Tehelka exposé on Gujarat violence

Tehelka exposé on Gujarat violence

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The Association for India’s Development (AID) views with great concern the various revelations in the Tehelka exposé of October 25th 2007 regarding the planning and execution of the Gujarat pogrom in 2002 and how a systematic effort is going on to deny justice to the victims and survivors of these violent events in which over 2000 people were killed according to human rights organizations.

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The tapes reveal several prima-facie incriminating statements by the perpetrators themselves of how the pogrom in Gujarat was planned, how administrative cover was provided by the state, confessions of brutality, rape and murder; statements to the effect that they will murder again if opportunity arises; statements indicating subversion of law by law officers such as by a prosecutor and another person representing the State of Gujarat in front of judicial commission investigating the violence; and bragging by a Gujarat MLA about how bombs were made at a place in his control and arms procured and distributed.

The tapes provide fresh evidence implicating those involved in the Gujarat government at the highest levels of the political establishment, administration and law enforcement who colluded with the key perpetrators of the violence. The tapes also correlate with various statements regarding the scale and the nature of violence as well as attempts to subvert justice previously made by various human-rights organizations in India, and by eminent persons and activists who were in Gujarat in the immediate aftermath of the violence in 2002 to independently investigate and provide relief and assistance to the survivors.

The violations of law and order recorded by Tehelka are heinous in the extreme and cast a most egregious blot on the very core of civic society. Every effort must be made to immediately bring the perpetrators and their supporters to justice. Such crimes should not go unpunished for such lengths of time by the judicial system, if we are to ensure that they don't ever repeat in Gujarat or elsewhere, and that people's faith in the rule of law is restored. It is shocking to be reminded that some of the most egregious violent incidents such as the Naroda Patiya and Gulbarga Society are still pending hearing for the past 4 years, not the least because of the way the state government handled the prosecution.

Following the exposé, the administration in Gujarat has responded by ordering a media black-out of the Tehelka tapes in that state. This goes against the Constitutional right of freedom of speech and expression and the fundamental tenets of the RTI Act of 2005 that says in its preamble: "democracy requires an informed citizenry and transparency of information which are vital to its functioning."

We demand that new evidence brought to light by the Tehelka exposé be rapidly looked at and action taken to arrest and bring to justice those who perpetrated, aided and abetted the violence; and that the pending cases be heard and resolved by the Courts in an expedited manner. Further, all Constitutional means should be considered to ensure that the Gujarat administration does not continue to subvert the rule of law in delivering justice to the victims. All the survivors and families affected in Gujarat in 2002 should be adequately compensated and rehabilitated, and clear steps taken to end the isolation and ghettoization of the communities affected by the riots. We also demand that the media black-out of Tehelka Tapes on televisions in Gujarat be lifted immediately.

We appeal to the people of Gujarat to maintain public order and peace as they look at the evidence and demand that the Indian law enforcement and judicial system bring to justice all those who are implicated.

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Association for India's Development (AID)
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Contacts:
Aniruddha Vaidya (Bay Area): 650-996-8249
Prof. Mohan Bhagat (College Park): 301-345-5308
Nirveek Bhattacharjee (Baltimore): 410-627-7679
Email info@aidindia.org
Web: http://www.aidindia.org/

For more information please read: Tehelka

*photo credit: http://www.tehelka.com/

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Assam Times, Assam, India: 31 October 2007

Feed people, not cars: We need a moratorium on agrofuels

Just a month before December 2007 UN Conference on Climate Change opens in Bali, Yifat Susskind has linked research on agrofuels to his suggestion, demonstrating the serious dangers associated with agrofuel production. Yet, Jean Ziegler, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, recently proposed that we impose a moratorium on the development of agrofuels, an idea that has generated controversy in some circles. Read more...

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Feed People, Not Cars:

We Need a Moratorium on Agrofuels
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With biofuels being touted as our best great hope to undo climate change, it would be easy to ask yourself, “What’s not to like?” Biofuels, proponents claim, will counter our global dependence on fossil fuels and help curb carbon emissions. But this “greening” of our energy sources is not all that green. A growing group of human rights and environmental activists point to the dangers that biofuels pose to environmental sustainability and the livelihoods of communities around the world, and call for a major shift: a moratorium on biofuels.

Most of the policies being put forward envision substituting biofuels for fossil fuels without reducing our overall consumption of energy. These proposals are backed by agribusiness, biotech companies, and oil interests that are now investing billions in ethanol and biodiesel plants, plantations of soy, corn, sugarcane, and palm oil, as well as genetically engineered trees and microbes for future supplies of cellulosic ethanol.

The prefix “bio” suggests that “biofuels” are natural, renewable, and safe—an appealing thought to those concerned with the toxic and unsustainable use of fossil fuels. But agrofuels (as they are known in Latin America) are not easily renewable because the Earth’s landmass is itself a finite resource. To produce even seven percent of the energy that the US currently gets from petroleum would require converting the country’s entire corn crop to ethanol.

If we don’t reduce the demand for energy by consuming less, we risk a scenario in which most of the Earth’s arable land will be dedicated to growing “fuel crops” instead of food crops. People concerned about this danger use the term agrofuels to highlight the impact that biofuels have on the world’s food supply. Growing agrofuels on a mass scale is already jacking up food prices, depleting soil and water supplies, destroying forests, and violating the rights of Indigenous and local people in areas newly designated as “biofuel plantations.” Agrofuels are a false solution to climate change because they:

Violate Land Rights: Agrofuel plantations in Brazil and Southeast Asia are being created on the territories of Indigenous Peoples who have traditionally lived in and protected these ecosystems. Indigenous Peoples and local subsistence farmers—most of whom are women—are being displaced. People are being forced to give up their land, way of life, and food self-sufficiency to grow fuel crops for export. Often, plantation workers face abuse, harsh working conditions, and exposure to toxic pesticides. In Brazil, some soy farms rely on debt peonage workers—essentially modern-day slaves.

Worsen Hunger: Agrofuel expansion threatens to divert the world’s grain supply from food to fuel. We know that when economic demand increases, costs rise. That means staple foods like corn will become more expensive. Already in June 2007, the United Nations reported that, “soaring demand for biofuels is contributing to a rise in global food import costs.” The principle of supply and demand also means that less people will grow food because “fuel crops” will be worth more. Already, small-scale farmers in Colombia, Rwanda, and Guatemala feel compelled by global trade rules to grow luxury crops such as flowers and coffee for export while their families go hungry. Given the amount of land that would be required to “grow” enough fuel to maintain the global economy, the threat of worsening hunger and land rights abuses is grave. According to the Rainforest Action Network, the crops required to make enough biofuel to fill a 25-gallon SUV tank could feed one person for a year.

Worsen Global Warming: Agrofuels don’t necessarily reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming—especially if they are produced in unsustainable ways. For example, currently, the most common method of turning palm oil into fuel produces more carbon dioxide emissions than refining petroleum. Agrofuel production has made Indonesia (where 40 percent of the population does not have electricity) the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.

Worsen Deforestation and Threaten Biodiversity: Corporate plans for expanding biofuel production involve destroying forests and other ecosystems to create massive plantations that rely on chemical fertilizers and toxic pesticides to maximize production. Monoculture (single crop) plantations of soy and palm oil are being established in the rain forests and grasslands of Asia and South America, threatening some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Clear-cutting forests to plant agrofuels also adds to warming by eliminating carbon-absorbing forests.

