Hello Everyone: This was passed on to me, and I thought some ECOFEMers might wish to contribute to the letter writing campaign. I do not have any further information on this project or protest, but a www site is noted in the text below. In peace, Stefanie ------- Forwarded Message Follows ------- > > >From: Shabnam Merchant > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > >This month, 'GLOBAL RESPONSE', an international letter-writing network >of environmental activists is doing an 'ACTION' for the citizens of >Dahanu in support their battle against P&O's attempt to illegally >build a port in the eco-fragile Dahanu Taluka. > >Please support PAIL, Thane (People's Alliance for Implementation of >the Law) by reading the ACTION described below and then writing a >letter to P&O and to the Ministers of India. It will take only a few >minutes. > >This ACTION can also be found on Global Response's Home Page at: >www.globalresponse.org >Click on 'current' in the 'GRA' section. You can pass this Action onto >schools - the 'ECA' section (again, click on 'current') is designed >for High School children to learn about the issue and then write >letters, (there are lovely Warli sketches included), and the 'YEA' >section is designed for Elementary School Children. > >We can't tell you enough that YOUR letter counts... Also, please pass >onto your friends who can get this out to schools for the children to >write letters... all schools are invited to join the Global Response >Network to learn about and take action on a different issue each >month... > >thankyou all, and thankyou to Global Response. >-- >Shabnam Merchant, PAIL - International Liasion >213 Matawan Ave >Matawan, NJ 07747 >ph: 732-957-5427(work) 732-566-2529 (home) > >Now, onto Global Response's message: >------------------------------ >"For us it's do or die. If we don't stand up and fight we are dead. >If these people want to kick us in the stomach, we have to do >something >about it." > -- Ashok Ambire, Secretary > Peoples Alliance for Implementation of the Law,Thane > >Last February the state government of Maharashtra, India, and >the British/Australian multinational P&O announced their agreement to >build India's largest industrial port in Dahanu Taluka. Local >fishers, farmers, indigenous peoples and environmental organizations >were stunned because since 1991Dahanu has been designated one of >India's three "ecologically fragile" regions, where industrial >development is strictly limited. Global Response members are urged to >write to India's Prime Minister and P&O's chairman, demanding that >they respect Indian environmental laws and choose a different site for >the port. > >Known as the fruit and flower basket of the state, Dahanu Taluka >produces a rich variety of tropical crops as well as fish and salt. >Two-thirds of the region's people are indigenous Warlis whose >sustainable practices have protected the forests that cover 49% of >the territory. Full employment and a rich cultural life centered >around traditional arts, music and dance, make the area seem a >paradise compared to the rest of India's rapidly industrializing west >coast. The forests and mangroves of Dahanu Taluka are considered the >"lungs" of overcrowded and polluted Bombay -- just three hours away by >train. > >In 1996, to protect the region from industrial dumping, the Dahanu >Taluka Environmental Welfare Association argued and won a case before >India's Supreme Court. The Court upheld that there should be no >change of land use patterns in Dahanu, that only 500 acres of "green >industries" be permitted, that a 25-km buffer zone around Dahanu >Taluka be kept free of polluting industries, and further ordered that >the economy be concentrated in fishing, agriculture, forestry, >horticulture and eco-tourism, and that Warli culture be preserved. >The Court also commissioned a study by the National Environmental >Engineering Research Institute and ordered implementation of its >recommendations. The study found that increased coastal activity and >increased transportation activity in Dahanu Taluka are not >environmentally viable. > >Within four months of the Supreme Court Order, the state government >and P&O selected Dahanu Taluka for the new port, stating that it will >require less dredging than other potential sites, thereby reducing >costs. The port is to harbor 29 ships and handle hazardous materials, >coal, oil, gas, chemicals and cement. In August, P&O's chief officer >in India announced on Australian radio that he is going to support >the "denotification" of Dahanu, which would cancel its designation as >an ecologically fragile area and nullify the Supreme Court