A show of solidarity Special Correspondent:http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/29/25hdline.htm Campaign against CZM picks up momentum THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State-level campaign against the Union Government notification on Coastal Zone Management (CZM) drew a spirited response on Saturday with people from all walks of life joining hands to express solidarity with organisations representing fishworkers. Writers, politicians and cultural leaders extended support to the campaign by affixing their signature on a giant banner in front of the Secretariat. Decrying the Government decision to replace the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms with the Coastal Zone Management policy, they said it would deplete natural resources and deprive traditional communities of their livelihood. They said the Government was bound to protect natural resources such as forests, seas and coasts, and ensure the rights of the people who depend on the resources. The participants protested against the Government move to open up the coastal areas to the tourism industry and permit foreign trawlers to operate in coastal seas. The function in front of the Secretariat was organised by the Kerala Campaign Committee against CZM, an umbrella organisation representing various organisations and support groups. Campaign committee convenor T. Peter said the signed banner would be sent to President Pratibha Patil on Monday, urging her to prevail on the Union Government to withdraw the CZM notification. PRESS RELEASE THE SEA AND THE SEA SHORE SHOULD BE PROTECTED Thiruvananthapuram: The central government's move to put into operation the CZM instead of CRZ of 1991 has met with severe objection from well know figures in social, cultural and environmental sectors. The socio-cultural leaders from diverse sections of the society and environmental experts have requested all sections of the society to join hands with the fishing community to strengthen the ongoing struggle against the implementation of CZM. The sea, seashore and the forest are sustaining the life and breath of all and to protect the same from all sort of encroachment is a duty as well as responsibility of the Government so that normal life of the people can be ensured. Instead of protecting the sea and sea shore, the government is very eager to open up the sea shores for the tourist resorts and the sea for the foreign fishing vessels; they criticized. Shri. V. Sivan Kutty, MLA, Smt. Sugatha Kumari(Poet), Prof. Nynan Koshy (writer}, Dr. R V G Menon (KSSP), D.Vinayachandran(Poet) , Shri.Kadakampally Surendran (Ex MLA) and others pointed out strongly that the fisher people's strike is actually not only for themselves, but for all living beings in the coastal area. The strike is for all who have right to natural resources; the people should not forget this, they said. A giant banner was displayed in front of the secretariat in Trivandrum and hundreds of fish workers and leaders from different sections of the society signed on it. The banner with the signatures will be sent to the president of India on Monday. The event was conducted by the Kerala Campaign Committee against CZM. T.Peter, Saroop Roy, R.Biju, Anto Elias, J.P.John, Elizabeth Antony, Freeska Kurisappan, Maglin Peter spoke during the occasion. People's movements who expressed their solidarity with the event included Kerala Swathanthra Malsya Thozhilali Federation(KSMTF), Kerala Shastra Sahithya Parishath(KSSP), Equations, SUCI, Solidarity Youth Movement, Peoples Watch, Thiruvananthapuram Social Service Society(TSSS), Greens, WWF and Theeradesa Mahila Vedi. T.Peter Covenor, Kerala Campaign Committee Against CZM Alakal Office, Garuda Buildings, GPO Lane, Statue, Trivandrum-695001 Phone: 0471-3012196, Mobile: 9447429243 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ greenyouth mailinglist is the activist support mailinglist for kerala To post to this group, send email to [email protected] -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