Why is Energy a Women’s Issue? In most of the Global South, women are responsible for collecting household fuel for cooking, lighting, and other family needs. Most of this energy is derived from natural resources such as wood, charcoal, or dung. When fuel is made scarce—for example, by deforestation or drought—women’s and girls’ workloads increase sharply. In some communities, women spend many hours a day collecting fuel.

So What’s the Alternative? Jean Ziegler, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to food has called for a five-year ban on agrofuel expansion. A moratorium on the conversion of land for agrofuel production should be accompanied by the development of new energy technologies that do not compromise global food security.

We need sustainable solutions to climate change, not corporate solutions that seek to simply shift our energy addiction from one resource to another. We need to consume less, not just differently, and steer clear of solutions that would expand the reach—and all the pitfalls—of industrialized agriculture. Creative and practical solutions for meeting our energy requirements—including some local, sustainable biofuel programs—are being developed around the world. We can support proposals for developing sustainable renewable energy sources, while recognizing the need to reduce overall consumption and protect human rights—including everyone’s basic right to food.

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Yifat Susskind

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The author is MADRE's Communications Director. MADRE is an international women’s human rights organization. More information about MADRE’s Food for Life Campaign can be found here

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Published in

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The Japan Times, Tokyo, Japan: 5 November 2007

Assam Times, Assam, India: 31 October 2007

The Daily Star, Bangladesh: 1 November 2007

Jerusalem Post: 1 November 2007

Nagaland Page, Nagaland, India: 1 November 2007

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India: 1 November 2007

The Seoul Times, South Korea: 6 November 2007

Keep tobacco out of movies in Thailand: Says Prof Rama Kant

Keep tobacco out of movies in Thailand
: says Prof Rama Kant
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One of the easiest ways to significantly bring down number of children and youth who get initiated to tobacco use in Thailand, without any budgetary allocation for this public health exercise, is to remove depiction of tobacco use in films and TV, said International Awardee (2005) of World Health Organization (WHO) – Professor (Dr) Rama Kant, who is visiting Thailand to deliver keynote guest lecture at McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai.

He pointed out freely available video CDs of movies around the world in white and grey market in Thailand. Many of these movies, including Hollywood and Indian cinema, portray tobacco use with brand placement in films.

Prof Rama Kant is a noted tobacco control advocate and has been spearheading a voluntary public health initiative since more than past 30 years.

One of the major influences on the uptake of teen tobacco use is the glamourisation of tobacco use in movies and on television. This has been well documented by comprehensive research studies in India and US.
Dartmouth Medical School, National Cancer Institute USA and American Legacy Foundation report, titled "First Look Report, Trends in Top Box Office Movie Tobacco use - 1996-2004". This report has an exhaustive content analysis of top 100 box office movie hits each year for nine years duration (1996-2004). This report confirms that smoking continues to be depicted in nearly three-quarters of movies. Two studies conducted earlier by the Dartmouth Medical School found that one-third to one-half of youth smoking initiation is explained by exposure to smoking in movies.

Similar study done by World Health Organization and Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2003 revealed that 76% of Indian movies had tobacco use shown in them. In 1991, where 22% of top box office movie hits had lead characters using tobacco on-screen, in 2002, this escalated to 53% tobacco use depiction by lead characters in Indian movies. This study also demonstrated that 52.2% of children in India who had their first smoke were influenced by tobacco use depicted in movies.

A repeat follow-up study conducted by WHO and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in India on top box office movie hits during 2004-2005 demonstrated that tobacco use depiction in movies has become more aggressive as compared to previous years. During 2004-2005, 89% of all movies analyzed contained tobacco use on screen and 75.5% movies depicted leading stars using tobacco on screen. Moreover 41% of movies screened had clear and distinct tobacco brand placement. Not surprising, that 33.7% of youth respondents could recall brand use in films too.

Prof Rama Kant said categorically that stopping depiction of tobacco use in films is an evidence based public health measure.

Indian Health Minister Dr Ambumani Ramadoss had earlier said on record that "film and tobacco industry are hands-in-glove involved" and suggested big pay-offs too. Dr Ramadoss' proposal to ban tobacco use in movies and TV was vehemently opposed by film industry.

Exposure to tobacco use in movies is clearly linked to youth tobacco use. Simply put, more must be done to ensure that tobacco use in movies is removed from films seen by our nation's youth. We have within our power one simple and effective way to jump start the decline in youth tobacco use - delete tobacco use in films from the list of influences that rob our youth of longer and healthier lives by removing tobacco use from movies, unless they clearly depict the negative health effects. Together we can ensure that movies continue to entertain and inspire our children and youth, and at the same time, save countless lives from tobacco addiction and premature death.

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Published in:

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Assam Times, Assam, India: 22 October 2007

Scoop Independent News, New Zealand: 23 October 2007

Nagaland Page, Nagaland, India: 24 October 2007

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India: 26 October 2007

DEMONSTRATION against Coca Cola bottling plant in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, India

DEMONSTRATION

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against

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Coca Cola

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bottling plant in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, India

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Coca Cola Bhagao Krishi Bachao Jan Sangharsh Samiti (‘Remove Coca Cola, Save Agriculture People’s Struggle Committee’), Sinhachawar, Ballia is organizing a march from Ballia district headquarters on 23rd October, 2007, after a public meeting there at 11 am, to the bottling plant located in Sinhachawar village, 15 kms outside.

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Upon reaching Sinhachawar the next day there will be a public meeting at the plant site on 24th October, 2007 at 12 noon. The main demands of these demonstrations are:

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(1) Cancel the license of Vrindavan Coca Cola bottlers plant, Sinhachawar. (This plant run on a franchise basis till now is in the process of being bought over by Coca Cola company).
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(2) Stop ground water exploitation and pollution of land and water.

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(3) Stop privatization of water.
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(4) Remove encroachment of Coca Cola plant from public land and road belonging to Gram Sabha.

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(5) Ban production and sale of Coca Cola and Pepsi containing things harmful to human health.

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Main speakers at the two events include the local MLA, Ambika Chaudhary, aspirant to Ballia Lok Sabha seat, Neeraj Shekhar, son of former Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar and Baba Hardeo Singh, President of PCS Officers’ Association. The association of Gram Pradhans has decided to support this movement.
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For more information contact:

Baliram, 9450779325,

Vijay Bhai, 9335341150,

Nandlal, 9415300520, napm_up@yahoo.com and

Dr Sandeep Pandey, 0522 2347365, 9415022772, ashaashram@yahoo.com

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(Photo credit: Jessica Kakoby)

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PUBLIC HEARING ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

PUBLIC HEARING ON HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

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Organized by People's Union for Human Rights

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A public hearing is being organized by PUHR in Lucknow in front of the Vidhan Sabha on 27th October, 2007, on cases of human rights violations. In spite of a dalit sympathetic government atrocities against dalits continue to take place. Gruesome murder of Chakrasen, an Engineering degree aspirant, in Pratapgarh district is the most glaring example in which the upper caste murderers were being patronized by the local BSP MLA. Benefits of government schemes like the PDS and NREGS continue to be siphoned off and the most affected is the poorest segment of society. Most landless, even if they have legal title to a piece of land continue to be denied land ownership.
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Draconian laws like Armed Forces Special Powers Act and Chattisgarh Public Security Act are used by the state to victimize activists and common citizens. Dr. Binayak Sen is in jail on the unproved charge of being a naxalite and Sanjay Dutt, convicted in the Mumbai Bomb Blast case, is honoured by the PM for promoting Gandhian values! Irom Sharmila continues in her 7th year of fast in solitary confinement in hospital in Imphal with a demand to repeal AFSPA. Meanwhile, fake encounter deaths continue to take place all over the country.

