kind of exploitawrbe
allowed to exist? The Stale and the civil society must be held
accountable for highly deplorable system of sexual exploitation. The
callous attitude of the Government in not implementing die exisdng
legislations against the practice ofJogini system has deteriorated the
Jogins exploitation. The laxity of the Government and the civil society
can not be pardoned under any circumstances as far as the case
ofJogins are concerned.
Proposer
: Jogini Vethireka Poratta Sangaihatia
Resource Team
:
Proposer
: Voluntary Action Network
In the social hierarchy, die scavengers occupy the lowest of the low
position as they are the night soil removers. The scavenger's
. marginalisation in the Hindu Social Order has been evident in religious,
social, economic and even spatial aspects and their degradation,
deprivation and exploitation fostered their separate identity. India still
has around 6 lakh scavengers engaged in the sub-human and defiling
task of removing night soils. The schemes that have so far been
implemented for the rehabilitation of scavengers have met with only y^xl
success.lt has been observed that authorities have exhibited apparent biases
against the scavengers. Now the question that needs to be asked is, for
how long a situation like this would be allow ed to continue ?Is it not
time to say enough is enough and demand a complete ban on manual
scavenging’
Resource Team
: Mr. Gopal Reddy, Prof. Purshotham,
Y.V. Malla Reddy, Babulu Ganguly,
Vandana Shiva
Proposer
: Safai Karamchari Andolan
Resource Team
: Rakesh Bahadur, S.R. Shankaran
I.alitha. Alok Paresher
06 January 2003 (Monday) Tune: 15.00 hrs.
3.
i
Rights of the Differently Abled People
Synopsis
Synopsis
The concerns of the differently abled people can not be seen in isolation
in the sense that indifferent attitude and unconcemedness of the larger
civil society towards the problems of the disadvantaged sections of the
Indian society is nothing new. There is a need for sensitisation
the vulnerable sections of society. A law, howsoever good, can nt^ierate
in a vacuum. Persons with disability constitute a forgotten minority.
This is evident in the lack of consideration of the implications
of social, economic and political policies. Even on the social plane,
barring highly specific and specialised social interaction situations, the
consciousness is not encouraging at all and attitudes towards
persons with disability range from total indifference to total
non-cognisance.
Proposer
Despite recognition as Hill Tribes, the Dalits in agency areas are not treated
at par with the Scheduled Tribes. They face discrimination in various forms.
The-^k neither provided any benefit at par with the tribals of the agency
area'B^r with the Dalits of plain areas as they are not covered under any
schemes of the SC Corporation or the Indian Tribal Development
Agency(ITDA) .As per the Act 1/70,vide G.O. No. 3, they can not be
appointed in any department in the agency areas. There is an urgent
need to provide them Constitutional protections as well as other welfare
programmes for these people as well.
Resource Team
Resource Team
: Dalit Bahujau Front
Proposer
: Differently Abled Peoples Collective
: SudhaRar Reddy, Savio Charles, Calin
:
Round Table with Dalit and
Tribal Leaders
Synopsis
There are Constitutional provision for separate allocation of funds for
the social, economic, educational development and other kinds of
welfare for Dalits. The Special Component Plan (SCP) was introduced
by the Government of India during the Sixth Plan Period (1980-811
with the assumption and conviction that neither 50 years of planning nor
thousands of crores of rupees allocated for SC welfare brought any
meaningful change in the lives of SCs. Over the years, the callous attf^
of State Governments regarding SCP implementation bears a testimony
to the fact that there is no political will as far as the development and
welfare of Dalits are concerned. Not only the allocation of funds in right
proportion are not being done but there are instances so far reported that
there is diversion of funds from SCP to other heads. New strategies and
proper implementation are needed at this hour to protect Dalits from
further pauperisation in this age of Globalisation.
j
Proposer
: Tamil Nadu Social Forum
I
Resource Team
: Chistudoss, Manu Aphonse, Dayalan,
Ashok Bharti
I
4.
Globalisation and Displ
Synopsis
The process of Globalisation has resulted in displacement of Dalit livelihoods in more ways than one. Kolleru Lake Region is one such example, where Dalits have been affected very
badly as a result of aqua farming, which started in the region on a large scale to cater to international markets. The involvement of some big companies (both national and
international) into the region for aqua farming not only deprived the local Dalits of any chance of being a partner in these projects but also turned many agricultural lands into
ponds thereby not providing any stake to Dalits at all. The amount of water it needs and the extent of pollution it leads to have become a source of major problem affecting Dalit lives
in various ways. This aqua (shrimp) farming has been haring a disastrous impact on Dalit livelihoods in the Kolleru Lake Region since last one decide or so Can Dalits demand for a
decent source of livelihood ?
Proposer
Resource Team
5.
:
:
SABHA
Chitti Babu, Sudha Rani
Culture and Communalism
I
Synopsis
Does culture breeds communalism? This needs to be asked as communalism has raised its ugly head menacingly once again in this age of Globalisation thereby threatening die very
existence of a secular and democratic India. Where does intolerance come from ? Is intolerance rooted in die culture ? These and some other question needs to be addressed now or
else it might be too late to intervene at a later stage. There is a need to further probe die matter and devise strategies to counter die rising tide of religious bigotry .intolerance and
obscurantism. A counter culture based on progressive ideas must be made part of social and cultural life in order to check the growth of divisive forces.
Proposer
Resource Team
: Madhyam
: Sonia Gupta, Jaya, Meliekal SDB, Lalitha
National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights
1-4-879/87/1, H.No.942, Bakaram,
St.No.7, SBI Officers Colony, Gandhi Nagar,
Hyderabad - 500 080 A.P., INDIA
Website : www.dalits.org
Email: info@dalits.org
Seminar and Workshop Co-ordination Committee
Thomas Pallithanam SDB
Paul Mike SJ
Dr. Umakanth
Ms Angela
Mr.Surendranath
M
Asian
social
forum
HYDERABAD
JAN 2-7, 2003
Another w.orld is possible
■ Educqgk ■ Agitate ■ Organize
GENE CAMPAIGN
Gene Campaign’s Legal
Action against
Indian Government
. A farmer or a group of farmers shall not be liable to
pay any fee in any proceeding before the Authority
or Registrar or the Tribunal or the High Court under
this Act or the rules made thereunder.
• A right established under this Act shall not be
deemed to be infringed by a farmer who at the time
ofsuch infringement was not aware of the existence
of such right.
The Indian PVP law, which has been hailed as a
progressive, pro-developing country legislation, has 0
some notable features. Apart from strong and
proactive Farmers Rights, it has a well-defined
Breeder’s Right as well. The Indian legislation
succeeds in balancing the rights of Breeders and
Farmers and exploits the flexibility granted in TRIPS,
in an intelligent manner. The Act incorporating the
principles laid down in the 1992 Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD) recognises farmers' role as
conservers, breeders and cultivators. It provides legal
rights to farmers to “save, exchange and sell seeds of
all varieties.” The Act has provisions for registering
farmers’ varieties so that their ownership and
innovation is recognised. Though the Indian legislation
is far from perfect it is the first law in the world to
grant formal, legal rights to farmers.
Sudden turnaround: India decides to
join UPOV
After spending about eight years on wrangling,
negotiations, consultations and an investigation by a
Joint Parliamentary Committee, the Indian law with
Farmers Right was finally enacted. There was a
general consensus that India had broken new ground
and deviated from the UPOV (International Union for
4
the Protection of New Varieties of Plants) model of sui
generis legislation by enacting a legislation that
incorporated features of the CBD, and the
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for
Food and Agriculture (ITPGR) under which India has
also recognised and accepted Farmers Rights. Then
suddenly, without any discussions in Parliament, the
Cabinet decided to reject the developments of the last
few years and its own legislation, and decided to join
UPOV.
This decision to join UPOV has stunned national and
international experts, particularly when India has also
been taking an independent position in the TRIPS
Council, seeking greater national flexibility. Many are
legitimately asking what elements in the government
and for what reason have advocated this complete
about turn in India’s position. There are questions
raised about how the Cabinet without seeking the
approval of Parliament, can take a step that would be
a grave setback for Farmers Rights. More so, since
Parliament had enacted the legislation, only last year,
sending a strong message that Farmers Rights must
be protected in India.
UPOV, which is an international organization of plant
breeders, was established by the large seed industries
in 1961 to protect their market interests. UPOV
member states are predominantly wealthy developed
countries with huge industrialized economies that are
not dependent on agriculture. They certainly do not
have food security concerns nor do they have small
and marginal fanners that need protection. Developing
countries with agrarian economies like India must
oppose UPOV since it goes against their kind of
agriculture, their vulnerability in food sector and their
farmers' interests-.
In India, farmers supply ovei- 85% of the total seeds
planted in the country because today they have
Campaign filed a Writ Petition in the form of Public
Interest Litigation in the Delhi High Court on
lsl October 2002, to block the government’s decision
to join UPOV. The Court has accepted the PIL and
has asked the Indian Government to file a reply to
the Petition.
The Public Interest Litigation
Grounds
The Petition is based, inter alia, on the following
grounds:
• That India is among one of the richest countries in
terms of varied eco-system and bio-diversity
especially agro bio-diversity, which contributes
significantly to global food security. The Indian
farmers have developed and continue to develop
through their traditional practices hundreds of new
varieties of seeds in all crops. This agro-biodiversity
is the only source of the genetic biodiversity
sustaining the demands from agriculture, present
and in future.
Hence, it is necessary to protect the rich bio
diversity of the country through the traditional
conservation practices being followed by farmers,
for which protection and promotion of agricultural
practices, Farmers’ Rights entitled naturally arid
through national laws and the international treaties
as well as bequeathed by the Constitution of India
is most important. Article 21 of the Constitution
and the Directive Principles, namely, Articles 38,
47, 48 and 48-A provide for protection of
environment, Farmers’ Rights and the agricultural
practices. It is the bounden duty of the Government
of India to give effect to these rights.
7
That it is now a settled principle of law that any
aspect of the International Convention/Treaty
which is signed/ratified by the country can be read
into the constitutional provisions if the obligations
in such international instrument are in consonance
with our Constitution. The provisions in the
Convention on Biological Diversity as well as other
international instruments which seek to protect the
agricultural bio-diversity, indigenous knowledge
and practices can, therefore, be read within Article
21 of the Constitution. The action of the:
Government in implementing Article 27.3(b) of
TRIPS can, therefore, be accepted to the extent it
seeks to protect our agricultural practices, rights
on seeds and rights of the farmers.
Any action, which is in violation of these rights,
will be in violation of the Constitution. The Act of
2001 is a legislative action protecting, to a larger
extent, the rights of the farmers as well as the
agricultural practices. The Government is,
therefore, bound to follow the Act of 2001 nationally
as well as internationally protecting the farmers’
rights. Taking a decision to join UPOV is, therefore,
against the Constitution, against the Act of 2001,
as well as against die CBD and other international
instruments including the ITPGR (International
Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and
Agriculture).
That the main objective of the UPOV is protection
of the commercial rights of the breeders operating
within industrialized agriculture of the developed
countries. Unlike the majority of Indian farmers
who have small, marginal holdings and meager
resource, the farmers of the developed countries
are rich, owning large farm holdings with resource
8
capability for high input and high technology
mechanized agriculture. More over, many of these
developed countries provide large subsidies on
various counts to their farmers as a major national
policy. Hence, Farmers’ Rights are of little
consequence to the farmers from the developed
countries. The situation in India is quite different.
Moreover, under a liberalized agricultural policy,
most of the plant breeder’s rights are expected to
be monopolized by a few large multinational seed
companies. It is therefore crucial to protect the
farmer in this situation by the grant of strong and
definite rights.
If the provisions of UPOV are compared with the
provisions of the Act of 2001, it will be clear that
UPOV Convention is totally against the Act of 2001
in respect of definition of farmers, recognition of
farmers’ varieties, provision of Farmers’ Rights,
benefit sharing in lieu of commercialization of
biodiversity, etc.. The decision of the Government
to accede to UPOV is, therefore, clearly in violation
of the Farmers’ Rights which have been safeguarded
under the Act of 2001.
That while the UPOV is an intergovernmental
organisation of countries, predominantly developed
countries, it is not an international governmental
organization created under the United Nations or
its charter. Hence, joining UPOV is not binding on
any member country of the UN. Since UPOV does
not feature in the WTO or TRIPS either, there is no
requirement to take cognizance of it. In accepting
UPOV by the impugned decision, the Government
is acting against its own representation to WTO that
India wants to protect its Farmers’ Rights and its
bio-diversity and is. therefore, opting for an effective
9
suigeneris system. After giving that representation
to the WTO on behalf of the people of this country,
the Government cannot take an executive decision
in violation of this solemn representation in joining
UPOV which will not only be contrary to its own
stand but also against the public and national
interest.
• That if the impugned decision is implemented, it
will result in our farmers losing their rights over
their seeds and their indigenous agricultural
practices. It will mean denial of their rights as T
innovators of new varieties and as conservers of
agro-biodiversity and associated traditional
knowledge, etc. Accession to UPOV Convention will
essentially result in severe limitation of Farmers’
Rights provided in the Act of 2001 to “save, use,
sow, resow, exchange, share or sell his farm
produce including seed of a protected variety?..” and
strengthening of large seed industries as the
breeders of plant varieties. These seed industry
giants through their money power and monopolistic
manipulation of seed market will be in a position
to totally overwhelm farmers’ contribution and
misappropriate farmers’ varieties with the support
of the UPOV Convention. This will ultimately have
a grave and debilitating impact on the livelihood of
resource poor farmers of this country and its j
recently achieved self-reliance-in food production.
There can not be any other peacetime national issue
which attracts larger public -interest than the
livelihood security of the majority of our people and
the food security concerns of our nation.
Remedies sought
In light of the above-said grounds, Gene Campaign
has prayed to the Court to declare the decision of the
Government dated 31.05.02 as illegal and
10
unconstitutional being violative of the Protection of
Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001 as well
as Articles 14, 21,38, 47 and 48-A of the Constitution
of India, It further requests the Court to direct the
Government not to take any action which is not in
the interest of protection of farmers’ rights in the Act
and that those rights are neither impaired nor diluted
by any future act of the Government.
Box 2 : Chronology of Events
1 January
1995
The WTO Agreements comes into
force. The Agreement on TRIPs
requires all the Members to provide
protection ofplant varieties either by
patents or by an effective sui generis
system or by any combination there of.
14 December
1999
The Protection ofPlants Varieties and
Farmers' Rights Bill, 1999 gets
introduced in the Lok Sabha (Lower
House) of the Indian Parliament.
21 December
1999
The Lok Sabha refers the Bill of 1999
to a Joint Parliamentary Committee
(JPC).
August 2000
The Joint Parliamentary Committee
submits its report to the Lok Sabha
suggesting several amendments. The
JPC recommends incorporation of
strong Farmers’ Rights in the Bill.
August 2001
The Indian Parliament passes the
revised Bill i.e. “Protection of Plant
Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Bill,
2001,” incorporating the sui generis
system for protection of the rights of
11
farmers. Chapter-VI of the Bill of 2001
is devoted solely to Farmers’ Rights.
31 May
2002
1 October
2002
7 October
2002
The Union Cabinet approves the
decision of the Ministry of Agriculture
to join UPOV
Gene Campaign files a Writ Petition in
form of Public Interest Litigation in the
Delhi High Court challenging the Union
Cabinet’s decision of 31 May 2002
Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, ’
after hearing the Petitioner i.e. Gene
Campaign, accepts the PIL and asks
the Government of India to file a reply
to the petition on 26 November' 2002.
26 November The Government of India seeks more
2002 time to file the reply.
8 January
2003
Next date of hearing when the
Government of India has to file its
reply.
Gene Campaign is a non-government organization working on the
issues of bioresources, intellectual property rights, indigenous
knowledge, farmers’ rights and community rights. It is a grassroots
level organisation working in several states in India and its work is
focussed on enstiringfood and livelihood security for rural and tribal
communities. Gene Campaign has played a significant role in '
formulating national policies on biodiversity and international trade
and has been involved with drafting legislation in these fields.
Contact:
Gene Campaign
J-235/A, Sainik Farms,
New Delhi - 110 062
Ph: +91 -11 - 26517248, 26856841
Fx: +91-11-26965961
Em:genecamp@ vsnl.com
http: //www.genecampaign.org
12
Moro Prapancham, Maro Prapancham
Maro Prapancham Pitichindi
Padandi Munduhu, Padandi Thosuku
Podam Podam Pai Paifci
- Srisri
ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM
CULTURAL EVENT
PROGRAMME SCHEDULE
2-7 January, 2003
ASIAN SOCIAL. FORUM
Cultural Event Programme Schedule Jan 2-7
SI.
No.
Organisation
Form
Duration
Sloted
in Minutes
Duration
Sloted
in Minutes
Date
Time
Bhoo Bhagotam
45
8:30 to
9:15Pm
3rd Jan
APPNM
Songs
10
3:00 to
3:15Pm
4th Jan
Instrument Play
20
3:20 to
3:45Pm
4th Jan
SI.
No.
Organisation
Form
14
APPNM
15
Date
Time
INDIRA PRIYADARSHII41 AUDI1!(■];< Uli'iW
01
Action Aid
Habib Tanvir
2 Hindi Plays
120
6.00 to
9.00 PM
3rd Jan
16
Elavatam
(Madhurai)
02
Asmita Delhi
Court Martial-Play
120
6.00 to
8.00 PM
4th Jan
17
Padugami Sai Kuzu Songs
5
3:50 to
4:00Pm
4th Jan
03
Action Aid
Lushan Dubey's
Play
120
8.00 to
10.00 PM
4th Jan
18
IPTA (Assam)
Songs
10
4:10 to
4:25Pm
4th Jan
04
Bubbles Sabharwal Women in Black
Play
180
6.00 to
9.00 PM
6th Jan
19
APPNM
Pittala Dhora
10
4:30 to
4:40Pm
4th Jan
05
Janapadam Donga Sattaiah
Denchanala Srinivas
60
9.00 to
10.00 PM
6th Jan
20
RRDS
Yanadi Dance
30
4:50 to
5:30 Pm
4th Jan
21
COVA
Quwali
45
8:30 to
9:30Pm
4th Jan
22
Prajanatymandali
Mahila Dappu
(Dance)
20
9:30 to
9:50Pm
4th Jan
23
A.P. Girijana
Sangham
Lambada Dance
20
10:00 to
10:30Pm
4th Jan
24
Madyam
Songs
15
3:00 to
3:30Pm
5th Jan
25
APPNM
Kolatam
45
3:40 to
4:30Pm
5th Jan
26
A.P.Girijana
Sangam
Yanadi Dance
25
4:30 to
5:00Pm
5th Jan
27
Prajanatyamandali
Dance
10
5:00 to
5:30Pm
5th Jan
28
COVA
Guitar
30
8:30 to
9:00Pm
5th Jan
29
APPNM
Poli Keka (Play)
60
9:00 to
10:0OPm
5th Jan
NIZAM COLLEGE GROUNDS CONFERENCE HALL 1
06
Prajanatyamandali
Songs
10
3:00 to
3.10pm
3rd Jan
07
APPNM
Songs
20
3:10 to
3:30Pm
3rd Jan
08
Adivasi Aikya
Vedika
Savara Dance
30
3:30 to
4:00Pm
3rd Jan
09
Prajanatyamandali
Pittala Dora
15
4:00 to
4:15Pm
3rd Jan
10
Raga Samudaya
Songs
20
4:20 to
4:40Pm
3rd Jan
11
T.P.Vedika
Songs
20
4:45 to
5:1 OPm
3rd Jan
12
Puvi Arangam
Dance
20
5:10 to
5:30Pm
3rd
13
Dalita Kala Mandali Jana Katha
30
8:00 to
8:30Pm
3rd Jan
SI.
No.
Organisation
Form
Duration
Sloted
in Minutes
Date
Time
SI.
No,
Organisation
30
Prajanatyamandali
Oggu Katha
30
10:00 to
10:30Pm
5th Jan
45
Praja Natyamandali Tribal Dance
25
8:40 to
9:1 OPm
31
STEP
Songs
15
3:00 to
3:2GPm
6th Jan
46
Arunodaya
(Divi Kumar)
Appula Bharatam
(Yakshaghanam)
45
9:45 to
10:45Pm
3rd Jan
32
APPNM
Suddulu
15
3:30 to
3:50Pm
6th Jan
47
MCA Adilabad
Gondu Khel
30
3:00 to
3:30Pm
4th Jan
33
Prajanatyamandali
Chidathala Katha
15
3:55 to
4:l5Pm
6th Jan
48
APPNM
Dappu Dance
30
3:40 to
4:10Pm
4th Jan
34
Prajanatyamandali
Dappu Dance
15
4:20 to
4:40Pm
6th Jan
49
APPNM
Gangireddulu
15
4:10 to
4:30Pm
4th Jan
35
A.P. Girijana
Sangham
Dimsha Dance
30
4:45 to
5:30Pm
6th Jan
50
Praja Natyamandali Mahila Dappu
30
4.30 to
5.00 PM
4th Jan
36
Chetna (M.P)
Songs
10
8:30 to
8:40Pm
6th Jan
51
Arunodaya
Kindri Dance
25
5.00 to
5.30 PM
4th Jan
37
APPNM
Oggu Katha
20
8:40 to
9:00Pm
6th Jan
52
COVA
Play
15
8.30 to
8.45 PM
4th Jan
38
APPNM
Halikuloo Kshemama?
60
9:00 to
10:00Pm
6th Jan
53
Chindu
Telugu Drama
30
8.50 to
9.20 PM
4th Jan
39
Prajanatyamandali
Mantra Ghaadu
20
10:00 to
10:30Pm
6th Jan
54
APPNM
Ballet
40
9.20 to
10.10 PM
4th Jan
55
Rupanthar
Hindi Folk
60
10.10 to
11.00 PM
4th Jan
56
Praja Natyamandali Pandari Bhajana
20
3.00 to
3.30 PM
5th Jan
57
Puvi Arangam
Tamil Drama
20
3.40 to
4.00 PM
5th Jan
58
Arunodaya
Thappetagullu
30
4.00 to
4.30 PM
5th Jan
59
Karika Kuyuli
Songs
15
4.30 to
4.445 PM
5th Jan
60
AP PNM
Dappu Dance
30
4.45 to
5.15 PM
5th Jan
NIZAM COLLEGE GROUNDS CONFERENCE HALL 2
e
3:00 to
4.00pm
3rd Jan
Dance
30
4:00 to
4:30Pm
3rd Jan
Jare Banda
Play
35
4:30 to
5:1 OPm
3rd Jan
43
APPNM
Songs
20
8:30 to
8:45 pm
3rd Jan
44
Arunodaya
(Divi Kumar)
Freez Shot Play
15
9:10 to
9:30 Pm
3rd Jan
40
JNM Hindi Folk
(Chathees Ghad)
60
41
STEP
42
Form
Duration
Sloted
in Minutes
Date
Time
3rd Jan
Duration
Sloted
Date
Time
SI.
