E-Weekly-5/50
Green Earth Movement
An E-Newsletter for the cause of Environment, Peace, Harmony and Justice
Remember - “you and I can decide the future”
Dismantling environmental laws, endangering
India
India loses 333 acres of prime forest every day.
Instead of working to conserve India's forests and water resources, the
environment minister has set up a committee to 'dismantle' the five key laws
that provide environmental protection, says Rashme Sehgal, reporting
for Rediff.com
After China, India has the worst environmental track record in the world harbouring some of the most
polluted cities. Earlier this year, the World Health Organisation rated Delhi as the most polluted city
overtaking Beijing with its poor quality air index. India also has the dirtiest rivers. It is losing 333 acres
of prime forest every day, a fact that should worry all of us. Researchers have repeatedly pointed out that
India is losing its forests more rapidly than Brazil and Malaysia.
Instead of working to conserve India's forests and water resources, Minister of Environment, Forests
and Climate Change Prakash Javadeka anointed a committee in 2014 headed by former Cabinet
secretary T S R Subramanian to 'dismantle' the five key laws that provide environmental protection to
the country. The five laws that are being reviewed are the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1981, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, the Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and the Wildlife (Protection) act 1972. Senior sources within the
ministry of environment, however, insist that the Indian Forests Act 1927 is also under review.
As a fig leaf, the ministry held a series of public hearings across five cities, but environmental groups and
activists working in this field complained that they had not received any prior intimation of this exercise.
One such meeting was held in Bengaluru where several public interest groups and environmentalists led
by environmental activist Leo F Saldanha of the Environment Support Group questioned the legitimacy
of a group of retired civil servants, a former judge and a senior advocate undertaking such a massive
review operation. Obviously, his criticism did not go down well with members of the committee.
Speaking about the entire dismantling process, green lawyer Ritwick Datta, managing trustee, Legal
Initiative for Forest and Environment, and one of the few activists who was given a chance to place his
comments before the Subramanian Committee warned that undermining environmental laws would be
disastrous for the people as also for economic development. "Contrary to what is being projected by
industry, environmental laws have not slowed down the economy rather speedy approvals are primarily
responsible for large-scale devastation," says Datta.
"India's environmental laws are a result of people's struggles, international conventions and judicial
pronouncements. The principle of non-regression also applies to them," adds Datta, pointing out that
norms which have already been adopted by nations cannot be revised in ways which are detrimental to
its public. "Environmental rights and environment protection are closely linked to human rights
including cultural and social rights and this principle is being increasingly invoked in the context of
environmental protection," Datta declares.
Manoj Misra of the Yamuna Jal Abhiyan notes, "The YJA has been in the forefront in saving rivers,
Page 2
forests and our fast disappearing wildlife, but our views were not taken into account. The government
seems to forget that extreme weather events are upon us. We witnessed this in Uttarakhand in 2013 and
while most parts of northwest India received less than 50 per cent of normal rainfall, Jammu and
Kashmir witnessed its worst floods in several decades."
Complaints by other activist groups have also fallen on deaf ears. The Subramanian Committee went
ahead with its reform agenda, recommending the enactment of the Environmental Laws (Management)
Act, ELMA, to oversee the multiplicity of agencies which oversee all environmental and forest
clearances. Simultaneously, they want to see the creation of a National Environment Management
Authority, NEMA, with its counterpart in each state to be called the State Environmental Management
Authority, SEMA.
On wildlife the Subramanian Committee has proposed 'no-go' areas which have a 70 per cent tree
canopy. The Forest Survey of India defines forests as those which have 40 per cent tree cover. The
committee's definition applies to a very small proportion of national parks, sanctuaries and tiger
reserves. The committee has also recommended that the Central Pollution Control Board and all state
agencies be subsumed as also the Environmental Pollution Control Authority and the Water Act of 1974.
Their objective to do away with cumbersome procedures in the environmental process is valid, but the
ministry admits that 99 per cent of all applications get cleared anyway.
The result is there for all to see. Already, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has decided to
amend the Maharashtra Factories Rules of 1963 whereby it will be possible to register and receive a
license for a factory within three days. Shockingly, if the state government has reservations on such an
application, the application form itself can be treated as a license. This move has the support of Union
Minister of Environment Javadekar who has also given 'in principle' clearance to the setting up of a
coastal highway and also decided to withdraw the ban on sand mining on the sensitive Konkan coast.
In fact, Javadekar went to the extent of saying, 'We can overcome the Coastal Regulatory Zone hurdles.'
The problem is compounded by the fact that all ministers and ministries are taking their cue directly
from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has projected himself as a climate change sceptic and his
government is giving an aggressive thrust to expanding coal mining and thermal power.
He is also known to be determined to give a push to increasing amounts of industrialisation and
infrastructure development including polluting industries which will be at the expense of forests and wet
lands.
This will only further undermine attempts to curb pollution levels. India is presently the second most
polluting country after China and India's emissions are estimated to rise by 60 per cent between 2020
and 2040.
Ashok Khosla of Development Alternatives, an NGO, played a key role in setting up the environmental
apparatus in the country. He was teaching at Harvard University when then prime minister Indira
Gandhi invited him to return to India and help write laws that would protect its rich and diverse
biodiversity. "I am worried about what is going on," says Khosla. "The government goes from one
extreme to the other. It's like a pendulum. We have now moved to the other extreme and seem to be
dismantling the laws we had put in place, forgetting that if this happens, with extreme climate events on
the rise, we will be in more serious trouble."
"If we don't care for our soil, water, forests, then poverty will only accelerate in this country," adds
Khosla. "They will soon know that they are on a suicidal path."
Minister Javadekar denies any such process is under way. "Don't go by what is being written on this
process," he says. "Go by what I am telling you. We are not dismantling laws, rather these laws are being
changed for the better." "Environment laws are often in conflict with the law. We want this to end," says
the minister. "That is what explains the constitution of the committee. We wanted people who were
familiar with the law to be given membership. Judges and advocates understand the judicial process and
so are better suited to act as an interface between the ministry and the judiciary."
Environmentalists express concern about the hurried nature of this exercise in which local communities,
dependent on these forests, are not being consulted. It is for this reason that this report has been
perceived as a 'comprehensively democracy deficit' effort. If these laws are adopted, it could result in
irreversible damage to the environment, cause widespread loss of natural ecosystems and fuel more
discontent amongst India's poor.
Five reasons why Modi government is afraid of
Greenpeace
Courtesy: DailyO.in
Page 3
Their propaganda against the BJP
government on contentious
environmental issues would hurt
India's image and put a dent to
Modi's painstaking efforts.
to Gautam Adani is well known by all. In
March 2014, a Greenpeace report titled
"Research Briefing: Adani's Record of
Environmental Destruction and Noncompliance with Regulations" accused Adani
of having "a long history of environmental
destruction, regulatory non-compliance and
other illegal activity, including bribery of
government officials, unauthorised
construction and tax evasion". This direct
attack on Adani is suspected to be the reason
behind the Intelligence Bureau's indictment on
Greenpeace and other NGOs. Furthermore
recently, Greenpeace flayed Adani's proposed
coal mining project in Australia, which
received a $1 billion loan from SBI.
3. Make in India: Modi's pet programme Make
in India, which aims to transform
India into a global manufacturing hub,
Within a few weeks of the BJP coming to
advocates for genetically modified (GM) crops.
power, the Intelligence Bureau released a
Modi has invited investments from abroad for
report which claimed that several foreign aided making India a transgenic crop destination,
NGOs are stalling economic growth in India. It which has been vociferously protested by
further claimed that the NGOs negative impact Greenpeace. Although, the government
on India's GDP growth is estimated to be at
stopped the advocacy for a bit, owing to RSS'
two to three per cent. Greenpeace India, which pressure, but in November 2014, the Union
has been at the forefront of many protests
environment minister, Prakash
against mining and power projects, was termed Javadekar backed field trials of GM crops and
as a "national threat".
invited investors to look at the potential of
business opportunities. Greenpeace has been
More recently, Priya Pillai, senior campaigner, raucously protesting against GM crops and
Greenpeace India, was offloaded at the Delhi
given that they might find the backing of
airport, when she was on her way to address
certain states and organisations, it will
British parliamentarians on the violation of
encumber Make in India's investment targets.
human rights of tribals in Mahan, Madhya
Pradesh.