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The public hearing will address a whole range of human rights violations being committed in the country. The jury will consist of eminent advocate of Supreme Court Prashant Bhushan, advocate Sudha Bhardwaj from Chattisgarh, S.A.R. Geelani, lecturer at Zakir Hussain College, Delhi, and acquitted by SC in the attack on Parliament case and S.R. Darapuri, former I.G., U.P.
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Date of Public Hearing: 27th October, 2007, Saturday

Time: 10:30 am to 5 pm

Venue: Dharna Sthal, Opposite Vidhan Sabha, Lucknow

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For more information or to present a case at the public hearing contact any of the following office bearers of PUHR:
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Sandeep Pandey, President, Ph: 0522 2347365, 9415022772, ashaashram@yahoo.com

Brij Bihari, General Secretary, M: 9335385843, 9335369767

Manoj Singh, Organization Secretary, M: 9415282206

Diabetes wake-up call after years of neglect in Asia - Professor (Dr) Rama Kant

Diabetes wake-up call after years of neglect in Asia

- Professor (Dr) Rama Kant

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Diabetes mellitus is emerging as a major health problem in Asian countries with world’s highest number of people with diabetes living in the region. This warning came from International Awardee (2005) of World Health Organization (WHO) Prof (Dr) Rama Kant, who was delivering a guest lecture on ‘newer horizons in management of diabetic foot’ at McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Countries like India have an estimated 34 to 35 million of people suffering from diabetes, which is the highest in the world. The prevalence of Diabetes in urban population is 17% and in rural it is 2.5%. This indicates impact of life style and nutritional habits. Among the chronic complications of diabetes, diabetic foot is the most devastating complication and is the leading cause of leg amputation among diabetics. It is estimated that in India alone about 50,000 legs are amputated every year, of which almost 75 percent are potentially preventable, said Professor (Dr) Rama Kant.

This problem is further compounded by the lack of awareness, practice of barefoot walking, home surgery, faulty footwear (slippers) and delay in reporting. The cost, both in terms of human health as well as economic burden of the foot ulcer treatment and complication is very high. In countries like Thailand or India, foot care is very critical as a significant majority of the population stays in rural areas. Therefore prevention of ulcer and its subsequent complications is of utmost importance, stressed Professor Kant.

Prof Rama Kant, who heads the Department of Surgery at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) and has been the former Chief Medical Superintendent of Gandhi Memorial & Associated Hospitals, was recently elected as President of Lucknow College of Surgeons and medical university teachers’ association. The noted Surgeon from India is here in Thailand interacting with Thai medical fraternity on improving healthcare responses to better control diseases like diabetes.

McCormick Hospital began in 1889 when Dr. McKean, the first long-term physician, arrived in the north of Thailand and started a dispensary and medicine building with 8 to 10 beds. Dr. McKean made his own smallpox vaccine and quinine pills for malaria and opened the Thailand’s first facility for leprosy patients. Later with support from Dr. Cyruss McCormick of Chicago the Mc Cormick Hospital grew by 1925 providing healthcare with different speciality units. It is a modern general hospital with about 19,000 patient-admission per year, and approximately 40,000 outpatients benefitting annually. It is also affiliated with the Royal Family of Thailand as the present King's father, a physician, practiced in this hospital.

Back in 1864, a noted surgeon Marchal de Calvi said "Having amputated one leg, often the opposite leg is affected, gangrene sets in and soon the patients succumb to the horrible suffering. Having relieved him of his local affliction (by amputation), I have done nothing but mutilate him." The need for efforts to reduce lower limb complications amongst people with diabetes is important, more so in Asian countries, where ignorance and barefoot walking plus other socio-economic practices lead to needless amputations. A diabetic foot patient suffers damage to nerves which make the feet numb and insensitive.' Lack of awareness, socio-cultural practices like bare-foot walking, delayed consultation of specialists due to ignorance and improper management are among the factors leading to amputations. If one leg was removed the chances were high for the other to get amputated within three years.

The findings of several studies reporting statistically significant protective effects from therapeutic footwear may have been influenced by several design issues. When considering the appropriateness of therapeutic footwear recommendations for moderate-risk patients, clinicians and patients should jointly explore individual strategies to decrease events that lead to foot ulcers.

All-cause mortality is high after an amputation in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Mortality rates, hospital stay, and postoperative complications are not different between diabetic and non-diabetic amputees. No modifiable factors, with the exception of nephropathy, were found to improve survival in amputees. Peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy are the main cause of amputations; prevention, therefore, of these complications is warranted to prevent amputations and the subsequent high mortality.

Recent trends are focusing on prevention by life style modifications, adequate control, multi-speciality treatments and aggressive debridements, open traditional and endovascular surgery, use of stents for improving circulation followed by free use of latest dressing techniques, use of different growth factors, off-loading of pressure points, use of modified shoes and also occasional use of boot therapy or modified boot therapy with a special equipments, said Professor Kant.

With use of the latest techniques incidence of major amputations has gone down drastically and only minor amputations are done at our centre.

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Published in:

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Asian Tribune, Thailand/ Sri Lanka: 20 October 2007

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India: 20 October 2007

The Seoul Times, South Korea: 20 October 2007

Scoop Independent News, New Zealand: 21 October 2007

Kashmir Newz, Jammu & Kashmir, India: 24 October 2007

Stop Dow recruitment in IIT Chennai

Stop Dow recruitment in IIT Chennai

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Sign the petition here

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Hundreds of alumni from Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) have signed the petition among others demanding that Dow Chemical, the owner of Union Carbide, and all of its subsidiaries should be barred from campus recruitment at all IITs. Representatives of survivors of the 1984 Bhopal Gas disaster had earlier informed that Dow Chemical is trying to recruit engineering students during campus interviews at IITs. The petition is addressed to Professor MS Ananth, Director of Chennai’s IIT.

Union Carbide is a key accused in a criminal case related to the Bhopal gas disaster where the company is charged with "culpable homicide not amounting to murder." Because it failed to honour summons issued by the Bhopal court, it was declared an absconder in 1992.

Dow Chemical has also failed to obey the law and is currently being challenged in the criminal court for sheltering a fugitive. Till date, it has failed to make Union Carbide - its 100 percent subsidiary - appear in court to face trial.

Aside from the disaster, Union Carbide's routine operations in the Bhopal factory have resulted in a massive environmental contamination problem that has not been addressed till date. Several thousand tons of toxic wastes, obsolete pesticides and contaminated material and machinery lie strewn in and around the factory site. Over the years, these wastes have leached their poisons into the groundwater. At least 10 governmental and non-governmental studies document and confirm the spread of toxic contamination. More than 20,000 people are forced to consume this contaminated water in the absence of any alternative. Tests carried out at IIT, Kanpur, by a New Delhi based fact finding mission on Bhopal showed the presence of toxic chemicals such as chloroform, chlorobenzenes, dichloromethane and heavy metals such as lead and mercury in the breast milk of mothers in these communities.