No.
Organisation
61
Praja Natyamandali Suddulu
15
5.15 to
5.30 PM
5th Jan
62
AP PNM
20
8.30 to
8.50 PM
5th Jan
63
Form
in Minutes
Brathuku Band!
Suddulu
Praja Natyamandali Mantragadu
20
8.50 to
9.20 PM
5th Jan
64
AP Girijana
Sangham
Koya Dance
30
9.30 to
10.10 PM
5th Jan
65
Shali
Tamil Dappu Dance
30
3.00 to
3.30 PM
6th Jan
30
3.35 to
4.10 PM
6th Jan
66
Puvi Arangam
67
Praja Natyamandali Kolatam
45
4.15 to
5.00 PM
6th Jan
68
APAEV
Savara Dance
30
8.30 to
9.00 PM
6th Jan
69
Jagruti
Telugu Play
45
9.00 to
9.45 PM
6th Jan
70
Praja Natyamandali Padya Natakam
40
9.45 to
10.30 PM
6th Jan
10.30 to
11.00 PM
6th Jan
71
Tamil Play
Women's Collective Tamil Dance
________
15
NIZAM COLLEGE GROUNDS
STREET PLAY ARENA
72
Minuguru
Street Play
30
73
North East Group
Street Play
74
Bhavaikyatha
Vedhika
Street Play
(Karnataka)
75
Action Aid
Street Play
76
Haryana BGVS
Street Play
\
Duration
Sloted
in Minutes
Date
Time
Street Play
(Rajasthan)
30
6:15PM
3rd Jan
78
Prajanatya Mandali Street Play
60
6:45PM
3rd Jan
79
Jagur(mumbai)
Street Play
30
7:45PM
3rd Jan
80
West Bengal
Street Play
Democratic Writers
& Artists Association
30
8:15PM
3rd Jan
SI.
No.
Organisation
Form
77
Jananatya Manch
•
BGVS Assam
Street Play
30
8:45PM
3rd Jan
82
Samudhaya
(Karnataka)
Street Play
30
3:00PM
4th Jan
83
Vidhayal Kalai Kuju Street Play
(Chennai)
30
3:30PM
4th Jan
84
Ipta Assam
Street Play
30
4:00PM
4th Jan
85
Action Aid
Street Play
90
4:30PM
4th Jan
86
BGVS
Himachal Pradesh
Street Play
30
5:45PM
4th Jan
87
Janam(Delhi)
Street Play
30
6:15PM
4th Jan
88
Bhirangan(Bengal)
Street Play
30
6:45PM
4th Jan
89 Samudaya
• (Karnataka)
Street Play
30
7:15PM
4th Jan
90
Raga Samudaya
(Banglore)
Street Play
30
7:45PM
4th Jan
91
Janavadhi Lekhak Street Play
Sangh (Jarkanahd)
30
8:15PM
4th Jan
4th Jan
3:00PM
3rd Jan
30
3:30PM
3rd Jan
92
Prajanatya Mandali Street Play
60
8:45PM
30
4:00PM
3rd Jan
93
Action Aid
Street Play
90
3:00PM
5th Jan
90
94
4:30PM
3rd Jan
Disha (Mumbai)
Street Play
30
4:45PM
5th Jan
30
3rd Jan
95
5:45PM
Swarnam(Nepal)
Street Play
30
5:15PM
5th Jan
Asia Social Forum
Schedule of Workshops
Organised by
Action Aid
Workshop on Organisation of Disabled People
For Assertion of Rights
Date: January 04,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Nizam College Block-6/Commerce Department Room No. 267
Disabled persons are highly invisible and highly
discriminated in all spheres and stages of life. For an estimated 50 million disabled
persons in India it is a daily battle to keep away from destitution. Welfare
provisions have been made, and the needs of the disabled persons have been
typified as social welfare concerns and development interventions for the
differently abled have followed a paradigm of benevolence. While legal
provisions have been made to protect the rights (as typified in the Persons with
Disability Act, 1996) in actual practice, there has been a systematic denial of
rights. •
Theme of Workshop:
The workshop plans to bring together disabled activists from across the country,
and from some of the Southeast Asian countries. As a case the situation and
initiatives in Andhra Pradesh would be shared. Disabled persons would also share
their struggles and experiences of collective assertion.
Workshop on Deprivation....
Destitution ...Impact of Globalisation
on
Urban Poverty
Date: January 04,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Nizam College Grounds, Room No. 629
Theme of Workshop: Urban poverty has engaged governments in India far less than
rural poverty, in terms of range of interventions and financial allocations. The urban
marginalized groups face denial of the basic human right “ right to life -right to she^”
as guaranteed in our constitution and are totally left out of the different u^ii
development programmes. The urban poor face an insecure life/low wages under and
low employment, poor and uncertain shelter, low access to basic amenities like safe
drinking water, sewerage and sanitation and poor nutritional levels.
During the workshop urban communities like rickshaw pullers, homeless persons, rag
pickers, street children, streetwalkers, pavement dwellers would share their life
struggles/experiences. The panel and speakers will comprise of activists/lawyers/ non
government organizations/community based organisations and community leaders
working with these urban vulnerable groups across the Asian countries.
Workshop on Securing Equity in Education
Date: January 05,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Nizam College, Centenary Block Room No. 302
Theme of Workshop: Despite differing cultures and historical legacies, our county
has to recognize that education is at the heart of sustainable development. Investing in
education, and especially primary education, is the key to shaping the future in an
increasingly inter-dependent world. It is not only the fulfillment of a basic human right,
but also the bridge toward slower population growth, higher economic productujjty
and a more peaceful, tolerant and democratic society.
The workshop will focus on the Equality and Equity in education and the need to define
these concepts clearly for the attainment of basic quality education for all. Equality
has mainly been confined to 'access' however to do justice to this concept it has to
extend beyond mere access. Equity needs to address issues relating to fairness of
operating environment for all people. In education, if source groups or districts are
poor, the assumption is that the central government will provide sufficient subsidies to
offset the deficit, for even if there is equal access to schooling the prevailing conditions
are inequitable.
In addition, to the presentations made by the speakers, children belonging to various
age groups would give testimonials.
Seminar on Ordinary People for Peace and Healing
Date: January 05,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Rabindra Bharati Mini Hall
Theme of the Seminar - Events in the world today are compelling all those who
believe in peace and harmony to come together, reclaim and restore the humanistic
pluralistic traditions of our society, economy and polity.
Tj^ay, a stronger civil society action is required to ensure harmony and justice. All of us
reinforce the foundation of our society based on diversity, peace, equity, justice,
truth and compassion.
The seminar will discuss these issues with Asian Social Movements. Mr Saeed Mirza
would open the seminar with presentation of Voices of India a photo documentation of
what the ordinary Indians have to say about peace and harmony. Sharing of experiences
on contributions towards building peace and harmony and strengthening pluralistic
traditions would follow this. Aman Pathiks from Gujarat, Aman Parirakhshana Vedica
from Andhra Pradesh activists from Mynamar, Cambodia and Afghanistan would share
their experiences. Approaches for healing including issues of mental health would also
be discussed.
Seminar on Search for Dignity
Date: January 6,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Ravindra Bharti Mini Hall
Theme of the Seminar: The magnitude of the situation of trafficking and commercial
sexual exploitation is complex and has multifarious contributing factors. The trend of
^■jration for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation is ever increasing.
Afferent stakeholders need to come together to play the role of catalyst to enable these
women/children to assert their rights. Findings of recent studies on the various
dimensions of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children and
women conducted in three regions of Andhra Pradesh will also be shared in the seminar.
Speakers will be from different Asian countries like Nepal, Cambodia, Pakistan,
Bangladesh and India who have experienced the process of marginilisation and
stigmatization leading to acute destitution.
Book release of “Taboo” authored byMsFouzia Saeed, an eminent writer and activist
from Pakistan.
Workshop on Rights over resources: Empowering Gram
Sabha
Date: January 06,2003
Time: 2.00PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Nizam College Grounds, Room No. 119
Theme of the Workshop: The workshop focuses on bringing out the
current realities of the tribals from the states of Orissa, Chattisgarh, Madhya
Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Chennai and evolving strategies to
establish tribal self-rule.
Tribals are undergoing a process of marginilisation irrespective of number
of development programs run by government and non-govemment
agencies. Lack of control over their natural resources, ineffective
governance and land alienation, eviction are leading to chronic hunger,
distress migration and bondage of the primitive tribal groups. The workshop
focuses on bringing out the current realities of the tribals from the states of
Orissa, Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Chennai
and evolving strategies to establish tribal self-rule.
Workshop on Changing Scenario on Seed Sector and
Sinking Voices of Small and Marginal Farmers
Date: January 06,2003
Time: 2.00 PM to 6.00 PM
Venue: Nizam College Grounds, Room No. 606
Theme of the Workshop: Today the windows of economic liberalization
have opened new vistas for the multinational companies. The lure of high
returns forced thousands of small and marginal farmers to adopt new hybrid
seeds irrespective of their investment capacities, available resources and
other risk factors such as damage to the environment and land. The workshop
will highlight the following:
• Understanding the responses of the fanners in addressing the
situation
• Drawing conclusionsforfurther intervention and policy
influence
• TaJdngforward the IPR & Protection oftraditional sustainable
variety
SEMINARS AND WORKSHOPS
ORGANISED BY
> Human Rights Law Network
> India Centre for Human Rights and Law
> Indian Peoples Tribunal on Environment and Human Rights
> Amnesty International
> National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled
People
► National Forum for Housing Rights
► Fredrick Ebert Foundation
> Citizen Initiative
► Bharat Jan Andolan
► National Front for Tribal Self Rule
ASIAN SOCIAL FORUM
Hyderabad, India
2-7 January 2003
Human Rights Law Network
Human Rights Law Network is a nationwide network of lawyers and social activists who offer
quick response and pro bono expertise to those who have little or no access to the justice system.
The network undertakes public interest litigation, conducts trainings, monitors human rights
violations and campaigns for justice.
India Centre for Human Rights and Law
India Centre for Human rights and Law was founded to defend human rights by opposing
violations, strengthening human rights mechanisms, sensitizing the public and campaigning for
constitutional and legal reform.
f
Indian Peoples Tribunal on Environment and Human Rights (IPT)
The tribunal is positioned as an alternative “People’s Court” consisting of senior retired judges
ot the High Courts and Supreme Court of India. In the present context of rising stale repression,
rapid globalisation and communalism the need to develop jurisprudence and laws that
effectively protect the rights of groups and communities that are marginalised and vulnerable is
of vital importance. It was with this objective the Indian People’s Tribunal was established in
1993.
Meetings at a Glance
Date
Event Title
Type
Organisers
Venue
03/01/03
Communalism and the Law
Seminar
Human Rights Law Network.
India Centre for Human Rights and
Law
Nizam College
Centenary Block
03/01/03
Labour Rights. 2nd Labour
Commission Report
Seminar
Human Rights Law Network.
Frederick Ebert Foundation
Nizam College
Tennis Court
03/01/03
Legal Initiative on Violence
against Women
Workshop
India Centre for Human Rights and
. Law / Human Rights Law Network
and others
Methodist-12
Seminar
Human Rights Law Network.
Frederick Ebert Foundation
Nizam College
Tennis Court
Workshop
Human Rights Law Network. Bharat
Jan Andolan, National Front for Tribal
Self Rule & Campaign for. People's
Rights Over Resources.
Methodist-20
Housing Rights: Evictions
Workshop
India Centre for Human Rights and
Law / National Forum for Housing
Rights and others
Nizam College
Centenary Block
04/01/03
Right to Food Campaign
Seminar
Support Group of the Right to Food
Campaign
Andhra Yuvathi
Mandali
05/01/03
Collective Rights, Group
Violations and Need for
Peoples Tribunal
Seminar
Human Rights Law Network. Indian
Peoples Tribunal on Environment and
Human Rights
05/01/03
Refugee Rights
Workshop
Human Rights Law Network &
Amnesty
04/01/03
Labour Rights Changes in
Labour Law
04/01/03
Tribal Evictions following the
Supreme Court case
04/01/03
•
Nizam College
Centenary Block
Nizam-323
All Saints 8
05/01/03
PIL in the Supreme Court on
right to food
Workshop
Human Rights Law Network
06/01/03
Disability Rights
Seminar
Human Rights Law Network. National
Centre for Promotion of Employment
of Disabled People
Nizam College
Tennis Court
Seminar
Human Rights Law Network. India
Centre for Human Rights and Law
and Anmosly liilornatioiial India
Nizam College
Centenary Block
06/01/03
.<01/03
Criminal Justice Initiative
Environmental Justice: Linking Seminar
Environment and Human Well-
Human Rights Law Network
Environmental Justice Initiative and
Centre for International Environmental
Law
Methodist 22
GUJARAT GENOCIDE (Seminar)
Date: 3rd January 2003
Time: 2:30 to 6:30 p.tn.
Venue: Nizam College, Centenary Block
Organised By: Citizens’ Initiative & India Centre For Human Rights And Law
Section!: History
Build up to the Gujarat Genocide over the past years
A campaign of hate against the state’s minority Christian and Muslim communities began years before the 2002
carnage. After the desecration of the Babri Masjid in 1992, the Bharatiya Jama Parly led by L.K.Advani renewed
the tradition of a Rath Yatra (public religious procession by Hindus) across the city of Ahmcdabad that invariably
led to Oaring up of communal riots. A 1999 Human Rights Watch report documented the August 1998 distribution
of fliers in the Dang district that later witnessed a ten day spate of violent and premeditated attack on Christian
communities and institutions between December 1998 and January 1999. The fliers proclaimed” India is a country
of Hindus...Our religion of Rama and Krishna is pious. To convert [or] leave it is a sin Another flier by the VHP
wanted, "Caution Hindus! Beware of inhuman deeds of Muslims... Muslims arc destroying Hindu Community by
slaughter houses, slaughtering cows and making Hindu girls elope. Crime, drugs, terrorism arc Muslims’ empire”
The Hindu organizations considered most responsible for the violence in Gujarat ore the Vishwa Hindu Parishad,
the Bajrang Dal. and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which along with the Bharatiya jama Party
collectively form the Sangh Parivar. The RSS since its’ founding, has propagated a militant form of Hindu
nationalism which it promotes as the sole basis for national identity in India.
The speaker will also contextualise the Gujarat carnage within the larger framework of globlalisation.
Speaker: Darshini Mahadevia
Section!: Sequence of Events
What actually happened?
"We have no orders to save you" was what the innocent victims of the genocide were told by the police when they
asked for protection against the mobs. Many evidences point to the complicity of the police, bureaucracy, use of
state machinery. A visual representation of what happened will also be pul up in the exhibition spaces at the venue
besides the actual details given by the speakers
This section of the presentation will deal with the impact of the genocide on women, children, how the call for
economic boycott affected livelihoods of families that belonged to the informal sector, how land sharks took
advantage of the insecurity of both the communities and bought land al 1/3 it’s price; how that demographics of
Gujarat and Ahmcdabad in particular has been changing since the past ten years due the growing fear of the "other".
Duration:20 min.s
Speaker: Rohit/Gnznla
Discussions + Question and Answer session
Duration: 15 minutes
,
Section 3: Impact Of The Recent Election
*
?\nd Civil Society Response
Positive impact of Citizens Initiative’s first response
from the 1“ of March 21X12 Ihis coalition made representations to all the commissions and different fact-finding
- Efforts by other sections of civil society
Shah Alam, in Ahmedabad was one of the lint camps to begin on the night of 2X
* February 2002. It was one of the
last to close down in October 2002 l-'ven threv months after the carnage had ceased it housed 13000 people. All
throughout it had the highest population of refugees. Camps in different towns of Gujarat sprung up due to the
emergence of Community leaders also known as camp managers who U»»k up the responsibility of providing shelter
in this severe tune of crises Without camps managers, even social organisations would have found it difficult to co
ordinate their relief efforts
•
and public litigations on behalf of those that had been victimised
What the future looks like in (iuiarat given the election results and what implications will they have on the
people feel that t iuiarat elections forebode similar attempts al genocidal polarisation between the two communities
The legal response Io the carnage and lhe ways to deal with genocide
(iuiarat saw and continues to witness complete breakdown of law and order situation The breakdown was because
of delicate inaction and uMinivaiuc on part .if the slate authorities fhe inobswcre alkrwed to UmH. bum. rape and
*
situations'
Various international initiatives have also been tried out in similar eases of genocide. Can we use an) of them in
Duration.’?!) mm s
Speaker Mihir Desai/ Vrinda Grover
Chairperson lor 1' and 2 session
Chairperwm for and 4* scssi.wt Justice
*
llhargava (Retd. Chief Justice Sikkim High Court and presently
Chainnun of Human Rights (ommission. Manipur
Labour Rights: 2,,d Labour Commission Report (Seminar)
Dale, 3nl January 2003
Time: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Nizam College, Tennis Court
Organised By: Human Rights Law Network & Fredrick Ebert Stiftung (FES) Foundation
Introduction:
Colin Gonsalves / Pravin Sinha
Indian Labour in tihe era of Globalisation
Ashok Rao
(10 Min)
(10 Min)
2,ul 1 labour Commission Report - Organised Labour
| Session 1
IK hr
J
Suggested Panel:
• Patel / H. Pandhya (Gujarat Federation of Trade Unions and Jan Sangharsh
Manch, Gujarat)
•
C. Fonseca(AlTUC) Goa
•
Trade Union Solidarity Committee (Bombay)
•
Punjab Group
•
Adv. Narsimhan (Bangalore)
Discussion
Globalisation And Trade Union Movement IS min
fi
Kjed Jakobson (General Secretary C.U.T Brazil)
j Session 2?
2"'1 Labour Commission Report - Unorganised Labour I % hr
Suggested Panel:
•
Babu Mathew (Bangalore)
•
Vinod Shelly (Bombay)
•
G Vidhyasagar / S M Subhan (Andhra Group)
•
(U.P Group)
~~ |
Legal Initiative on Violence against Women (Seminar)
Date: 3rd January 2003
Time: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Methodist 12
Organised By: Human Rights Law Network & India Centre for Human Rights and Law
When thinking about violence against women in die Indian context it is important to
consider the unraveling legal framework that is increasingly absorbing the language of
human rights, as well as all the changes that arc still needed in die fight to achieve real
safety for women.
To this end. in 1997 the Supreme Court of India passed a landmark judgement on the
issue of sexual harassment al the workplace, known as the Vishakha judgement.
Recognising sexual harassment as a human rights violation, the judgement contains
broad guidelines that define sexual harassment and assign die responsibility of
prevention and filing of complaints to employers. Yet five years later, most private
employers have not taken any steps to comply with the guidelines, while many
government offices remain oblivious to the very existence of the judgement.
Similarly, the incidence of domestic violence in India has not abated, making women
vulnerable in the "sanctity" of their homes. The NGO community is doing all it can to
provide counseling and support to victims, while maintaining vigorous advocacy and
campaigning efforts. Yet there is no legal apparatus to protect victims, because al the
policy making level, key legal and political players arc lagging in passing the needed
domestic violence bill.
This aim of this seminar is to provide a platform for concerned organizations and
individuals to share ideas and strategies, to plan a sustained campaign on sexual
harassment and domestic violence respectively.
Given below the programme is as follows:
Sexual Hanissmitnt
Post Vishakha work in various Slates
Rcnuka Mukadam - ICHRL,
Mumbai
Kavita Srivastava - MAVJA
(Mahila Atyachar Virodhi Jan
Andolan), Jaipur
Strengths and Limitations of Vishakha
Shalini Singh - HRLN, New Delhi
General discussion on bolstering the campaign against sexual harassment
Specific cases of SH at the workplace
Domestic Violence
W. Bengal Initiative on DV Bill
National Scenario and activities of HRLN
New Delhi and Kolkata
Domestic Violence Bill
Anuradha Kapoor - Swayam
Ruvena - HRLN. Kolkata
Shecla Ramanalhan - ICHRL,
Mumbai
__________ Tribal Evictions following the Supreme Court Case (Workshop)__________
Date: 4th January 2003
Time: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Methodist 20, Classroom
Organised By: Human Rights Law Network, Bharat Jan Andolan, National Front for
Tribal Self Rule & Campaign for People’s Rights Over Resources
*
| Session 1
The Supreme Court Orders in Godavarman’s Case
Suggested Panel
Pradeep Prabhu
30 min
|
30 min
| .
2 hrs
I
I hr
7
Colin Gonsalves
Discussion
| Session 2
1990 Policy Framework
Suggested Panel
Dr. B.D Sharma
Discussion
| Session 3
| Session 4~
Experiences from the field - Eviction from Forest Areas
Strategies and the wayforward
0
Labour Rights: Changes in Labour Law (Seminar)
Date: 4,b January 2003
l ime: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Nizam College. Tennis Court
Organised By: Human Rights Law Network & Fredrick Ebert Stiftung (FES) Foundation
Sickness, Closures, Recovery' of dues, etc
fl
Suggested Panel
•
Vagai (Chennai)
•
A K J Rao / G Shivaji (Andhra Group)
•
Balagopal (Bangalore)
•
Dulta Iswalkar(G.K.S.S)
Session 2:
Contract Labour
Suggested Panel
•
Vivek Monterio (CITU)
•
Sudha Bharadwaj (Chaltisgarh)
•
K S Mohamed Hashim / Ashok B Shcnoy / N Nagarcsh (Kerala Group)
•
Paramanand Pandey (M.P Group)
•
Calcutta Group
•
Trade Union Solidarity Committee (Bombay)
Discussion
1 **A hr
Progromme schedule lor me Sem nor
1 PART I- Introducing the Right to Food Campaign_________
introduction to the Campaign
| By Kavita Snvastava. 10 mm
1 PUCL Rajasthan
I The Campaign strategy so far
By Harsh Mander. Action ' lOmin
Aid India
Approach of public hearings and social audits______
; Open Session for discussions/Questions/ shanng of Commentators
40m.n
experiences
Sidharatha
Vradarajan
PART II- Right to Food and the legal process
Introduction to the PIL on the Right to Food in the By Cdin GoniaJvaj. i 10 mm
Supreme Court
Human
Rights
Law '
Presentation on International pnnciples on the right to
food
Presentation on legal intervention on beharf of farmers
Presentation on Mid Day Meal Scheme guidelines of
Karnataka
PART III- Towards Right to Work
Lead Presentation
Network
By FIAN. Tamd Nadu
10 mm
By Ravi Verma Kumar
i 10 min
By Muthappa. Right to 1 10mm
Food
Campaign. ;
Karnataka
By Sanjay Parekh
10 mm
Anuradha Taiwar and/or : 20 mins
Swapan
Ganguly
(Paschim Bang a Khet
Ma/oor Samity)
Presentation on Maharashtra’s EGS
Subhash Lomte (Shekan | 5 mms
Khet Majoor Panchayat)
Cntique of Maharashtra’s EGS
(Speaker to be identified 5 mins
by Anuradha)
Drought and the nght to work
Mazdoor Kisan Shakti : 5 mins
Sangathan
Cntique of SGRY
(speaker to be identified 5 mms
by “support group’)_____________
Grassroots expenences of struggle for the nght to 1 2-3 speakers, to be 5 mins
identified by Anuradha
'_______ 1
5 mms
j
Concluding presentation on ’future of the right to i Possibly by Mihir Shah
work"
| Open discussion on the right to work
45 mins j
R cfugee Rights (Workshop)
Date: S'h January 2003
Time: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Nizam 323
Organised By Human Rights Law Network & Amnesty International India
Refugees in India
I hr
Panel
•
•
Nandi la Haksar- In (her lieu
Ravi Naw? Refugee Pmivi turn in South Asia- An Overview ofExperiences
Discussion
! Session 2
•
•
•
•
Refugee Law - An Overview of Protection Experiences in India
2 hr
Colin Gonsalves-Introduction
Bushan Oza-Zte/i/gcc* and Judicial Response
Apama Bhat-Do/wsflc Legislation and State Practice
Samhita Nandi-/?/g/»rt and Special Protection needs ofRefugee
Colin Gonsalves- Transit Zopes and Refugees
Discussion
Session 3
•
•
Refugee Experiences - Case Studies
Tom Adhikary. D\C- Bhutanese Refugees in Nepal
■ Burmese Refugees in India
Fr. Amalraj. JRS
-Sri hmkan Refugees in India
Discussion
I hr
Colk-dive Uiglils, (,'nmi) Violiitloim and Need for People’s Tribunal (Seminar)
Date: 5,h January 2003
Time: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Nizam College, Centenary Block
Organised By: Indian People’s Tribunal on Environmental and Human Rights
In the present context of rising state repression, rapid globalisation and communalism the need
to develop jurisprudence and laws that effectively protect the rights of groups and communities
that are marginalized and vulnerable is of vital importance.