Orders. >P&O expects to formalize a contract before the end of the year. > >Fourteen local grassroots and environmental organizations have formed >the Peoples Alliance for Implementation of the Law (PAIL) to protest >the port. > >REQUESTED ACTIONS: > >1) Write polite letters to India's Prime Minister and Minister of >Environment and Forests > >- Commend the Central Government for the Dahanu Notification of 1991 >(which declares Dahanu Taluka an ecologically fragile area) and the >Supreme Court decision of 1996 concerning Writ Petition No. 231 (which >further protects Dahanu's precious forests, mangroves, flourishing >horticulture and fishing economies and unique indigenous cultures). > >- Tell him you have been shocked to learn that P&O Ports Pvt. Ltd >(Australia) plans to build an industrial port in Dahanu, in violation >of the Dahanu Notification and the Supreme Court Orders. Urge him to >safeguard India's laws and sovereignty against any attempt by P&O to >"denotify" Dahanu. > >- Tell him you support the 14 local democratic organizations that have >formed the Peoples Alliance for Implementation of the Law (PAIL), and >urge him to defend their democratic right to insist on the enforcement >of environmental laws. Tell him you support their petition for Dahanu >to be upgraded to "Sanctuary" status or declared a World Heritage >Zone. > >2) Write a polite letter to the Chairman of P&O. > >- Tell him you are shocked to learn that P&O Ports Pvt. Ltd. >(Australia) has selected a port site in Dahanu, India, an ecologically >precious and fragile region, protected by Indian environmental laws >and Supreme Court Orders. > >- Express your strong objection to the announcement made on ABC radio >(Australia) by P&O Australia's chief executive in India, who said he >supports the "denotification" of Dahanu, which would nullify existing >environmental protections. Demand that P&O respect India's democratic >laws and choose a port site outside ecologically fragile regions. > >- Tell him you are aware that P&O also owns Princess Cruises. Cruise >clients would certainly be outraged to know that P&O is prepared to >destroy the natural beauty and traditional sustainable lifestyle of >Dahanu Taluka. > >Addresses: >(Note: to send faxes, mark your country's international >access code first, then the numbers after the +sign.) > >Mr. I.K. Gujral >Prime Minister of India >South Block >New Delhi >INDIA >FAX: +91-11-301-6857 Or -9817 > >Professor S. Soz, The Honourable Minister >Ministry of Environment and Forests >Paryavaran Bhavan, CGO Complex >New Delhi >INDIA >FAX: +91-11-436-2222 > >The Lord Sterling of Plaistow, CBE - Chairman P&O >79 Pall Mall >London SW1Y 5EJ >UNITED KINGDOM >FAX: +44-171-930-8572 Or -8573 > >This Global Response Action was issued in support of and with >information provided by the Peoples Alliance for Implementation of the >Law, Thane, a group of 14 fishing, tribal and environmental >organizations in the Dahanu area. > >GLOBAL RESPONSE is an international letter-writing network of >environmental activists. In partnership with indigenous, >environmentalist and peace and justice organizations around the world, >GLOBAL RESPONSE develops Actions that describe specific, urgent >threats >to the environment; each Action asks members to write personal letters >to individuals in the corporations, governments or international >organizations that have the power and responsibility to take >corrective >action. GR also issues Young Environmentalists' Actions and Eco-Club >Actions designed to educate and motivate elementary and high school >students to practice earth stewardship. > >P.O. Box 7490 Phone: 303/444-0306 >Boulder CO, USA 80306-7490 Fax: 303/449-9794 > >To receive Global Response materials by e-mail, send an e-mail message >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Type this text: subscribe globresmembers > >Visit our website at: http://www.globalresponse.org > > > > > > >................................................ > >India Link Mail List > >To unsubscribe to a list send a message to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >In the text area write: > unsubscribe [mail_list_name] [your_email_address] > eg > unsubscribe il-environment [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >Mail List Administrator: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] >................................................ > ************************************ Dr. Stefanie S. Rixecker Department of Resource Management Lincoln University, Canterbury PO Box 56 Aotearoa New Zealand E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fax: 64-03-325-3841 ************************************
