AID News for May 4 2004

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AID News for Tue May 4 2004

AID News for Tue May 4, 2004
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AID News for Tue May 4, 2004
Good evening everybody
Today's Headlines
1) Appeal for Narmada Struggle
2) Green conference on farmers rights
3) Required in Narmada Valley
4) Other Articles
Today's News
1) Appeal for Narmada Struggle
This mail comes to you from all of us in Narmada Valley struggling
to protect her and the life and livelihood for the past 19 years.
The decision to increase the height of the dam to 110 mts, violating
all legal conditionalities, was a severe blow as that would mean
wiping out of hundreds of families left without rehabilitation, or
cheating with low grade uncultivable land and ex- parte
allocation. It is now certain that the lands and houses of thousands
of adivasis and farmers will be drowned this very monsoon in the
valley of Narmada.
Pushed against the wall, Narmada Bachao Andolan has no other way
than to plan for itself the rehabilitation of these thousands. As a
beginning, we are starting a Bhoomi Haq Satyagraha from March 7th,
2004 by capturing unused government land of about 1000 hectors,
which would suffice for 200 families. The Satyagraha will aim at
creating a new village Narmada Jeevangaon where adivasis and their
supporters from across the country activists, artists, engineers,
eminent persons and common concerned citizens will build a village
based on equity and justice. This include not just sustainable
living but also encouraging other alternatives in the field of
housing, health, land and water management, energy etc.
This is an earnest appeal to confirm your support for his new,
exciting and critical Satyagraha. Its you on whom we depend to come
forward and support this new stage of struggle in the Narmada Valley
at this very critical time. You are invited to come and strengthen
the hands of the people by being with them during this decisive
phase, or by writing to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra and
President of India, asking them to provide just rehabilitation to
the affected population.
We also appeal volunteers to come in large numbers to physically
help out in building the new Jeevangoanwe are dreaming about&. for
land development, watershed development etc.. technically skilled
persons in all alternative skills are welcome.
The Satyagraha will start on May 7th at a place near Dhule. Please
reach Dhule by May 6th or get in touch with any of the contacts
below. Your presence will boost our morale and the struggle to
build a just rehabilitation. We hope that you will stand by us when
we march to secure our justice on May 7th early morning.
Yours sincerely
Medha Patkar
How to reach: Dhule is 9 hour journey from Mumabi& Please contact
Shyam Patil at Dhule 02562 246367 and you will be taken to the
satyagraha spot.
Mumbai Contact: Pervin Jehangir 22184779
Baroda NBA Office: 0265 2282232
Badwani NBA Office: 07290 222464
-- Contributed by Pervin Jehangir <pjeh...@hotmail.com>
2) Green conference on farmers rights & intellectual property rights
GREEN Foundation is organising a conference on farmers rights &
intellectual property rights on May 7 & May 8 in Bangalore and
interested AID volunteers are welcome to attend it. Please contact
them at
http://greenconserve.com/CONTACT%20US.htm
for more information.
The Theme of the conference is
1. Protection of farmers rights to their varieties and
their knowledge
2. What are the threats? Where do these threats come from?
Govt. policies / Trade and Technology
3. How do we protect community IPRs - A panel discussion on
Plant Varieties Protection, biodiversity laws, sustainable
livelihoods, agro-biodiversity and agriculture
-- Karuna Muthiah <karuna....@oracle.com>
3) Required in Narmada Valley
The following medicines are required in the Narmada Valley (esp the
Rehab colony). If anyone has contacts with appropriate pharmacies or
doctors with samples, please contact Sachit at
satchit...@hotmail.com
Paracetamol (100tabs)
Neurozolidone (500tabs)
Ampicillin / Amoxicillin (1000tabs)
Erythromycin (1000 tabs)
Norfloxacin (1000 tabs)
Domperidone (500 tabs)
Ibuprofen (1000 tabs)
Dressing tray
Chloroquine / other anti malarials
Septran
Pediatric syrup antibiotics as available. (ampi / amox) (50
bottles)
Septran (1000 tabs)
Antitussive (cough syrups) (100 bottles)
Syringes / needles (500)
IV sets (100)
Oral Rehydrating Solution (1000 packets)
Chlorine tablets for chlorinating drinking water
-- Contributed by Pervin Jehangir <pjeh...@hotmail.com>
4) Other articles
a) Ranking the Rich
The second annual CGD/FP Commitment to Development Index ranks 21
rich nations on how their aid, trade, investment, migration,
environment, security, and technology policies help poor
countries. Find out who's up, who's down, why Denmark and the
Netherlands earn the top spots, and why Japan - once again -
finishes last.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=2540#1
-- Contributed by Hema Swaminathan <h_swam...@yahoo.com>
b) The millions who cannot vote
(Article written by P.Sainath)
In April-May, there will be countless millions of migrant labourers
scraping out a living away from their homes. By having elections at
a time when people are forced to migrate in search of work, we are
simply excluding an ever-growing number of citizens from the vote.
http://www.indiatogether.org/2004/apr/psa-novote.htm
-- India Together Newsletter
c) What are you waiting for?
The Age of Consent is a clarion call to implausible action. But
maybe that's the point - to urge that we ask why the obviously good
outcomes seem so unlikely, and why only the privileged even have the
luxury of asking this anymore. L S Aravinda reviews George Monbiot's
latest book.
http://www.indiatogether.org/2004/apr/rvw-consent.htm
-- India Together Newsletter
Thats all for today
Sid
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