Union Carbide and Dow Chemical have refused to contribute towards clean-up of the contamination and groundwater.

As a result, Dow Chemical is the target of a concerted campaign by Bhopal survivors and their supporters. The aim of the campaign is to hold the corporation and the Governments of India and Madhya Pradesh accountable.

Dow Chemical's track record in India and abroad is poor on various counts says it all.

Earlier this year, the company was fined $325,000 by the US Securities Exchange Commission for having paid $200,000 in bribes to Agriculture Ministry officials for expediting the registration of three of its pesticides. One of the registered pesticides, Dursban (chlorpyriphos), is freely sold in India whereas it has been withdrawn from use in domestic settings in the US owing to its demonstrated deleterious effects on the mental development of children. An enquiry by the Ministry and another by the Vigilance Commission is currently ongoing.

In 2005, Indian Oil canceled a technology tie-up with Dow Global Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Dow Chemical, because the company had attempted to sell a Union Carbide technology by passing it off as its own.

Dow is exerting tremendous pressure on the Indian Government to get the Government to absolve it of all liabilities related to Bhopal. Letters unearthed by the Bhopal survivor groups indicates that Dow has written to the Indian ambassador in an attempt to dictate the Government's course of action in a case against it for environmental clean-up in the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

Dow's poor track record, particularly with respect to Bhopal, has made it very unpopular. In May 2005, more than 1300 IIT alumni intervened and forced the organizers of the Global IIT 2005 Conference to cancel the key note address by William Stavropoulos, then CEO of Dow Chemical.

In March 2007, the University of California, Berkeley, returned a donation by Dow Chemical towards organizing the UC Berkeley Energy Symposium after students voted overwhelmingly against accepting funds from the tainted company.

Dow Chemical's motive behind the relationship it is attempting to forge with IIT Madras is not the furtherance of science and technology. Rather, it is an attempt to acquire legitimacy and credibility by associating itself with IIT.

“The impeccable reputation of IIT Madras will certainly be tarnished by any association with Dow Chemical. By refusing campus recruitment to the company, IIT Madras will be sending a strong signal that it stands by principles of justice and ethics” said activists of Association for India’s Development (AID).
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To sign the petition, click here

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Published in:

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The Seoul Times, South Korea: 20 October 2007

BOOK RELEASE: On the side of the Angels

BOOK RELEASE

On the Side of the Angels

A new book challenging Christians to put human rights advocacy at the heart of Christian mission was released on 9 October 2007.

The book, ‘On the Side of the Angels: Justice, Human Rights and Kingdom Mission’, co-authored by Benedict Rogers and Joseph D’souza, argues that for too long Christians have failed to fulfill their biblical mandate to speak up for justice and to see human rights campaigning as a part of mission.

Benedict Rogers is a journalist and Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) Advocacy Officer for South Asia. He is author of ‘A Land Without Evil: Stopping the Genocide of Burma’s Karen People’ (Monarch, 2004). Dr D’souza is founder and president of the All India Christian Council (AICC) – one of the largest interdenominational coalitions of Christians dealing with human rights in India.

‘On the Side of the Angels’ examines the biblical basis for activism and includes real-life stories of crimes against humanity, religious persecution, torture, discrimination, and injustice. The book draws on the authors’ first-hand experience of places of persecution and oppression, including Burma, East Timor, and India, along with their work of advocacy in the United States, United Kingdom, European Union, United Nations, and other forums. It also offers practical ideas for ways in which Christians can be involved in advocacy.

“Our Christian mission must have justice at the core. In the book of Proverbs, the bible teaches us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, and to defend the rights of the poor and needy. We have written this book in the hope that concrete examples of how to stand up for justice and inspiring examples of great Christian human rights activists, past and present, will motivate and challenge readers to be advocates of God’s love and justice” said Benedict Rogers.

Dr Joseph D’souza added: “God is calling His Church worldwide to raise the banner for justice. And He is also pouring His Spirit to move His children to involvement in justice issues as part of their mission on earth be it for the sake of the Burmese people, the people of Sudan, the children of the world or the Dalits.”

The book release was hosted by Lord Alton, with guest speaker Bishop David Pytches. Author and former UK Cabinet Minister, Jonathan Aitken, said the book “deserves to become a classic of human rights literature”, and the Founder of Oasis Global, Steve Chalke, called it “deeply challenging and compelling”.

For more information, please contact:
Jo Didier
Email: jodidier@csw.org.uk

The Globalization of Hunger

The Globalization of Hunger

Yifat Susskind

At first, the numbers don’t seem to add up. The world produces more food than ever—enough to feed twice the global population. Yet, more people than ever suffer from hunger; and their numbers are rising. Today, 854 million people, most of them women and girls, are chronically hungry, up from 800 million in 1996. Another paradox: the majority of the world’s hungry people live in rural areas, where nearly all food is grown.

World Food Day on October 16 is a good time to try and understand the conundrum of world hunger. The root of the problem is the inequitable distribution of the resources needed to either grow or buy food (also known as poverty). World Food Day is an equally good time to call out one of the main culprits of the crisis: industrial agriculture, the very type enshrined in the Farm Bill that’s currently before the US Senate.

The Farm Bill has far-reaching implications for farmers and food systems the world over. It is set to perpetuate a process whereby heavily subsidized US factory farms overproduce grains that are dumped in poor countries, bankrupting local farmers, who can’t compete with subsidized prices. We’ve begun to hear a bit about the plight of these farmers, but few people know that most of them are women. In fact, women produce most of the world’s food. They do so on small plots of land, working hard to feed their families and generate enough income for things like school fees and children’s shoes.

US Agribusiness: Swallowing Up Lands and Livelihoods

Visit the websites of corporations like Cargill and Archer Daniels Midland, who together control 65 percent of the global grain trade, and you will read that their mission is to “feed a growing world.” The reality is starkly different. Big Farming is part of a larger corporate economic model that prioritizes profit-making over all else, even the basic right to food. Around the world, agribusiness bankrupts and displaces small farmers, and directs farmers to grow export crops instead of staple foods.

Not long ago, most farm inputs came from farmers themselves. Seeds were saved from the last harvest and fertilizer was recycled from animal and plant wastes. Farmers found innovative ways to control pests by harnessing local biodiversity, such as cultivating insect-repelling plants alongside food crops. While these techniques can produce enough food to feed the world and sustain its ecosystems, they don’t turn a profit for agribusiness. That’s why corporations developed genetically modified seeds, chemical fertilizers, and synthetic pesticides.

These inputs are both expensive for farmers and highly damaging to the natural systems on which sustainable farming and, ultimately, all life depends. As the cost of farming has gone up, farmers’ incomes have gone down due to trade rules that favor large-scale agribusiness over small farmers. For example, the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Agriculture forbids governments in the Global South from providing farmers with low-cost seeds and other farm inputs, turning farmers into a “market” for international agribusiness.

Over the past 50 years, as much of the world’s farmland has been consolidated in fewer and fewer hands, millions of people have been forced to abandon their rural homes. In fact, this year, for the first time ever, the number of people living in cities around the world exceeded the number living in rural areas. Most of this urban population boom is due to rural migration.