It was with this objective the Indian People’s Tribunal was established in 1993. The Tribunal is
positioned as an alternative “People’s Court” consisting of senior retired judges of the High
Courts and the Supreme Court of India.
Building on the enormous respect judges command in India, the IPT collaborates with eminent
jurists who join the Tribunal to:
•
•
•
Deliver decisions on crucial human rights issues that would act as models for the judiciary to
follow.
Investigate and report on instances of environmental degradation and gross human rights
violations with a view to expose them and obtain relief for the victims.
Give a voice to the struggles of grassroots organisations and affected communities especially
in cases of group violations where the existing judicial procedures do not adequately redress
or provide relief to the affected parties.
The purpose of this seminar is to discuss the effectiveness, scope and issues that need to be dealt
with by ‘people’s tribunals’
Given below the programme is as follows:
Need for People’s Tribunals
Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer
Presentation on citizen's tribunals investigating thefollowing:
Justice P.B. Sawant & Justice H Suresh
Communal Riots
Justice D.K. Basu
Stale Repression & Police Firing
Justice R. Sachar
Displacement & Forced Evictions
Justice S. N. Bhargava
Environment, Health & Pollution
Discussion:
In today’s political climate the role ‘people’s tribunals have to play
Justice S. Sukumaran
The judges will present their experiences on the various people’s tribunals followed by a
feedback from the groups who requested for the tribunals to be conducted.
PIL in the Supreme Court on Right to Food (Workshop)
Date: 5'" January 2003
Time: 2:00 p.m
Venue: All Saints 8
Organised By: Human Rights Law Network
This workshop will he an open forum to discuss the legal process of the right to food case and its role in
strengthening the right to food and work campaign. The workshop is also an opportunity to review the
BPL selection process and the Draft Right to Work Bill.
Organisations and people interested in legal action for the right to food are cordially invited.
Organisations already involved the legal process at the local level arc welcome to share the petitions filed
by them in different courts.
The workshop is divided into three broad areas
• Suggestions on the Supreme Court PH.
• Discussion on BPL selection process
• Discussion on “Draft Right to Work Bill”
Colin Gonsalvez (Human Rights Law Network) will coordinate the workshop. Other invited contributors
include Bikash Das (CLAP, Orissa), Binayak Sen (PUCL, Chattisgarh), Dr Abhay Shukla (Cchat,
Maharshtra). Pradeep Rhargava (IDS, Jaipur) and Nikhil Dey (MKSS, Rajasthan), among others
Topic
Suggestions on the Supreme Court PIL
Discussion on BPL selection process
Discussion on “Draft Right to Work Bill'’
Panel (Suggested)
Bikash Das, Madhuri Krishnamurthy,
Colin Gonsalves, Binayak Sen
Abhay Shukla, Pradeep Bhargava, Ration
Kruti Samiti
Nikhil Dey. Binayak Sen. Swapna
Ganguly
e>.
Criminal 'usticc Initiative (Seminar)
Dale: 6,k January 2003
Time: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Nizam College, Centenary Block
Organised By: Human Rights Law Network, India Centre for Human Rights and law &
Amnesty International India
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K.G. Kannabiran: The Malimath Committee and Criminal Justice Reforms.
IJsha Ramanathan: l ast Track Courts.
Ravi Nair; NHRC SHRCs and Criminal Justice
Building Up Criminal Justice lr:tiative
Networking National Prison Reform Campaign
Setting Up Legal Aid Centers in Different Quarters of the Country for Prisoners,
Children. Beggars. Mentally III. etc.
Panel:
Hainan Rights Law Network. Calcutta, Mumbai. Delhi.
Session 3
Discussion
D.K. Basu Monitoring by the SC and the Need for Intervention - Groups in
Disability Rights (Seminar)
Date: 6lb January 2003
Time: 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.
Venue: Nizam College, Tennis Court
Organised By: Human Rights Law Network & Centre for Promotion of Employment of
Disabled People
Legal Hurdles Faced By Disabled Persons
2 Hrs
Presentations by Disability Rights Activists before Judges of the Indian People's Tribunal (IPT)
Sml. Anurudha Mollit, Special Rapporteur on Disability, NHRC
Shri. Sudharkara Reddy, President, Society for Equal Opportunities to Persons wills
Disabilities, I lyderabad
Ms. Usha Purlhasaralhy. Vice President, Haemophilia Federation (India), Chennai
Dr. Sruli Mohapatra. Vice President- East, Disabled People’s International-India,
Bhubneshwar
Shri. P.K. Pineha. Action Aid. Guwahati
Shri. Rajiv Rajan. Coordinator, Advocacy & Ms. Mallika Vidhya Sagar. Chennai
Ms. Rama Chari. Executive Officer, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for
Disabled People
Shri. Chidambaranalhan, Stale President, Federation of Tamil Nadu Physically handicapped
Association, Chennai (not confirmed)
Shri. J.P. Gadkari. Parivaar. Bangalore (not confirmed)
Dr. Alka Ni/amie. Deepshikha, Ranchi (not confirmed)
Shri. M. Moideen, General Secretary, All Kerala Parents Associalionof Hearing Impaired.
Thiruvanaihapuram (not confirmed)
How the Law can be used by Disability Activists
11/2 Hrs
Panel
Javed Abidi, Executive Director, National Centre for Promotion of
Employment for Disabled People
Colin Gonsalves. Executive Director, Human Rights Law Network
Neeru Vaid. Lawyer, Supreme Court
Dr. Amita Dhanda, Registrar, Nalsar University of Law
Discussion
Session 3
Release of Preliminary Report of the Indian People's Tribunal
1/2 Hr
Environmental Justice: Linking Environment and Human
Well-being (Seminar)
I )ale: 6'“ January 2003
'l ime: 2:30 to 6:30 p.tn.
Venue: Methodist 22
Organised By: Human Rights Law Network Environmental Justice Initiative & Centre for
International Environmental Law
There is an ever widening gap between Environmental and human rights movement, therefore
there is a need to make connections between environmental and social issues and to provide an
opportunity building broad-based coalitions in order to enhance the quality of life for people. In
a discussion on environmental justice, several questions merit attention:
What does
environmental justice really mean? What are its implications? What policies and legal reforms
can help guarantee environmental justice? Who should bear the cost for environmental
protection, conservation and degradation? Does environmental justice extend only to humans or
to non-human species as well, and to what extent?
There is much to be done in order to foster solidarity and help build a movement to address
environmental and social justice struggles. The first step is to foster better understanding and to
develop networks. We hope this workshop will contribute towards that goal.
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Colin Gonsalves / Sunila Dubey, Human Rights Law Network: Overview of
Environmental Justice
Ravi Agarwal. Toxics Link: Toxics and Health
Leo Saldanah, Environment Support Group: Corporate Crime and Corporate
Accountability
Marvic Leoncn. Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, Philippines: Indigenous
Peoples’ Rights Act and other Comparative Perspectives
Sunila Dubey, Environmental Justice Initiative: Environmental Impact Assessments
Prashanl Bhushan, Supreme Court lawyer:
Industrial Development and Land
Acquisition
Shivani Chaudhry, Center for International Environmental Law: Strategies for
Achieving Environmental Justice
During the workshop there will also be a screening and discussion of Krishncndu Bose’s film
Jardhar Diary.
For any assistance please contact us at
Colin Gonsalves: 0 98106 15811
Deepika D’Souza: 0 98200 39557
Mihir Desai: 0 98211 38056
Asmita office (Hyderabad): 040 27733251
Sutapa Chakraborty: 0 98301 72462
Amarjit Singh: 0 98202 14688
E-mail: hrlndel@vsnl.net/huriqht@vsnl.com
Dalit Rights: Advocacy Materials and Documents
Produced by: National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights
©2002
Introducing a CD compendium of materials and documents related to
advocacy interventions against caste, or work and descent based
discrimination, at both the National and International levels, primarily
undertaken by the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights and its
partner groups across India between 1998 and 2002. These documents
invite serious attention to the unjust discrimination faced by Dalits through
the caste system and the practice of untouchability. The common goals of
all advocacy interventions are encapsulated in the call on the State and
civil society to 'Cast out Caste,' and affirm that Dalit Rights are Human
Rights.
This CD contains extensive information on:
•
Official data on Dalit rights aspects, particularly the rights to life, land and
labour, education, employment and reservations, livelihood and life and
security of life.
•
First-ever National Public Hearing on Dalit Human Rights Violations in
India, highlighting the innumerous forms of violations that daily occur in
Dalits’ lives.
•
Proceedings and document outcomes of major conferences on Dalits and
Caste Discrimination that have occurred in the country between 1998 to
2002.
• Dalit Women’s Charter of Rights.
• Advocacy Submissions at the National and International levels.
•
Papers on discrimination based on caste, or work and descent.
• United Nations bodies' responses on the issue of caste discrimination,
including the recent CERD General Recommendation on Discrimination
based on Descent, that places caste within the purview of the
International Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
•
Dalit report on the World Conference against Racism, held in Durban,
South Africa, 2001.
.
Papers on the International dimensions of caste, or work and descent
based discrimination.
This resource material presents the viewer with multiple levels of
advocacy on caste, or work and descent based discrimination at the
grassroots, state, national and international fora.
It catalogues both the struggles of groups across the country to
change casteist mindsets at the grassroots, national and
international levels, as well as the shifting discourse on caste at the
national and international level.
This CD also contains many well-researched advocacy materials
that have found their way and been highly utilised in both national
and international fora, it can also serve as an advocacy tool on how
to build an issue-based campaign.
The inclusion of key national and international developments in the
field of caste, or work and descent based discrimination, provides
crucial human rights criteria for any advocacy-research based
interventions on this issue.
Contribution: Rs. 100/CD Available with:
National Office, NCDHR
Books for Change
1-4-879/87/1, H. No. 942, Bakaram
139 Richmond Road
St. No. 7, SBI Officers’ Colony
Bangalore - 560 025
Gandhinagar, Hyderabad - 500 080
Karnataka
Andhra Pradesh
Tel: 080-558 6682
Telefax: 040 - 2753 3657
Fax: 080 - 558 6284
Email: info@dalits.org
Email: shobaramc@actionaidindia.org
Website: www.dalits.org
J
Asian Social Forum
2QQ3-HYDERABAD, INDIA
INVITATION
6th January 2003
Seminars on
Democratic and Identity
Anxieties of Muslims and Dalits
2:30 - 5:30 pm, Madina Hall,
Opp. Public Gardens, Nampally
(The venue is about 1 km from Nizam College grounds.
Speakers:
Prof. Imitiyaz Ahmed,
Ms. Ruth Manorama, Dr. Syeda Hameed,
Prof. K. S. Challam, Prof. Kancha llaiah,
Prof. Hasan Mansur, Mr. Bojja Tarakam
Organised by: COVA, Lokayan
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Towards a Child Friendly Society
2:00 - 6:00 pm, 7th Day Adventist School,
Opp. Stanley School, Chapel Road
(The venue is about 1 km from Nizam College Ground)
Speakers:
Dr. Sridhar (Globalization & Vulnerabilities of Children),
J. Kameshrwari (Moving Towards Child Friendly Societies:
Need for Cross-Sectional Approach Towards Children),
I. Phillips (D eveloping Child Friendly Indicators)
Organised by: COVA and Divya Disha
GENE CAMPAIGN
^93-2003
S IMPORTANCE
OF
DNDDGENOUS
> KNOWLEDGE
■
c,
I
I
(V)
GENE
What is Indigenous Knowledge?
indigenous Knowledge (IK) is a valuable and
sophisticated system of knowledge
developed by adivasiand rural communities
overa period of time. IK has been developed
pertaining to all the important fields related
to human life, ranging from human and
animal health, home building, food and
agriculture, textiles, handicrafts, natural
resources management etc. This vast
repertoire of knowledge, which is still being
developed, is transmitted from one
generation to the next in oral form. Usually
IK is treated as public information, freely
available for use by anybody.
Importance of Indigenous Knowledge
IK which is of immense importance,
transforms ‘biodiversity’ to ‘ bioresources’,
that is to say, it adds economic value to
biodiversity. Biodiversity, and the indigenous
knowledge associated with it, is a special
strength of today’s developing countries.
When you and I walk through a forest we may
come across a plant bearing yellow flowers
and appreciate its beauty, but an adivasiwill
identify it as having important medicinal
properties. Maybe the root of the plant is used
for preparing medicine for arthritis and its
leaves, flowers and seeds for preparing a
medicine to flush out intestinal worms.
Indigenous and local communities have
developed this form of utility based
knowledge with regard to local biodiversity,
and use itformeetingtheirneeds.ThisIKnow
has a global appeal to an environmental and
holistic health conscious population,
particularly in the industrialised nations.
The rural and adivasicommunities of India
are the custodians of a wealth of knowledge
developed overgenerations.This knowledge
is underthreat from neglect by ourown policy
makers. On the one hand, we are the victims
of biopiracy, the west running away with our
valuable knowledge. On the other, we have
failed to put in place a system to protect our
IK and the local communities who have
generated this important knowledge system.
We need to be aware of its immense richness
and find ways to incorporate the need for its
conservation and sustainable use, into
national policy.
Importance of IK in Agriculture
The importance of indigenous knowledge in
the field of agriculture and breeding new
crops, can be understood when one realises
that there are no rice or wheat plants nor
cotton or mustard to be found lying around
in the forests. What are found in the forests
are wild plants out of which communities of
men and women over generations have bred
( ) races of several food and cash crops.These
communities have bred out of the wild plants
of the forests the thousands of land races
(i.e., the local varieties) which are the basis
of the world’s agriculture.The land races bred
by farming communities are the foundation
materials of modern plant breeding and
global food security.These land races are the
self-same varieties that plant breeders use
to breed other varieties and for which they
seek special and exclusive privileges like
Plant Breeders Rights. One could quite easily
say that if the breeding of a crop variety
involved 100 steps, then IK contributed at
least the first 70 or 80 steps and laboratory
science contributed the next 20 to 30 steps.
j | It stands to reason therefore that credit,
reward and recognition for a new variety
should be similarly shared.
Apart from creating several races of food and
cash crops, these communities have also
identified and managed a series of genes
conferring valuable traits for commercial and
domestic needs through a highly
sophisticated system of crossing and
selection. So, it is that genes for traits as
diverse as disease resistance, pest
resistance, high salt tolerance, resistance to
water logging, and drought tolerance have
been maintained in the'repertoire of
communities. It is IK that provides the know
how for developing crop varieties suited to
nr-- --
diverse climatic regions ranging from the cold
desert in Ladakh to the scorching sands of
Rajasthan and again from the flood prone
belts of Bihar to the coastline of Andhra
Pradesh.
Faced with the threat of global warming and
climate change across agricultural zones,
scientists are on the look out for crop varieties
that are more heat tolerant.They acquire this
information by going to deserts and hot
regions and asking local farming
communities about the varieties that grow in
that region and that can withstand extreme
heat. Armed with the benefit of indigenous
knowledge, these scientists return to their
laboratories and experimental farms and
engage in a breeding and selection program
that will result in the combination of traits that
they seek to achieve in the new variety that
is to be designed for post global warming
agriculture. Thus, the basic information
needed for conducting researches and
breeding programs to develop new and
improved breed of crops is often derived from
indigenous knowledge.
IK in Human health
The role of IK in the realm of medicinal plants
and herbal products is even more obvious
than in the case of crop varieties. According
tothe All India Coordinated Research Project
on
Ethno-botany,
the
indigenous
communities are acquainted with the use of
over 9000 species of plants and specifically
forthe purpose of healing they know the use
of some 7500 species of plants.This amount
of knowledge is staggering considering the
factthatthe allopathic system of medicine is
based on the use of some 100 species of
plants only and even the Indian System of
Medicine comprising the Ayurveda, Siddha
and Unani traditions, uses only about 2000
species of plants in its various healing
formulations. There is a need to properly
document this knowledge existing among the
indigenous communities because the youth
does not appear to have a stake in it. The
-
[4]--------------
—
younger generation lacks respect and
appreciation forsuch knowledge and so, the
absence of willing heirs to this knowledge has
resulted in the precarious situation where the
death of an IK holder can result in the loss of
an entire tradition and knowledge system.
The global market for herbal products, with
its appeal ranging from pharmaceuticals,
nutraceuticals and health foods to cosmetics,
toiletries and ethnic products, is estimated to
touch US$5 trillion by 2O2O.This turnover is
largely based on the know-how of local and
indigenous communities. According to the
WHO, Traditional Medicine (TM) serves the
i hhealth needs of almost 80-% of people in the
developing countries, where access to
“modern” health care services and medicine
is limited by economic and cultural reasons.
For instance, the per capita consumption of
TM products in Malaysia is more than double
that of modern pharmaceuticals.
TM is also significant in more advanced
developing countries such as South Korea,
where the per capita consumption of TM
products is about 36% more than modern,
allopathic drugs. TM has also come to play
an important role in developed countries,
where the demand for herbal medicines has
grown in recent years. The world market for
herbal medicines has reached, according to
pone estimate, US$ 43 billion. For China, the
^leading country in this field, WHO estimates
thatTM generated income of about US$5
billion in 1999 in the international market and
$ 1 billion in the domestic market.
IK leads to finding new compounds
Recent advances in biotechnology have
increased the ability of scientists to
investigate organisms at the molecular and
genetic levels and to find ways to
commercialise products developed from
such investigations.This is recognised by the
increasing numberof companies involved in
bioprospecting. Prospecting for biological
materials like plants with medicinal or other
economically valuable properties like fibre or
ifr-
=
oil, is becoming a dynamic activity. With
growing environmental consciousness,
benign biological substitutes are being
sought for certain categories of chemical
products.
Following the German ban on chemical Azo
dyes in the textile sector, the search is on for
suitable vegetable dyes for leather and
textiles. Plant-based colouring agents,
known from IK are also being sought for the
food processing industry due to the rising
incidence of allergies to chemical colours and
additives. So, a number of industry
programmes are under way to research and
record traditional uses of plants as a starting.
pointforcommercial product development by
companies.These companies mostly come
from the pharmaceutical, agricultural,
personal care and cosmetic sectors, each of
which depends upon IK as the primary
source of information. A number of
pharmaceutical companies rely extensively
and sometimes exclusively on the
knowledge of indigenous and local peoples
when they screen forests for plants with
medicinal value that could be turned into
blockbuster drugs.
IK in conservation of biodiversity
and environment
IK plays a key role in conservation and
sustainable use of biodiversity. Indigenous
peoples’traditional economic systems have *
a relatively low impact on biological diversity
because they tend to utilize a great diversity
of species, harvesting small numbers of each
of them. The indigenous peoples also try to
increase the biological diversity of the
territories in which they live, as a strategy for
increasing the variety of resources at their
disposal and, in particular, reducing the risk
associated with fluctuations in the
populations of individual species.
The indigenous communities have several
strategiesforconservation, like establishing
sacred groves, recognising taboos relating
to nature and giving special status to totemic
species.The degree of sanctity of the sacred
groves varies. In some forests even the dry
"
, =.
k
=(5
—
foliage and fallen fruits cannot be touched.
In others, the deadwood may be picked up,
but neverthe live trees ortheir branches. It is
believed that such sacred groves date back
to several thousand years and many of these
have been turned into the ‘Biosphere
Reserves’of today.These sacred groves are
important today because they are the best
samples of the forests that might have
flourished in the region, housing rare and
endangered plant species, many of which
may have disappeared from the region
outside the groves. Forexample, inthellttara
Kannada region of southern India, the only
remaining natural strands of Dipterocarpus
and a large patch of Myristica indica persist
in a sacred grove of the Goddess
Karikannama.
Among the indigenous communities the
practice of certain taboos with regard to
resource use can be interpreted as
conservation practices cast in religious
mould, as most of them allow for regeneration
and perpetuation of species. The
Phasephardis, an endogamous group found
in the semi-arid regions of Western Ghats,
never harm the pregnant doe, or fawns, of
antelopes or deer. The females of most
species are less hunted as they are the
progenitors. Similarly, there are taboos
against hunting and fishing during breeding
and spawning seasons to allow the prey
species to increase its population.
Indigenous communities have also
developed strategies to ensure that critical
species do not get over-hunted or over
collected. A typical strategy is like the one
reported from little Andaman Island. Here,
the Onges, who love to hunt wild pigs have
developed a novel way of ensuring that the
pig does not get over-hunted in any particular
location. Every time an Onge kills a pig, he
half breaks a branch of the largest tree in the
area.The broken branch is then left hanging
to serve as a signal to other Onges that a pig
has been killed there recently. No one else
would then hunt a pig in that locality, but move
to some other locality. After some time the
branch would dry and fall off, once again
opening the area for hunting.
