[Also relevant: <<CPM and BJP join hands against Vizhinjam strike. It was notable that CPM district secretary Anavoor Nagappan and BJP district president VV Rajesh lined up together in the long march to the local people's association secretariat demanding the implementation of the Vizhinjam project.
The local association of Mullur, which was formed recently, has come out against the strike against the demand of the protest committee to proceed with the independent scientific study that stopped the construction of the port in Vizhinjath. CPM and BJP leaders joined hands in this event.>> (Excerpted from: < https://www.malabarnews.com/cpm-and-bjp-leaders-on-the-same-platform-against-the-vizhinjam-strike/ >.)] https://countercurrents.org/2022/11/solidarity-statement-against-malicious-slandering-of-activists-who-are-fighting-against-adani-international-seaport-at-vizhinjam-kerala-india/ *Solidarity Statement Against Malicious Slandering of Activists Who are Fighting Against Adani International Seaport at Vizhinjam, Kerala, India* *in India *— by Press Release — 07/11/2022 The coastal fishing community is on a struggle path against the disastrous International seaport which is being built at Vizhinjam by Adani ports. The port has resulted in coastal erosion leading to the disappearance of coasts and the destruction of houses in the fishing villages. The dredging in the port will result in the loss of local fishing habitats leading to the destruction of the livelihood of thousands of fishing families and their displacement from the coasts. As the coastal community's sit-in protest continues against the distress caused by the Vizhinjam Adani port gathering solidarity and support at the state level, corporate-backed media such as News 18, Janam TV, Desabhimani, Kerala Kaumudi are now resorting to blatant lies and misinformation against the protest and protesters. As a part of this, attempts have been made to slander Ms Aleyama Vijayan who is the founder trustee of the feminist organisation Sakhi women’s resource centre and has been working for women’s empowerment for the past three decades, along with AJ Vijayan, who has been working as a trade unionist and researcher in the fisheries sector since 1980. It is accused that Sakhi, a women’s rights organisation based out of Thiruvananthapuram, which has no direct affiliations with the protest committee, is receiving foreign contributions for the protests. They have already issued a defamation suit against the media for spreading misinformation and rumours. The details on the Sakhi website show that all their activities are transparent. We support this legal suit and wish this organisation to operate smoothly in the future. The attempt to portray the struggle as a foreign conspiracy through funding is malicious and an insult to the fishing community who is fighting against the port and its sponsors. We request that all people who believe in democracy protest against this false propaganda. This slander campaign is done together with attempts by vested groups to create communal issues and problems of law and order on the coast, to divide the fishing and host communities in the name of religion. We urge the government, masses and civil society groups to positively intervene to keep communal harmony and peace. The fisher folks in Vizhinjam, under the leadership of Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese, have been protesting for the last 105 days, raising seven demands, including stoppage of the construction of the seaport in Vizhinjam and a complete study on the impact and damages by the port by an independent team of experts including people representing the fisher community. The rest of the six demands from the formation are: (1) Find a sustainable solution to coastal erosion on the Thiruvananthapuram coast due to the unscientific constructions in the sea, including that caused by the Vizhinjam port