4. Funding Clearance by Delhi High
Court: Yesterday, the Delhi HC directed the
government to unblock Greenpeace's foreign
funds, which they had frozen earlier after the
IB report. The government fears that
Greenpeace' continuous protests and lobbying
will stall and hamper various developmental
1. Tarnishing India's image: Greenpeace is the projects. The Delhi HC's reversal of the
most prominent environmental organisation in government' decision is bound to worry the
the world, and has presence across 40
BJP immensely.
countries, thus having an extensive reach. Ever
since Modi became the prime minister, he has
5. Encouragement for other NGOs: If
been trying to woo the international
Greenpeace is allowed to run free, buoyed by
community by giving mesmeric speeches,
its success; other NGOs will mobilise
providing aid and inviting investments in
themselves, and impede BJP's economic
India. Since Greenpeace has a strong outreach, agenda by thwarting several projects which will
their propaganda against the BJP government not allow the government to achieve the
on contentious environmental issues would
desired investment targets. Such mobilisation
hurt India's image and put a dent to Modi's
will be disadvantageous to Modi's vision of
painstaking efforts.
making India the number one business friendly
It is clear that the BJP government is on a
collision course with Greenpeace India. But the
question arises: Why is the Centre hell bent on
cracking down on them? Here are five reasons:
2. Campaign against Adani: Modi's proximity
destination.
They are targeting us regularly, says Greenpeace
India chief
Courtesy: rediffnews
Page 4
‘Possibly, our campaigns have made
the right impact and raised the right
questions, which is making several
stakeholders uncomfortable,’ Samit
Aich, Greenpeace India’s executive
director, tells A Ganesh
Nadar/Rediff.com
Troubles, it seems, do not seem to be
stopping for Greenpeace India. Weeks
after its activist Priya Pillai was offloaded
from a plane and disallowed from
travelling abroad, as the government
feared the NGO paints a negative picture
of India, comes the news of its bank
accounts being frozen and its registration
to receive funds from overseas
suspended.
In an email interview with Rediff.com’s A
Ganesh Nadar, executive director of
Greenpeace India, Samit Aich, image,
below, reacts to the sudden decision.
How do you plan to respond to the
show-cause notice asking you why
your registration to receive funds
from abroad should not be
terminated?
When we see it, we will respond. So far
we have got the news from the media,
not the actual notice.
It is a trend we are seeing for a long
time. It is a clear indication that they are
targeting us regularly.
Is it true that the Delhi high court
had allowed you to access funds
from Greenpeace International in
January?
Yes, we got a favourable order after we
petitioned the high court at that time.
The order had said that the
government’s action on Greenpeace was
arbitrary, illegal and unconstitutional.
International?
I have no idea as I have not seen the
actual order. (So) I cannot comment on
that.
How much money have you received
from supporters in India?
In the last financial year we got close to
Rs 21 crores from our Indian supporters.
That is almost 70 per cent of our total
funds.
Why do you think the government
has frozen all your bank accounts, as
they may also contain money from
within India?
It is a valid question. This also we are
hearing from the media, I have not seen
the order.
It is unfortunate, high-handed and heavy
handed. It is very unfortunate for a
democracy that is India.
Your activist Priya Pillai was not
allowed to travel abroad, but that
decision was struck down by the
court. Is the government singling
you out for some reason?
It certainly seems so. We are an
organisation working for the
environment in India. We run relevant
campaigns which address environmental
and human rights issues that are
guaranteed by the Constitution of this
country.
Possibly, our campaigns have made the
right impact and raised the right
questions, which is making several
stakeholders uncomfortable.
Are you exploring legal options
against the government’s action?
We will study the order and then move
the court.
Do you have other options in mind?
We have been facing this situation for
some time now. We will figure out other
options as we move on as and when we
require it.
How long has your organisation
faced the government’s hostility?
Since June 2014, when the Intelligence
Bureau reports were leaked, and it
continues. Since then there has been a
Does that mean that the current ban heightened trend of malicious attacks on
is for sources other than Greenpeace Greenpeace.
Page 5
Courtesy: Scroll.in
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
More incriminating dirt on Greenpeace: its staff drink
beer and don’t carry jholas
A Greenpeace employee shares all that is wrong (and right) with the environmental
organisation.
Ruth D’Costa
I am a Greenpeace employee, financial supporter and volunteer. How or why do I play so many roles
in the same organisation? The answer is: I love what Greenpeace stands for, I love how we stand for
it. The Indian Ministry of Home Affairs seems to have a predetermined agenda to unearth every detail
about Greenpeace it can and spin that into a scandal to defame the organisation. But they don’t know
the half of it. So here are some juicy titbits for them.
Greenpeace is the kind of place where you can come to work in shorts and a tee. Now that’s so
unprofessional! I mean, it makes sense as a dress code for advertising agencies, but why should NGO
people need to be comfortable? What thinking, creative work do they do?
As if this wasn’t enough, some staffers bring their pets to work. The Greenpeace Bangalore office
team has even adopted a cute stray named Bidu. OMG! An office is a place for humans to work. Why
are they turning it into an animal shelter? Show me their Articles of Association!
Food and drink
We celebrate victories, birthdays, promotions, farewells. There is almost always cake, and sometimes
we go to a restaurant or a bar and chow down and drink beer. Later, we split the bill, unless someone
calls “treat!” But, hey, did I say beer and cake? Why should NGO people be able to afford this stuff?
Working in a non-profit should mean living a simple life with none to minimal luxuries. Obviously,
Greenpeace is corrupting the age-old stereotype of the khaki kurta-clad activist with a jhola. Okay,
forget that. They drink beer? Beer! Those who commit their lives to serving society should not
consume alcohol. It ruins their holier-than-thou image. They should be living a one-and-a-half star
life. I long for the day when ministers and NGO people can live happily together with minimal needs.
Sadly, I doubt this will happen, because our ministers serve the nation and the NGO people only serve
society.
Greenpeace activists have embraced non-violence. They participate in non-violent protests and have
sometimes been arrested and charged for what they believe in, for giving the environment a voice.
Several of them are students, pursuing education in the fields of law, engineering, business
management and the arts, among others. Why, I ask you, are these youths not taking their studies
seriously? Why are they spoiling their chances of getting a good job being volunteers with such a
controversial organisation? Who gave them the right to think beyond their books and make risky
decisions?
By 18, they are only trusted to choose their government. There is no need to look around their world
and see injustices, let alone, try and address them. There is a time-tested little league rat race for them,
where they can fight one another for a college seat and study till they drop dead or go into depression.
How are they finding time to volunteer and effect social change? Imagine a budding engineer who is
Page 6
also an environment activist. This person will say tomorrow that she doesn’t want to work on a
highway project because it runs through some jungle. Now who will tell this idiot that we travel in
cars, not fly on the backs of flamingos? What black magic is Greenpeace working on these youngsters
that they take time away from their friends and smartphones to go there? Why can’t they come to a
political rally instead? After all, political campaigning alone has changed India, no?
As you can see, I can give you a lot of inside scoop on Greenpeace. But at the same time, I can also
tell you what makes it so amazing.
Four satisfying years
In 2008, I made the biggest decision of my live to leave the corporate world to join an NGO. Three
years later, I joined Greenpeace at half the salary I made in the last for-profit organisation I worked at.
Now I can never go back to work in an organisation that turns people into machines, mechanically
performing tasks without asking how it benefits the creatures of the world. I’ve been at Greenpeace
for four years and talked to countless people about the dangers facing our environment. These stories
rarely make it to news articles. And when they do, readers barely glance at them. Why? Because
we’ve created a society where the environment, with all its resources, is merely our servant meant to
bring us food and water when we please. Otherwise, its health and wellbeing is no individual’s
responsibility.
A Greenpeace fundraiser stands on street six hours a day talking to a dozen people. This can be
twisted to mean that we force open their hands and take their money. It takes a willing eye to see that
we place the responsibility for this planet and its creatures in that palm, close it and say, “Thank you
for paying my salary so I can do my work without worrying about rent and my education. I need
training to keep learning and doing better, just like you. Thanks for footing the bill. Now we will go
out there, take the necessary risks and precautions, and we will fight. Change is not immediate. But
you just hold on tight to this and we will see you at the finish line.”
I rest my case. Though I myself will not rest much on this extremely warm Saturday. I’m off to the
Greenpeace office. Wait, why are we keeping the office open on Saturday and wasting electricity?
Because we have solar panels on the roof – and sunlight is free.
We welcome your comments at letters@scroll.in.
From,
Hazel D'Lima
dlima.hazel@gmail.com
Dear Fr. Felix,
I appreciated your communication regarding Parks and Open Spaces. I have also noted
continued reports in the newspapers criticizing the tendency of the powers that be
regarding the Development Plan of the City which tends to reduce the available open
spaces for business/industrial purposes and thus place severe restrictions on our large
population of families in the lower economic bracket. Such short-sighted policies are
very harmful for the healthy growth of our children.
Does your organization represent these issues to the municipal corporation or join others
for the purpose?