Cash Crops and Climate Change

The same practices that have devastated women farmers and their communities worldwide have contributed to environmental destruction that impacts us all.

Export agriculture is a major contributor to global warming because it requires huge inputs of petroleum: it takes 100 gallons of oil to grow just one acre of US corn. It also requires a massive global transportation infrastructure, including ports, railways, fuel pipelines, and superhighways, often built at the expense of local people and ecosystems. In many places, 40 percent of truck traffic is from hauling food over long distances. Today, food that could be grown locally is shipped, trucked, or flown half way around the planet.

Trade rules have so distorted agricultural markets that almost anywhere you go, food from the other side of the world costs less than food grown locally. So people in Kenya buy Dutch butter, while those in the Big Apple buy apples from Chile. In the US, the average bite of food travels 1,300 miles from farm to fork. The system is so wasteful that many countries import the very same foods that they export. For example, last year the US exported—and imported—900,000 tons of beef.

Asserting the Right to Food

The good news is that our global food systems may be on the verge of a great transition. Although agribusiness has unprecedented control over the world’s farmers and food supply, the realities of climate change, resource depletion, and the human suffering caused by industrialized farming have led more people to start thinking about the links between food, the environment, and social justice. Around the world, demands for food sovereignty—peoples’ right to control their own food systems—is at an all-time high. Even in the US, where much of the population thinks of farming as a quaint and remote activity, more and more people are realizing that if you eat, you’re involved in agriculture.

The theme of this year’s World Food Day is the right to food. Securing this basic human right for all people, including future generations, will require fundamental changes in the way we use the Earth’s natural resources to grow and distribute food. As we face rising temperatures and declining supplies of cheap energy, change will come of necessity. It’s up to us—working in partnership with small-scale farmers around the world—to demand a change for the better.


Yifat Susskind

(The author is the Communications Director, MADRE, an international women’s human rights organization. For more information please visit: http://www.madre.org/ )

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Published in:

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Scoop Independent News, New Zealand: 18 October 2007

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The Seoul Times, South Korea: 20 October 2007

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Nagaland Page, Nagaland, India: 1 November 2007

Christians join Burma vigil in Parliament Square, UK

Christians join Burma vigil in Parliament Square, UK

The Burmese exiled community in UK is holding an ongoing round-the-clock vigil in Parliament Square in solidarity with the intensified pro-democracy struggles in Burma. Christian Solidarity Worldwide has mobilized Christians to join the Burmese exiled community in this Burma vigil every Monday evening until December 2007.

On Saturday 6 October 2007, thousands of people marched in London in the biggest ever demonstration for Burma held in the UK, and joined a rally in Trafalgar Square. With Christians joining the Burma vigil on every Monday evening, Muslims, Buddhists, trade unionists and other communities are joining the Burma vigil on other days of the week.

When monks took to streets in Burma last month, the world’s spotlight came on the decades-long ongoing pro-democracy movement within the country. Despite and in-spite of all control-measures of Junta Government in Burma (State Peace and Development Council), it is impossible to freeze information flow of human rights excesses. Unlike the way it succeeded in crushing the pro-democracy movement in 1988, this time the ‘world is watching’!
Interestingly the ongoing struggles in Burma have given a strong beam of hope and vigour to similar pro-democracy movements going near its North-East border of India.

People in UK had also come out in support of pro-democracy movement led by Irom Chanu Sharmila in Manipur – a North-Eastern Indian state. They were fasting in solidarity.

The minimum pre-requisite of many people’s movements around the world in recent past has been a singular demand –free Aung San Suu Kyi! She is imprisoned under the 1975 State Protection Act in Myanmar (Burma), which grants the government the power to imprison persons for up to five years without a trial. She has been intermittently under arrest of one kind or the other since 1990.

By 1988, Burma was burgeoning with pro-democracy movement, fueled by the energy and idealism among the country's young people. There were demonstrations against the repressive, one-party socialist government. Aung San Suu Kyi was drawn into the pro-democracy movement, which was snuffed out by State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), which seized power on September 18, 1988. Thousands of pro-democracy advocates were killed.

Next came a general election in 1990, which political parties were allowed to contest. Aung San Suu Kyi, who was leading the National League for Democracy (NLD), won a landslide victory, with 80 per cent support. SLORC leaders refused to accept the election results putting the elected pro-democracy leaders under house arrest, including Aung San Suu Kyi.

Despite the restrictions of house arrest, Aung San Suu Kyi continues to campaign for democracy. She was awarded the Nobel Prize for peace in 1991.

The alignment of people’s voices not only within Burma but globally is a positive development.

Only time can tell whether the voices of common people will be heard or the state will continue to trample over people's rights with anti-people laws and policies.

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Published in:

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Scoop Independent News, New Zealand: 17 October 2007

Nagaland Page, Nagaland, India: 18 October 2007

The Seoul Times, South Korea: 19 October 2007

Christians to join Burma vigil in London

Christians to join Burma vigil in London

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is calling on Christians of all denominations to join the Burmese exiled community in a vigil in Parliament Square, London, every Monday evening until December.

The Burmese exiled community is holding a permanent 24-hour vigil in Parliament Square in solidarity with the suffering people of Burma. They have invited Christians to join them in solidarity every Monday from 6-9pm.

Muslims, Buddhists, trade unionists and other communities will be joining them on other evenings. CSW’s Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas said: “It is a great privilege to have been invited by the Burmese community to stand in solidarity with them. We are grateful that they have set aside a designated evening every week for Christians to join them."

“We call on church leaders, pastors, whole congregations and individuals to take up this request and to join the Burmese community in London from 6-9pm every Monday evening until December, opposite the Houses of Parliament.”

This initiative is the latest in a series of protests and prayer days which CSW has supported in response to the crisis in Burma. On Saturday 6 October thousands of people marched in London in the biggest ever demonstration for Burma held in the UK, and joined a rally in Trafalgar Square.

For more information, please contact: Madhu Chandra at: office@madhuchandra.org

Food for thought – on World Food Day

Food for thought – on World Food Day

Shobha Shukla

The world observes October 16 as World Food Day.

Once again another day of rhetorics to rue about the dismal food scenario (especially among the developing nations); to reiterate our noble intentions of formulating new plans to feed the starving masses by reeling out scary statistics that world wide 9 million people are dying every year due to hunger and hunger related causes, of which more than 50% are children.

Hunger accounts for more deaths than war, tuberculosis and AIDS put together. Even amongst those who escape the killing spree of hunger a whopping 1 billion are undernourished, most of whom are again children and women. And yet an almost equal number are overweight. (It is ironic that 80% of world’s hungry children live in food surplus countries).

Both, the under fed and the overweight, are examples of malnutrition. This indeed is a public catastrophe where obesity poses as much a health hazard as under nourishment. Poverty arising out of under or no employment is the main cause of hunger related deaths whereas affluence is killing people in the form of diabetes, heart and other chronic diseases. ‘Round bellies’ (arising out of too much of eating) are as much a sign of ill health as ‘pot bellies’( arising out of too less to eat).