construction. (2) Provide temporary rental accommodation to people whose houses were destroyed due to coastal erosion (3) Plan and implement reasonable policies to rehabilitate the people who have lost their land and houses. (4) Intervene to revoke the kerosene price hike; provide subsidised kerosene following the neighbouring state Tamil Nadu model. (5) Provide minimum wages to the fisher folks to compensate for the loss on the days of fishing weather warnings. (6) Find sustainable solutions to the problems instead of temporary ones. The claim that all the demands have been more or less accepted by the government has been debunked by the Convener of the protest committee, Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese, Fr. Eugene Pereira, in a press conference on October 31st, 2022. It is undemocratic that, instead of fulfilling their obligation to settle the strike, the ruling government is resorting to covert attempts to tarnish coastal communities and overturn their struggle. We strongly condemn attempts by certain media houses to malign civil society organisations and vilify A J Vijayan, who has been researching and writing on the eco-social impacts, the unscientific nature of the project and the contract irregularities. He has been doing so since the period of the environmental impact study during the UDF regime, which initiated the Adani port project with special interest. We believe it is essential to have independent research and scientific studies on the impact of the port on coastal communities, and any such studies should be encouraged. We urge the government to settle the Vizhinjam issue urgently by arriving at a reasonable and sustainable solution and defending the rights of fishing and coastal communities. Vizhinjam Struggle Solidarity Committee, Keralam Social Movements, Eminent Persons, Social Organisations Aflathoon, Samajwadi Jan Parishad Ammu Abraham, FAOW ; PUCL Maharashtra (E.C.) Anand Patwardhan, Film Maker Anjali Bharadwaj, Collective Delhi Arundhati Dhuru, National Convenor, National Alliance of Peoples Movements Ashok Choudhary/ Roma , All India Union of Forest Working People Avinash Kumar , Former Director, Amnesty International India. Aysha, Right to Food Campaign Chandana Pusapati, Dakshin Foundation Delhi Solidarity Group Dr. John Dayal, Writer, Human Rights Activist Dr. Ram Puniyani, National Solidarity Forum Dr. Suneelam Ex MLA Dr. Syeda Hammed, Former Member Planning Commission Evita Das – Pakistan India Peoples' forum for peace and democracy G Devarajan, Gen Sec All India Forward Bloc Gabriele Dietrich Movement for Womrn's Rightss Geeta Seshu, Co-Editor, Free Speech Collective Gutta Rohith, Human Rights Forum Indian Social Action Forum – INSAF Joy Sinha – COLLECTIVE Delhi K Babu Rao, HRF, President, Hyderabad City K P Sasi, Activist Film Maker K. G. Jagadeesan trustee Centre Gandhi Smark Nidhi K. J. Joy, Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India, Pune K. Sajaya, Women & Transgender Orgs JAC, Hyderabad. Krishnakant (NAPM, Gujarat) Leena Dabiru, Anhad, Delhi Madhu Bhushan, Women's rights activist, Bangalore Madhuri, Jagrit Adivasi Dalit Sangathan Madhya Pradesh Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachavo Aandolan Meera Sanghamitra (National Alliance of People's Movements), NAPM N.D.Pancholi, Citizens For Democracy, Delhi Nityanand Jayaraman, Writer, Social Activist. Chennai Solidarity Group. Chennai Pradip Chatterjee, National Convener, National Platform for Small Scale Fish Workers Priya Dharshini, Finanical Accountability Network India Prof. S. P Udayakumar, Anti nuclear activist Prof. Sandeep Pandey, Writer, Social Activist Ranjit Sur, APDR Sandeep Pandey Socialist Party (India) Soumya Dutta, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha Subhash Lomte, Swaraj India Tapas Das, National Convenior, Nodi Bachao Jibon Bachao Andalon Vidya Dinker, President, INSAF Vihaan Vee – Ambedkarite, Queer