Wishing you the light and hope of the Risen Lord,
Hazel
Page 7
OPINION
By dismissing activists as anti-national, India
is advancing interests of Big Business
Sneering at 'five-star activists' for being unpatriotic is a cynical device to
weaken opposition to an economic model driven by market fundamentalism.
Harsh Mander
courtesy: Scroll.in
The Indian political establishment is openly antagonistic towards international engagement with
domestic human rights and justice battles. While foreign capital is welcome, foreign support for
justice issues in India is often viewed from a hyper-nationalistic lens. This can be heard in sections of
public opinion, and stridently by the state when it is confronted with social dissent. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi recently stirred the pot with his public taunts against people he described as "five-star
activists", warning the country’s senior judiciary from coming under their sway.
When the government and right-wing non-governmental groups express opposition to powerful, wellfunded and internationally supported rights and sustainability groups, they often use a chauvinist
idiom, deploying the paranoid metaphor of the so-called foreign hand. This rhetoric was adopted in an
earlier era by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to discredit perceived American attempts to undermine
India’s socialistic domestic programmes and its non-aligned foreign policy. But with the end of the
Cold War and the active pursuit of globalised capitalist growth pivoted on foreign investment, this
chauvinism and paranoia appears particularly incongruous.
Taking India’s issues to foreign forums, using foreign funds, is criticised as washing India’s dirty
linen in public. For example, fighting India’s caste-discrimination within India was an old and
respectable strand of social and political activism. But the moment some anti-caste activists took the
issue to global forums such as the UN conference on discrimination in Durban in 2001, equating
practices of caste untouchability with racism, this was considered both illegitimate and unpatriotic.
Source of strength
Civil society advocates for policy reform, rights and justice in India frequently derive strength and
impact from non-governmental partners and credible and powerful voices in other parts of the planet.
There are many examples in which successes in local influence can in part be attributed to the
influence of transnational advocacy. These include domestic struggles for socio-economic rights,
environmental justice and sustainability, gender and caste equity, disability rights, minority and
sexuality rights, and post-conflict justice, and a range of other concerns. A recent example related to
ensuring continuance of the so-called peace clause in the World Trade Organisation norms to permit
countries to maintain large food stocks to feed their poor as well as contribute to food price
stabilisation.
The nature of contemporary paranoid chauvinism that underlies the discourse of international support
for dissenting nationally located groups was highlighted specially by two recent incidents. In June, an
Intelligence Bureau report titled "Concerted efforts by select foreign-funded NGOs to take down
Indian development projects" was quite transparently leaked to the media. This report purported to
address the role of internationally supported civic dissent in contributing to the slowdown or stalling
of development projects in seven sectors: nuclear power plants, uranium mines, coal-fired power
plants, farm biotechnology, mega industrial projects, hydroelectric plants and extractive industries.
The report lays culpability for this slowdown to agitations led by NGOs.
"The negative impact on GDP growth is assessed to be 2%-3% per annum," the report says. It does
not explain how it reaches this precise economic estimate. According to the Intelligence Bureau, while
caste discrimination, human rights and big dams were earlier chosen by international organisations to
discredit India at global forums, the recent shift in the choice of issues intended to encourage "growthretarding campaigns"’ focused on extractive industries, genetically-modified organisms and foods,
climate change and anti-nuclear issues.
Page 8
"These foreign donors lead local NGOs to provide field reports which are used to build a record
against India and serve as tools for the strategic foreign policy interests of the Western government,"
adds the report. "The strategy serves its purpose when the funded Indian NGOs provide reports, which
are used to internationalise and publicise the alleged violations in international fora." All this, the
report alleges, "is used to build a record against a country or an individual in order to keep the entity
under pressure and under a state of under-development".
Convenient labels
In this way, any disagreement with the market-led economic policies of the state, or concerns about
their environmental or labour right consequences, is conflated as anti-national. The Intelligence
Bureau report describes these actions as violating what it calls India’s economic sovereignty. It is
interesting that India’s Nobel Peace Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi was not nominated for the award
by the Indian government – which never thought him fit even for significant national recognition – but
by the European Union. His opposition to child labour in international forums were regarded privately
as both defaming India and diluting India’s economic competitiveness in the global market built on
cheap prices because child labour was employed.
In another dramatic example of governmental opposition to transnational support for Indian justice
and sustainability causes, on January 11, 2015, Priya Pillai, an employee of Greenpeace India, was
prevented from boarding an aircraft to London. Her passport was stamped "off-load", apparently on
the directions of the government of India. Media reports suggested that the government had issued a
look-out circular against her. Pillai was travelling overseas to address a British parliamentary
committee on the effects of a coal block allocation in the Mahan reserve forest area. The allocation
went to Mahan Coal, a venture between Hindalco and Essar Power, a subsidiary of a British
company. Pillai, as a representative of Greenpeace India, had been working closely with the Mahan
Sangharsh Samiti, members of the community in Mahan whose rights, livelihoods and forests would
be affected by the mining. Pillai felt she should apprise British parliamentarians of the concerns of
those who would be affected by British investment.
Pillai challenged the government order preventing her overseas travel in the Delhi High Court. The
government defended its order in court on the grounds that her activities would create a negative
image of India abroad, and "whittle down foreign direct investments". What is noteworthy in this case
was not just strong state opposition on grounds of unpatriotic dissent against private sector
investments in India, but also extensive, shrill and often viciously-worded attacks on Pillai in the
social media as being unpatriotic.
The attack continues
The High Court, however, did not accept that espousing dissenting views abroad constituted antinational activities, and suggested instead that limitations should be placed on the power of the
executive to declare actions as anti-national. Pillai won her case on March 12, 2015, when she was
declared free to travel overseas. However, the government refused to relent in its attacks on
Greenpeace. The court verdict did not prevent the central government from ordering the organisation's
bank accounts to be frozen.
In this way, ideological and financial support to Indian justice and advocacy causes is in itself noisily
portrayed in India’s current public discourse as illegitimate and unpatriotic. The popular civic and
state interrogation of funding legitimacy rarely extends to the nature and sources of funding raised
within India. In effect, money raised from companies that are charged with major tax defaults, labour
oppression, displacement of vulnerable peoples, and environmental damage, are not regarded as illicit
or unethical in the way that even funds transparently raised from small donors overseas are.
The influential official stigmatising of foreign support for human rights and environmental issues in
India is part of a larger project to stigmatise and weaken dissent against a growth model built around
encouraging large private investment, even when it impoverishes displaced local communities,
violates labour protections, and destroys forests and habitats. To disagree with market
fundamentalism, and what many perceive to be crony capitalism, is portrayed to stand against the
nation itself.
We welcome your comments at letters@scroll.in.
Page 9
Mumbai: Why should we dump this
DP - every Mumbaikar should
object, petition, raise your voice and
reclaim your city. Dump this DP!!
http://www.dumpthisdp.org/
The Mumbai Development plan 2014-34 has to be
an all-encompassing document that protects the
interest of the disenfranchised. However, the
current draft excludes nearly three fourths of the
city's population and fails to respond to the pressing
challenges of urban poverty, climate change,
heritage conservation etc. The 60 day notice period
for suggestions and objections is an opportunity for
citizens to voice their opinion on the future of
Mumbai. But more importantly, given that it is a 20
year plan and will be in place for almost an entire
generation with implications outlasting even
multiple cycles of elections, it is imperative for
citizens to take action immediately. So we’re asking
every Mumbaikar to object, petition, raise your
voice and reclaim your city. Dump this DP!!
=========
The Mumbai Development Plan 2014-34, which
will affect the lives of 12.5 million residents of
Greater Mumbai, has to be an all-encompassing
document that protects
the interests of the disenfranchised while providing
an opportunity to re-imagine the city. While
workshops were held with key stakeholders as a
part of public consultation on the plan, crucial
suggestions on Affordable Housing, Water and
Sanitation, Health and Transportation among others
have been ignored. The plan is also disconnected
from larger issues of sustainability and affordability
by not responding to challenges of urban poverty,
climate change and heritage conservation therefore
excluding a significant percentage of the population
and disregarding these urgent concerns.
As a 20 year plan, the DP has long-lasting
consequences with implications for an entire
generation. We have only till the April 24, 2015 to
provide suggestions, objections or comments to the
concerned authority. Legal action post the notice
period may be dismissed by the court as the
MCGM has provided this opportunity for responses
and feedback. The time for action is now. And so
we request you to browse through the reasons listed
below, following which the petition page will
provide you with the information on how you can
register your suggestions or objections to the
appropriate authorities.
....to read in details click on this link.
http://www.dumpthisdp.org/why-should-we-dumpit.html
From,
G R Vora
grvora1@gmail.com
Protest against farming trials on Genetically Modified crops in Maharashtra.