It seems that the entire society is sick in mind if not in body. In fact our thinking process has become so unhealthy that it is in immediate and dire need of ‘proper nutritional values’. Else why would rich companies falsely allure farmers to grow killer tobacco instead of life sustaining food crops?. This is one of the reasons for a steady decline in India’s grain production after the year 2000, resulting in more hunger related deaths.The land used for tobacco growing denies food denies food to about 20 million Indians apart from being responsible for another 9 lakh deaths per year from tobacco related diseases alone. Thus consumption of tobacco in any form contributes to a hungry and diseased society by reducing economic productivity and posing serious health hazards for the poor and rich alike.

Again, there is something definitely wrong when in the name of progress we are building huge dams which often not only threaten the environment but also expose the displaced people towards imminent poverty and hunger as a result of improper and long drawn out rehabilitation process. The likes of Medha Patekar are waging a relentless battle against this menace.

The creation of special economic zones by grabbing fertile land from poor farmers for the benefit of the super rich industrialists is just another symptom of our mentally sick government.Not only are the farmers paid a measly price, they are also deprived of their sole means of livelihood, pushing them deeper into the abyss of debt and poverty from which only death can rescue them.

If they are mentally sound then why are companies knowingly producing ‘Fun For You’ foods ( rather than ‘Good For You’ products) which are potentially unhealthy and then spending billions to run campaigns which are unscrupulously targeting the most vulnerable ( children )? Why are our super film and sports stars endorsing these false advertisements which is contributing towards making a whole generation of kids addicted to colas and junk/processed food, thus jeopardizing their health? By donating a small part of their earnings to some charity they cannot wipe their conscience clean of their grave sins.

It is imperative that all of us start eating just enough of the right type of nutritional food and rid ourselves of the illeffects of poverty and affluence alike. Hunger should not be traded with obesity and diseases of poverty should not be replaced by diseases of excess.

There is as much a crying need to teach about healthy diets and moderate lifestyles to school children as is to empower the rural masses with education and join them in their fight for fair wages and land/water rights. We need to wage a war on all those multinational companies, government policies, and people who are bartering the nation’s health for illgotten wealth and thereby supporting hunger in the garb of economic development.

At our own small level as individuals let us boycott all such harmful products like cola beverages, fatty and processed junk food, tobacco products and at the same time share our overstuffed refrigerators with those who have nothing to eat and also support all efforts aimed at empowering them towards poverty alleviation. Let there be enough good food for all. Amen.

Shobha Shukla

(The author teaches Physics at India’s noted Loreto Convent, and writes for media in India and abroad. She can be contacted at: shobha1shukla@yahoo.co.in)
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Published in:

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WIP News, Buenos Aires, Argentina: 16 October 2007

Nagaland Page, Nagaland, India: 16 October 2007

Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India: 16 October 2007

Assam Times, Assam, India: 16 October 2007

The Seoul Times, South Korea: 22 October 2007

Mounting public pressure against dams in Uttarakhand

Mounting public pressure

against dams in Uttarakhand

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People of Uttarakhand state, are fasting since 9 October 2007 against the state government’s approval to building dams on Ganga and other rivers.

The native people of Uttarakhand who are to be affected from the dam constructions on rivers in the state, organized themselves and representatives of many people’s movements including journalists joined their agitation.

These dams have been sanctioned in Uttarakhand in the absence of comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or Socially Impact Assessment (SIA). In India, though EIA came into existence around 1978-79, it was made mandatory only in 1994.

EIA seeks to ensure sustainable development through the evaluation of those impacts arising from a major activity (policy, plan, program, or project) that are likely to have significant environmental effects, like dams. Now the EIA has become a requirement in more than 100 countries (Canter 1996).

SIA is a methodology to review the social effects of infrastructure projects and other development interventions, like dams. It includes the processes of analysing, monitoring and managing the intended and unintended social consequences, both positive and negative, of planned interventions (policies, programs, plans, projects) and any social change processes invoked by those interventions. Its primary purpose is to bring about a more sustainable and equitable biophysical and human environment.

The fast began on 9 October 2007 at Devprayaga Sangam, on the banks of river Bhagiratha and Alaknanda, this is where the Kotli Bhel projects are being implemented. The Fast is lead by MATU Jan Sangathan with support from Ganga Rakshak Sangharsh Samiti and several other organizations and individuals.

‘Baandh Pariyavaran - Hum Aur Uttarakhand’ (Dams, environment, we and Uttarakhand) meeting took place on 10 October 2007 at Devprayaga Sangam, and was attended by noted individuals like Dr Giridhar Pundit, State Joint Secretary of CPI, JP Pundit, former Principal of Omkarananda College, Aacharya Shailendra Shastri of Devprayaga, Dr Prabhakar Joshi, senior Journalist from Dainik Jagaran and the Presidents of affected gram panchayats.

Dr. Giridhar Pandit strictly opposed these dams which will affect the environment as well as the local people. “Its all about a political game, people will not get any benefit from these dams” said JP Pundit. Dr Prabhakar Joshi raised a question of what kind of development will be there if the local people are unaware of the current circumstances.

Presidents and other members of affected gram panchayats raised vital concerns about the loss of livelihood of local people, displacement impact and also on the role of government in deciding compensation and managing rehabilitation. Gram panchayat members and people were outraged that how can they trust the government when they were not even consulted before giving a green signal to dam projects on state rivers!

MATU Jan Sangathan and Ganga Rakshak Sangharsh Samiti activists demand that the construction of dams in Uttarakhand should be immediately halted and proper comprehensive EIA and SIA be conducted. The affected people should be allowed to engage in dialogue and decision making involving the dams. The use of emergency clause of land acquisition Act should be stopped, demand the affected people. There is also a demand to explore other alternative energy sources including solar and wind energy systems.

For more information, please contact: MATU Jan Sangathan at: matuporg@gmail.com

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Published in:

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Asian Tribune (Sri Lanka/ Thailand): 13 October 2007

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand): 15 October 2007

The Seoul Times (South Korea): 15 October 2007

Central Chronicle (Madhya Pradesh, India): 16 October 2007

Will independent commission increase judicial accountability?

Will Independent Commission
increase judicial accountability?

The recent case of Justice Sabharwal and the sentencing of four Mid Day journalists again brought to the fore the problem of the lack of accountability of the higher judiciary in the country.

"We have today, a judiciary with enormous powers, but virtually no accountability" said senior Supreme Court advocate Prashant Bhushan, on behalf of Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reforms (CJAR) committee which is patronized by Justice VR Krishna Iyer, Justice PB Sawant, Justice H Suresh, Shri Shanti Bhushan, Shri Prabhash Joshi, and Arundhati Roy among others, in the invitation to the Seminar on this issue in New Delhi on 13 October 2007. The Seminar is being held at the Indian Society for International Law, Bhagwandas Road, opposite the Supreme Court of India, on Saturday, October 13, 2007, from 10 am to 5 pm.

With the failure of the impeachment system, no mechanism has been put in place for investigating and taking action against judicial misconduct. "The problem is compounded by the use of contempt power which is deterring even exposure of judicial misconduct" said Dr Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and National Convener of NAPM (National Alliance of People's Movements).

An Independent National Judicial Commission might be able to regulate the power of contempt of the Judiciary. CJAR is dedicated to build strong public opinion to force Parliament and the Government to bring the required amendments to the Constitution and the laws for an independent judicial commission.

