Focus on the Global South - India Programme

For more details please contact Sampat Kale: 9423202202; Ulka Mahajan: 9869232478; Shiva Dhakal: 9011596707; Simpreet Singh: 9969363065; Preeti Sampat: 9004071740

Dear Friends and Colleagues,
 
We are pleased to invite you to a People’s Audit of SEZs in Maharashtra on September 15, 2009 at Pen Taluka in Raigad District.
 
As you may know, Maharashtra has the largest number of approved SEZs in the country to date: 204. This People’s Audit, along with an eminent panel, will critically examine issues emerging around large SEZs, of land acquisition; displacement; corruption; environmental impact; compensation as well as questions of development and economic growth from different districts in Maharashtra: Raigad, Mumbai, Thane, Nasik, Poona, Nagpur, Amravati, Aurangabad and Chandrapur.
 
Your participation and engagement would prove extremely valuable in critically examining the unfolding political economy of SEZs and in articulating the development needs of the State. We hope that you will join us in this process and since this is a largely campaign based initiative we are requesting participants to find support for travel to Mumbai. We will make all necessary arrangements for your food and stay within the area and travel from Mumbai to Raigad and back.
 
This effort has been jointly initiated by the Jagatikaran Virodhi Kriti Samiti (JVKS; alliance of several peasant organizations in SEZ areas in Maharashtra), National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM), the National Campaign for People's Right to Information (NCPRI), the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS) and the India Centre for Human Rights Lawyers Network (ICHRLN).
 
Brief Background:
 
The SEZ Act was enacted in India in 2005 and since, 722 SEZs have already been approved in the country with many in various stages of approval, land acquisition or completion as the case may be. SEZs have invited controversy and peasant resistance in many quarters and have become bones of contention between the state, the developers and ordinary citizens.
 
To recap some of the features of the law: the Special Economic Zone Act 2005 deems SEZs as “public purpose.” The definition of manufacturing in the Act includes manufacturing and production processes, and includes agriculture, aquaculture, animal husbandry, floriculture, horticulture, pisciculture, poultry, sericulture, viticulture, mining and services. This comprehensive inclusion of all types of economic activities within the purview of SEZs, comes with no restrictions on the maximum size and numbers of SEZs and a requirement of only 50% of the proposed land to be dedicated to economic activity. SEZs do not have any local body representation; nor adequate representation of labour and environmental concerns in their administrative structure. The Act contains provisions like section 31(9) that further remove accountability mechanisms from the Zone Authority: “No act or proceeding of an Authority shall be invalidated merely by reason of—a) any vacancy in, or any defect in the constitution of, the Authority; or b) any defect in the appointment of a person acting as a Member of the Authority; or c) any irregularity in the procedure of the Authority not affecting the merits of the case.” 
 
What has been the impact of this radical legislation? Given the potentially large scale implications and the nature of "development"  envisaged by the SEZ Act in the country, the NAPM, the NCPRI, TISS, ICHRLN, NCAS, JVKS and several other groups and organisations from across the states and SEZ areas met in early July initiate a national People’s Audit on SEZs process in India. The Maharashtra People’s Audit is first in a series that will be followed by similar exercises in Goa, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Orissa, West Bengal and Delhi. The People’s Audits will seek to examine the impact of the projects against stated objectives, as well as the impact of the law on the people of the area, and the political economy of the country.
 
Looking forward to your kind participation on September 15.
 
Warm Regards,
Ulka Mahajan and Sampat Kale
 
(On Behalf of the Organisers)


1.b. G20 -  March to Say: Jobs NOT War!  Hands OFF Iran!

March for Jobs - Sunday, Sept. 20
Tent City - Sept. 20 - 25

As the unemployment rate continues to skyrocket, Washington is stepping up threats against the people of Iran, using phony claims about "weapons of mass destruction."  Last week the New York Times reported that U.S. officials are claiming Iran "has created enough nuclear fuel to make a rapid, if risky, sprint for a nuclear weapon."  These claims, which are  flatly contradicted by earlier reports from every major U.S. intelligence agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), bear a striking resemblence to Bush Administration claims leading up to the illegal invasion of Iran.

These claims come as Congress is considering a new round of draconian sanctions against Iran.  Ealier this summer, on the June 6 ABC's This Week, Vice President JoeBiden opened the door to a military attack when he said that the U.S. would not stand in the way of an Israeli strike against Iranian nuclear facilities, calling such an attack is Israel’s “sovereign right.” Israel, he said, was “free to do what it needed to do.” 
 
Biden’s threat came during a full corporate media offensive against Iran. Its timing - and the new threats - should serve as an alert to the entire progressive and anti-war movement. U.S. aircraft carriers, destroyers, nuclear submarines, jet aircraft and drones clog the seas that wash up on Iranian shores.  In light of the events of this summer, and the ongoing propoganda war against Iran, it is important to remember that John Bolton told the Telegraph of London in 2007 that a US military attack on Iran would "be a 'last option' after economic sanctions and attempts to foment a popular revolution had failed."