Dear friends,
As you may be aware, Maharashtra's Chief Minister has permitted trail farming of Genetically
Modified crops in Maharastra. This is a precursor to further trials on GM crops and later to
permit full-fledged growing of GM crops. This would be disastrous for : 1. Farmers 2.
Farmlands 3. Environment 4. Indian economy 5. Health of consumers etc.
Many concerned citizens have sent their protest letters / petitions to our CM urging him to
revoke the permission granted for the GM crops cultivation trials.
If you too wish to sign the petition the kindly click on the link below :
https://www.change.org/p/cm-of-maharashtra-request-you-to-please-cancel-the-nocs-forgm-crops-and-destroy-any-field-trials-that-havestarted?recruiter=115147045&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_camp
aign=share_facebook_responsive&utm_term=mob-xs-no_src-no_msg&fb_ref=Default
For more info on GM foods you may visit / contact :
1. Rajesh Krishnan (Coalition for a GM Free India ) - Cell: 09845650032 /
07559915032. rajeshecologist@gmail.com
2. Kaviha Kuruganti (Convenor, Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture), Cell:
09393001550 kavitakuruganti@gmail.com
3. www.indiagminfo.org
4. www.GeneticRouletteMovie.com
5. www.MumbaiEnvForum.org
6. www.ResponsibleTechnology.org
Page 10
If you wish to get involved in the anti-GM foods movement in Mumbai then write
to info@greenline.org.in
Regards.
G R Vora, Sion East, Mumbai – 22, Cell : 09869195785
Vigilance is the price we pay for our freedom - the
sooner we realise it, the better.
From,
michael hubert
mrhubert72@gmail.com
Greetings. this is very sad situations happen to my fellow brothers and sisters of my
state Tamil nadu, they were taken as laborers to the neighboring andhra pradesh ,
for work and they have been misled by their employers to cut trees illegaly when
they honestly refused and return back to their villages in tamilnadu , the andhra
pradesh police beaten by making them naked for which they are perplexed. . its
not the question of ethnic domination , this is satan's pure deception, turning
brother against brother. LORD THY KINGDOM COME
HAVE A LOOK THIS VIDEO
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=597332500395098&set=vb.26827401330
0950&type=2&theater
Face book forward from Dr Leo rebello
AN OPEN LETTER TO PM NARENDRA MODI ON MY 65th BIRTHDAY TO START A
MODI DHABA
Dear PM Modi - Shut down all your other schemes. Instead, forthwith start the
Parliament type Canteen, where sumptuous Thali is available for Rs.29 only, at
every 10 kms distance. Call this Modi Dhaba. The poor will get to eat A-1 quality
food. Hunger, malnutrition will be a thing of the past. 80% home kitchens will be
shut down. No cylinders, no ration cards, no substandard ration, and all women of
India will be very, very happy. Happiness all around. Then we will proudly say,
Sabhka Saath, Sabhka Vikas. Please do consider this excellent suggestion of your
elder brother.
FOR SPECIAL HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES INCLDUING
ENVIRONMENT CONTESTS
Visit our website - www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in
Go to the GEM section
CLICK – Environment Contests and Environment Quiz.
INVITING
The schools, colleges, Housing societies, neigbourhoods, NGOs,
religious groups etc to organise these contests.
Page 11
Jaitapur nuclear project
makes headway
the project". Spread over an area of nearly 968
hectares, the scheme eventually envisages the
setting up of six reactors totalling 9900 mwes.
TNN | Apr 13, 2015
The nuclear project, which has attracted strong
opposition from various quarters on
environmental and safety grounds, kicked off
on December 6, 2010, with India and France
signing an agreement for the construction of
two reactors and supply of nuclear fuel for 25
years. In the last five years it has literally
remained on paper.
The new agreement firmed up on April 10,
2015, chiefly relates to the assessment of
licenseability, adhering to Indian laws and
codes and general acceptability and
understanding of the technology itself.
MUMBAI: After PM Narendra Modi's recent
visit to France, the controversial and troubleridden Jaitapur Nuclear Power Project in
Maharashtra's Ratnagiri district moved a step
forward.
The Nuclear Power Corporation and a French
firm, Areva, signed what is known as a preengineering agreement conforming to the
"Make In India" campaign, according to an
announcement by the department of atomic
energy (DAE) on Sunday.
According to DAE, after a detailed safety
assessment, the NPC will take up the licensing
process with the Atomic Energy Regulatory
Board (AERB). A significant aspect of the
agreement is that it will maximize the scope of
localization of different components
conforming to the "Make In India" campaign.
According to the DAE, EPR is an advanced
light-water reactor (LWR) technology.
"Understanding the nuances of this technology
will also be to our advantage as NPC strives to
augment its capability in the LWR technology,"
it added.
The Rs 1000 billion project envisages the
setting up of initially two Evolutional
Pressurised Reactors each of 1650 mwe in
collaboration with France. On June 18, 2014,
the Shiv Sena launched an agitation against the The announcement however is silent with
plan. But Modi has assured the French
regards to the time line of this much-delayed
government that there was "no rethink about
project.
Jaitapur nuclear plant:
Villagers reject revised
compensation package offered
by govt
Sanjeev Shivadekar,TNN | Feb 12, 2013
MUMBAI: The state government's effort to
break the deadlock over the Jaitapur nuclear
project by hiking the compensation for the
farmers has run in to a road block as it has
been rejected by the villagers.
The state government had announced a revised
compensation package for the farmers to
acquire the land for the nuclear power plant.
The state announced Rs 22.5 lakh per hectare
as the rate for acquisition of land which earlier
was ranged from Rs 50,000 to Rs 4 lakh per
acre. The government hopes that an enhanced
compensation would ensure that the villagers
stop opposing the 9,900 mw nuclear project.
According to government officials 2,135
farmers will benefit from the move.
But soon after the announcement of the new
offer, the villagers have refused the
compensation. Local farmers stated that there
was no question of accepting the new package
as the villagers were not hankering for money
and they would be satisfied only if the nuclear
project is scrapped.
Page 12
Poor home design, rising
power usage broaden
carbon footprint
Vinayashree Jagadeesh,TNN | Mar 23, 2015
year," he says. The study findings were based on
data gathered during 2009-10.
According to the study, India contributes more than
5% of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
"While Beijing may be the big brother in emissions,
the cities here could be smaller brothers," says
The industrial sector has been taking the flak for
emitting high levels of hazardous gases over the
years but it might ultimately be our homes that are
responsible for the highest emission of greenhouse
gases.
A recent study by the Centre for Ecological
Sciences of the Indian Institute of Science in
Bengaluru found that the domestic sector was one
of the highest contributing sectors to greenhouse
gases in seven cities. When the cities were
considered individually, the domestic sector was
the highest contributor in Chennai, Ahmedabad,
Kolkata and Mumbai and second highest
contributor in Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru,
where transport sector emissions dominated.
The study revealed that the major sources of energy
consumption in the domestic sector were electricity
for lighting and household appliances and fuel for
cooking.The fuels considered during the study were
liquefied petroleum gas, piped natural gas and
kerosene.
The study quantified greenhouse gas emissions
after considering the following sectors: electricity
generation or consumption, domestic and
commercial sectors, transportation, industrial,
agricultural, livestock and waste.
Remembering to switch off that geyser and
choosing the right fuel for our homes and vehicles
might go a long way in curbing high emission of
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere — that's not
rocket science but the findings of a recent study say
that domestic usage is one of the main contributors
to greenhouse gas emissions in seven cities in the
country.
In fact, doing away with the geyser and opting for
solar energy is the way to go, according to
Professor T V Ramachandra, of Energy and Wet
lands Research Group, Centre for Ecological
Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru,
who headed the study.
"Electricity consumption in homes and the design
of houses have a huge impact on energy
consumption. Poor architecture with an increasing
number of high-rise and glass buildings has led to
increased energy consumption. In Bengaluru, the
construction of such buildings, has led to
consumption of about 14,000 units per person per
Ramachandra. Though the scale of urbanisation is
larger in cities like Beijing, he maintains that it is
more important for cities here to set their affairs in
order so that the situation doesn't worsen.
According to the study, the aggregation of GHG
emissions across sectors shows that Delhi has the
highest greenhouse gas emission footprint at nearly
39 million tonnes followed by Greater Mumbai (23
million tonnes) and Chennai (22 million tonnes).
However, the per capita emission of carbon dioxide
equivalent is highest in Chennai (4.79 tonnes),
followed by Kolkata (3.29 tonnes).
The transport sector is another major contributor to
these high emission levels.Delhi ranks the highest
when it comes to transport perhaps due to the large
number of vehicles in the city. Comparatively, the
capital is followed by Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
Ramachandra places the blame on increasing
urbanisation leading to high vehicle numbers and
collapsing of public transport. Due to high transport
emissions, Delhi and Bengaluru have also seen an
increase in respiratory disorders due to particulate
matter, he says.