—----------- —
=
Gene Campaign is a non-government
organization working on the issues of
bioresources, intellectual property rights,
indigenous knowledge, farmers’ rights
and community rights. It is a grassroots
level organisation working in several
states in India and its work is focussed
on ensuring food and livelihood security
for rural and tribal communities. Gene
Campaign has played a significant role
in formulating national policies on
biodiversity and international trade and
has been involved with drafting
legislation in these fields.
Contact:
Gene Campaign
J-235/A, Sainik Farms,
New Delhi - 110 062
Ph: +91-11.- 26517248, 26856841
Fx: +91-11-26965961
Em:genecamp@ vsnl.com
http: //www.genecampaign.org
GENE CAMPAIGN
-2.00^ A 'DwxxAe/ o^Ccwflpa^^
e CAN INDIA
If proof were needed that India was not ready to absorb
and implement a complex technology like GM
technology, one only has to watch the performance
of the agencies set up to regulate this sensitive
technology, the GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval
Committee) in particular. The GEAC had convened a
meeting on 7 November, 2002 to grant approval to
ProAgro's GM mustard varieties. NGOs and farmers
organisations raised a storm of protest before and
during the meeting, opposing the release of the GM
mustard. The committee decided to defer the decision,
Sensibly to 'review' the data.
It is believed that the decision was delayed so as to
ride out the protests and clear the variety when things
were quiet again. Amidst a barrage of allegations that
the GM mustard had not cleared safety tests and not
been sufficiently tested in the fields, NGOs like Gene
Campaign had been demanding the release of the
field data presented by ProAgro, and that the company
should be required to do new field tests monitored by
independent experts. The GEAC has been adamant
that no data would be released and no further field
trials would be done. Now suddenly, with nothing
having changed, it has decided to hold a meeting on
10 December to take a decision on the GM mustard
variety.
In the meantime, the conduct and bias of the GEAC
has come in for criticism from an unlikely source.
Dr. Panjab Singh, Director General of ICAR (Indian
Council of Agricultural Research) has said that the
mustard data are not sufficient to justify commercial
release and that additional tests would have to be
done, specially since most of the data provided to the
GEAC have been generated by the company itself.
Dr. Singh added, “no exceptions can be made in the
case of ProAgro”. implying that this had been tire case.
The clear cut conflict of interest - the industry
providing the data on which its performance will be
judged, does not seem to disturb the GEAC. so intent
are they on granting approval to ProAgro.
The GEAC is the regulatory body that is charged with
the responsibility of assessing the results of field trials
of GM crops and decide whether or not tire results
are clean and convincing enough to warrant approval
for commercial release. This should not be a difficult
task. There are supposed to be reference standards
for testing GM crops, the field trial results have to be
evaluated against these standards and a considered
decision taken if the results are convincing. If not,
more tests should be done. If even then the results
are not clear, the Precautionary Principle should be
invoked and the commercial release of the crop shoigk
be deferred or denied.
All this naturally needs to be done in an open and
transparent manner and with accountability to the
public. The laws of countries like the US, Canada,
Australia and the EU have statutoiy provisions for
public participation in decision-making, public
discussions on risk and benefits of GM crops, the
nature and location of field trials, the results of such
trials and other aspects of the testing of GM crops.
Most information (except some kinds of confidential
Business Information) is in the public domain and
access to that information cannot be denied to the
public. Here in India however, the GEAC is a law unto
itself. It functions like an insider club, cloaked in
secrecy and about as transparent as a concrete wall.
The GEAC refuses to respond to enquiries from the
public. It even refuses to acknowledge phone calls, e
mails and registered letters from civil society asking
for appointments to discuss public concerns
requests for information about field trials of GM crc|P
(Bt cotton or GM mustard). The question that many
are asking is that the if the GEAC has nothing to
hide, why is it so secretive, why is it hiding behind its
concrete wall ? And should such a secretive, non
transparent (and many would say, incompetent) body
be allowed to take decisions of such importance?
Hiding facts about the GM field trials is a violation of
India’s Right to Information Act under which, barring
sensitive areas like defence, the public has a right to
know the basis of government conduct and its
decisions. In an area which could so directly impact
on the health of humans and their livestock, on the
agro-biodiversity and the environment of this region,
on the livelihoods of farmers and on the sustainability
of agriculture for future generations, withholding
information and denying the public the right to
participate in taking decisions amounts to a criminal
offence. If for nothing else, the GEAC should be called
up to explain its conduct on this alone.
2
But this is not all. The way the scientific
administration and the regulatory agencies
responsible for evaluating the GM crops on offer from
the MNCs (there are no crops yet from public research
institutions) are conducting themselves, should be
the subject of investigations by the Central Vigilance
Commission. In fact, fearing corruption and
irregularities, civil society organisations have
petitioned the Chief Vigilance Commissioner to
institute an enquiry into the behaviour of the
regulatory agencies concerned with GM crops.
It is commonly known that when government officials
go to monitor the field trials and tests of the GM crop
(in this case, Monsanto’s Bt cotton and ProAgro’s GM
mustard), the entire bill for travel, boarding and
lodging and hospitality is paid by the industiy whose
crop is being evaluated. This is not all. The officials
are also paid an honorarium! Talking about
irregularities, to assess whether the GM crop parts
seeds, leaves, oil. oil cake etc are safe for humans
animals, studies have to be conducted to see
whether they are toxic or not. The cost of these studies
on the safety of GM crop products and crop parts for
food and animal feed is borne by the concerned
industiy. This must be the only instance in the world
where the industiy in question itself controls the data
on which the sanction of its product depends.
The conflict of interest within the government
agencies running the GM show does not end here.
Within the GEAC, all the members are those who are
researching GM crops and hope to have their own
GM crops coming up for approval before the same
committee. A very ‘I scratch your back- you scratch mine “ situation. A senior scientist of the ICAR is a
member of the GEAC when ICAR itself is an applicant
to the GEAC seeking approval for its transgenic crops.
What objectivity should one expect in such a situation
? In addition to this, there are no scientists from
efferent fields like social sciences, economics, etc.
vWl would be needed to bring in other perspectives.
The GEAC has no soil scientists or ecologists or
entomologists (to understand insect resistance, as
in the case of Bt cotton for example.), nor experts in
any of the environmental sciences. The body is
incapable of taking a competent or comprehensive
view on the safety and efficiency of the GM crop on
the basis of thp data provided.
GENE CAMPAIGN DEMANDS:
1. Before India’s present regulatory agencies
precipitate an environmental or human health
disasterwith theirincompetence and theirgreat
enchantment ofmultinational companies, they
should be disbanded.
2. The GEAC must be revamped. Its members must
include a range ofscien tists from diverse fields
that touch upon agriculture, environment and
ecosystems. NGOs, farmers'organisations and
3
representatives of civil society must be part of
the GEAC.
3. India shouldput on hold the release ofGMcrops
until its regula tory procedure is demonstrably
more competent and transparent.
4. Independent scientific experts not working on
GM crops must monitor field trials ofGMcrops.
5. All data obtained from field trials of GM crops
must be made available to the public.
6. There must be a public discussion on therisks
and benefits ofthe proposed crop and the traits
that are to be deployed.
7. The farming community, especially women
farmers, other stakeholders andmembers ofthe
public must be included in the setting of the
research agenda and decisions on crops and
traits selected for GM research.
8. There must be a clear cut, standard!^]
framework for the monitoring of GM crops ana
for risk assessmen t.
9. Provisions must be made for long-term
environmental and ecological studies on the
impact of GM crops both on agro ecosystems
and natural ecosystems.
10. The Regulatory system should have definite and
unambiguous penalty provisions to be applied
in the case of violations so that the ridiculous
spectacle of the Navbharat Bt cotton is'not
repeated.
11. There should be clear cut policy on the
protection ofCentres ofOrigin and Diversity.
12. The GM science establishment should prepare
a long-term vision document, which should be
discussed in a public forum, before anyfurther
steps are taken on GM crops.
9
Contact:
Gene Campaign
J-235/A, Sainik Farms,
New Delhi - 110 062
Ph: +91-11-26517248, 26856841
Fx: +91-11-26965961
Em:genecamp@ vsnl.com
http: //www.genecampaign.org
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ffart: vkindia@vsnl.net
vijaypratap@vsnl.net
ritupriya@vsnl .com
^993
GENE CAMPAIGN
A
JOINT CAMPAIGN ON
FARMERS’ RIGHTS
Gene Campaign, together with Consumers
International-Regional Office for Asia and Pacific (ClROAP) and Action Aid-Asia conducted a two-day Asia
level consultation on Farmers Rights in Bangkok on
24 and 25 January 2002. The purpose was to learn
from the substantive portions of the Indian law on
Plant Variety Protection as also to share the campaign
ar^advocacy strategies employed by Indian civil
society. Gene Campaign, which has spearheaded the
campaign for Farmers’ Rights in India, had to struggle
for 7 years with changing governments in Delhi, so
that India’s sui generis legislation contained clauses
that were sufficiently protective of the rights of
farmers.
NGOs, government officials, members of the scientific
establishment and activists from 11 countries got
together to discuss how to incorporate a strong
farmers right in national sui generis legislation
necessary in all these countries after the WTO-TRIPS
Agreement. Civil society and government officials
from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Malaysia,
Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, China, Vietnam and
Fiji attended the consultation along with international
NGOs like Oxfam, IUCN, GRAIN, SEARICE and Third
World Network.
The members attending the consultation discussed
the Indian and Thai plant variety protection law. In
addition, the representatives of Malaysia, Indonesia,
Philippines, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal and
Vietnam presented the draft legislation and outlines
of legislation under preparation to grant Plant
Breeders Rights. All nations present at the
consultation will have to enact a suigeneris legislation
as part of their formal commitments to the WTO.
The Indian legislation the “Protection of Plant Varieties
and Farmers’ Rights Act, 2001” aims to balance
farmers and breeders rights. It is the only legislation
so far, which grants explicit farmers’ rights and has
provisions to protect the interests of farm men and
women at various levels. The Indian legislation is being
seen as a model by other developing countries^.
An important decision of the consultations was to
reject the industrialised country platform called UPOV
(International Union for the Protection of New Plant
Varieties) as the arbiter of Plant Breeders Rights and
to try to develop a developing country alternative.
Developing countries need to have strong rights for
farming communities. UPOV does not even have the
notion of Farmers’ Rights and was felt to be completely
unsuited for developing countries. The members
decided to start the process of developing a
developing country platform using existing documents.
These documents are the Model Law developed by
the Organisation of African Unity; Convention of
Farmers and Breeders (CoFaB) prepared by Gene
Campaign and CEAD; and the Bonn Guidelines on
Benefit sharing (2001) prepared under the Conve^jjn
on Biological Diversity.
WAY AHEAD TO DEVELOP NON-UPOV
ALTERNATIVE AND ADVOCACY STRATEGY
FOR FARMERS’RIGHTS
The consultation decided to set up a Working Group
that would draft a strategy to take the agenda of
Farmers Rights forward. The Working Group would
also start working on a non- UPOV platform
addressing the needs of farmers and food security in
agricultural countries which would be circulated
among participants for comments and critique. The
members of the Working Group on Farmers Rights
include the following:
1.
2.
Dr. Mahfuz Ullah, Bangladesh,
Mr. Aftab Alam, Pakistan,
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Ms Indrani, Malaysia,
Ms. Kim, South Korea,
Mr. Surendra Bhandari, Nepal,
Ms. Lanying Zhang, China,
Ms. Tao, Vietnam, and
Mr. Bharat Jairaj, India.
Dr. Suman Sahai from Gene Campaign, Dr. Sothi
Rachagan from Consumers International and
Sri. S Parasuraman from Action Aid will coordinate
the Working Group.
The members at the consultation decided on carrying
forward the following agenda jointly, as an Asian
campaign:
Strong intervention in the TRIPS
Review Process
• No patents on life forms
• No to UPOV
• Introduction of Disclosure requirement in
TRIPS
• Oral documentation should be admitted as proof
of ‘prior art’ during patenting
• Link TRIPS with the Convention on Biodiversity
(CBD)- (prior informed consent; material transfer
agreement; access to technology; and benefit
sharing)
Farmers’ Rights in Domestic
Laws and Policies
There should be strategies for conservation of
genetic diversity;
ormers must have a reliable seed source
Assured marketing for Farmer Varieties
Farmers should have easy access to credit
Farmers should have access to justice
Plant Variety Protection
and Farmers’ Rights laws
Strong Farmers’ Rights recognizing their role as
cultivator, conservator and breeder
Fair but not expansive Plant Breeders Rights
Farmers’ right to sell seed of a protected variety
without using Breeders’ name.
Ban on terminator technology for seeds (GURT).
Liability provision as protection against bad seeds.
Continued access to germplasm (researchers’
rights).
3
• Assured access to seeds (Compulsory License).
• Plant Variety Authority must have representation
from farming & local communities, NGOs etc,
Develop a non-UPOV platform
• Use features in existing documents to develop an
Asia Model.
• CoFab (Convention of Farmers and Breeders).
• Organisation of African Unity Model Law.
• Convention on Biodiversity positions (COP 6)
deliberations on benefit sharing.
• Incorporate features of Farmers Rights, Breeders
Rights, Genetic diversity, Food Security and Benefit
Sharing etc.
If you would like to participate in this proce^^or
if you have suggestions about how to take this
process forward, please contact us at
Gene Campaign: Dr. Suman Sahai
E-mail - genecamp@vsnl.com
Consumers International-Asia:
Dr. Sothi Rachagan
E-mail - sothi@ciroap.org
Action Aid - Asia: Sri. S. Parasuraman
E-mail - sparasuraman@actionaidasia.org
Contact :
Gene Campaign
J-235/A, Sainik Farms,
New Delhi - 110 062
Ph: +91-11- 26517248, 26856841
Fx: +91-11-26965961
Em:genecamp@vsnl.com
http: //www.genecampaign.org
4
Asia Social Forum
20<X
Jan 2-7, 2003
Hyderabad
Conferences & Over view
Testimonies & Panel Discussions on Centre Spread
INFORMATION FOR ASF DELEGATES'
Transport:-
Special buses will run from the Main venue to the seminar venues which are at
more than walkable distance from there. All delegates who avail themselves of
this facility will have to pay the fare, which will come to less than Rs. 5/- per
trip, depending on the distance. Please be on time.
The buses are being run on the following routes:
1.
2.
Indira Priyadarshini Auditorium
Birla Science Museum
3.
4.
Vasavi Kalayani Mandap
5.
Dwarka Conference Hall
Ravindra Bharathi
Route No. 1
6.
Institute of Engineers
Route No. 5
Nizam College to Ambedkar Bhavan
Nizam College to Myadam Anjaiah Hall
1.
2.
UTF Hall
3.
4.
Manohar Function Hall
Ambedkar Bhavan
A.V. College
Route No. 2
Nizam College to Andra Yuvathi Mandali
1.
City Central Library
2.
Sundarayya Vignana Kendram
3.
Andra Yuvathi Mandali
4.
Function Plaza
1.
2.
3.
4.
Jain Sevak Sangh
Golden Rose School
Saraswatha Parishath Hall
YWCA
5.
Myadam Anjaiah Hall
Conferences/Translation:The conferences are provided with simultaneous translation facility. Head
phones and radio sets can available all Nizam college, near the main gate on
payment of a deposit of Rs. 50, and a rent of Rs. 5 per day. You can refund
the radios after us and collect the remainder (if any) of your deposit.
Route No. 3
Water:-
Nizam College to Gandhi Bhava
Free clean drinking water is ava'lable at the venue provided by zero waste
management group. You can also buy bottles of water at the rate of Rs. 5 a
bottle.
Differently abled:-
1.
Abids Function Hall
2.
3.
Methodist School
IMA Hall
4.
5.
V.V. Function hall
Gandhi Bhavan
Route No. 4
Nizam College to Institute of Engineers
We are providing recoups and special toilets for the differentlv ahled
For all other enquiries please contact at this info r>^i + ? d’
center) at Nizam College, near the main gate'
(information
on the last page.
' On w phones given
Venue
Distance
from Main
Venue (in Organisation Booking 3rd
km)
January
Name of seminar
Ravindra Bharathi Auditorium
1
AP Jana Vignana Vedika
Globalisation and Andhra Pradesh
L_ Indira Priyadarshini Auditorium
1
Heinrich Boll Foundation
3
4
Nation Centre for Labour /
APVVU
Contours of Asian Solidarity
Globalisation and Unorganised
Sector
S$o.
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
4
Myadam Anjaiah Hall
3
Focus on Global South
Nuclear Power Deception
"National Identities and Self
Determination: Kashmir,
Northeast"
5
Gandhi Bhavan
2
National Identities Forum
6
Manohar Function Hall
1.5
7
V.V.Function Hall
2.5
Don Bosco SAFYR
All India State Govt. Employes
Federation
Alternative Education for the
Young at Risk__________________
Alternatives and Peoples’
Movements
4
Trade Unions, Facilitated by
Centre for Education and
Communications
Against Privatisation and
Disinvestment
Abids Function Hall
2
Asian Women's HRC
Courts of women
Jain Sevak Sangh-1
2
Forum For Women's Health
Sundarayya Vignana Kendram
(Auditorium)
8
9
10
Speakers
Gadekar, Admiral Ramdas , Surendra
Gadekar, A. H. Nayyar, K.R.Datye,
Minar Pimple,___________________
Meena Menon, Nandita Haksar, Bashir
Manzar, Artax Shimray, Suraiyya, Ritu
Dewan, Taregami, Gawher Fazli, Pushp,
Mirwaiz Omar Farooq_________________
Politics of Population
11
Saraswatha Parishath Hall
2
AP Rythu Sanghalu
12
Vasavi Main Hall
1.5
13
Plaza Function Hall
4
Telangana Information Trust
AP Jogini Vyavasta Vyathireka
Porata Sangam
Globalisation, WTO and Indian
Agriculture: Changing government
policies in the context of
globalisation
Globalisation and Marginalisation
of Regions
Elimination of Practice of Jogini
System
14
IMA Hall
4
FIAN International
Starvation Deaths, Right to Food
and Role of Civil Society_________
15_ _ _
16_ _ _
17_ _ _
Heera Hall
1
CWS
Livelihoods and Alternatives
Taj Hotel, Narayanguda
3
UTF Hall
2
18_ _ _
Birla Science Museum AC
1.5
IMADR_______________________ Migration and Gender Insecurity
19_ _ _
Institution of Engineers
3
AIPSN
20_ _ _
A.V. College Hall
2
j
Anwar, G. Srinivas, Chari,, Balaram,
Ramchandrudu, T. Prabhakar Reddy,
Ghanshyam, Radha Mohan
Women and Poverty; Trafficking,
21_ _ _ _ Ambedkar Bhavan
A. K. banerjee, Grassroot Movement
Globalisation and Forestry
Representatives from various states
Religiosity, Identity and
CSDS / VasudhaivaKutumbakam Democracy____________________
Globalisation and Labour - Impact
on Both Formal and Informal
Labour Sectors
SAAPE
2
22
Nizam College Centenary Block
0
23
k ■Nizam College Tennis Court
0
Human Rights Law Network/lndia
Centre for Human Rights and
Communalism and the Law
Law
Human Rights Law Network/FES Labour and the second labour
Commission Report
Foundation
24
Madina Hall_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 0.5
CNDP/APA/ Local Secretariat
COVA
25
Sundarayya Vi^ana Kendram
(Mini Hall)
4
AIDWA_ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Jain Sevak Sangh-2
2
Community Health Cell_ _ _ _ _ _ _
26
27
Press Club
28
Dwaraka Conference Hall
29_____
SCERT Hall________
CEHAT_______________________
nr
jRavindra Bharathi Mini Hall
SFI------------------------
South Asian Women for Peace
1____
Expanding Dimensions Of SonPreference In South Asia
Environment and Health: A
Peoples Campaign
Peace Initiative Committee
05
Qj_____
30_ _ _ -
Conflict in South Asia
Firdous Sayed, Nimalika(Sri Lanka),
Francis Lee (Korea), Jeonsoo Kim /
Young Nim You
(Korea)_______________________
,
Prof. Babu Mathew, Dr. Shrinath
Right to Health Care: Moving from Reddy, Dr. A.H.M. Nouman, F’rof. Joga
idea to reality (Constitutional and Rao, Pradip Prabhu/Brian Lobo, John
Samuel, Sadhana Hall, Colin Gonsalves
Legal Framework)
Globalisation and Education
The Role of the Post Colonial
State in defining or negating
identity___________ ____________
___________ __________________ _______
Jamate Islami Hind
Movement for a Peaceful and
Prosperous World
0
PRISM
The Marginalisation of SexualityAnother Exclusion is Imoossible
1.5
Adivasi Hakkula Vedika (Bhumi,
Neeru, Adavi, Sahaja Sampadalu)
Tribals and the Land Question in the
Context of Globalisation
Telangana Study Forum
Resource Utilisation in AP: A Study of
Telangana____________________
31_ _ _
Methodist High School
32_ _ _
Cooperative Training School
(Adj. Nizam College)
33_ _ _
Vasavi Mini Hall
34
City Central Library-Open Space 1
35_ _ _
36_ _ _
37_ _ _
1
City Central Library-Hall
4
Golden Rose School
2
YWCA
1
38____ NGOs' Hall
39____ NGO's Hall (Open Space)
0.5
0.5
AIPSN
Ashok Jhunjunweia, Rajeev
Sangal, G. Nagar.una, P.V.
Unnikrishnan, Ma tan Mohan
Rao, P V s Kumai__________
Whose Information Technology is it?
