My objection is that the proposed signatory is not given total infomation and is asked to sign almost on a blank chit. You may observe that the application is in very general and is because of no specific action. Trees are cut. The computer table on which my laptop is placed has wooden top, it could be particle board though. The moulded chair which I am sitting on has wooden seat topped by cushion. Idea of an environmentalist is the one who checks unnecessary and wasteful removal of wood, and one has to know clearly what is essential and what is not. What I had suggested was that this matter is pregnant with coontroversies, and both sides have strong views, so it would probably be wiser to keep away from such controversies. But anyway let others also give opinion, and we can have a consensus on that basis. Best wishes, akbhatt
On Mon, Dec 29, 2008 at 10:30 PM, J.M. Garg <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi, Anand ji, > I think it's related to Indian Flora & we should allow any thing related to > Indian Flora to come on Indiantreepix. However, it is upon individual > members to decide whether to sign or not as per their conscience. I am > writing this only to our moderators to know their views also. > > 2008/12/27 Anand Kumar Bhatt <[email protected]> > >> The application is vague. No specific instances have been given. It is >> the old dispute between development prioorities and environment. the real >> question is : can you do without the industrial developement? The paper you >> write on comes from forests, the clothes you wear is from forest (unless you >> are rich enough to buy only cottons), the transport, the car you drive, the >> office automation everything is at the cost of something from nature? What >> do you do, live in caves? Do you think the government does not understand >> this. People like you and me who constitute various deliberating committees >> in MEF and other Ministries and departmnets weigh the pros and cons and >> decide whether at some place something has to be done at the cost of >> forests. >> It woud be better if such controversies are kept out of this forum. Are we >> activists? It would be better to leave this type of acctivism to various >> organisations which over the last few decades have developed and are active >> in the field under the leadership of full time workers like Ms Medha Patkar >> et al. >> I refuse to sign and urge others to do likewise, if they believe in >> development. >> akbhatt >> >> On Sat, Dec 27, 2008 at 12:04 PM, Tejal V. <[email protected]>wrote: >> >>> FYI... >>> >>> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- >>> From: Campaign for Survival and Dignity <[email protected]> >>> Date: Dec 25, 2008 12:00 PM >>> Subject: [forestrights] Please sign - appeal on illegal diversion of >>> forest land >>> To: [email protected] >>> >>> Dear all, >>> >>> As a result of requests during this time., we are extending our request >>> for signing the appeal letter on illegal forest diversion till Friday, >>> January 2nd. We already have signatures from many organisations and >>> individuals but would request that others also consider signing on. As >>> always please respond to [email protected]. Please see the >>> original email, with the letter for signatures, below. >>> >>> Campaign for Survival and Dignity >>> >>> Dear all, >>> >>> Over the last year, the Ministry of Environment and Forests has shown its >>> contempt for the law by diverting forest lands in violation of the Forest >>> Rights Act and of the rights of the people of those areas. This has >>> destroyed both forests and people's homelands and caused immense damage to >>> the environment, livelihoods and conservation. In this context, we are >>> circulating an appeal letter to the Prime Minister demanding that the MoEF >>> comply with the law. The letter is pasted below. >>> >>> Please write to [email protected] with your name and/or the name >>> of your organisation if you would be interested in signing this appeal >>> letter. Please also circulate the letter more widely. >>> >>> On behalf of the Convening Collective >>> Campaign for Survival and Dignity >>> >>> To: >>> >>> Dr. Manmohan Singh >>> >>> Prime Minister of India and Minister for Environment and Forests >>> >>> Government of India >>> >>> Sub:- Continued illegal diversion of forest land in violation of >>> applicable statutes, in particular Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional >>> Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act >>> >>> Dear