Deputy director of Research and Advocacy, Centre
for Science and Environment, Anumita
Roychowdhury, says that a major problem in our
cities is lack of good urban planning and
transportation.
"More than 80% of transportation investment in our
cities is toward car-centric infrastructure which has
only increased the dependency on private vehicles.
We must work on people-centric infrastructure for
pedestrians and cyclists. We need to facilitate mass
movement as the per capita consumption of public
transport is much lower and more economical," she
says.
Page 13
NGT ultimatum to TMC to
curb Godavari pollution
Sumita Sarkar, TNN | Apr 8, 2015
NASHIK: The National Green Tribunal,
Western Zone, Pune on Tuesday gave an
ultimatum of May 28 to the Trimbak
Municipal Council to separate the Godavari
water from sewage and install a
biomethanation plant.
A bench of Justice VR Kingaonkar and judicial
member and expert Ajay Deshpande on
Tuesday heard the application of Lalita Shinde
and another petitioner versus Trimbak
Municipal Council and others. Shinde had filed
an application against concretisation of the
river and its pollution.
The NGT said the municipal council should
India's secularism is strong, it
will not shake: Modi
come to the NGT during the next hearing only
to inform them about the completion of the
work.
Lawyer of the applicant Pravarthak Pathak
said, "The court said the Trimbak Municipal
Council should separate the river water from
the sewage and complete installation of the
biomethanation plant by the first week of May.
The court said it could take an additional 20
days but by May 28 both the processes should
be completed and they should go to the court
to inform it about the finished work." when the
WRD said the work would be completed by
May 19. On Tuesday, the court set a deadline
for all three activities as May 28.
The petitioners said keeping the Kumbh Mela
in mind, the work has to be done at the earliest
as there were only three months left for the
mega event.
A civic official said, "We have already started
work of separating the river water from the
sewage and also that of the biomethanation
plant. It will take a month for us to complete
it."
Civic officials assured that the work would be
completed well before the Kumbh Mela and as
per the court's deadline. In March, the court
had asked the water resources department
(WRD) to define the blue line of the flood line
followed the principle of reuse and recycle, and
never believed in wasting nature's resources. India
worships mother nature, he said.
"Reuse and recycle -- we have been doing for years,
but the world is using it now. But we never
highlighted this aspect of ours, of reuse and recycle.
Now the world is telling us to reuse and recycle.
Those who damage the environment are today
asking us to pay. They are asking us to reduce
carbon emissions." "We are those who pay respect
to environment, we call rivers mother, worhship
trees, and nature, it is part of our culture, and we
Berlin, April 14 (IANS): India's secularism is should go the world with this," Modi said.
strong and it will not shake, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi said in his address to the Indian "We should stand with confidence, that we can
show the world the way. We will set its agenda, I
community in Berlin.
want to assure you. India will set the agenda for the
Addressing a community reception hosted by the climate change summit, and on the basis of our
Indian ambassador, the prime minister said: "India's values; we are not those to take from world, but
secularism is not so weak that it will crumble. Our give," he said to loud applause.
secularism is strong, and it will not shake; our self
confidence should also not shake," he said.He also He also assured the diaspora that the country will
said that India will set the agenda for the climate always be there for them and maintain its ties with
the diaspora.
change summit in Paris this year.
Modi said that Indians have always traditionally
Page 14
India gives green light to build
country’s largest dam
Chandan Kumar Duarah 29.09.2014
protest against the 16,000 crores (US$2.6 million)
Dibang project. Most of the power produced will be
exported to help ease power shortages elsewhere in
India.
Opening the floodgates
The central government has decided to build the
project without any public consultation or study of
the potential impacts in downstream Assam state.
Anti-dam activists are now concerned Modi’s
government will now push ahead with a series of
mega dams planned in the northeast region,
ignoring all expert and advisory committees in an
attempt to harness “green” hydropower. The
Dibang is just one of 168 massive dams slated to
produce 57,000 megawatts of hydropower in
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh states. This
the green light to construction of the 3,000
strategically important region, which borders
megawatt Dibang hydropower project in the
Myanmar in the east, Bhutan in the west and China
ecologically fragile region of Arunachal Pradesh,
in the north, is described by politicians as India’s
north-east India. The proposed dam on the Dibang
‘future powerhouse’ and is a key focus point of the
River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra close to country’s dam building programme.
the border with China, will be India’s largest and
China is involved in a major dam building
one of the world’s tallest dams.
programme on its side of the border, also using the
The Forest Advisory Committee of India’s Ministry waters of the Brahmaputra – which it calls the
of Environment and Forests cleared the dam last
Yarlung Tsangpo. China’s plans to build a massive
week, subject to a reduction in the dam height by
dam three times the size of the Three Gorges Dam
20 metres from the originally envisaged 288 metres. on the Great Bend before the river swings round
The committee has refused environmental
into India.
clearances for the project twice before on the
The Brahmaputra is one of the world’s major rivers,
grounds it would destroy forests and impact
winding across the Tibetan Plateau through China,
the Dibru-Saikhowa National Parkdownstream in
India and Bangladesh before joining with the
Assam state.
Ganga and flowing out into the Bay of Bengal.
The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation
The dam building programme in north-east India
(NHPC) –the company behind the dam – submitted has been highly controversial. Opponents say it not
several revised proposals to the ministry, reducing
only ignores geological and ecological factors – it
the amount of forest cleared and the height of the
also fails to take into account the impact of climate
dam structure. But on August 28 the Forest
change in the region. Experts also say no proper
Advisory Committee rejected the latest proposal to overall plan has been put in place: though India and
submerge more than 45 square kilometres of forest China have signed a limited agreement to data on
land for the project. The committee concluded the
river flow, there is no specific deal on managing the
“ecological and social costs of destroying a vast
Brahmaputra’s waters. Protests about the dams
tract of forest land which is a major source of
have been growing, with work on the 2,000
livelihood for the state’s tribal population would far megawatt Lower Subansiri dam on one of the
outweigh the benefit likely to accrue from the
Brahmaputra’s tributaries – repeatedly held up.
project.”
Broken promises
However, days later the Prime Minister’s principal
secretary sent a letter to the environment secretary
In the build up to this year’s elections, Narendra
on September 3 to “clear the project expeditiously” Modi held a rally in Pasighat in the East Siang
as per the decision of the Cabinet Committee on
district of Arunachal Pradesh in February where he
investment. In its pre-election campaign Modi’s
acknowledged peoples’ concerns about large dams
Bharatiya Janata Party promised not to go ahead
and committed to developing small hydropower
with mega dams and people supported the party
instead.
enthusiastically.
“I know citizens of the region are against large
The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samittee (KMSS) – a power projects,” he said. “I respect your sentiment.
farmers’ organisation spearheading the anti-dam
But hydropower can also be harnessed using
movement in Assam – is now accusing the prime
smaller projects, while protecting the environment.”
minister of being a traitor. Others organisations
Chandan Kumar Duarah is a science journalist
agitating against mega dams are also threatening to based in North East India
Page 15
Extracting industries unite sisters and brothers across
continents
by Sr. Joan Brown OSF (GSR Today via CNUA)
Several weeks ago I found myself sitting in the rotunda of the New Mexico State Capitol
surrounded by beautiful Navajo, Laguna and Acoma people. The 60-day legislative session
was in process. We gathered seeking support for petitioning Congress to put in effect the
Radiation Exposure Compensation Act (RECA) for uranium miners and mill workers who
are dying from various cancers and diseases. The legacy of uranium mining leaves New
Mexicans with 500 abandoned uranium mines, homes built with contaminated mine-waste
rock and contaminated water wells even as companies seek new permits to mine. In New
Mexico we also face an escalating oil and gas industry, hydro fracking, pipelines and
various other mines.
Even 10 years ago I never thought I would be engaged in extractive industry issues. Now I
am like a magnet with the minerals and the concerns of communities attaching to my
clothing wherever I go. I can understand in a small way Jesus’s reaction to the many
people who clung to him and his need to go into the desert for prayer, reflection and
wisdom. Today, we find ourselves in the midst of an immense extractive industry boom
everywhere on the planet that gravely affects our sacred water, air, land and communities
– disproportionately affecting the indigenous communities.
In December, when I was in Peru, I experienced firsthand the enormity of extraction’s
effects in that mountainous mineral-rich country where 85 percent of the mineral rights
are owned by corporations. Mineral rights there include use of water. I was impressed with
the work of Mercy Sr. Angelita Roldan Santiago, who is so concerned with water in Trujillo,
and Alita Sanchez who had just attended a meeting on mining in Brazil where the presence
of churches and faith communities was seen as integral to the struggle. Her work is one of
accompanying communities to defend creation, the land and water and food sources.