Science for a Better World
s
TN Dalit Women's Movement
zz
Public Hearing on Violation of Dalit
Rights and Caste Discrimination
40_ _ _
St. Paul's-1
1
IDEAS
Dalits and Livelihoods_______________ j
41
St. Paul's-2
1
SAKSHI
Caste based Discrimination___________
COVA / Divya Disha / KRISHI
Towards a Child Friendly City
43_ _ _
44_ _ _
St. Paul's-3
1
St. Paul's-4
1
St. Paul's-5
45_____ Seventh Day Adventist Church
0.5
Debt, Water and Power Privatisation Lidy Nacpil, Prabir
46____ Hotel Anmol Conference Hall
(15
Jubilee South AIPSN / Others
LXsia Pacific Network on Food
47
13arwana Hall
(1.5
Purkayastha, Girish Sant,
Chittoroopa Palit,
Nepomuceno Malaluan
(Phillipines), Maristela Dela
Cruz, Ana Maria Nemenzo,
Kusfiardi, Henrikus
Bonefasius Henry, Abdul
Majeed Kanjoo (Pakistan),
Oh, Keon-Ho,
JSovereignty
Ramesh Singh, Ed Mora
(Phillipines), Dwi Astuti
1 Peoples' Action Against WTO & Trade i(Indonesia), Chanida Bamford,
1 .iberalisation in Agriculture in the AsiaArze Glipo, Sheelu Fransis,
f3acific Region: Strategies for Change
.Atty. Ping Peria.Nugroho , Gigi
;and Resistance
Francisco, Jayson Cainglet
-------------------------------------------- —----------------- L.--------------- ---------------------------------------------
Date
Proposer
3rd January
Creating Resources For Empowerment in
Acron (CREA)
3rd January
3rd January
Globalise Resistance
Montfort Brothers
3rd January
WOREC
All India State Government Employees
Hall Allotted
Name of the Event
Sexuality and Human Rights
Nizam 1
Is revolution back on the Agenda
Building Another World
Nizam 2
Nizam 231
Political Disruption and Youth Mobilisation
Nizam 233
3rd January
Federation
3rd January
Jubliee South
3rd.anuary
Integrated Rural Development of Weaker
Sections In India/United EV Angelical
Lutheran Church in India
"3rd January
Legal Resources for Social Action
3rd January
Nepal India Dailogue on Water and Floods CSDS
Nizam 606
3rd January
3rd January
3rd January
Campaign Against Child Trafficking (HAQ)
Action Aid India CHENNAI RO
SAIDS
Child Trafficking
Issues of Dalits
Social Development
Nizam 229
Nizam 628
Nizam 629
3rd January
3rd January
Concern for Children and EnvironmentNepal (CONCERN)
Yakshi
Health Issues in Adivasi Area
Nizam 210
Nizam 627
3rd January
Elhanan Benevolent Association for Mother
and Child
Palestinean Children
3rd January
Forum For Social Justice Movement
Dalits/Muslims-Caste
Methodist 2
3rd January
ICMICA
Voice of the Intellectuals
Methodist 3
3rd January
Manav Seva Sansthan (SEVA)
Trafficking of Women and Children for Sexual
Expliotation: The Challenges
Methodist 4
3rd January
Peace Initiative Committee
Struggle For Peace and Democracy
Methodist 5
3rd January
Pioneers of Change and Shikshantar
Unfolding Learning Societies
Methodist 6
Participation of Public Service and PSUs
Nizam 302
PRSPs and Poverty Eradication
Nizam 322
Displacement and Development
Globalisation, Land aleination and dalit: with
specific focus on the Waste Land Development
Project of TN
Nizam 323
Nizam 325
Methodist 1
Child Rights Resource Institure (CRRI) and
3rd January
3rd January
Trust, MOSAIC
Civic Banglore
3rd January
3rd January
Community Health Cell
Development Link
Methodist 7
Methodist 8
Towards Action for a Tobacco Free world
Social Development
Methodist 9
Methodist 10
3rd January
FORCES
Early Childhood Care and Development
Methodistl 1
3rd January
Human Rights Law Network
Legal Initiative on Violence against Women
Methodist 12
3rd January
Institute of Policy Studies
Uplift of Weaker Sections and Globalisation :
Indian Experience
Methodist 13
Minuguru-A Resource Center for Dalit
3rd January
3rd January
Women
TOXICS LINK
Violence on Dalit Women
Globalisation of Waste
Methodist 14
Methodist 15
3rd January
Vikas Sahyog Pratishthan
Livelihoods and Self Dignity to deprived
Communities
Methodist 16
3rd January
Women's Global Network on Reproductive
Reproductive Rights in the 21st Century
Rights
Methodist 17
3rd January
National Campaign Committee For
Construction Labour(NCC-CL)
Globalisation and Construction Workers
Methodist 18
CHATRI / SANHITA
Homelessness and Displacement of People
3rd January
r>
sviocfic?•;AS\01 v
Date
Name of the Event
Proposer
Hall Allotted
4th January
Association of Rural
Education and
development (AREDS) Towards another world-Playback Theatre
4th January
Global Network-Asia
4th January
Campaign Against
Child Trafficking (HAQ) Child Trafficking
4th January
AIAWU
Marginalised Section
Impact of Globalisation and Communalisation on Children and
4th January
Bharat Jan Vigyan
Jatha
Women: Testimonies from Grassroots
Nizam 302
4th January
AP Ryotu
Sangam(Jawahar
Nagar)
Globalisation: Agricultural loans and crop insurance
Nizam 322
4th January
Sangam(Ryotu
Bhavan), AP Ryotu
Sangam(Jawahar
Nagar), Rytho Coolie
Condition of Farmers: Suicides and Kidney Sales
Nizam 323
4th January
Jubliee South
ECA,' Debt and SAPs
Nizam 325
4th January
Jubliee South
Debt, Trade and Capital Flows
Nizam 606
4th January
Action Aid India
Social Integration of the Disabled
Nizam 229
TRIPS and Developing Countries
Nizam 628
Strengthing Trade Unions and NGOs Alliance as a Global
Social Movement on Asia in Engaging Capitalist Globalisation
Nizam 1
Nizam 2
Nizam 231
Nizam 233
4th January
National Working
Group on Patent Laws
4th January
Action Aid Pakistan
4th January
Action Aid Bangladesh
People's Rights over Natural Resources
Nizam 210
4th January
Yakshi
Adivasi Women and Livelihoods
Nizam 627
4th January
Centre for Handloom
Information Centre
Liberalisation and Artisanal Communities
Nizam 233
Globalisation and Organic Farming
Lingampally Function Palace
Statergy Workshop on GATS
Methodist 2
Nizam 629
4th January
Rashtriya Rythu Seva
Samithi
Research Foundation
for Science,
Technology and
Ecology
4th January
Rythu Coole Sangham Land and Livelihoods under Globalisation
4th January
Snehg-FSU
Debt
Methodist 4
4th January
YWCA
Women's Empowerment
Methodist 5
4th January
Advocasy Center for
Social Justice, Tamil
Nadu
Socio-Economic development and Reservation Policy-the
Review of the Constitution of India
Methodist 6
4th January
AIPSN Environment
Desk
Globalisation, Forestry
Methodist 7
4th January
AIPSN Self Reliance
Desk
Science as a Resource for Transformation
Methodist 8
4th January
Lokayan
Dams and Water Politics
Methodist 9
4th January
Pioneers of Change
and Shikshantar
Alternative Economies
Methodist 1 o
4th January
Oxfam: The Indian
Member of Oxfam
International
Campaign on Access to Trade and Markets
Methodistl 1
4th January
Methodist 3
i
Gender Bender- Understanding Masculinity and Feminity
4th January
Akshara
4th January
Astha Sansthan,
Udaipur
perspective of the venerable groups
4th January
South Asia Dialogues
on Ecological
Democracy/ OSDS
WTO/GATS
Methodist 12
Revisiting 73rd Amendment in Indian Constitution from the
Methodist 13
Corporatisation and Privatisation of Water in India and the
Me>hodistl4
I
1
i
..
'
1
■ 1
!!
4th January
CSDS, CADAM,
Vasudhaiva
Kutumbakam
4th January
CSDS-Swasthya
Panchayat
4th January
DC collective for South
Asians
4th January
Globalise Resistance
4th January
Joint Women's
Programme
Globalisation: Dalit Women Health Status
Methodist 19
4th January
Human Rights Law
Network
Tribal Evictions following the Supreme
Methodist 20
4th January
Export Credit Agencies
and Debt in Asia
Pacific
ECAs: Fuelling the race to the bottom
Methodist 21
4th January
Shaheen Asmita
Globalisation and Minority Women
Methodist 22
4th January
Social Development
Foundation
Violence on Dalits and Marginalised
Methodist 23
4th January
against cast
discrimination a.p.
committee
Globalisation-Reservations
All Saints 1
4th January
Tamilnadu Peoples
Forum for Social
Development
Public Policy, Budgets and Dalits
All Saints 2
4th January
NAWO
Violence against Women
All Saints 3
4th January
YUVA
children
All Saints 4
4th January
Institute of Policy
Studies
Globalisation: Positive Self Reliance and Antyodaya
All Saints 5
4th January
Soofi Sachal Sarmast
Welfare Association
Tangwani Distt:
Jacobabad Sindh
Labour
All Saints 6
Asia Pacific On
Women, Law and
Development
Women and Food Sovereignity
All Saints 7
AP Public Sector
Employees Federation
Role of Public Sector/ Cooperatives in Agriculture
All Saints 8
Samvada
Cross Border Obsessions
All Saints 9
•
I
. 3
--
4th January
4th January
4th January
Strengthening Democracy: View from the Below
Methodist 15
Rethinking AIDS and Social Responsibility
Methodist 16
South Asian Activism in the Diaspora: Experiences from the US Methodist 17
Do Western Workers benefit from the oooression of Workers in
the Third World?
Methodist 18
Disasters, Wars, Conflicts and Globalisation: Challenges for
4th January
4th January
Disaster Watch
Communities.
All Saints 10
Livelihood Rights
All Saints 11
People's Communication Rights against Neo-liberal
All Saints 12
JESA-Jesuit Social
Action
4th January
JCA-NET/APC
4th January
All Saints 13
Jagori
4th January
Globalisation - Micro Credits Adverse Impact on Women •
Ap Mahila Samakhya
All Saints 14
__---------- -—
__________ ____________
31_ _ _
Mgthodjst High School
y°°Perat've Train ing"schooiI
(Ad): Nizam College)________
32
Grameena Bank Employees
1
Union_______
0
AP Differently Abled P.C.
1.5
Baitul Hikma_____________ _____
1
Anthra_____________ ___________
Vasavi Mini Hall
34
35_ _
36
City Central Library-Open Space
City Central Library-Hall
Golden Rose School
—------------ -- Legislation and Implement^
Differently Abled Peoples^
Imperialist Globalisation and Wars
Privatisation of Resources-|mpact
on Livestock Rearers
4
DYFI______ __________________
Food Sovereignty______
2________ Diverse Women for Diversity _
Violence against women4fe[f the
Sky's demand for Violence free
37
World_________________
Education for All
Communalism and its impact on
Labour
YWCA
38_____ NGOs' Hall
0.5
AP Women's Team
AIPSN/ BGVS
39____
NGO’s Hall (Open Space)
0.5
TU's / CEC
40
41
42
43
44
St. Paul's-1
1
DBF
Dalit Movements________
St. Paul's-2
1
St. Paul's-3
1
St. Paul's-4
1
45
46
Seventh Day Adventist Church
Hotel Anmol Conference Hall
0.5
0.5
People's Monitoring Group on
Electricity Regulation
Power Reforms, Experiences and
Strategies
*47
Parwana Hall
0.5
AISF
Globalisation: Impact on
Education
St Pauls-5
Child lights at the Centre of
A better world is possible
Development with Justice
— if we can work together to re-build it
.workshop:
Friday, 3rd January 2003;
Time: 2.30 pm to 6.00 pm
Room # 7,
Methodist School
(next to Nizam College ASF venue campus)
CHILDREN DESERVE THE BEST WE HAVE TO GIVE. THE PRESENT CANNOT BE
FAIR ANDTHE FUTURE CANNOT BE SECURED WITHOUT INVESTING IN THEIR
RIGHTS AND WELLBEING. '
ASIA IS HOME TO THE MAJORITY OF THE WORLD’S CHILDREN AND YOUTH:
DO WE GIVE PRIORITY TO THEIR RIGHTS? IN A GLOBALISING WORLD, THE
SUPPORTS AND SERVICES THEY NEED ARE INCREASINGLY AT RISK. BUT THE
HUMAN RIGHTS OF CHILDREN ARE NOT FOR PRIVATISATION! WHAT ARE THE
PROTECTIONS, PROVISIONS AND PRACTICAL DEVELOPMENT MEASURES ALL
THE YOUNG DESERVE, AND WHAT KIND OF POLICIES AND PROGRAMME AC
TIONS MUST ASIAN COUNTRIES GUARANTEE FOR THEM? CHILDREN DESERVE
to a better design !
It is the least we could for
our children’s future.
The MOSAIC Charter sets out a world of
variegated unity, in which every piece is dis
tinct and identifiable by its own character, and
no piece dominates or intrudes upon any other.
Like the traditional mosaic, this world is one that
expresses and celebrates diversity, and upholds
honourable co-existence rooted in a plural ethic
- a world worthy of its children.
THE BEST PLANS,THE BEST COMMITMENTS - AND HONEST ACTION.JOIN THE
WORKSHOP AND BECOME PART OF THE EFFORT TO ENSURE JUSTICE FOR
JOIN THE MOSAIC CHARTER INITIATIVE FOR A TRANS-ASIAN ALLIANCE TO
EVERY CHILD. MAKE THE ASIA SOCIAL FORUM A SITE OFPOSITIVE CHANGE!
BUILD A BETTER WORLD FOR OUR CHILDREN TO INHERIT. CONTACT
Organisers: CHILD RIGHTS RESOURCE INSTITUTE & MOSAIC CHAR
TER TRUST, IN SUPPORT OF SANA (SOUTH ASIA NGO ALLIANCE),
& THE INDIA ALLIANCE FOR CHILD RIGHTS.
OD 1ST SCHOOL (NEXT TO ASF CENTRAL SITE AT NIZAM COLLEGE
info@justpax.org OR MEETTHE MOSAIC CHARTER TEAM AT ROOM #7, METH
CAMPUS)ON 3RD JANUARY AFTERNOON.
Distance
from Main
Venue (in
km)
S.No.
Venue
1
Ravindra Bharathi Auditorium
i
2
Indira Priyadarshini Auditorium
1
3
Andhra Yuvathi Mandali
Organisation Booking 4th
January
VENUE Not Available
Heinrich Boll Foundation
Support Group to Right to
Food Campaign
4
Name of seminar
Speakers
_______________
VENUE Not Available
Contours of Ecological Democracy,
Justice and Equity
Right to food in India
Kavita Srivastava, Colin Gonsalvaz,
Anuradha Talwar, Siddharth Varadarajan,
Jean Dreze, Subhash Lomte, Harsh Mander,
Mazdoor Kisan Shakthi Sanghatan______ __
Vandana Shiva, Martin Klior (Malasia),
Nicola Bullard (Thailand), Comrade
Varadarajan, Walden Bello (Phillipines),
Focus on Global South
Derailing the WTO Cancun
Ministerial
2.5
NAPM
Asian South Bureau of
Adult Education
Development, Displacement and
Resettlement
Peace and Conflict Resolution:
Implications for Education
Sundarayya Vignana Kendram
(Auditorium)
4
Trade Unions, Facilitated by
Centre for Education and
Globalisation and Labour Rights
Communication
9
Abids Function Hall
2
Pesticide Action Network
Asia Pacific
10
Jain Sevak Sangh-1
2
Hyderabad Ekta
11
12
13
Saraswatha Parishath Hall
2
KKNSS
Vasavi Main Hall
1.5
Plaza Function Hall
4
SIGN
14
15
IMA Hall
4
COVA/VAN1
Heera Hall
1
4
5
Myadam Anjaiah Hall
3
Gandhi Bhavan
2
6
Manohar Function Hall
1.5
7
V.V.Function Hall
8
Food Sovereignty : A People's Right
(including Alternatives)
Politicised Religion, Challenges to
Pluralism and Democracy
Globalisation and Challenges of
Urban Poor
Conducive Atmosphere for
Voluntary Sector: Problems and
16_ _ _ Taj Hotel, Narayanguda
17_ _ _ _ UTF Hall
3
IDEAS
VENUE Not Available
Fluid Finance, Global Crisis and the
Search for Alternatives
2
AIKS
Agriculture
18_ _ _ _ Birla Science Museum AC
19_ _ _ _ Institution of Engineers
1.5
ILPS, SRED, BAYAN
Unmasking the War on Terror
3
VENUE Not Available
CSDS1 Vasudaiva
Kutumbakam
20_ _ _ _ A.V. College Hall
21_ _ _ _ Ambedkar Bhavan
22_ _ _
VENUE Not Available
2
Nizam College Centenary Block
24_ _ _ Madina Hall
Sundarayya Vignana Kendram
25_ _ _ (Mini Hall)
26_ _ _ Jain Sevak Sangh-2
27_ _ _ Press Club
Elisa Tita Lubi, Joanna Carino, Rita Baua,
Fatima Burnad,
VENUE Not Available
Religiosity, Identity and Democracy
0
Human Right Law Network/
India Centre for Human
Rights and Law/ National
Forum for Housing Rights Housing Rights(Evictions)
0
Human Right Law Network
Labour Rights, Changes in Labour
Law
0.5
CNDP
Noorie (Iraq), Abdul Jawad Hamayel
(Palestine), Samir Amin (Senegal), Peter
Political Implication of Development Custers
4
Yuva/Lokayan
Right to Urban Space-Evictions and
Livelihoods
Dalit Women's Federation
2
0.5
_
RFTE
Beyond Bhopal and Bt
Right to Health Care: Moving from
idea to reality II (Operational and
Financial Mechanisms, Campaign
28_ _ _
Dwaraka Conference Hall
29_ _ _
SCERT Hall
30_ _ _
Ravindra Bharathi Mini Hall
ii
Nirantar
31_ _ _ _
Methodist High School
Cooperative Trahi^s^r--- 1
(Adj. Nizam College)
Amnesty
CEHAT
0.5
Strategy)
Dr. H. Sudarshan, Ravi Duggal, Jean Dreze,
Father Sebastian, Sarojini, Seeta Prabhu,
Dr. Ravi Narayan, Dr. T. Sundaraman
Madalaiselvam, Fatimson, Stan
Thekkakara, Muthamma, M L Doss
Adivasi Action C committee Infringment of Adhivasi rights
Women's Education and the Politics
nr
__
of Denial
Legal Frameworks for Enforcing
ESC Rights in the Context of
"—— 0_ _ _ _ _ _
Baitul Hikma
__________ Imperialist Globalisation and Wars
—
1.5
____
City Central L'braiyri^nng^^
NAWOAP Event
3£_ _ _
Asmita__________
1
Vasavi Mini Hall
Ravi Nair, John Samuel, Mazher Hussain,K.
Shiv Kumar
2
23_ _ _ Nizam College Tennis Court
32_ _ _
Comrade Mahadevan, Prabir Purkayastha,
Thomas Kochery,
~
--------------------------------------------------------------------- -
documentary film screenings - 06 January 2003
SCREEN I
SCREEN II
Time
Time
2.00 PM
BEHIND THE SECOND FRONT
2.00 PM
AGNO
2.45 PM
RESURGENCE
THE KILLING TERRACES
AAKROSH/ RAGE
3.45 PM
FATHER
Patwardhan's Latest film, 138 min S
3:00 PM
BIGGER THAN ENRON
4.30 PM
A STATE KILLING
3.45 PM
SEEING IS BELIEVING
4.30 PM
6:00 PM
IN DARK TIMES
MAHAKA, A YA WA MAMA WA
land IS FREEDOM
55 mins
60 mins/ Petea Wintonick/ Katerina Ceizeck
30 mins/ KNT Shastri
81 mins/ Tareque Catherine Masud
24 mins/ Gauhar Raza
60 mins
3.38 mins/ Prasoon Pandey
4.00 PM
WORDS OF FREEDOM
2.00 PM
18 mins/ Yusuf Mehta/ Ramesh Pimple
46 mins/ Dhurba Busnet
Excerpts from Anand
-------- ------------------------- s C R E E N IV
rme
Room 228-Social Science Bldg
Room 218 - Social Science Bldg
______________ Nizam College
2:00 PM
28 mins/ Erlyn Ruth Alcantera
57 mlns/ Vidhi P
4.30 PM
Time
Nizam College
36 mins/ Ron Papaq
3.00 PM
SCREEN Hi
Room 119 - Principals Bldg
Nizam College Grounds
6.00 PM
SKIN DEEP
83 mlns/ Reena Mohan
AFRICA
124 mins/ Challam Benurkar
5.00 PM
TOXIC TRAIL
7.30PM
6.00 PM
STORY OF SUJA
S.
26 mlns/ KM Madhusudan
27 mlns/ Janet Boston
LET ME ALSO COME TO
SCHOOL
55 mins/ Simantini Dhuru
7.30 PM
DROWNED OUT
75 mins/ Franny Armstrong
documentary film screenings - 03 January 2003
SCREEN II
SCREEN I
Room 119 - Principals Bldg
Time
Time
2.00 PM
2.00 PM
GENOVA OPEN CITY
3.00 PM
Room 218 - Social Science Bldg
BRINGING DURBAN HOME
LESSER HUMANS
2.30 PM
2:00 PM
BAREFOOT GEN
Room 228 - Social Science Bldg
Nizam College
PIG TUSKS & PAPER MONEY
2.00 PM
■ 50 mins
3.30 PM
DOT CON
60 mins
GLOBALISATION: VIOLENCE
3.30 PM
OR DIALOGUE?
90 mins
60 mins/ Stalin K
Time
Nizam College
13 mins/ Mallika Dutta/ Thom Powers
41 mins/ Nina/Niko/Martin
SCREEN IV
SCREEN III
Time
Nizam College
Nizam College Grounds
BASILAN- SPARKS OF WAR
96 mins/ Ron Magbutos
62 mins/ Patrice Barrat
4.30 PM
MANN KE MANJEERE
4.30 PM
A WOMAN'S PLACE
5:00 PM
TELL THEM, THE TREE THEY
4.45 PM
HAD PLANTED HAS NOW GROWN
58 mins/ Paromita Vohra
5:10 mins/ Sujit Sircar/ Gary
TOYS OF LUST AND GREED
5 mins 5 sec/ Dhurba Basne
58 mins/ Ajay Raina
4.45 PM
PLACE OF RAGE
6.00 PM
6.15 PM
TALES OF NIGHT FAIRIES
7.15 PM
6.30 PM
UNLIMITED GIRLS
5.00 PM
94 mins/ Paromita Vohra
7.30 PM
THE FIRE WITHIN
BORDERS & BEYOND
105 mlns/ Natasha Silveira
57 mins/ Shriprakash
74 mins/ Shohini Ghosh
8.00 PM
MY MIGRANT SOUL
33 mins/ Yasmine Kabir
55 mins
DEVELOPMENT AT GUN POINT
41 mins/ Kup Shashi
TELANGANA ARMED STRUGGLE
3U min/ Kapn.s/ Barsna Panoa/ g. Narsmg
Rao/ C. Kalyani/ Devogeet Vohra
documentary film screenings - 04 January 2003
SCREEN II
SCREEN I
Time
Time
Room 119 - Principals Bldg
2.00 PM
OKINAWA HEN
2.00 PM
NUSRAT HAS LEFT...
4.00 PM
CHILDREN OF MINI JAPAN
5.00 PM
7.00 PM
2:00 PM
RAMPAGE
UNHEARD VOICES
6.00 PM
GUJARAT- A WORK IN PROGRESS
35 mins/Stailn K
75 mins/ Surabhi S.