Feminist Activist Xavier Dias, Editor, Khan Kaneej Aur ADHIKAR (Mines minerals & RIGHTS) Yash, Let India Breathe Yugma Collective A Sunil Dharan, Motilal Nehru College (Delhi University) A.Suneetha, Independent Researcher, Hyderabad Alaka Basu, Researcher Amod Shah, PhD Researcher Asha Achy Joseph, Dean, SH School of Communication, SH College, Thevara, Kochi Brinelle Dsouza, Chairperson, Centre for Health and Mental Health, TISS Chhaya Datar Ex-professor of Women's Studies in TISS Devika, feminist scholar Dr . K.P Rammohan, Economist Dr. K. G. Tara, Former Head, Disaster Management Centre Dr. Karuna DW, Dr. Mary George, Economist Dr. P. A. Azeez, Salim Ali Centre For Ornithology And Natural History Dr. T. G. Jacob Frans Manjali, Prof. Linguistics, JNU Hariprasath R, Researcher Jashodhara Dasgupta, Independent Researcher Kochurani Abraham, feminist theologian, Kerala M. Dasan, Dalit Thinker Maggie Allessu, Vidhyadeep college, Gujarat Nandita Narain, Associate Professor, St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University College Nivedita Menon, Professor JNU Padma Velaskar ,Professor (Retd) TISS Prof. Iris Prof. Janaki abraham, Prof. Kusum Joseph Prof. Sanil V Prof. Vida Sequeira (Retired) Prof. Vindo Chandran Rakhi Sehgal, Researcher, New Delhi Rita Paes Retired Professor Rohini Hensman, writer and researcher, Mumbai Seethalakshmi, Independent Researcher and Activist Shilpa Parthan, PhD student, University of Illinois Chicago Shweta Wagh, Associate Professor, KRVIA. PhD researcher IIT Bombay Soma K P, Independent researcher Academicians / Writers Swati Birla, University of Massachusetts Amherst Trisha Gupta, University of Oxford Vineetha Venugopal, Researcher Poets, writers and solidarity from Kerala Groups B Rajeevan, Cultural critic Binitha Thampi, Poet C Radhakrishnan, Novelist Damodar Prasad, Journalist Dr. Ambikasuthan Mangad Fr. Jose Kaliekkal , Hameed Vaniyambalam, state president welfare party Joseph Jude, Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) state vice-president K Ajitha, Feminist activist, Anweshi K. Sahadevan, writter Kalpatta Narayan, writter KG Sankarapilla (KGS), Poet Kumar Kalanand Mani, Save the Western Ghats Movement Kuripuzha Sreekumar, Poet Pandavath Baburaj, Activist Film Maker S Rajeevan, K Rail Virudha Jankeeya Samara Samiti Sarath Cheloor, State Coordinator, NAPM- Keralam Savithri Rajeevan, Poet Sridhar Radhakrishnan , Kerala Paristhithi Aikya Vedhi V Dinakaran , Akhila Kerala Dheevara Sabha Vijayaraghavan Cheliya, State Convenor, NAPM Keralam Solidarity from across the country A.K. Shibu raj Adv K V. Bhadrakumari Adv Pyoli Swatija Adv. John Joseph Adv. Joseph Paull Adv. Vinod Payada Allwyn Dsouza Amit Singh Amrita Shodhan Anil E.P Anita Cheria, Bangalore Anitha Ruban Anitha Shanti Treewalk Anna SJC Social Activist.Karnataka Annette Fernandes MBBS Annie Director Anthony Dias Aparna, Social worker Asha G Baby Chalil Fr Balkis Bano, Trishur Beatrice Joseph Berguman Thomas Bittu K R, Karnataka Janashakti C.S. Murali shankar Cecilia Crasta Chakradhar, Samalochana Clara Mendonca, social worker clare muthukattol Deejao Pathrose Deepa V, Delhi Devika, Advocate Dorothy, Social Activist Dr. C. Jayakumar, Thanal Dr. C. Surendranath Dr. E. Unnikrishnan Dr. Joyce Kaithakottil, Activist for Justice Dr. Mangesh Sawant Environmentalist Dr. Mercy Thomas Facilitator Nirmal Jyothi ITI Flory Menezes Fr Joseph, Vicar, St Joseph Church Konoor Ekm Diocese Fr Thomas Fr Varghese Assin, Manager, St Francis Assisi School, Nedumbassery.. Fr. Agustine Vattoli Fr. Deepak Anto Fr. Kurian Kurisunkal, Mulanthuruthy Fr. Lawrence Francis Xavier, supporter Freny Manecksha George Mathew Glavious Alexander Gopinath Haritha Gracy Kallookulangara Growth Watch Hazel D'Lima, CRI, ICWM Holiram Terang. Political activist. Immaculate.F. Jabeena Irshad Jacqueline Rumao. Jeevan vidya. Jaison Coopur James Dayalaya Jesmine Fernandes Jessin SJC Jibin Robin