From my airplane seat high above the Andes I could see scars from gold mining. Later, I
heard stories of the results of mining from Graciela and Alfredo Fernandez, who are
community leaders living in the Alti Plano, trained by Mercy Sisters. Graciela still tends her
sheep in the high mountains and experiences them suffering and dying from drinking
water polluted from mining. In addition, drought and dying glaciers due to human-caused
climate change make clean water ever more scarce, while the extractive industry uses the
last drops of pure glacier water with little concern for the pastoral lives of the campesinos.
Tributary waters wend their way to Lake Titicaca, once a jewel, now polluted.
A visit to the Office of Derechos Humanos y Medio Ambiente (Human Rights and
Environment) in Puno shed even more light upon the struggle of the indigenous people to
protect Pacha Mama and their sacred land and water. Founded by the Maryknoll Fathers
and Sisters, the office originally was part of the work of the Catholic diocese. In the last
few years, the diocese severed its relationship with the office, stating that human rights
and environment were not part of the work of the church. As a result the office, now a
separate non-profit, continues to work out of a Gospel justice frame, doing amazing work
and struggling to find financial support.
Aymara Director and lawyer Cristobal Yugra Villanueva, Yolanda Flores Montoro, Maryknoll
Srs. Pat Ryan and Analyn Manauis and other staff and collaborators won a legal case
Page 16
against the Peruvian government in the fall of 2014. Their case states that indigenous
communities’ land, water and minerals are owned by the community. One president or
director of a community cannot turn over their resources to the government or extractive
industries or make decisions for the whole community. Environment is integral and part of
the community and cannot be separated from the community, and decisions are made by
the community.
Such victories are large and yet small in light of the issues. Struggles on numerous fronts
escalate. Indigenous communities of the Andes now need to prove they are indigenous and
thus protected by laws of Peru with rights to their land, water, culture, livelihood and
spirituality. Oil and gas extraction and the creation of distribution pipelines, in a country
known for earthquakes, present new challenges to communities and Pacha Mama. But the
faith of those working on these issues is rooted in the Gospel. Their stories of struggle and
small victories read like a combination of the Book of Nature and new Gospel parables of
the spirit moving in powerful ways with such joy. These are inspired stories we desperately
need to hear.
There are too many stories of courage to retell. Recently New Mexico Interfaith Power and
Light and New Mexico Faith Coalition for Immigrant Justice co-sponsored a speaking tour
of Jorge Armando Lopez Pocol with the Chico Mendes Reforestation Project from
Guatemala. Their 17- year-old project plants trees to address devastation left from wars of
the 1980s, climate change and economic violence that cause migration, but the
communities around them face encroaching extractive industries. Nearby indigenous
communities just recently witnessed the death or perhaps martyrdom of three women
protesting mines’ coming onto their sacred lands.
At the recent OXFAM Sister Ambassadors on the Planet gathering in Des Moines to
celebrate International Women’s Day, I heard of the struggle of women from Ghana and
other countries in Africa. As a sister Ambassador on the Planet, I am spreading the word to
petition the Securities and Exchange Commission to finish the rule-making on section 1504
of the U.S. Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, which requires
extractive industries and mining companies to make public financial disclosures. After this
meeting, I attended a meeting of my Franciscan Community Finance Committee where we
are discerning divestment in the fossil fuel industry. We cannot escape the scope of the
extractive industry.
Guatemala, Africa and Peru may seem very distant in my day-to-day life. Actually, my
brothers and sisters and the issues of extractive industries are very near. We live in a time
when companies move beyond national boundaries. Ultimately we share the same air,
water, earth and contemporary Gospel parables and stories of struggle, death and small
resurrections.
Sr. Joan Brown, OSF, is a Franciscan sister from the Franciscan Sisters of Rochester,
Minn., and executive director of New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light.
Attack on Christians could affect investment:
says industrialist
Kirloskar's are the first words of caution from a top Indian
industrialist about the church attacks at home.
Page 17
Hannover: Leading industrialist Sanjay Kirloskar says it is important for the government to make clear the
secular nature of India to attract investment in the backdrop of attacks on Christians. Kirloskar said this as
Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushes for foreign investment on his maiden trip to Europe. Kirloskar,
who is currently in German, stressed the need to assert that "we are a secular nation... we are a tolerant
nation."
Referring to a series of attacks on churches and other Christian buildings over the last few months in
India, said, "Most investors in foreign countries are Christians." Kirloskar's are the first words of caution
from a top Indian industrialist about the church attacks at home. The head of the Kirloskar Brothers
Limited said that "a slight concern" was visible among foreign investors.
He pointed to a protest by a small group demanding "protect India's minorities" outside the massive fair in
Hannover that was inaugurated by the PM and has drawn top leaders of India Inc. "I am sure the PM must
be talking to his people," Kirloskar said adding, "We have to send the right signal."
Before arriving in Germany, the PM, addressing UNECO in France, said that his government is
committed to defending the rights and liberties of all Indians. In February, addressing a conference
organized by Christian groups in Delhi, Mr Modi had said, "My government will not allow any group
belonging to majority or minority to incite hatred against others."
Source: NDTV
China vows to close chemical
plants after violent protests
Reports say one dead and dozens injured in
police crackdown on protesters
AFP, Beijing, China, April 7, 2015
Government officials in northern China have
vowed to shut down several chemical plants
after protests against pollution apparently
turned violent. One person was killed and
dozens arrested at the weekend when around
2,000 police broke up demonstrations in
China's Inner Mongolia region, the US-based
Southern Mongolian Human Rights
Information Centre (SMHRIC) said.
Large and sometimes violent protests against
factories have become more common in China
in recent years, where industry is a cause of
widespread air, water and soil pollution.
Pictures posted online showed people
gathering on a countryside road beside an
overturned police car, as well as dozens of riot
police with shields and dogs. Used tear gas
canisters lay on the ground. One
banner hanging over a roadblock read: "Push
out the chemicals, give us back clean water and
blue skies." The images could not immediately
be verified.
SMHRIC on Monday cited locals as saying that
a local "chemical refinery zone" had discharged
waste directly onto grazing land used by
members of the local Mongol minority in
Naiman Banner, a mainly rural region. Police
used rubber bullets, tear gas and water cannon,
the organization added. “About 100 people
were injured and 50 were arrested. One of the
injured was confirmed dead in the hospital
today,” it cited a local woman named Geegee as
saying.
China's resource-rich Inner Mongolia region
sees sporadic demonstrations by Mongols
against government policies including
resettlement of nomadic herders and vast
coalmine development. Government officials in
Naiman Banner said in a social media posting
Monday they had ordered all firms in a local
"chemical zone" to cease production while it
investigated. The statement did not say how
many firms would be affected by the order,
with only one named, Tongliao Longsheng
Chemical.
Local governments have made similar pledges
in response to past protests, but the orders
have not always been enforced.
Calls to police and government officials in
Naiman Banner went unanswered on
Tuesday. AFP
Page 18
Government for such an inhuman legislation
is that it has borrowed several of its
provisions from already existing laws both
from India and abroad and that it has
By Fr. Cedric Prakash sj (CNUA)
striking parallels to the Maharashtra Control
of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) 1999 On March 31st 2015, the Gujarat Legislative which of course has no reference to
Assembly passed another draconian law ‘the
terrorism.
Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised
Crime (GUJCOTOC) Bill 2015’. This bill has
yet to be sent to the Governor of Gujarat for Civil society in Gujarat and in other parts of
his assent. It will then have to be sent to India are naturally up in arms; speaking at a
the Rashtrapati Bhavan for approval by the public meeting in Ahmedabad on April 9th,
President
of
India
because
of
the Mr. Girish Patel, Senior Counsel of the
contentious
provisions
in
it;
very Gujarat High Court and the doyen of the
interestingly, three earlier versions of this human rights movement in Gujarat said
draconian bill in 2004, 2008 and 2009 were “Modern criminal law suggests that an
accused should be treated as a human and
rejected by the President of India.
the onus is on the State to prove that he is
There are several provisions in the bill which
guilty. It also entitles him for a fair trial as
are draconian in nature and will surely
per the Constitution and benefit of doubt, if
enhance tyranny by the police and the
any, is enjoyed by him; however, the bill is
abuse of law in order to settle political
against these principles.”
scores or to quell dissent and human rights,
these include:

the empowerment of an investigating The question being asked by legal experts,
agency to continue for 180 days its human rights activists and other concerned
investigation – as against the maximum citizens is whether such a law is necessary
period of 90 days laid down in the Code of or not? No one denies that any kind of
Criminal Procedure (CrPC); during this terrorist activity goes against the very
period the accused will be in judicial custody essence of humanity and should be firmly
dealt with. There are however enough of

the confession made before police laws in existence which can deal with
officer while in police custody can be used terrorism; adding another draconian law and
providing
the
State
machinery
with
against the accused in a trial
unbridled powers lends itself to abuse;

the authorisation for the interception of whilst attempting to control terrorism the
wire, electronic or oral communication as State is in fact indulging in a new kind of
admissible evidence against the accused in terrorism. This law is certainly unwarranted.