7.15 PM
Time
DEATH LOOMS
3.15 PM
AMERICAN DREAM
5.30 PM
4.00 PM
WORDS ON WATER
4-45 pm
MATi<a/ an untold story
MICHEAL JACKSON COMES TO
manekanj
57 mlns/ Nupur Basu
6.00 PM
85 mlns/ Sanjay Kak
ROL TALES
70 "Ins/Sehjo Singh
74S pm
FREEDOM
53 mlns/ Amar Kanwar
AFTERSHOCKS
66 "’"“/Rakesh Sharma
______________________ ________ --
- --------------
24mins/GSBhaskar
68 mlns/ Vinod Raja
7:00 PM
H« I - The Vote
82 m|ns/Pankaj Kumar
98 mins
THE BEE THE BEAR THE KURUB
*
screen IV
Room 228 - Social Science Bldg
------ - -------- Nizam College
2.00 PM
45 mlns/ KNT Shastri
27 mins/ Alex Parimalan
60 mlns/ Challam
OF CLOTH & OTHER STORIES
THE BRANDON TEENA STORY
30 mins/ Ron Papag
25 mins/ Farjad Nabi
5.15 PM
SCREEN III
Room 218 - Social Science Bldg
Nizam College
88 mins/ Susan Musk/ Greta Olafsdottir
112 mins/ Jim Takaiwa
4.30 PM
Time
Nizam College
Nizam College Grounds
documentary film screenings - 06 January 2003
SCREEN I
Time
BEHIND THE SECOND FRONT
2.00 PM
3.00 PM
RESURGENCE
2.45 PM
THE KILLING TERRACES
BIGGER THAN ENRON
3:00 PM
3.45 PM
A STATE KILLING
3.45 PM
4.30 PM
MAHAKA, A YA WA MAMA WA
6:00 PM
6.00 PM
LAND IS FREEDOM
SKIN DEEP
83 mlns/ Reena Mohan
AFRICA
30 mins/ KNT Shastri
IN DARK TIMES
55 mins
60 mlns/ Petea Wintonlck/ Katerina Ceizeck
3.38 mins/ Prasoon Pandey
4.00 PM
81 mins/ Tareque Catherine Masud
24 mlns/ Gauhar Raza
SEEING IS BELIEVING
4.30 PM
FATHER
Patwardhan's Latest film, 138 mln s
WORDS OF FREEDOM
2.00 PM
60 mins
46 mins/ Dhurba Busnet
Excerpts from Anand
Nizam College_________
T'm
18 mins/ Yusuf Mehta/ Ramesh Pimple
28 mins/ Erlyn Ruth Alcantera
57 mlns/ Vidhi P
4.30 PM
AAKROSH/ RAGE
2:00 PM
AGNO
36 mins/ Ron Papaq
------------ ---------------------- SCREEN IV
Room 228 -Social Science B.dg
Room 218 - Social Science Bldg
Nizam College
Time
Room 119 - Principals Bldg
Nizam College Grounds
2.00 PM
SCREEN III
SCREEN II
Time
124 mins/ Challam Benurkar
5.00 PM
TOXIC TRAIL
7.30PM
6.00 PM
STORY OF SUJA
26 mins/ KM Madhusudan
• 27 mins/ Janet Boston
LET ME ALSO COME TO
SCHOOL
55 mins/ Simantini Dhuru
7.30 PM
DROWNED OUT
75 mins/ Franny Armstrong
documentary film screenings - 03 January 2003
SCREEN I
SCREEN II
Time
Room 119 - Principals Bldg
Time
Nizam College Grounds
2.00 PM
2.00 PM
GENOVA OPEN CITY
41 mins/ Nina/Niko/Martin
3.00 PM
SCREEN III
Time
Room 218 - Social Science Bldg
Nizam College
BRINGING DURBAN HOME
2:00 PM
13 mins/ Mallika Dutta/ Thom Powers
LESSER HUMANS
2.30 PM
60 mins/ Stalin K
BAREFOOT GEN
SCREEN IV
Time
Room 228 - Social Science Bldg
Nizam College
PIG TUSKS & PAPER MONEY
Nizam College
2.00 PM
50 mins
3.30 PM
60 mins
GLOBALISATION: VIOLENCE
3.30 PM
OR DIALOGUE?
90 mins
DOT CON
BASILAN- SPARKS OF WAR
96 mins/ Ron Magbutos
62 mins/ Patrice Barrat
4.30 PM
MANN KE MANJEERE
4.30 PM
5:10 mins/ Sujit Sircar/ Gary
A WOMAN'S PLACE
5:00 PM
58 mins/ Paromita Vohra
TELL THEM, THE TREE THEY
4.45 PM
HAD PLANTED HAS NOW GROWN
TOYS OF LUST AND GREED
5 mins 5 sec/Dhurba Basne
58 mins/ Ajay Raina
4.45 PM
PLACE OF RAGE
6.00 PM
6.15 PM
TALES OF NIGHT FAIRIES
7.15 PM
6.30 PM
UNLIMITED GIRLS
5.00 PM
BORDERS & BEYOND
7.30 PM
DEVELOPMENT AT GUN POINT
94 mins/ Paromita Vohra
THE FIRE WITHIN
105 mlns/Natasha Silveira
57 mins/ Shriprakash
74 mins/ Shohini Ghosh
8.00 PM
MY MIGRANT SOUL
33 mins/ Yasmine Kabir
55 mins
11 mins/Kup Shashi
TELANGANA ARMED STRUGGLE
ju mm/ Kapii.s/ Barsna Panaa/ G. Narsmg
Rao/ C. Kalyani/ Devogeet Vohra
documentary film screenings - 04 January 2003
SCREEN II
SCREEN I
Time
Time
Room 119 - Principals Bldg
Nizam College Grounds ■
2.00 PM
OKINAWA HEN
2.00 PM
5.15 PM
NUSRAT HAS LEFT...
THE BRANDON TEENA STORY
4.00 PM
RAMPAGE
25 mins/ Farjad Nabi
30 mins/ Ron Papag
CHILDREN OF MINI JAPAN
UNHEARD VOICES
5.00 PM
OF CLOTH & OTHER STORIES
2:00 PM
6.00 PM
75 mlns/ Surabhl S.
GUJARAT- A WORK IN PROGRESS
35 mins/^taiin K
Time
DEATH LOOMS
2.00 pm
45 mins/ KNT Shastri
3.15 PM
AMERICAN DREAM
1.00 pm
98 mins
SC*
EEN IV
R00m2«-SocialScienceBldg
------------ ----------------------82 mi"s/Pankaj Kumar
Matka/ an untold story
24ml^GSBhaskar
5.30 PM
27 mlns/Alex Parlmalan
60 mins/ Challam
7.00 PM
SCREEN in
Room 218 - Social Science Bldg
Nizam College
88 mins/ Susan Musk/ Greta Olafsdottir
112 mins/ Jim Takaiwa
4.30 PM
Time
Nizam College
7:00 PM
THE BEE THE BEAR THE KURUBA
PM
68 mlns/ Vinod Raja
mXnjACKS0NC0MEST0
WORDS ON WATER
57 mins/Nupur Basu
6.00 Pm
85 mlns/ Sanjay Kak
kol tales
70 mlns/Sehjo Singh
7.15 PM
FREEDOM
53 mlns/ Amar Kanwar
’•« PM
AFTERSH0CKS
66 m,"s/Rakesh Sharma
!
documentary film screenings - 05 January 2003
SCREEN I
SCREEN II
Time
Time
2.00 PM
35 mins/ Anin Kumar
THE LOOM
3.00 PM
3.00 PM
50 mins/ Anjall Monterra,
EK MINUTE KA MAUN
4.00 PM
80 mins/ Ajay Bhara
6.15 PM
LIGHTENING STRIKES
THE MEN IN THE TREE
HOW GERALDO LOST HIS
2:00 PM
5.45 PM
3.30 PM
2.00 PM
16 mins/ Christina
4.15 PM
4.00 PM
5.15 PM
[
CRITICAL MASS
13 mins/ Riyaz Sakarov
UNTOUCHABLE COUNTRY
4.30 PM
SITA'S FAMILY
j
60 mins/ Saba Diwan
30 mins/ RR Srinivasan
BARREL OF A GUN
NARMADA/ A VALLEY RISES
87 mins/ Ali Kazini
THE PARTICIPATION OF THE YOUTH
IN EDSA2
DEVELOPMENT FROM THE
Room 228 - Social Science Bldg
Nizam College________
PERFORMANCE
40 mins/ Patrice Barrat
35 mins/ Dominique Dubosa
98 mins/ Lalit Vachani
Time
54 mins/ Rahul Roy
JOB.......
PALESTINE
SCREEN IV
Room 218 - Social Science Bldg
Nizam College
35 mins/ Jagga Raju
KP Jaishankar
4.15 PM
Time
Nizam College
LIFE ON THE MARGIN
2.00 PM
SCREEN III
Room 119 - Principals Bldg
Nizam College Grounds
THE SEDUCTION OF DOCTOR LOYA
6.00 PM
DEATH OF A COMMUNITY
FORETOLD
45 mins/ Priya Krishnaswamy
57 mins/ Birju Toppo/ Meghanath
25 mins/ Alphonse Roy/ Nityanand
Jayaram
7.15 PM
the turtle people
6.30 PM
76 mins/ Surabhi Sharma
BEYOND MONARCHS & MERCHANTS
56 mins/ Gargi Sen
7.00 PM
•
PACHER CHUJAERIL/
THE PLAY IS ON
44 mins/ Pankaj Rishi Kumar
8:00 PM
PRAJAALA KOSAM/ FOR PEOPLE
8.15 PM
30 mins/ Jagga Raju
ZERO SUM GAME
28 mins/ Kapil.S
feature films screenings 03 January 2003
Time
Sarathi Studio - Ameerpet
[Time
Mini Theater - Ravindra Bharti_____
2.00PM
ANKURAM
2.00PM
MISS BEATTY'S CHILDREN
135 mins/ Umamaheshwar Roa. C
5.00PM
PIRAVI
112 mins/ Pamala Rooks
5.00PM
PRATHI GHATANA
8.00PM
CHEMALA DANDU
Shaji N Karun
8.00PM
150 mins/ T Krishna
KOMARAN BHEEM
120 mins/ Allan! Sridhar
150 mins/ R. Narayana Murthy
feature film screenings 04 January 2003
Time
2.00PM
Sarathi Studio - Ameerpet
Time
MAMMO
2.00PM
5.00PM
SWARNAKKA
8.00PM
KARVAAN
GUILTY BY SUSPICION
105 mins/ Irwin Winkler
160 mins/ Thammareddi Bharadwaj
8.00PM
IF THESE WALLS COULD TALK
97 mins/ Cher
124 mins/ Shyam Benegal
5.00PM
Mini Theatre - Ravindra Bharti
NO MAN'S LAND
97 mins/ Danis Tanovic
104 mins/ Pankaj Bhutalia
feature film screenings 05 January 2003
Time
{Sarathi Studio - Ameerpet
2.00PM
SAMAR
5.00PM
VOORU manadira
______ .___ i|Time
2.00PM
M.S. Satyu
125 mins/ Shyam Benegal
5.00PM
8.00PM
YELLAMMA
SWARAJ
90 mins/ Anwar Jamal
150 mins/ R. Narayan Murthy
8.00PM
Mini Theatre - Ravindra Bharti
GARAM HAWA
ENCOUNTER
150 mins/ N. Shankar
150 mins/ Mohan Koda
feature film screenings 06 January 2003
Mini Theatre - Ravindra Bharti
Sarathi Studio - Ameerpet
2.00PM
NIRANTHARAM
2.00PM
5.00PM
BHADRAM KODUKO
5.00PM
OSE RAMALUAMMA
165 mins/ Dr. Dasari Naryana Rao
MAA BHOOMI
Gautam Ghosh
125 mins/ Akinneni Kutumbarao
flOpM
BHOOMIKOSSAM
140 mins /KB Tilak
100 mins/ Rajindra Prasad
8.00PM
VIMUKTHI KOSAM
120 mins/ M. Uday Kumar
!
•k Seminar Venues
1. Co-operative Training School
2. Heera Hall
^.Methodist School
4. YWCA
5.Abids Function Palace
6.SCERTHall
7.Prcss Club
INSTITUTE OF
ENGINEERS j
ms ASF Main Venue &
Youth Camp
VASAV1 FUNCTION HALL
Land Marks
GL DES
.DWARAKa
\ HOTEL
birla museum Hall
T°MEH)DJPaT?).am
RAV INDRA
^BIARATIft
—-ft
I
niEATRE
BASHIRB
LEGIST-ATTVFi ASSEMBLY
TT
SBH
UNCTION PLAZA
iNKATARAMANA
THEATRE
I I.1..A.K
^ACCOMODATION VENUES
LMEGHARAJ KOCHAR BHAVAN
2.TULJA BHAVAN
3.MARATHA BHAVAN
4.GUJAR AT BHAVAN
5.VISANAGAR FUNCTION HALL canohi bhavan
6.DEEPAK BHAVAN
7.YATRINJVAS
8.SARATAJ FUNCTION HALL
9.LINGAMPALLY FUNCTION HALL
10. VST FUNCTION HALL
1LHYDERPLAZA
w
ABIDS
■ MAHESWABl
\ THEATRE/
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WAY TO ABIDS
MAIN VENUE MAP • NIZAM COLLEGE
WAY TO RAM KOTI
POLICE COMMISSIONER
OFFICE
Date
Name of the Event
Proposer
Hall Allotted
5th January
Right to Work, Social Security to Agricultural Labourers
Tamil Nadu Agriculture Labourers Movement and ISED and Local Resources for Local Communities
5th January
Jana Natya Manch
Street Theatre Techniques
Nizam 2
5th January
AP Ryotu Sangam (Ryotu Bhavan)
Globalisation: Irrigation and Water privatisation
Nizam 231
5th January
Action Aid( SouthEast Asia)
Nizam 233
5th January
Action Aid India
Nizam 302
5th January
Centre for Dalit Studies
Nizam 322
5th January
Human Rights Law Network
Globalisation and Refugee Rights
Nizam 323
5th January
Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha
Diversity, Knowledge and Education: Issues and
Challenges
Nizam 325
5th January
INFID
Role of IFI
Nizam 606
5th January
Indigen Research Foundation
Lok-Vidya (Peoples Knowledge) and Ordinary Life
Nizam 627
5th January
Integrated Rural Development of Weaker Sections In
India/United EV Angelical Lutheran Church in India
Impact of Globalisation on the Indigenous Communities
Nizam 628
5th January
Action Aid Bangladesh
to Protect their Livelihoods
Nizam 629
5th January
Campaign Against Child Trafficking (HAQ)
Child Trafficking
Nizam 210
5th January
Yakshi
Educational Issues in Adivasi Areas and Globalisation
Nizam 216
5th January
Pioneers of change and Shikshantar
System'
Methodist 1
5th January
Lokayan
Towards Peoples Food Security
Methodist 2
5th January
Justice Bhagawati Environmental Institute / Pasumai
Thaayagam
Water Pollution
Methodist 3
5th January
Adi Dharma Samaj
Condition of Ati Dalits
Methodist 4
5th January
CSDS
Engangement with Gandhi
Methodist 5
5th January
Focus on Global South
Marginalised Community issues
Methodist 6
5th January
Forum for Social Democracy and Working Groups on
Comprehension Democracy
Dalit and Struggle for Comprehensive Democracy
Methodist 7
5th January
AINFSU, VK - CSDS, SASC
Mass Media, Culture and chaning values of Youth in the
Era of Globalisation
5th January
Community Health Cell
Taking the Peoples Health Movement Forward
5th January
PRISM
Of Gender, Sexuality and Fundamentalisms
Nizam 1
IFI Projects in Southwest Bangladesh and Peoples Voice
AHVH,
Methodist 8
Methodist 9
Methodist 10
. ...
5th January
South Asia Study Center
Democracy in Nepal
5th January
FORCES-Delhi
Exclusion of Children in the Era of Globalisation
5th January
The International Movement Against All Forms of
Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)
Practical meeting regarding Women and PovertyTrafficking, Migration and Gender Insecurity
5th January
CNDP
Globalisation and War
5th January
Working Group on Ecological Democracy
US Monstrous life Style and Survival of Adivasies
Globally
Methodistl 1
Methodist 12
Methodist 13
Methodist 14
Methodist 15
Uranium Mining, Nuclear Power: Issues of people
security and safety
5th January
CNDP/CSDS
5th January
CARAM
5th January
South Asia Dialogues on Ecological Democracy/ CSDS Corporatisation and Privatisation of Water in India
Methodist 18
5th January
Sarai-CSDS
Alternatives to the Media Empires
Methodist 19
5th January
CSDS-CNDP
Dangers of Nuclear Power
Methodist 20
5th January
APA-Japan
Peace Movement in Japan under US-Led War
Methodist 21
5th January
National Alliance of Peoples Movements
The Issues of Dalit Emancipation in the Globalisation Era Methodist 22
5th January
WSF Chattisgarh Unit
Political Sovereignity and Sustainable Development-The
Case of the New States in India
Methodist 23
5th January
Dastkar Andhra
Coping with Globalisation: The case of the Handloom
industry
All Saints 1
5th January
Think India
Thinking Democracy Comprehensively
All Saints 2
5th January
Cordillera Peoples Alliance
Globalisation and Militarism and Indigenous Peoples
All Saints 3
5th January
Struggle Committee against caste discrimination a.p.
committee
Land distribution-Daliths
All Saints 4
5th January
Habitat International Coalition
Housing and Land Rights
All Saints 5
5th January
University Teachers Network
World Bank, IMF and Disinvestment in Heigher Education All Saints 6
5th January
South Asia People's Transport Network and South Asia
Plight of Rickshaw Pullers and Equal Road Rights
Dailogue on Ecological Democracy
5th January
Support Group to right to food campaign
PIL on Right to food
All Saints 8
5th January
All India Catholic University Federation (AICUF)
Empowering the marginalised University Students
(Women, Dalits, Tribals)
All Saints 9
5th January
Central Trade Union
All Saints 10
5th January
Deccan Development Society
All Saints 11
5th January
5th January
5th January
5th January
AIDAN, FMRAI, NCCDP
Methodist 17
Pharmaceutical Policy
All Saints 7
All Saints 12
All Saints 13
Jagori
All Saints 14
AIDWA
ISIS lntemational - Manila
Methodist 16
Changing lenses : A Feminist Critique of Globalised
Hotel Central Court
Media System
AC Hall
Date
Name of the Event
Proposer
Hall'3
6th
Janaury
Institute of Policy Studies
Globalisation of Terrorism: Meeting This Threat
6th
January
Campaign Against Child Trafficking (HAQ)
Child Trafficking
6th
January
Nizam 1
Nizam 2
Nizam 231
6th
January
Dalit Land Rights Federation
About Dalit Land Rights Federation
6th
January
Free Software Foundation of India
Free Software and its Social and Economic Implications
6th
January
Integrated Rural Development of Weaker Sections In
India/United EV Angelical Lutheran Church in India
Decentralised Energy Option - Mini Hydro
6th
January
International Socialist Organisation-Australia
Workers Control in Russia 1917
6th
January
Action Aid Nepal
6th
January
Action Aid India
6th
January
Swallows
Nizam 233
Nizam 302
Nizam 322
Nizam 323
Nizam 325
Social Integration of Disabled Persons
Nizam 606
Social Mobilisation
Nizam 627
Spiritual Quest and Global Struggle for "Another World is
6th
January
Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
6th
January
Hongkong Group
6th
January
Conserve
Social Responsibility of business
Nizam 210
6th
January
Safai karamchari Andolan
Era
Nizam 215
6th
January
Possible"
Nizam 628
Nizam 629
Chidu, A Dalit Cultural Resource Center
Building Dalit Cultural Art Forms
Nizam 229
6th
January
Women's Global Network on Reproductive Rights
Women's Access to Health: Proposal for a campaign(a
stratergy building workshop)
Nizam 210
6th
January
Tamilnadu Science Forum
Nizam 211
6th
January
AP Writers Against Globalisation
Nizam 212
6th
January
CSDS
Methodist 1
6th
January
Lokayan
Adivasi Self-Rule and Political Autonomy
Methodist 2
6th
January
Muktidhara
Nomads, Conservation and traditional livelihoods
Methodist 3
6th
January
National Alliance of Peoples Movements
The New Water Policy
Methodist 4
6th
January
Pasumai Thaayagam(Green Motherland) and others
Water Privatization
Methodist 5
6th
January
Pioneers of change and Shikshantar
Owning your own learning
Methodist 6
6th
January
Pioneers of Change and Shikshantar
The impact of Information Technology on India
Methodist 7
6th
January
South Asia Dialogue on Ecological Democracy and
Working Group on Comprehensive Democracy
South Asia
Methodist 8
6th
January
Community Health Cell
The Asian Experience
Methodist 9
6th
January
WASSAN (Watershed Support Services and Activities
Network)
Watershed and Livelihoods
Methodist 10
6th
January
APA-ARENA.
Methodlstl 1
BGVS Raj, BGVS MP
The Marginilisation of Sahariya Tribe- A Primitive Tribe
Methodist 12
6th
January
CHETHANA
Threat to life of Traditional Occupational Communities and
Alternatives
■
Methodist 13
6th
January
Lokayan, COVA
Democratic and Identity Anxieties of Muslims and Dalits
Methodist 14
6th
January
South Asia Study Center
Globalisation and Migration
Methodist 15
6th
January
CNDP
India-Pakistan : US and Nuclear Menace
Methodist 16
6th
January
CNDP
Testiminial on Japan: Japanese victim of Radiation
Methodist 17
6th
January
Ekal Nari Shakti Sangathan-The Association of Strong
Women Alone
Widows and Seperated Women Organise for Change
Methodist 18
6th
January
ICMICA
Voice of the Intellectuals
Methodist 19
6th
January
Telangana(NGO) Association
Small States for Developments
Methodist 20
6th
January
Voluntary Action Network
Effect of Globalisation in Drought prone areas
Methodist 21
6th
January
Environmental Justice Initiative
Environmental Justice
Methodist 22
6th
January
Nirmala Niketan
Globalisation and Domestic Workers
Methodist 23
January
ASIAN YOUTH CAMP 2003
OPENING CEREMONY. 03 JAN 2003. 10 am- 1pm
Setting The Pace
Informal Interactive sessions are being held at the Camp in
this slot. Session booked so far include Love In The Age Of
Globalization, Let's Talk About Coke, Folding Cranes For
Peace, Cartoon Corner, Random Ramblings (The Grafitti
Wall)
Drum roll by Agni Poovkal, young women artistes
Songs of the revolutionary Telugu poet, Sri Sri, per
formed by Praja Natya Mandali
Introducing the Asian Social Forum & the Asian
YOUTH FILM FESTIVAL . 03-06 JAN 2003. 2.3Qpm^6A00pm
Youth Camp
DAY ONE : 03 January 2003
Messages from the World Social Forum :
6.30
pm - Ribbons of Peace
Brazil, Italy
5 minutes. Directed by Anand Patwardhan
Key Note Speakers
Youth & Globalization - Prabhat Patnaik
War and imperialism - Asma Jehangir
Youth and Fundamentalism in Asia - Stalin K
The programe will lead into a dance session by all partici
pants of the youth camp
6.40 pm - Geneva Open City
41 minutes. Directed by Nina, Niko, Martin
7.25pm - Under The Sun, Do You Feel My Shadow ?