The judiciary in the country today is not only the arbiter of disputes between citizens, between citizens and the State, between States and the Union, it also in purported exercise of powers to enforce fundamental rights, directs the governments to close down industries, commercial establishments, demolish jhuggis, remove hawkers and rickshaw pullers from the streets, prohibits strikes and bandhs etc. In short, it has come to be the most powerful institution of the State.

Every other institution of the State is accountable to the anti-corruption agencies, and to the judiciary which has the power of judicial review over every executive and legislative action. Moreover, the political executive is accountable to the legislature and the legislature is democratically accountable to the people-that at least is the theory of our constitutional scheme.

However, when it comes to the judiciary, we find that it is neither democratically accountable to the people, nor to any other institution. The only recourse against a judge committing judicial misconduct is impeachment, which has been found to be a totally impractical remedy. To initiate the impeachment process one needs the signatures of 100 Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha MPs. This one cannot secure unless two conditions are satisfied. First, one must have conclusive documentary evidence of very serious misconduct against a judge. And second, the evidence and the charges must have been publicized, such that it has assumed the proportions of a public scandal. Till that happens, there are few MPs who are willing to put their signatures on an impeachment motion. Most MPs or their parties have cases in court, and nobody wants to invite the wrath of the judiciary.

The media is unwilling to publicise the charges against judges (even when they have documentary evidence to back the charges) because of the fear of contempt of Court which constantly hangs as a sword over their necks.

Mid Day had carried a series of articles in May and June 2007 showing how Justice Sabharwal passed the orders of sealing commercial properties in residential areas in Delhi after his sons had got into partnerships with at least two of the leading shopping mall and commercial complex developers of Delhi. These orders stood to directly benefit his sons and their partners by pushing the sealed shops and offices to shopping malls and commercial complexes and thus driving up their prices.

Mid Day published much of the documentary evidence in support of this huge story exposing what appeared to be a scandalous conspiracy at the Apex of the judiciary.

Yet neither any other media organization, nor any judicial, executive nor legislative authority acted upon these news stories.

Thereafter, on 3 August 2007, CJAR released a detailed charge-sheet containing as many as 7 serious charges against Justice Sabharwal, each backed with documentary evidence. Tehelka and Karan Thapar carried major stories on it. The story however hit the headlines in the mainstream media only after the conviction of 4 Mid Day journalists by the Delhi High Court for contempt.

If someone has evidence of corruption by a judge, there is not much that can be done. It cannot be exposed because of the fear of contempt, in the absence of which, even impeachment is a non-starter. FIR cannot be registered against the judge under the prevention of Corruption Act, because of an embargo created by the Supreme Court in 1991 by means of a judgement where they held that no judge can be subjected to a criminal investigation without the prior written consent of the Chief Justice of India. In the 16 years since that judgement, not even a single FIR has been registered against a sitting judge. To top it all, the recent attempt by the judiciary to insulate themselves from the Right to Information Act, has made it further difficult.

The Mid Day journalists were convicted despite their offering to prove the truth of all their allegations. The High Court held that the truth of the allegations was irrelevant since they had brought the entire judiciary into disrepute.

All this underlines the need to do away with this jurisdiction of punishing for "scandalizing the court or lowering the authority of the court".

There is a compelling need to have a totally independent constitutional body called the National Judicial Commission which will have the power to investigate charges against judges and take action against them, feels CJAR.

For more information about CJAR, please contact:

Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Judicial Reforms
14, Tower 2, Supreme Enclave,
Mayur Vihar Phase-I
New Delhi- 110 091
Tel: 9811164068, 9958141703
Email: judicialreforms@gmail.com

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Published in:

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The Seoul Times, South Korea: 13 October 2007

The Scoop Independent News, New Zealand: 15 0ctober 2007

Action demanded against ATTACK ON CATHOLIC PRIEST

Action demanded against

ATTACK ON CATHOLIC PRIEST

VARANASI: Representatives from Fathers and Sisters from Church Institutions of Varanasi and from a consortium of social activists in Varanasi called “Sajha Sanskriti Manch” met city’s District Magistrate and SSP demanding prompt action against those who attacked a 64 years Catholic Priest Father Dr Joseph Neetilal on the night of 29 September 2007.

Although police lodged the FIR and took possession of the motorcycle used by alleged attackers, still no action has been taken to-date to bring the alleged attackers to books.

Father Joseph hails originally from Kerala State, and is the Secretary of the secular registered society, ‘Lok Chetana Samiti Varanasi’. He has been working from his office near Chiraigaon Chauki in Varanasi since 1994. His main work consists in educating people in all issues connected with rural development especially in view of community building and communal harmony, making effective use of the Panchayati raj system as a means for the same.

At about 6.30 pm on 29 September, two unidentified people attacked him at his residence with ‘desi Katta’ (country-made pistol) and knife, demanding money. However Father Joseph didn’t yield and putting his life in danger, took the serious risk and with the help of his other two associates Father Emmanuel D’Cunha and Father Bins John to catch hold of one of the attackers. The local residents are witness to the entire episode. Eventually the alleged attacker escaped leaving behind his motorcycle (registration number UP65 B 2017) and also the ‘desi Katta’ and knife used by them to intimidate and injure Father Joseph.

Earlier Father Joseph and Sister Lily Mathew (also from Varanasi) had received threatening phone calls and had duly reported the matter (along with the phone numbers used for making those threatening calls) to Station Officer of police station in Sarnath, Varanasi.

Till-date, police has neither traced back these phone numbers nor the owner of the motorcycle used by the two alleged people who attacked Father Joseph.

UPDATE from VARANASI by Father Anand:

Dear Friends,

I am very glad to inform you that the campaign for booking the culprit behind the attack on Neeti Bhai (Fr.Neetilal IMS) has brought a positive result.

The criminal who attacked Neeti Bhai with gun and knife, has been arrested by the police today. Neet Bhai was called to identify him. The police has assured that they will within two days unsolve the conspiracy behind the incident. Let us wait and see. Thanks a lot for your cooperation. If you have not sent the appeal to the DGP, there is no need to send it.

Thanks a lot from Neeti Bhai and all of us here.

Anand IMS

Globalization leading towards dependency

Globalization leading towards dependency

Amit Dwivedi

Agriculture is main livelihood option of about 80% of India's vast population while for UP the figure is 90%. A majority of these are small and marginal farmers. It is ironical that these 'bread growers' who work hard to feed millions never have enough to eat themselves and lead a life of abject poverty. During the last 15 years about 1.5 lakh farmers have committed suicide due to their miserable living conditions and the phenomenon continues unabated.

It is a telling commentary on our times that while India marches ahead as a rising global economy, its vast majority is still struggling to get two square meals a day.

Lack of feasible and /or misappropriate implementation of government policies have only added fuel to this fire burning in empty bellies. The so called developmental and farmer friendly projects of the MNCs also seem to be aimed at filling their own coffers rather than resolve the basic problems.

During the last 60 years, most of the government efforts in the field of agriculture have benefitted the small number of big farmers only. The abolition of the Zamindari system brought in its wake more exploitative groups in the garb of public servants and corporations.

In UP alone, more than 4 lakh land consolidation cases are pending in various courts. Even where courts have decided in favour of the small farmers, a majority of them have not been given possession of the land which is rightfully theirs.