Civil society leaders of Gujarat have now
court
called for a ‘Jan Andolan’ to take on this

the Government (according to Section draconian anti-terror bill and to ensure that
25 of the bill) is made immune from any it never sees the light of day. Several
legal action for ‘anything which is in good representations have been made from all
faith done or intended to be done in over both to the Governor of Gujarat and to
the President of India not to sign the
pursuance of this act’.
GUJCOTOC
bill
2015.
(PRASHANT
The justification given by the Gujarat
Communication)
email
:sjprashantcom@gmail.com
INDIA : GUJCOTOC - Another
Draconian Law From Gujarat
'Don't Send Children to Convent Schools', Says Goa Minister's
Wife
Rediffmail.com
Page 19
PANAJI: The wife of a Goa minister has made
a controversial statement asking parents not to
send their children to convent schools. She
has also urged women to desist from aping
Western culture, saying it has led to rise in
incidents of rape. Lata Dhavalikar, wife of Goa
minister Dipak Dhavalikar, who is a functionary
of controversial right wing organisation
Sanatan Saunstha, was addressing a
convention in Margao on Sunday, when she
made this statement.
"Hindu men, while leaving from home, should
sport a tilak, while women, kumkum. Always
celebrate Gudi Padwa as the Hindu New Year
and not January 1. Don't send your children to
convent school... say 'namaskar' instead of
'hello' when answering a phone call," she said.
"It's time we took pride in our rich ancient
Indian culture. Now it has become trendy
among Indian women not to wear 'kumkum' on
forehead; wearing tight and revealing clothes,
trimming hair and sporting weird hairdos," she
said. "Incidents of rape are on the rise, largely
owing to the fact that women have adopted
western culture," Ms Dhavalikar said.
When contacted, her husband Dipak
Dhavalikar refused to comment. "I don't know
about any such statement by her. I will get
back to you," he said. Dipak Dhavalikar is the
State Factories and Broilers minister, while his
brother Sudin holds the Transport and Public
Works Department portfolio in the Goa BJP
government. Both brothers are legislators of
Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party which have
supported the Laxmikant Parsekar-led state
government.
Last year, Ms Dhavalikar's brother-in-law and
minister Sudin Dhavalikar had to face flak
when he demanded a ban on bikinis claiming
that it was against Indian culture and led to
rapes. Sudin Dhavalikar had later withdrawn
his comments that provoked outrage in the
state whose beaches and pubs swarm with
tourists, including lakhs of foreigners.
Also, Dipak Dhavalikar sparked a row when
while speaking in the Goa Assembly on a
motion congratulating Prime Minister Narendra
Modi on BJP's electoral victory, he had said
that he was confident that the PM would
develop India into a Hindu nation.
Story First Published: April 06, 2015 16:27
IST
Goa: PRESS RELEASE THE CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION'S
RESPONSE TO DHAVALIKAR'S VENOM!
PRESS RELEASE
THE CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION?S RESPONSE TO DHAVALIKAR?S VENOM!
The Catholic Association of Goa condemns the statements made by the Dhavalikars and
reported in the Times of India dated 6 & 7 April, 2015.
To say the least, Lata Dhavalikar has joined the bandwagon of the likes of Mohan Bhagwat Giriraj
Singh ---, who have now found a platform and the licence to publicly voice their rabid and
fanatic views. Has she done her homework ? If we go by what she says, all women in the west
should be victims of rape. How unfair to Indian men to suggest that they get titillated by tight
fitting, scantily dressed and bikini clad women! Was Nirbhaya immodestly dressed?! Was the
71 year old nun scantily clad? Take our own little Angel from the Vasco School - (not convent)
Was she raped because she was in a western outfit? Is a school uniform western? Lata should be
advised to do her homework before making such outrageous and senseless statements.
Thankfully all thinking people of all faiths don't subscribe to her right wing fringe element
thinking. Our rich Indian culture is all embracing and inclusive. She has done the greatest
injustice to Indian culture by limiting it to tilak and kumkum?.
Convent schools over the years have kept their doors open to peoples of all faiths. These
Institutions by their selfless service have given the country some of its greatest statesmen,
administrators, professionals men and women of character and caliber. Her clarion call to desist
from sending children to convent schools will fall on deaf ears, save for those few who subscribe
to her extremist doctrine. Pity the children of these misguided adults.
Evidence shows that it is those people who cry hoarse about convent and western education,
who send their children to these very institutions of proven repute. If everything Western is
Page 20
taboo then why this exodus of children to western universities? No double standards please!
Convent schools don?t have a hidden agenda and are completely transparent.
Referring to her deterrence against conversion of Hindus, may we remind her of our Constitution
that is based on the non-negotiable human rights principle of freedom to practice and
propagate one?s faith. If there is coercion she may please raise her voice.
We congratulate Shri Vijai Sardesai, the Fatorda MLA, for his bold, upright and objective stand.
Let the Catholic BJP MLAs take a leaf from his book. Lata, her husband and their ilk better know
that they cannot get away with their false propaganda.
Inez Cotta Carvalho
Catholic Association of Goa
Fewer Kerala women join
convents
This trend coincides with a slowdown in the
growth of Christian population in India and
their improving prosperity, say social activists
and Church representatives.
Posted on April 13, 2015,
Kochi: The number of Kerala women joining
convents is fast dwindling because of
shrinking family sizes and expanding career
opportunities, say Church people. "There is
a 70-75% drop in the number of women
who were joining convents to be nuns,"
compared to the 1960s, says Sebastian
Adayanthrath, Auxiliary Bishop of
Ernakulum-Angamaly archdiocese.
Kerala once boasted of sending larger
number of nuns to work in Catholic missions
across India. But the trend is now reversing
as numbers of nuns are increasing in
northern states.
The bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic
Church said the peak was in the mid-1960s,
when there were as many as two dozens of
nuns were newly admitted every year in
each province. It lasted for about a decade,
and then, started to decline to about 20 by
1985 and 10 in the past decade, he says.
Today, there are just three or four
admissions per convent.?
This trend coincides with a slowdown in the
growth of Christian population in India and
their improving prosperity, say social
activists and Church representatives. In the
1960s and 1970s, it was a practice among
many families to send one or two children to
the Church. That has mostly stopped as
today's families have just one or two kids,
who have many career options. Women
from Kerala now travel across the globe to
work in healthcare, IT and other industries.
"Today's woman is aware of her needs,
knows the job opportunities around her,"
says writer and social activist Sarah Joseph.
"She has increasingly come to respect
herself or her identity and believes in taking
her own decision." And, the declining trend
in women taking up monastic life is a global
phenomenon, she says.
According to Bishop Adayanthrath, there
was a 25 percent decline in the number of
nuns globally between 1965 and 2010: from
about 10 lakh to around 7.5 lakh. Sister
Jesme, who walked out of the convent
where she lived 33 years as a nun, has a
similar view about convent life: "There is no
democracy there, only hierarchy."
Interestingly, there is no decline in the
number of men who come forward to
become priests. Church spokesmen say this
may be because the priest's job is more
visible. He has a social standing because of
the functions that he has to do, they said.
However, many women in North India are
attracted by the life of a nun as they are
struck by the way a nuns from elsewhere
works a strange land with unfamiliar culture
and language, say Church people.
Source: economic times
Page 21
Mangaluru: Giving new 'Jeevan' In a first in DK, organs taken to
Bengaluru via zero traffic
A team from Zonal Coordination Committee of
Karnataka for Transplantation (ZCCKT),
Bengaluru arrived in the city by special flight
and along with two surgeons from AJ Hospital,
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru conducted the two-hour procedure at AJ
Hospital where Jeevan was admitted. The
organs were taken by special flight to
Bengaluru. The liver will be taken to BGS
Global Hospital, and heart valve to Narayana
Hrudalaya.
The organs, specially packed in ice boxes, were
taken from AJ hospital by ambulance and
reached the airport in just 12 minutes. Jeevan,
whose name literally means life, was employed
as a salesman of spare parts for automobiles.
Son of Jerome and Gracy Fernandez, Jeevan
was the third among four children. His sister is
supposed to get married on May 4. His father
is said to be suffering from cancer.