70 minutes.
DAY TWO : 04 January 2003
6.30
PLENARY SESSIONS. 04-06 JAN 2003. 10 am- 1 pm
PLENARY ONE : VOICES OF YOUTH
04 January 2003
Moderator - Dominic D'Souza
Key note speaker - Anita Ratnam
Testimonies - Youth representing identities of caste - minori
ties - diaspora Youth - nationality struggles
Respondents - Habib Tanvir, Corrine Kumar, Benson Isaac
PLENARY TWO : MAKING SENSE OF GLOBALIZATION
05 January 2003.
Moderator - P Sainath
Key Note speakers
Education in Asia - Dr. K. Nageswar
Livelihoods and employment in a globalized world - Smitu
Kothari
Basic services and globalization - Raghav Narsalay
The assault on freedoms - Nandita Haksar
Testimonies: Each section involves testimonies by people
and activists from affected communities and sectors.
PLENARY THREE : YOUTHS MOVEMENTS - TRENDS & CHAL
LENGES
06 January 2003
Moderator: Amit Sengupta
Key note speakers
An Overview of International Youth Movements - Rajaji
Mathew Thomas
Student Movements in Asia - Keshav Pandey
Young People in the Dalit Movement - NCDHR
Locating Youth Voices in the Women's Movement - Sunila
Abeysekara
Youth & the Sexuality Movements - Beng Hui
Young People & the struggle for Environment & Develop
ment - GreenPeace
Youth and the anti-globalisation Movement - Anastasia
Laitilla
SEMINARS & WORKSHOPS. 03-l»5 JAN 2003.2.30 - 6.00pm
Seminars and Workshops are integrated with the programs
of the Asia Social Forum
pm - Ma Rewa
5 minutes. Directed by Sarath
6.35 pm - Lesser Humans
59 minutes. Directed by Stalin K.
7.35 pm - Unlimited Girls
94 minutes. Directed by Paromita Vohra
DAY THREE : 05 January 2003
6.30
pm - Man ke Manjeere (Music of the Soul)
5 minutes. A Music Video by Sujit Sircar
and Gary
6.40 pm - Ek Minute Ka Maun (A Minute of Silence) & Dia
logue with the Film maker
80 minutes. Directed by Ajay Bhardwaj
YOUTH CULTURAL FESTIVAL. 02-05 JAN 2003. 9pm onwards
Combination of spontaneous events and scheduled per
formances, including
PLAYS
NCDHR, Hindi 25 mins
Sharukh & Namita, Eng 10 mins
Yuva Chetak, Hindi 20 mins
SONGS & INSTRUMENTS
Ranga Samvada, Kannada 20 mins
Kamaan, Eng/Hindi 15mins
AP Praja Natya Mandali, Dapu 30mins
DANCES
Yuva Vikas Kendra, 15mins
Adivasi Aikya Vedika, Sadara Dance,
CLOSING CEREMONY.02.Q5J AN 2003, 3pm onwards
Moving Forward
Reliving Experiences of the Asia Youth Camp
Declaration of the Youth Charter
Key Note Speakers
Medha Patkar
Subhasini Ali
Meena Menon
Celebrating The Spirit Of The Youth Camp With Song,
Dance And Music
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i
Focus
on the
Global South
Mix
Focus on the Global South was established in Thailand in January 1995. It is dedicated to regional and global policy analysis, micro-macro
issues linking and advocacy. Focus on the Global South aims to:
!■ Strengthen the capacity of organizations of marginalized and people in the South and those working with them to better analyze and
understand the impact of alobalization process on their daily life and struggles. Also, to help strengthen the capacity of such groups to
have a greater local national regional and global impact through a more systematic and strategic use of innovative community level
Practice.
2- Provide critical and nrnvnmtive analysis of regional and global socio-economic trends and articulate democratic, poverty reducing, equi
table and sustainabk paradigm alternatives that advance the interest of marginalized people around the world.
3- Systematically and strategically weave 1 and 2 together. That is, to consciously and consistently articulate, link and develop greater coher
ence between
n tv-based and national, regional and global paradigms of change. This is the intended niche of FOCUS - creating
nt link between development at the grassroots and “macro” levels.
,
'"■wu.uijg a distinc and
_ in view the aims mentioned above. The following are some of the publications of p<v»«
Focus
_2^Lpubllcationsare brought outcoge
keeping
-^BSigltDossiers
An
Management "ig Processes and pSs
°nMak'
against Globll^ion
offensive
Debt and lhC
Books
Dark Victory - The
United States, Structural
Adjustment and Global Poverty
Authors: Walden Bello with Shea
Cunningham and Bill Rau______
Dragons in Distress Asia's Miracle Economies
in Crisis
Authors: Walden Bello
and Stephanie Rosenfeld
Other Publications
Never Again Cartoons on
Gujarat Camage
WTO
Power politics
in the WTO
Author: Aileen
Kwa
e MFand the World Bank
»foFour°f ‘he WT0 is a wrong
lions - WT0> UNaCTAnDthTlJpUrinStitU'
World Bank
TAD’ IMF and ‘he
For further details
Deglobalization - Ideas
For A New World
Economy
Author: Walden Bello
Focus Bulletins
(1) Focus on Trade
(2) Focus on Security
(3) Focus on Philippines
Focus on the Global South, C/o CUSRI, Chulalongkorn University, Phyathai Road, Bangkok:
C°ntact: An°°P Suk^go’, Email: anoop@focusweb.org. website:focusweb.org.
’ANOTHER WORLD'
ENTHRALLS AUDIENCE
Voices rejoice for another world!!
To the rhythm of heart beat, shedding the blood
throughout march forward for another world!!!
was the tune that was played in the warm air at
Nizam College grounds for the inaugural of the
Asia Social Forum. Members of the cultural mass
organisations dance to the tunes and songs of ff/
the revolutionary poet Sri Sri welcomed the g'~
delegates who assembled across the borders.
The folk dance performed by the artists of Praja®/
Natya Mandali depicting the socio political
economic situation of India and espousing the
struggles against neoliberal dominance and
communalism touched deep into the hearts of
those present. Deprived masses forbidden of
all rights breaking the ice and hitting back hard
at the triumvirate got a loud applause at the
venue. Symbolically more than a hundred,
artists came from the masses as the tunes started
playing, all the words from the mouth of the singers
were reflected in the dance by the artists. Prior to
the folk dance the dappu performed by suresh’s
troop won accolades. 100 drums converging to a single
tone with the fists high depicted the spirit at the venue.
With the ballad by the Andhra Pradesh Praja Natya
Mandali the cultural session convulged into the
plenary.
(Prajasakti - Hyderabad Bureau)
The opening plenary of the Asia
Social Forum commenced here on
Thursday with a clarion call to
fight
against
imperialist
^globalisation. Several prominent
of movements - diversity of life
jn Asia js reflecting here. But all
have a common aim - to build
another Asia, another world,
oppose imperialist globalisation.
in this inspiring atmosphere
intellectuals gave a call for
tirelessly fighting against
exploitation, discrimination,
hegemony and for another world
.Divergent cultures, different
varieties of attires, representations
from different places, divergence
commenced the meetings of ASF.
The speakers who addressed the
opening plenary, which started
wjth rendering the song of
“another world, another world is
calling” by revolutionalry poet Sri
Sri, asserted with a Firm belief and
Price Rs: 2.
Friday 3-1-2003
commitment that another world is
possible. Representatives from 42
countries, including all Asian
countries and Europe, Latin
America and African continents,
have participated in the meetings.
against British colonialism, are
displayed at various locations,
conveying the message that
‘Bhagat Singh is our ideal and
inspiration’.Mirroring the culture
of Andhra Pradesh, artists of Praja
ofWomen’s Working Association,
who are fighting against violence
against women in Tamil Nadu,
attracted the audience with their
attire in black colour.A
representative of the Association
The entire venue is decorated with
banners with inspiring slogans like
“Fight
back
imperialist
globalisation”, “annihilate IMF
and World Bank””down with
American
imperialism”,
“safeguard ecology” and other
slogans against communalism,
fundamentalism
and
globalisation. Portraits of Bhagat
Singh, the revolutionary who
sacrificed his life in the fight
Natya Mandali entered into the
venue 'with a dance of trumpets.
Displaying the local culture of
Maharashtra, members of the
organisation, ‘Yuva’, danced with
their
traditional
musical
instruments. Reflecting dalit
culture, members of the
organisatiaon ‘Chindu’ displayed
their art forms. Delegates from
Delhi rendered songs, wishing all
success to the meetings. Members
said they would convey their
protest every Thursday in the same
way against the attacks on women.
The song-dance displayed by
Praja Natya Mandali, explaining
the why and for whom the ASF is
immensely drawn the attention of
the delegates and other audience.
Delegates denounced the refusal
of permission by the Government
;^lothe delegation from
PRAJASAKTI
EXILED FOR
[financecapital,
BEING WITH
ATHREATTO NATIONAL
PEACE
SOVEREIGNTY
- Prabhat Patnaik
- Abdul Jawad Saleh
Abdul Jawad Saleh
from the Palesitine Legislative
council presented the morbid
picture of the struggling
Palestines agaist the autocratic
and unjust policies of the Israeli
Govt, with the backing of USA
He delineated in clear terms the wall of hatred built by the Israeli
Govt destroying the land and depriving the citizens of bread twice a
day. Military regime of Sharon even forbids common man the freedom
to plant a tree without permission. Any movement or protest against
this diabolic torture is being termed as act of terrorism. The freedom
movement of the Palestinians is being projected unfortunately as
terrorist activities. Citing the chronology of the autocratic rule, he
added, it was first the experiments with chemical weapons in 1986
on the poor women that the military regime started with to curb the
voice for just cause. Intifada the Palestinian’s revolt against Israel in
1987 was again termed as terrorist activity. After being the victims
of this unjust violence for a longer time finally, in 2000, the
university students came out openly with massive protest to the
extent of risking their lives to die the death of martyr by becoming
human bombs. All these fights were to make Palestine free from the
Isralei occupation. It may be recalled that Israel has been cheating
the Palestine by providing only 22 % of the land it is elgible to and
the rest 78% has been stolen with cunning policies. Their recent
attempt of the Israel to divide even this 22% of their land is highly
condemnabale and their attempt to convert this land into ghettos
with mass killings and demolition of houses and properties is
inhuman in nature. Sharing his experience of jail life where he was
exiled for protesting against the military regime he commented that
‘I was exiled in jail for 20 years for being with peace not war’.
Saleh concluded with a firm conviction that the battle for freedom is
on and the Palestines will be victorious.
I
MOTHER
SEES HER
CHILDREN IN
THE GATHERING.
- Nora De Cortinas
Nora De Cortinas, co
founder of Las Madres de la
Plaza de Mayo (Mothers of the
May Plaza), Argentina was the
first to deliver her address. An
economist and psychologist
from the University of Buenos
Aires, Prof. Cortinas is one of
the hapless mothers who lost
her son during the
dissapperance scheme executed
by the then military regime at
Argentina. She has been an
activist since then not only
^agianst the unfair kidnapping
of the children but also
against any kind of social
injustice. Recalling the lost
30000 children disappeared
during the military regime
of the 70s she commented
emotionaly that she finds
each one of them today in the
soul of each audience
gathered here to attend the
inaugural session.
Emphasisng the. need for
peace and security she
stressed that we must not
allow the US to go ahead with
'ts war plans against Iraq and
other countries. She
concluded with her slogan ‘
say no to war, no to racism
_and no to neo-libcralism.__
~
FIGHT MULTINATIONALS
AND ANTI-NATIONALS
- Medha Patkar
Medha
Patkar
emphasised that we all know
and are fully aware as to what
the world expects from us. She
pleaded that we assess the crisis
in which we have to struggle
against the Global forces,
Liberalisation, Privatisation
and Globalisation. She said
today people are not merely
getting displaced, they are
being slaughtered with the
venom of communal hatred
spreading rapidly. Emphasising
the universal values of religions
which essentially can’t justify
intolerance, be it that of
Vivekanand or that of
Mohammed, she said that our
struggle against the communal
forces shall make them realise
that we are not going to forgive
them who go about indulging
in crimes against humanity
under the name of religion but
qualified that the struggle is to
be deeply rooted in Gandhian
values of non-violence, at the
same time not necessarily
acquiring a defensive tone after
Gujarat
violence,
she
highlighted. She defined the
struggle against the communal/
fundamentalist forces as the
struggle of Modi Vs that of
Gandhi, Marx and Ambedkar.
Wondering aloud how shall we
launch our struggle against
Liberalisation, Privatisation
and
Globalisation,
she
emphasised us to pay attention
to the values of Samta, Saadgi
and Svavalamban (Equality,
Simplicity, and Self-reliance).
She at last invited all to join
with National Alliance of
Peoples’ Movement which is
going to launch a nation wide
campaign starting from January
26"' from Kerala to nooks and
corners of the country with the
slogan “Desh Banaao, Desh
Bachao” (save the nation, build
the nation).
___ __
In every crisis there is an
opportunity: Walden Bello
I
p..jiiinincs, stated in no unclear terms the
Walden Bellow, a leader ri°"J .ASppr0CCss to take Corporate Globalisation
commitments and objectives ol W
pjcnary session of Asian Social Forum
head on, while speaking at the Op
b
(hc suspicions lhal ASp is merely a
'hat started today in Hyderabad,
1aSF wc have lhrcc prongC(j vision: 1,
discursive exercise, he emphasise ^clcoinc allj indeed come together to fight
People from all over the world ar (
hcr l0 discuss and work out strategies to
against Imperialism. 2, we all com mi]jtarisation and deconstruct and dismantle
carry forward the struggle again’ .|iange our ideas on politics, economics and
'hem. 3, we all come together to ||| 4S.() (akc p|ace durjng Agp jn days to come
culture. He hoped that discussion
gxpansjonjsnii imperialism and Injustice.
W‘H chart out course of action
------ ■-------—-------I 2 Hyderabad
Prabhat Pattnaik in his inaugural
address at the Asian Social Forum spoke
about the present economic situation of
India in the context of world economy. The
entire economic policies were framed in
.
such a way that the capital did not move from South to North and in
the same process the labour did not move from North to South. 1 his
process also continued in States of India, which made the
development stagnant. The capitalists through this means
appropriated the capital .In the present capitalist system. Capita
can be seen in two forms i.e, capital as productive labour and capital
as finance. The present form of capitalism is developing by
mobilising the finance, but not the productive forces where labour
is the main component. In the globalised economy of contracts, if
each state started negotiating with World Bank and ADB on its own,
a thing called India will not stand; the imperialistm uses the liverage
between the states. This has been the experience in Yugoslavia where
the concept of being a nation ceased. Though 60 millions tonnes of
food stock with the government which is three times more than the
buffer stock norms, ind while drought conditions exist in the country
the government doesn’t use it for any constructive purpose and
create employment where the government need not invest a single
paise. The rate of rural employment is just 0.6%, which is negligible
when compared to the growth of rural polutation. This economic
crisis led to the development of communalism, fascism and other
forms of movement far from the real issues faced by the common
mass. This market fundamentalism is a threat to national sovereignty.
After 1991 the tax collected from the rich was reduced substantially,
and the tax-GDP ratio has gone down. If the tax is collected in the
rate of 1991 the government gets 30 million crores. This amount
can be used for the development of social sector i.e health and
education which the government is not doing. This is resulted in the
kdetoriation of social security.
4
*
£7
PARTICIPATION OF DALITS
“
IN ANTI-GLOBALISATION
MOVEMENT
- Bojja Tarakam
Eminent lawyer and president of the state unit of
Republican Party of India, Bojja Tarakam, asked
dalits to become active partners in the movement
aoainst globalisation. Speaking at the Asia Social
Forum, he said because of globalisation while
some people were loosing their existence and some others their
jobs, the dalits were loosing their very self-respect.Above all it was
the dalits who were affected by all means. He said countries of Asia
and Africa should unitedly give a shape to the struggle against
globalisation. He accused the Chief Minister, N Chandrababu
Naidu, of mortgaging the welfare of the people of the State for the
sake of securing loans from the World Bank.
i
BUILD A SOUTHERN
HEMISPHERE
- Samir Amin
^Prof. Samir Amin from Egypt a renouned
political-economist in the world, known for his
development and dependency theories, started
with his encouragement for a gathering of such
huge magnitude where voices for social justice
and equity is being raised. With such initiatives there is no doubt
that another world is possible, a world free from oppression and
marginalization. He pointed out a three point programme to
achieve a world of such kind. The social programme should
accompany economic develoment was his first argument in this
regard. Stressing the need for rationality, a rationality which is
beyond capital of profit, should be kept in mind in social progress
and development. The second argument was the need to follow
the principle of democracy. Democracy is at stake and losing its
credibility with the ongoing market fundamentalism and monoply
of multinationals neglecting the cause of societies at large. The socalled religious fundamentalism adds more to the violation of
democracy through its attempt to divide people on the lines of
religion. The process of hegemony by the mightier entities to
oppress the havenot’s, a process which has been continuing for
centuries, must be fought without any compromise, and the claim
that there are alternatives other than the imposed ncoliberal policies
of WTO must go to all sections of society to ensure a massive
resistance to the dictates of USA.
Friday 3-1-2003
|
alternative is possible and
PRAJASAKTI
Seattle
Hyderabad
(Prajasakti - ASF Special Desk) The Seattle renewed the history of
In the fight between struggles, which appeared to have
goats and tigers, it is a basic truth, dimmed in the last decade of the
that tigers always inevitably win. 20111 century. The spirit of Seattle
The imperialist countries are is haunting the richer, wherever
naming the exploitation as and whenever they meet. The
globalisation. But the struggles revolt in Genova has heralded the
all over the World today proclaim new century. The US and its allies
that they can arrest this are now reluctant to undertake
explotation. While the imperialist arrangements for such world
^fcworld under US proclaim that conferences of the rich. This
"^there is no alternative to signifies the initial victory of
globalisation, the struggles resistance. The ruling parties in
proclaim that alternative is any countries do not want to
possible. The US is aiming to host the meeting, as they may
squeeze the poor countries, under have to see the blood of the
the guise of WTO, World Bank protestes which may backfire
and IME Therefore, the inequality against them. Mllillions of I
between the rich and poor nations people surrounded the Genova
is deepening further. US and other city when G-S
- - countries’•
rich countries have accumulated meeting was planned. As the
vast resources. At the same time pressure of resistance grew, the
the movements of resistance in the security forces fired resuting in
downtrodden countries had their the death of a protester.
beginning. The WTO conference Thereafter, the rich country
in Seattle, US, has, in the process, leaders have to face the wrath
encountered a serious resistance in of resistance to every one of
November 1999. This was the first their meetings and their ego
setback to the attempts of US and that they can manipulate the
^>ther developed countries to world was subdued. There is
•■™xpand globalisation. The heads resistance everywhere to
of the Governments would not the policies dictated by
come out of their cages, leave the US. The electricity
alone the meeting. The US which movement is Andhra
spreads so many myths about its Pradesh, the
j
.security preparedness has, finally, struggle
to abandon the meeting. It is more tgnt
heartening to note that the
American people welcomed
and
provided
all
.
facilities to the
protesters, who
from
different
parts of
'.W1U
convincing them.
,
.
Hyderabad has turned
into an experimental groan or
jg globalisation policies. And th
city is now hosting the Aor
>> meetings. The local experiences ot
struggles inspire. The delegates
pave the way for strengthening the
resolve. The new year is full of
optimism for popular forces.
Seattle marked the
beginning of reluctance of the
ruling groups to conduct rich
power meetings. The mayors
refusal to host the IMF meetings
in Canada is an example. Millions
have surrounded the meeting place
of the rich in Geneva. Security
forces could not resist the
protesters' anger. They fired and
one fell a martyr. This resulted in
world wide discussions. The
“human rights” face of the richer
is exposed with this incident.
Unemployment
is
growing. Incomes are dwindling!
Rim
Prices are skyrocketing. Suicides
have become common episodes this is the condition of Andhra
aowlrhin Pradesh today, the experimental
response field of World Bank policies.
from all over Poorer are the Guinea pigs. When
the world for the people, groaning under the
-.K the meeting in heavy burdens, are requesting for
Brazil,
the easening them. The electricity
Forum decided charges have been enhanced.
■
to expand it as a When people demanded to reverse
movement the the hike, people faced brutal
world • over, police lathis everywhere As apart
Accordingly, of this movement people joined
regional meetings in thousands to represent their case
are now initiated, to the legislators., who were in
■ These meetings are seessiori on 28"' August 2000. The
inspiring
the call was given by the Left parties
, resistance. Europe is and Congress. Firing was resorted
seething
with to long before people were to
general
strikes, reach the venue.
' S Working class is A Bala Swami
fighting on their
Another
Vishnu
f
issues. Many Latin Vardhana Reddy,
r. Jk American countries and Ramakrishna.
have become
the laid their lives and became the first
platform of resistance, martyrs to the firings and brutality
Rr The
struggles
are of the ruling party.
broadened and widened.
The awakened people
P
The election of Lallu in went on a total Bandh next day as
Brazil is the political answer a first signal to the Chief Minister
to the policies of globalisation. who
v'~ is
' an enthusiastic
■
supporter
They are showing to the people of globalisation policies” ™
all over the world that an
The spirit continues.
j|
SS'
R
E
f
t
.Rs
MF
■t
among workers, ’ s
peasants, students, •
youth and intellectuals. In such 1
a process of united movement of
different streams, the World Social
Forum was born in Port Alegre,
strike
against Brazil, as an alternative platform
privatisation of Balco are to resist the onslaught of l|
globalisation. This Forum is |l
important landmarks in such
organising meetings parallel to II
growing resistance. The struggles
are surging in Argentina, Latin World Economic Forum, which is i:
the Forum to design the world I
American counties, Europe, Asia
economic order in the interest of I;
and South Africa. People with
differeing and different thoughts US multi-nationals. The annual r
meeting of Economic Forum to I
plan the squeezing of developing I
globalisation movements. Many
individuals and organisations are nations, the Forum organises the '
adding their voice in common meetings with a slogan “Another ;
world is possible” to oppose the 5.
protests. The resistance is growing
antial meetings of Economic t
gp
March
for
Global
Justice
ACCOMMODATIONS
OVERFLOWING
WITHDELEGATES
(Prajasakti Hyderabad Beureau)
Delegates came in more numbers to ASF
at Hyderabad than was previously expected.