Now in the name of global economic development the government, in collusion with multinational companies, is acquiring agricultural land at throw away prices to create 'special economic zones'. This is totally destabilizing the already crumbling economy of the small farmer. There have been mass protests ( Nandigram and Singrur, to mention the least), but these have been quelled ruthlessly. As a result of this 'land grabbing' by vested interests, there has been a massive exodus of these farmers to neighbouring cities, which in turn has created more problems for the city as well as the urban populace.

We are ready to grow less and borrow more, ready to make more destitutes to make a few more rich, ready to dazzle a few homes to snatch away even the embers of a dying fire from others.

"Globalization is indirectly leading our country towards dependency (not independency) and crores of marginal and small farmers are being deprived of their meagre livelihood" said Dr Shiraj A Wajih, a senior activist in Eastern UP working for Small and Marginal farmers since last 20 years now.

In view of the present grim scenario what is needed is a collective initiative of the small and marginal farmers for protection of their own interests and rights. New policies need to be formulated with their help which will uplift them economically and socially and at the same time not jeopardize the country's progress.

Amit Dwivedi

(Amit is the special correspondent with Citizen News Service)

Published in: Central Chronicle (Madhya Pradesh, India): 10 October 2007

Farmers march to fight hunger in UP

Published in:

Assam Times (Assam, India): 10 October 2007

Central Chronicle (Madhya Pradesh, India): 10 October 2007

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand): 10 October 2007

The Seoul Times (South Korea): 12 October 2007

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Farmers march to fight hunger in UP
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More than 4000 small and marginal farmers from all over Uttar Pradesh are taking part in a march which started on 7 October and culminate on 16 October on the occasion of World Food Day.

This march is being organized by the Small and Marginal Farmers Union as part of a ‘kisan hit adhikar yatra programme’ to highlight the woes of the small and marginal farmers.

Agriculture is main livelihood option of about 80% of India’s vast population while for U.P. the figure is 90%. A majority of these are small and marginal farmers. It is ironical that these ‘bread growers’ who work hard to feed millions never have enough to eat themselves and lead a life of abject poverty. During the last 15 years about 1.5 lakh farmers have committed suicide due to their miserable living conditions and the phenomenon continues unabated.

It is a telling commentary on our times that while India marches ahead as a rising global economy, its vast majority is still struggling to get two square meals a day.

Lack of feasible and /or misappropriate implementation of government policies have only added fuel to this fire burning in empty bellies. The so called developmental and farmer friendly projects of the MNCs also seem to be aimed at filling their own coffers rather than resolve the basic problems.

During the last 60 years, most of the government efforts in the field of agriculture have benefitted the small number of big farmers only. The abolition of the Zamindari system brought in its wake more exploitative groups in the garb of public servants and corporations.

In U.P. alone, more than 4 lakh land consolidation cases are pending in various courts. Even where courts have decided in favour of the small farmers, a majority of them have not been given possession of the land which is rightfully theirs.

Now in the name of global economic development the government, in collusion with multinational companies, is acquiring agricultural land at throw away prices to create ‘special economic zones’. This is totally destabilizing the already crumbling economy of the small farmer.

There have been mass protests ( Nandigram and Singrur, to mention the least), but these have been quelled ruthlessly. As a result of this ‘land grabbing’ by vested interests, there has been a massive exodus of these farmers to neighbouring cities, which in turn has created more problems for the city as well as the urban populace.

We are ready to grow less and borrow more, ready to make more destitutes to make a few more rich, ready to dazzle a few homes to snatch away even the embers of a dying fire from others.

“Globalization is indirectly leading our country towards dependency (not independency) and crores of marginal and small farmers are being deprived of their meagre livelihood” said Dr Shiraj A Wajih, a senior activist in Eastern UP working for Small and Marginal farmers since last 20 years now.

In view of the present grim scenario what is needed is a collective initiative of the small and marginal farmers for protection of their own interests and rights. New policies need to be formulated with their help which will uplift them economically and socially and at the same time not jeopardize the country’s progress.

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Amit Dwivedi

Special Correspondent, Citizen News Service

Email: amit.dwivedi.lko@gmail.com or ph: +91 9839412418

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Published in:
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Assam Times (Assam, India): 10 October 2007
Central Chronicle (Madhya Pradesh, India): 10 October 2007

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand): 10 October 2007

The Seoul Times (South Korea): 12 October 2007

Resolution passed by delegates at the Second Visa- Free and Peaceful South Asia Convention held in Lahore, September 15 to 17, 2006.

Resolution passed by delegates at the Second Visa- Free and Peaceful South Asia Convention held in Lahore, September 15 to 17, 2006.

We, the delegates of this Second Convention hereby resolve that the following steps be taken both by civil society and the governments of South Asia:

1. Improve and strengthen a relationship of friendship and cooperation among the countries of South Asia. To achieve this, these countries should become Visa Free so that the people of the region enjoy full freedom to meet each other, and thus the common socio-cultural and historical heritage of the region is taken forward, and trade is enhanced. It is further resolved that initiatives be taken to give shape to SAARC economic union. Keeping in view the above stated objective, children, senior citizens, members of civil organizations, students, and teachers of schools, colleges and universities be given top priority in the granting of visas.

2. Democratic and humanistic values be strengthened in these countries, and adequate social and legal protection be afforded to the oppressed and marginalized sections of society, particularly to women, dalits, and ethnic and religious minorities; active steps be taken for repealing laws, and ending social practices, that are discriminatory towards these sections.

3. India and Pakistan take the lead in putting an end to their nuclear weapons and begin working towards making the entire South Asian region a Nuclear-free Zone in a time-bound manner. This may be done in a phased manner, beginning with the freezing of nuclear weaponry, followed by disarmament, and culminating in total disarmament. The countries of the region should re-evaluate the very use of nuclear energy even for supposedly peaceful purposes, taking into consideration the serious health and environmental hazards associated with it. Further the SAARC states should expeditiously conclude a South Asian No-War Pact to facilitate South Asian Cooperation. Additionally, immediate steps should be taken to free the region from the dangers of land mines.

4. To build confidence and solidarity in the region, no country of the region should get into any agreement with any superpower that is likely to create a danger for the autonomy and sovereignty of the region. Of particular concern in this regard is the recent Indo-U.S. nuclear deal; India, in the interest of the region, must withdraw forthwith from this deal and thereby establish a strong and correct precedent.

5. Democratic values and systems of governance must become the prevailing norm for the entire South Asian region.

6. Immediate steps be taken by all the governments of the region to halt militarization and to gradually reduce military expenditure in a publicly stated, transparent and pro-active manner; the resources thus saved be allocated for such common concerns as health and education.

7. For quick resolution of the long-standing Kashmir issue, an immediate first step should be total demilitarization of Kashmir. Thereafter bold and accommodating initiatives be taken in a time-bound manner to resolve the issue in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people of Kashmir.

8. Given the common socio-cultural and historical heritage of the region, active initiatives for peace and harmony be taken by progressive forces to counter the sectarian and communal forces destabilizing the region.

9. Steps be taken for the restoration of rights to natural resources like water, land and forests, to their rightful ownership by the common people of the region; the illegitimate and destructive appropriation of these rights by the forces of globalization, which we believe are anti-people, be halted. We therefore pledge our continuing support for all pro-people movements in their struggles against the forces of globalization acting under the direction of what we believe to be the illegitimate and self-appropriated power of bodies like the WTO, World Bank, IMF and ADB