Sir, >>> >>> We are writing to you to express our deep concern at the repeated >>> violation of the law by the Ministry of Environment and Forests when >>> diverting forest land for non-forest use under the Forest (Conservation) >>> Act, 1980. The Ministry's failure to respect, acknowledge and abide by the >>> statutory requirements gives rise to concern that it is seeking to allow >>> diversion at all costs, rather than fulfilling its constitutional duty and >>> mandate. >>> >>> Diversion of forest lands for industrial, commercial and other projects >>> has been increasing rapidly over the past decade; the annual rate of >>> diversion between 2002 and 2008 was 50% higher than that between 1980 and >>> 2002. The acceleration in diversion reflects increased pressure from >>> industry, especially mining companies, for access to minerals and forest >>> land. Forty five mining projects have been given in principle or final >>> clearance in just October and November 2008, and 74 more are pending. Many >>> of India's protected areas, wildlife corridors and community forests have >>> been greatly harmed by forest diversion for extremely destructive >>> activities. Such forest destruction is now a serious threat to forests, >>> wildlife and to the livelihoods of tribals and forest dwellers in India. >>> >>> On January 1st, 2008, the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest >>> Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act was brought into force. Since >>> this law seeks to protect the traditional rights of forest dwellers, it has >>> a direct bearing on questions of forest diversion. In particular there are >>> at least two aspects of this law that would directly affect the legality of >>> forest diversion: >>> >>> - Under section 4(5), no forest dweller can be removed from his or >>> her lands until recognition of rights is complete under the Act. Further >>> forest lands on which other rights – such as to minor forest produce – >>> are >>> exercised can also not be diverted until recognition is complete. *As >>> such, from January 1**st** onwards, no lands which are being >>> cultivated by forest dwellers or which are being used for other rights >>> can >>> be diverted until recognition of rights is complete*. >>> - Under sections 3(1)(i) and 5 of the Act, forest dwelling >>> communities are empowered to also protect and conserve forests. Section >>> 3(1)(e) also gives Primitive Tribal Groups and pre-agricultural >>> communities >>> a right to their habitat. *Forests where communities have such >>> rights, or where they have declared their intent to protect, clearly >>> cannot >>> be diverted without the consent of the gram sabha of the concerned >>> community >>> – which is a statutory authority under the Act.* >>> >>> >>> >>> Despite this, the Ministry has continued with forest diversion for large >>> projects in direct violation of these statutory requirements, as the above >>> statistics show. Even in areas where forest dwelling communities have >>> asserted their rights and invoked the Forest Rights Act – such as the >>> Niyamgiri hills, where Vedanta plans bauxite mining, or the POSCO steel >>> plant project – the Ministry has continued to support diversion before the >>> Supreme Court. >>> >>> We call upon you to immediately halt such illegal actions by the >>> Ministry and to ensure that the forest diversion process is undertaken in >>> compliance with the letter and spirit of applicable laws. Rampant diversion >>> of forest land is not in the interests of wildlife, forest dwellers or the >>> nation. >>> Sincerely, >>> >>> ------- >>> CAMPAIGN FOR SURVIVAL AND DIGNITY >>> The Campaign is a federation of tribal and forest community organisations >>> from eleven States. >>> Campaign Phone: 9810819301. >>> Delhi Contact: Q-1 Hauz Khas Enclave, Delhi 110016, Ph: 011-26569023. >>> >>> . >>> >>> __,_._,___ >>> >>> >>> >> >> >> -- >> Anand Kumar Bhatt >> A-59, B.S.F.Colony, Airport Road >> Gwalior. 474 005. >> Tele: 0751-247 2233. Mobile 0 94253 09780. >> >> >> >> > > > -- > With regards, > J.M.Garg > "We often ignore the beauty around us" > Creating Awareness about Indian Flora & Fauna: > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 > For learning about our trees & plants, please visit/ join Google e-group > (Indiantreepix) http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix?hl=en > > -- Anand Kumar Bhatt A-59, B.S.F.Colony, Airport Road Gwalior. 474 005. Tele: 0751-247 2233. 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