There are some problems in providing accommo
dation because of this. But still organizers could
manage to provide accommodation to all the
delegates.The foreign delegates are staying in
various hotels. Delegates from various States
were provided accommodation at various places in the city -Sundarayya Vigyana Kendram, RTC function hall, Visanagar
function hall arc some of them. RTC function hall already accommodated 700 delegates. It is overcrowded at the moment.
800 VOLUNTEERS IN THE
Water is another problem. There are problems in providing water facility to all the delegates., according to the co
ordinator Mr. V. Bala Subrahmanyam. All the available 24 rooms were allocated to the women delegates. There is at
SERVICE OF ASF
tached bathroom facility to al! these rooms. For all the delegates tem[p’orary toilet facilities were provided. According
(Prajasakti - Hyderabad Bureau)
Mr. Subrahmanyam , who talked to Prajasakthi, Rs. 5.50 lakh was expended for toilet facilities. For solving the
About 800 volunteers are ready to render
of accommodation to delegates a committee was formed. It includes Mr. Raj Manikyam, Dr.Gangadhar, Mr. Basavaraj
services to nearly ten thousand delegates
Mr. Damodar Rao. Different committees are taking care of different accomodation locations.
Rs. 20,000 was allocated for providing water facility to the delegates. Boarding has to be taken care of by the
coming from all over Asia to participate in Asia
delegates themselves.
Delegates can buy their lunch and dinner at the conference venues. Paid breakfast facility is arranged at the
Social Forum. Volunteers from associations of
venues of accomodation. Volunteers are working hard to keep the environs hygienic.
students, youth, workers, farmers and women, as
There are problems in providing blankets and pillows to about 1000 delegates. Mr.
well as some non-governmental organisations, have
Subrahmanyam expressed confidence that they could surmount these problems. There is more
come
to make the arrangements for organisf_JASF a
reprasentation from the seintific Forums from all over the country according to him. 1500
delegates are attending the conference from All India People's Network. So many delegates
success; Even professors and lecturers are working as
participating from a single organisation is it seif a record according to Mr.
volunteers. It is noteworthy that some people, without any affilia
Subrahmanyam. In his list of accomidation he has given the details of State wise
tion to any organisation, have come and started working as volun
delegates and their accommodation venues. There is more representation
teers. Apart from other States, volunteers from Australia and Italy also hav<
from Orissa-150 delegates from that state are attending the
arrived. Even the Muslim women from the old city of Hyderabad have comr
forward to involve themselves in rendering services in the event. From Wednesday
conference. From Rajastan came 145 delegates.
EVEN PROFESSORS
AREVOLUNTEERS
onwards, some of the volunteers plunged into their work. Volunteers are working from 6 A.M
onwards at Railway stations, bus stations and airport to welcome the delegates coming from other areas
There are delegages form another 13
MELBOURNE CONSOLIDATES
ANTI-GLOBALISATION STRUGGLE
of poor people by way of heavy fees.
The struggles unleashed
Due to this a good number of stu
at Melbourne against IMF - WB are
dents were left out from higher edu
the underlying spirit of the
struggles agianst globalisation in despite Supreme Court judgement. cation. In the Melbourne struggle
Australia, says Andrian Skirritt. An And the third significant field of also, out of 20,000 near about
activist from Australia, Skirritt is struggle is the structural reforms led 15000 protesters belong to youth
now in Hyderabad to participate in by neo- liberal ruling class of Aus and student community. This shows
Asia Social Forum. He told that the tralia. The major significant point how badly the structural adjust
Australian Govt, is becoming a pup in these struggles is the partietpa- ments and deregulation of social
pet more and more and the only way tion of youth.
sector compel! the affected sections
lefttocomeoutofhassel is the agi 2.
Along with globalisation the of people to pick up the path of pro
global culture of consumerism
tation under the leadership of pro
is infecting present generation, test.
letariat which is lacking in these
Australia was a colony for a
struggles. Excerpts of the interview
leading them into a deep trap. 3.
long time in the Crown of
How are you able to organise
given to Prajasakti - ASF bureau.
England
’s colonialism. It
1.
Explain the anti-globalisation
the youth in this context.
Ans-That the role of global culture
seems that now Australian
struggles in Australia?
Govt, has became a puppet of
Ans: Now these struggles are pick of consumerism in demoralising the
imperialism. Your comment?
ing up momentum. Last year in youth is an accepted agenda now.
Melbourne in a protest against £ Je same time, these are the Ans: Though we got independence,
io directly and immediately the Australian ruling class is still
globalisation, these forces tried to A
people directly
s(ruclural
consolidate their presence in Aus- affected y
)ed them under the influence of colonial rul
.
Jn the beginning of the meeting culture. This mindset of ruling
>ng these forces effectively stalled
class enables US-led imperialism to
Gates and Australian Prime
make it a puppet. Influenced by US
SnwTh parliciPa,in8 in 'he
imperialism, Australia thinks to be
come a junior partner. Australia also
thought about preparing a dump
10 re-lhlntV’0 an oppooooiiy Australia is su^ Sinary chil- yard in Pacific Islands as America
,e lhlnk about the liberal noli budget. This enaib es educalion in
Andaanmh8 C°T°n Au«ralLs‘ dren to get qua1'1* universities. does in Latin America. Papua New
public Schools a d lation, now Guinea is a marking example of
dump yard in Pacific Islands. While
EnC^rat8nf Ausmalia is followmg
the G°v ■
b deregulating unt- facing resistance from these, Aus
the same path by
|eadstopn- tralian Govt, resorted to repression.
^rsityeducauom1g^niversi
Australia feels that the war on ter
'"human condition, inTe lasury
rorism (US invasion of Afghanistan)
months NGOs forcefuHvi
Wo
Andrian Skirritt
S-’nsfev:
(Continued on page?)
Delegates fro'
in animate'
vet
REGISTRATION AT
YOUTH CAMP
(Prajasakti - Hyderabad Bureau)
1500DALITDELEGATES
Tfie youth camp of Asia Social Forum is buzzing with
activity, with the young men and women coming from all
over the country and abroad. Registration of delegates is
going on briskly from the morning onwards. Incharge of
registration, Lucy said, “our estimate is that about 1500
young men and women would come. We are expecting
another 1500 youth would come here to witness the
cultural programmes. Already more than 500 delegates
got their names registered. All the teams are expected
(Prajasakti-Hyderabad Bureau)
to reach Hyderabad by this evening”. Explaining the
• 1500 Dalit delegates are
of the youth camp, she said that so far globalisation
participating in ASF conferences that
is explained from the point of view of the West. The
are being held at Hyderabad. Out of
viewpoint from Asian continent has not been ex
them 500 belong to Andhra Pradesh and
plained. The youth have no idea about this.
They are confining themselves to MTV and
the remaining 1000 delegates come from
VTV only. They are treating the festivals of the
other States. In the struggle for a new
-icher sections only as youth festivals. For
world dalits are establishing their own
example, in Mumbai college students
role in participation. In this process to
alone would be permitted to participate
establish the Forum as the platform for
in youth festivals. However, many
them they are playing a special role. They are
men and women are deprived
trying to establish contacts with foreign
opportunities to get education.
and c1 ' agates. This is all for taking the dalit movement
Who will bother aboaut
forward. Many Dalit delegations are playing a key role in
them? Here, at the youth
the conferences. In India, from the States of Rajastan, U.P.,
camp of the ASF, any one can come and explains one’s opinions, she said. Though
Maharastra, Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Pondicherry
several teams of students and youth from abroad wanted to attend the meetings
of the ASF, they could not come due to financial difficulties, Lucy said.
are attending as delegates to the conference. They are all aiming at
Delegates, who could not come from Thailand, Sri Lanka and
ending the globalisation. Their goal is to convey to the 1500 delegates
Cameroon, have sent their messages. Bhushan from
ing the conference about the real nature of vision 2020 which is silently spreading
Maharashtra said that the aims of the ASF were
tentacles. So far Dalits have only concentrated upon untouchability, reservations, land
wages. Now the attention has been shifting on to the major threat of vision 2020. With this
attractive and that was the reason why
20 workshops, 12 seminars will be held during the conferences over 4 days. The purpose is to form atleast
he came here.
to 5 platforms to work towards the goal of a new world. Along (Continued on pagc7)
PARTICIPATING IN ASF
WE LEARN AND GO BACK
TO BUILD MOVEMENTS
Yasirn and Isiru,
representatives
from Sri Lanka
(Prajasakti - Hyderabad Bureau)
Representatives from Sri Lanka. Yasiru and Isiru are
telling that they would study the working of the World
Social Forum and its objective and spread those ideas in their
country. They have come to participate in the youth camp being
organised under the auspices of the Asia Social Forum. Yasiru is 17,
while Isiru is 18. Both of them are members the United Nations Friendship
Organisation of Sri Lanka. On the suggestion of the Director General of the
organisation, Vijaytunga, they searched the website of the WSF and got their names
registered with the youth camp. Actually, they did not know what the WSF is about and
for what it is working. To know the same they have come here. Because of the conditiona
ties imposed by the World Bank, Sri Lanka is suffering losses and heavy burdens are bein
imposed on their people, they told Prajasakti. They explained that because of the conditionality to
import cooking gas from Italy, the people of Sri Lanka are forced to pay a higher price, while thev hn>
to pay only one-fourth of that price if gas is imported from India. Moves are being made to
privatise a bus company in February next. Half of the power sector is privatised, while the
government has announced that it would privatise the remaining half of the sector also bv
the end of this year. Similarly, the World Bank is demanding the Sri Lankan government to open up their insurance sector to foreign capital. The days are not far off
when university education under the government would not be within the
reach of the ordinary students. Both the delegates said that they would
learn from the ASF the methods to be adopted to fight against the
threat to their country from the
World Bank and the US. They
asserted that they would always work lor building a society
where there is no room for hunger and war and that that
was their ultimate objective.
PRAJASAKTI
’’Market fundamentalism
TODAY AT ASF
Friday 3 January
9 AM-1PM CONFERENCES
and religious
Nizam College, Conference Hall 2
banalicism are
Securing Social Rights in the Context of
lobalisation
twin brothers”
Samir Amin is here with
us in Hyderabad now, to attend the
ASF. Excerpts of his interview
given to ASF Bureau of Prajasakti:
What is the objective of ASF and
WSF in the present-day context
of globalization ?
■ Samir Amin:
Neo-liberal
globalization is based
on
deregulation with competitive
advantage. Neither it has
economic rationality nor social
rationality except the rationality
which benefits the TNCs’
dominent capital. It is not even
useful to indigenous or national
capitalists. Today, national
bourgeoisie is compromising with
international capital. The myth of
market regulating itself is being
shattered in recent period. Market
self-regulation only leads to
social-economic inequality which
is the history of capitalism. In the
new era of globalization, the state,
which is till now the backbone of
the national bourgeoisie, is
compromising with imperialist
capital. It is nowhere to articulate
effective alternatives along with
G-77, NAM and third world
cooperation. The ASF meeting in
India will contribute a lot to
strcglhen the movement against
globalization.
After the failure of socialist bloc,
market fundamentalism and
religious fundamentalism are
emerging by a way. How do you
locate them?
SA Market fundamentalism and
religious fundamentalism are not
.negating
factors
but
complementing each other, not
conflicting agents. These two will
lead to change the class identity
into community identity, which is
baseless in a class ridden society.
The so called religious
movements, either Muslim or
Hindu, are neither religious nor
movements. These are only used
for political mobilization. So,
these are only pseudo-religious,
pseudo-ethnic movements.
Some of the G-8 countries are
opposing war against Iraq. Is it a
reflection of contradictions
emerging in imperialist camp ?
SA:
Basically, there is a
contradiction in this camp. Neoliberal economy is not a
sustainable one. It is always
ridden with crisis. Imperialist
capital wants to come out of this
sluggishness by way of military
control of planet, though USA
wars benefit superimperialist
capital. USA gets more benefit
than the other. This is the
I
$2^
SamirAmin was bom
in Egypt and educated in Paris.
He is one of the best known
political- economists in the
world, especially in terms of
developments theory. He has
been a consistent advocate of
the conscious self- reliance of
the countries of the Global
South. Some of his major works
are Accumulation on World
Scale (1970), Delinking (1985),
Eurocentrism (1988).
contradiction in capitalist
appropriation.
What is the role of democracy in
the era of neo-liberal globalisation
7
SA : Democracy is antagonistic to
neo-liberal globalization. They
are propagating depolilicisation
of people and development,
thereby degrading the democratic
values. Now, in so many third
world countries, democracy is
loosing. It credentials legislative
relevance. Even though some
States had free electors, but while
making the policy, the legislatures
are becoming incompetent. This
leads to recognising class
consciousness into community
based consciousness which
elivates in destructive politics. To
promote
disinvestment,
governments are claiming that
they want to concentrate on social
development. Is it possible ?
SA : It is completely 60 years old
argument. Take for example the
experiences of Ivory Coast.
What is your message to
ASF, the Left movement in india
and especially to the CPI(M)?
SA: The articulation of alternative
is the need of the hour. There are
different kinds of resistance going
on all over the world. But the
market fundamentalists are
arguing about the alternatives and
projecting market as the
alternative. So, it is for us to
consolidate the base of
alternative. Particularly, India has
to play a useful role in formulating
the alternative. So there are many
struggles continued in India in a
fragmented way. Especially, Left
parties have to learn lessons from
their past experiences in order to
articulate an effective alternative.
I hope the CPI(M), having a long
history of leading the struggles
and formulating policies, will take
a leading role in articulating the
interests of the common masses
and formulate an alternative to
neo-liberal agenda.
■ Shantha Sinha / Jean Dreze / B. Ekbal / K.N. Panniker / Kavita
■ Srivastava / Harsh Mander / Wirapon (Assembly of the Poor, Thailand)
/ Zafarullah Chowdhury / Anita Rampal / Sarojini Rengam / P.
Sainath/
Action Aid/ JSA / AIPSN / BGVS
Nizam College, Conference Hall 2
Peace and Security
Walden Bello (Philippines) / Hibakusha (Japan) / Parvez Hoodboy /
Sahar Saba / Chandra Muzzafer / Arundhati Roy / Kinhide Mushokoji
/ Admiral Ramdas / North-South Korea women's group / Abdel Jawad
Saleh (Palestine) / Nouri Abdul Razzak Hussain (Iraq)/
Asian PeaceAlliance/ CNDP/COVA/ Greenpeace / FOCUS /
Alternatives/ N0VAN0/C0VA
PEOPLE’S VOICES
1:00-2:15
Dams and Agriculture Nizam College, Conference Hall 1
Adivasi women (Narmada dam) / Mushtaq Ahmed (Chasma Irrigation
Project) / Romualdo Noble (Sugar MillWorkers, Phillippines) /
Bon.Sundaresan (Food security, Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu)
2:30 ■ 6:30 seminars
and
workshops
a number of seminars and workshops daily
5:30 - 7:30
TESTIMONIES AND
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Global Governance or Domination? WTO and After
Nizam College Conference Hall 1
S.P. Shukla / Walden Bello/ Martin Khor/ K.L. Mahendra
Nanjunda Swamy
War on Terror or Terror of War? Scope for Non-Violence
Nizam College Conference Hall 2
A.H.Nayyar I Achin Vanaik / Ashish Nandy / R.S. Rao
Daily Parallel Events
Cultural Performances
Nizam College
Music and poetry
3-9:30pm
Street theatre
3-9:30pm
Indra Priyadarshini Auditorium
Proscenium plays
7-1 Opm
Peoples’ Movements
will also have open spaces in Nizam College to exchange experiences,
identify challenges and debate strategies.
Another World Film Festival
Feature films: Sarathi Studios- - 2 pm- 4.30 pm, 5 pm-7 30 pm, 8
pm-10.30pm
Feature films: Ravindra bharati mini theatre - 2 pm- 4.30 pm, 5 pm-7
30pm, 8pm-10.30pm
Documentaries: Nizam College 77 shed football ground
Documentaries: Nizam College 3 classrooms
Youth Camp
Venue: Bharat Scouts and Guides, Domalguda.
Young people gather in an autonomous space to discuss alternatives to
imperialist globalisation.
Delegate Registration: Rs.25 for all the days. Age limit: 35
Youth Camp Program:
January 3”1: Opening ceremony
January 4'"- 6,ri (10 am to 1 pm every day)
January 6"': Closing ceremony: 2 pm - 5pm.
Hyderabad 3
PRAJASAKTI
1500DALITDELEGATES PARTICIPAT
ING INASF
(Continued from centre pages)
with this they are aiming at
training the delegates who are
attending the conference in
mobilising the rural dalit
sections towards the goal of the
new world. In the workshops
that will be held for 4 days
topics like reservations for
dalit’s, land reforms, marketing
facilities, education,
Government budgets and
allocations, conditions of
health, the oppression of
communalism on dalits and the
Jogini system will be
discussed. Speakers will focus
on these topics. On 12
platforms many prominent
figures from various countries
will speak. In this dalit rights,
dalit law, dalit movement will
be prominent topics. From
Japan (burako liberal leeg)
__ Nepal (Jan uttan pratistan, dalit
,:ijNGO federation), Srilanka
^(Foundation workers union),
Nigerian (Os) dalit delegates
and popular figures will be
participate and express their
ideas. This was informed to
Prajasakti representative by
dalit beat organiser Pal
Divakar. A special drive is
being undertaken to enlighten
the rural dalits as to the
dangerous of vision 2020 in
Andhra Pradesh... He also told
their main objective is to
oppose globalisation.
MELBOURNE
CONSOLIDATES
ANTI-GLOBALISATION
STRUGGLE
(Continued from centre
pages)
benefits Australian'economy
and so many economic and
political considerations
underlied in becoming the
puppet of US imperialism.
4. How do you look at Asia
SociaEForum?
Ans: It is a wonderful event.
ASF will be instrumental in
bringing the spirit of resistance
to globalisation from the
Western world to Eastern part
of the globe. That too, holding
this event in Hyderabad, the
capital of neo liberal
laboratory, gives a moral boost
to the struggling forces of
Andhra Pradesh. I hope
Australians and Indonecians
will learn a lesson from ASF in
channelising and consolidat
ing the anti-globalisation
forces.
I Friday 3-1-2003
- EMMANUEL ORTIZ, 11 Sep 2002
A moment of silence before I start this poem
Before I start this poem, I’d like to ask you to join me
In a moment of silence
In honour of those who died in the World Trade Center and the
Pentagon last September 11th.
I would also like to ask you
To offer up a moment of silence
For all of those who have been harassed, imprisoned, disappeared,
tortured,
raped, or killed in retaliation for those strikes.
For the victims in both Afghanistan and the US
And if I could just add one more thing...
A full day of silence
For the tens of thousands of Palestinians who have died at the
hands of
US-backed Israeli forces over decades of occupation.
Six months of silence for the million and-a-half Iraqi people,
mostly children, who have died of malnourishment or
starvation as a result of an 11year US embargo against the country.
Before 1 begin this poem.
Two months of silence for the Blacks under Apartheid in South
Africa,
Where homeland security made them aliens in their own country.
Nine months of silence for the dead in Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
Where death rained down and peeled back every layer of
concrete, steel, earth and skin
And the survivors went on as if alive.
A year of silence for the millions of dead in Vietnam - a people,
not a war - for those who
know a thing or two about the scent of burning fuel, their
relatives' bones buried in it,
their babies born of it.
A year of silence for the dead in Cambodia and Laos, victims of a
secret war
... ssssshhhhh....
Say nothing ... we don't want them to learn that they are dead.
Two months of silence for the decades of dead in Columbia,
Whose names, like the corpses they once represented, have piled
up and slipped off our
tongues.
Before I begin this poem.
An hour of silence for El Salvador ...
An afternoon of silence for Nicaragua ...
. Two days of silence for the Guatemaltecos ...
None of whom ever knew a moment of peace in their living years.
45 seconds of silence for the 45 dead at Acteal, Chiapas
25 years of silence for the hundred million Africans who found
their graves far deeper in the ocean than any building could
poke into the sky.
There will be no DNA testing or dental records to identify their
remains.
And for those who were strung and swung from the heights of
sycamore trees in the south, the north, the east, and the west...
100 years of silence...
For the hundreds of millions of indigenous peoples from this half
of right here,
Whose land and lives were stolen.
In postcard-perfect plots like Pine Ridge, Wounded Knee, Sand
Creek,
Fallen Timbers, or the Trail of Tears.
Names now reduced to innocuous magnetic poetry on the
refrigerator of our consciousness ...
So you want a moment of silence?
And we are all left speechless
Our tongues snatched from our mouths
Our eyes stapled shut
A moment of silence
And the poets have all been laid to rest
The drums disintegrating into dust.
Before I begin this poem.
You want a moment of silence
You mourn now as if the world will never be the same
And the rest of us hope to hell it won't be.
Not like it always has been.
Because this is not a 9/11 poem.
This is a 9/10 poem,
It is a 9/9 poem,
A 9/8 poem,
A 9/7 poem
This is a 1492 poem.
This is a poem about what causes poents like this to be written.
And if this is a 9/11 poem, then:
This is a September 11th poem for Chile. 1971.
This is a September 12th poem for Steven Biko in South Africa,
1977.
This is a September 13th poem for the brothers at Attica Prison,
New York, 1971.
This is a September 14th poem for Somalia, 1992.
This is a poem for every date that falls to the ground in ashes
This is a poem for the 110 stories that were never told
The 110 stories that history chose not to write in textbooks
The 110 stories that CNN, BBC, The New York Times, and
Newsweek ignored.
This is a poem for interrupting this program.
And still you want a moment of silence for your dead?
We could give you lifetimes of empty:
The unmarked graves
The lost languages
The uprooted trees and histories
The dead stares on the faces of nameless children
Before I start this poem we could be silent forever
Or just long enough to hunger,
For the dust to bury us
And you would still ask us
For more of our silence.
If you want a moment of silence
Then stop the oil pumps
Turn off the engines and the televisions
Sink the cruise ships
Crash the stock markets
Unplug the marquee lights,
Delete the instant messages,
Derail the trains, the light rail transit.
If you want a moment of silence, put a brick through the window
of Taco
Bell,
And pay the workers for wages lost.
Tear down the liquor stores,
The townhouses, the White Houses, the jailhouses, the
Penthouses and the
Playboys.
If you want a moment of silence,
Then take it
On Super Bowl Sunday,
The Fourth of July
During Dayton's 13 hour sale
Or the next time your white guilt fills the room where my
beautiful people have gathered.
You want a moment of silence
Then take it NOW,
Before this poem begins.
Here, in the echo of my voice,
In the pause between goosesteps of the second hand,
In the space between bodies in embrace,
Here is your silence.
Take it:
But take it all... Don't cut in line.
Let your silence begin at the beginning of crime. But we,
Tonight we will keep right on singing... For our dead.
a
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Hyderabad 7
|
PRAJASAKTI
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E-Mail: cditor@prajashakti.coni. PRAJASAKTI, Hyderabad, RNI, Rcgd.No.52973/94
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