Jinu Sam Jacob Joanna, Social Worker John Dsouza, Mumbai , Documentalist John Peruvanthanam Johnson Puthenveettil, Director, KLCA, Alleppey Diocese Jolly Chirayath Jose Therattil Joseph Kannamkulam Joseph Maniangat Josephine Rozario K. Ajitha K. C. Sreekumar K. Ramachandran K. Sahadevan K.G. Jagadeeshan K.M. Thomas K.P. Sethunath Kalyani S. Karavali Karnataka Janabhivriddhi Vedike. KB Kannampilly KCR Raja, New Delhi KhalidaParveen Kusum Tripathi Leela Soloman Leena Abraham, Mumbai LEVIN Lumina da Costa, citiizen of Indiaendorse M D Varghese, a freelance Eco-Social Development Advisor M. Dasan, Dalit Thinker M. Sulfath M.K. George Madhuri Mondal, programme officer Magdalene Almeida Manju Kulapuram, Activist, Delhi Manoj Kedaram, Social Worker Manu Marcia DCunha ICWM Thane Maharashrea Mathew Sebastian Mercy Alexander Mini Bedi Mirsad Rahman Moksha Mary- Anmol NGO Co-ordinator Ms. Vanitha D'Souza Mujahid Nafees, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Muralidharan K, political activist Muthapan N. Subramanyan Namrata Lunia Nancy Vaz, Mumbai Nikita Naidu, Climate Action Nirmala Nita Arvind, Scrum Master Noela J Dias Noella de Souza, ICWM, IWTF, CRI. Om Prakash Singh, Cuttack P k Sasidharan P.T. John Padmaja Shaw Paniyadima John Philomena D'Souza, Satyashodhak, Mumbai Philomena….Provincial Prabhat Sharan, Journalist Prajval Shastri, astrophysicist Prasad Chacko, Social Worker, Ahmedabad Preeti Mehra, independent journalist, New Delhi Prema Chowallur SCC Prerana Gawde, Senior Programme Associate Promod Puzankara Pushpa Parmar Pyoli, Advocate Raj Shekhar, Right to Food Campaign Rajesh Rajnish Gambhir, All India Union of Forest Working People Raju kalathil,Advocate Ramnarayan, Independent Ecologist Raynah Marise Braganza Passanha, Pune Renita Rev. Indira Paul, Chennai Rev. Raju P George Rita Manchanda, Independent Rights Consultant Robert Joseph, Teacher Robi Arayakkandy. CPI(ML). Rohini, Writer Rosalind Elaiyarani Rosamma George Rosamma Thomas Rose Mary Tirkey ( Social Worker) Roshmi Goswami, Shillong. Runu Chakraborty S. Rajeevan Sabina Martins Sachin Chavan, Salahudheen Ayyoobi, Writer Sandeep kaithamparambat, artist Sandeep Ravindranath Sandhya Balasubramanian, Member – Growthwatch India Santana Pereira, Sahayini NGO Santosh Sharma Sarah Mathews. Managing Trustee, Sankalp Women's Support Alliance Sarath Keeraleeyam Sarojini N, Public Health Practitioner SAshalatha Seema Bhaskaran Shalini Gera, Advocate Shalom Gauri, student Sharad Lele, ATREE Shivsunder Sister Poonam cj. Sr Aruna Castelino /Director of Auxilium Out Reach Sr Maria Shirsath, Teacher Sr. Elphina Rodrigues Sr. Mary Jacintha. Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Congregation Sr. Melusina Colaco – religious Sr. Rita D Souza – prov adminstrator SR. Rita Fernandes Sr. Thelma Paiva Sr.Anita Gacias Sr.Marina Kalathil Sreedevi S Kartha Sreekala MG, Goa Sridhar Radhakrishnan Stella Baltazar fmm, provincial Suneeta Dhar Activist Sunirose, I. P Sunny Paikada Suresh Melettukochy. Suresh Rathaur mmu Susan Joseph, Social Worker Swarna bhat, social Activist Swatija Paranjape T N Sushama, Freelance writer Tamizharasi Thresia V.S. Anil Kumar Vaishnavi- Independent Labor Rights Activist, Journalist Vandita, Morarka (founder and CEO, One Future Collective) Vaneeta khristi Vanita Mukherjee Varsha Bhargavi Veena Maruthur Vijayan Punnathur Retiree Vishesh Guru, Anthropologist Prafulla Samanthara, National Convenor, NAPM India Sudhir Pattanaik, Editor , The Samadrusti, Bhubaneswar Debaprasad Ray, Secretary, Lohia Academy, Bhubaneswar Jyoti Ranjan Mahapatra, General Secretary, AIFB Odisha , Bhubaneswar Dr Sunilam, Ex MLA, President Multai Kisan Sangharsh samity , (MP) Shweta Tripathy, SRUTI, New Delhi Dr. Sandeep Pandey, General Secretary, Socialist Party of India -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/greenyouth/CACEsOZjWYMaBUzTsY8X7JdxJxRYhM3a6gXV0pBAa1MkzML4fpQ%40mail.gmail.com.