Mangaluru, Apr 13: For the first time in
Dakshina Kannada, vital organs of a youth who
met with an accident were taken to Bengaluru
by bringing the traffic in the city to a complete
halt on Monday April 13 night. The vital organs
- kidneys, liver and heart valve - belong to
Jeevan Vijay Fernandez (24), from Belloor,
Bantwal, who met with a bike accident on the Speaking to reporters, Dr Sudheesh Rao, ICU
night of Friday April 10 at Adyar.
specialist at AJ Hospital, said, "This is
happening for the first time in AJ Hospital and
This was the first time in Dakshina Kannada Mangaluru. Our patient's brain was injured
that traffic all the way to Mangaluru airport due to the accident. His brain was dead and
was brought to a complete halt for transporting would not have functioned again. In such a
human organs to Bengaluru. From the airport, case, his heart, liver and kidneys function
the organs were taken via special flight. In normally and will be useful for other patients
similar cases in the past, organs were and can be transplanted.
transported from Bengaluru to Chennai via
'green corridor' by bringing traffic to a halt in "The organs should reach Bengaluru within 45
both cities.
minutes, after which they will be placed in a
special solution and transplanted to other
On Friday night, Jeevan along with another patients. There will be zero traffic while
person was riding towards Mangaluru to transporting the liver to the Mangaluru
attend a function, when a pedestrian crossing airport. This is being done for the first time in
the road came in their way and Jeevan applied Mangaluru.
sudden brakes to avoid hitting the pedestrian.
As a result, he was thrown on to the road and "Four surgeons - two of AJ hospital and two
suffered head injuries.
from Bengaluru, conducted the procedure. In
future, we will take the initiative to transplant
After battling for life for over two days in the other organs," he added.
hospital, the doctors declared him brain dead.
Speaking to reporters, Jeevan's cousin Vincent
Thereafter, in a heartening gesture, the family Pinto Angelore said that due to the accident,
decided to donate his vital organs, namely his Jeevan's brain had stopped functioning, and
heart, kidneys, liver and eyes. Though at first Jeevan's sister Jennifer who works at AJ
the doctors had considered transporting only Hospital had suggested that his organs could
his liver as the entire procedure was done for be donated to other needy patients. Hence, the
the first in Mangaluru, they later decided to family decided to go ahead with the gesture,
transport his heart valve and kidneys also.
thus creating medical history in the district and
setting an example to all. The traffic
The corneas of Jeevan's eyes were department of Mangaluru deserves a special
also donated, but will be preserved in mention for coordinating perfectly with the
Mangaluru itself.
medical team in making this happen.
Available
Educational PowerPoint Presentation (PPT) on
GIVE THANKS, GIVE LIFE (BODY, TISSUE, ORGAN DONATION)
Download this PPT from our website:
www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in – GEM PPT section
Page 22
This Woman Dedicated Her
Life To Helping Strays. And
How They Said ‘Thank You’
Is The Sweetest!
Her furry friends came to say
‘good-bye.’
This woman’s heart wasn’t just made for
loving people…but animals, as well. She made
“furry’ friends everywhere she went and
they grew to love her immensely. Even at
her passing, these loyal friends mourned
their loss and followed her ’til the very end.
Read this touching story of a woman and her
many 4-legged friends.
For several decades, animal lover Margarita
fed and cared for more than 20 stray cats
that would gather at her door every
morning.
extended to dogs too, because as her health
took a turn, her family began to notice
dozens of dogs appearing as if they were
looking for Margarita. And, they found her.
The dogs found the funeral parlor where her
body was being held and there they waited.
The family soon learned that wherever
Margarita went, she carried a small bag of
food to share with the furry friends along
the way. Knowing this, the family has
determined that these strays were there to
say ‘good-bye’ as they rested on the floor
near her coffin.
The day of Margarita’s funeral, the dogs
were permitted to follow the hearse to and
from the funeral home. It was only once she
was cremated, did they leave her side.
Margarita’s daughter said, that “the dogs
jumped around as they mourned, yet also in
celebration” as they said their final ‘goodbye’ to a loyal friend with a kind soul.
Margarita, your generous spirit and
kindness will be missed. Thank you for
being such a wonderful and loving friend
to the animals that came your way. You’ve
modeled how love and attention to these
precious animals does affect them and
makes an impact on their lives. Blessings.
And apparently, this love for stray animals
Akshayashakti Welfare Association
akshayashaktitrust@gmail.com
An Appeal for support ...AKSHAYASHAKTI. PROMOTE
EDUCATION PROJECT
Dear Akshayashakti Friends /followers / Volunteers,
Greetings from Akshayashakti!!!
“ Promote Education”
This is one of the key initiative of Akshayashakti with which we humbly attempt towards
contributing to the movement of creating a literate India .
Since 2010 Akshayashakti have been supporting the education of the poor and needy tribal school
children by providing them note books . It is a sad state to see children going to school but not
Page 23
having a single note book to write . In the year 2010 we have given notebooks for 4 schools and
2011 to 17 schools ,in 2012 to 52 schools .in 2013 to 116 schools and 2014 books were given to
250 schools .
This year in June 2015 we plan to give note books to about 350 poor and needy tribal schools in
Wada and Vikramgad . We hope to distribute about 75000 note books and this project cost around
Rs 9 lakh . This is not possible without your support .
We look for your support that is our strength and alone we can do so little, but together we can do
so much….
Let us hold hands and work together in creating a literate India and giving an opportunity of
brighter future to these needy children . Your generosity will help to kindle the light of
knowledge into the lives of these less fortunate children .
COME WITH YOUR SUPPORT ….Donation to Akshayashakti qualify for exemption under
80(G) of the Income Tax Act 1961 . Attached please find details of our Bank Account for making
he donations . Every little support from all of you help us in reaching our milestone. We have also
obtained permission as per FCRA from the Ministry of Home Affairs for receiving Donations in
Foreign Currency from abroad for our various social and charitable activities.
We have attached details of our Project plan for 2015 and estimate for same for your information.
Looking forward to receiving your kind support and also request all friends and well wishers to
spread the message and solicit support from all those who would like to be part of this project.
Warm regards
Mini Suboth
For "Akshayashakti Welfare Association"
Cell:+918898024034
www.akshayashakti.org
Follow us on Facebook :http://facebook.com/AWA.ORG
" Come with your support which is our strength. Alone we can do so little,together we can do
so much.." All Contibutions to " Akshayashakti " qualify for exemption under 80(G) of Income
Tax Act 1961
WANTED HELPING HANDS- Courtesy: Daijiworld.com
For more appeals visit – www.daijiworld.com - charity
Pushpa L Bangera (59),H No. 1-19-1472, Perladka House,Nerala, Bondathila
Post, Mangaluru
Pushpa L Bangera (59), W/o Laxman Bangera is admitted in Athena Hospital for Bilateral
Osteoarthritis of knee. She has undergone total knee replacement on Right knee on March
1, 2015. She requires surgery for
Left knee also.
Page 24
The surgery is likely to cost Rs 4 lacs. As they do not have that kind of money, she has
requested kind hearted donors to help her.
Your donations may please be sent to her following bank account:
Bank Account No.: 0796/SB/01/002652
Name of the Account holder: Pushpa
Corporation Bank,
Lalith Narayan Arcade,
Vamanjoor junction,
Vamanjoor, Mangalore.
IFSC Code: CORP0000796
Telephone No.: 91 96320 95399, 0824- 2262414
Venial D'Souza(19),Thonse west,Kemmannu post,Udupi-576115
Venial D' Souza(19),S/o Joseph Valerian D' Souza, Thonse west,Kemmannu post, Udupi
576115, a student of 1st year Engineering in Moodbidri, met with severe accident on the
way to his college on February 20,2015. He sustained closed head injury Type III c tibia
fracture on left side.
He is admitted in KMC hospital, Manipal with head and leg injury and is in coma. He has
undergone two surgeries for leg injury and has to undergo few more surgeries. The
approximate cost of the surgeries including hospitalization is Rs 2,50,000/-. With
increasing hospital expenses, the parents are having difficulties in bearing the cost.
They have requested kind hearted individuals to help them raise the money in order to
save the life of Venial. Your donations may kindly be sent to the following bank account:
Bank Account No.: 01102210002321
Name of the Account Holder: Joseph Valerian DSouza,
Syndicate Bank, Catholic Center,
Syndicate Towers,K M Marg,
Udupi-576101.
IFSC Code: SYNB0000110
Telephone No. 91 98806 45352, 91 98453 22510
Published by Fr Felix Rebello
c/o St Francis Xavier Church, Panvel
Tel: 2745 5556, Email:panvelchurch@gmail.com, gemenewsletter@gmail.com
website: www.stfrancisxavierpanvel.in
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