Join us at the G20 in Pittsburgh to say "Hands Off Iran - Money for Jobs, Not for War!"Washington is planning to use the G20 in Pittsburgh to rally support for its ongoing campaign against Iran.  We need to be there to demand "Jobs, Not War!"

In this time of global capitalist crisis, when millions are unemployed and millions more facing evictions and foreclosures, we must demand that the hundreds of billions of dollars spent on current U.S. wars and the trillions that would criminally wasted in a new war be spent for jobs, health care and housing for poor and working people in the U.S. and around the world.

On Sunday, September 20, join the Stop War On Iran contingent in the March for Jobs, kicking off with an opening rally at Wylie Avenue and Soho Street (map here) in Pittsburgh at 2:00 pm.

Join the Tent City in solidarity with the unemployed, beginning Sunday, September 20, and lasting through Friday, September 25.

On Monday, September 21, join us at the "Bring the Troops Home" antiwar rally; and then the Peoples' March on Friday, starting at noon.

For more information, including transportation, an updated schedule of events, and more, see http://bailoutpeople.org/g20information.shtml.
 
How you can help:
1) March with the Stop War On Iran Campaign at the G20 in Pittsburgh.  See http://www.bailoutpeople.org for information on G20 events.
2) Donate - help Stop War On Iran continue to mobilize to stop another colonial war - http://stopwaroniran.org/donate.shtml
3) Sign up for updates - stay involved - http://stopwaroniran.org/contact.shtml
 

STOP WAR ON IRAN
55 W. 17th St. 5th Fl., NY NY 10011
www.StopWarOnIran.org   212.633.6646


1.c. Towards an Alternative Indian Climate Policy: Copenhagen and beyond
7 September 2009
Constitution Club, New Delhi: September 18, 2009: 10am – 4pm

Dear Friends,

The Copenhagen Conference in December 2009 to decide upon global and national commitments to tackle the climate crisis is almost upon us. Negotiations both formal and informal are taking place across the world, yet the overwhelming sense is one of deadlock over several issues and apprehension that an agreement may elude us. Can India play a more pro-active role in this process, significantly influence the outcome and display leadership that India often claims the world does not adequately recognize? 

The Delhi Science Forum and the Centre for Science, Technology & Society of the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai had jointly organized a Workshop in Mumbai on 31st July and 1st August 2009 bringing together experts and academics, think tanks, social movements, professional NGOs, planners and media persons to discuss “Breaking the Climate Deadlock: towards a New Climate Policy for India''. This Workshop had arrived at a broad consensus on an alternative Indian policy framework on the climate crisis in general and a set of recommendations for India’s negotiating position for Copenhagen. Statement of the Mumbai Workshop is attached.

The present Seminar seeks to further broaden the discussion of this position, especially through fresh insights from political parties, trade unions and other mass organizations and social movements, so as to more forcefully influence the positions and actions of our Government. There may be little time left before the Copenhagen meeting but there is still considerable scope for impacting outcomes.   

The Seminar Programme and a brief Concept Note are also attached.

Broadly, the Seminar would discuss substantive issues based on a few select presentations in the morning session, followed by remarks and responses by representatives of political parties, mass organizations and public intellectuals in the afternoon. A few participants have expressed the desire to make structured interventions or brief presentations. A more detailed Programme incorporating the above or any other additions/changes will be circulated later.

We earnestly hope you will be able to join us for this important discussion and interaction and look forward to your valuable contributions.

With warm regards
        -sd-                          -sd-                -sd-
D.Raghunandan          T.Jayaraman         Navroz Dubash         Sharachhandra Lele   

Seminar Organizing Committee

1. d Asian Peoples Solidarity for Climate Justice – September 29-October 5 2009 in Bangkok

The “Asian Peoples’ Solidarity for Climate Justice” and the “Thai Working Group for Climate Justice (TCJ)” would like to invite you all to participate in the common activities and to utilize available facilities for civil societies and movements during the UNFCCC Talk in Bangkok in Sep/Oct 2009. The “Asian Peoples’ Solidarity for Climate Justice” was formed at the regional preparation meeting in Bangkok on July 18-19, 2009, where more than 20 groups and organizations participated. TCJ, as the local host, was tasked to facilitate the common activities and the participation of both local and international activists.
 
The common activities are:
1)     Press conference on September 29th (details of the event will be announced by the media team);
2)     Asian Peoples’ Solidarity for Climate Justice Day of Action: Parade on the street of Bangkok from Santichaiprakarn Park to the UN, October 5th from 9.00 – 12.00 h.
 
The common space for organizing exhibition and workshops:
1)     14 October 1973 Monument not far from the UN will be set as the “Climate Justice Hub” where several workshops will happen and small exhibition space will be available;
2)     Mattayom Wat Benchamabophit School near to the UN will be the spot with large exhibition space. This is also the place where activities with large number of participants will be organized. It is estimated that more than 1,000 people will be using this space between October 2-4.
 
Hence, we would like to encourage you to take part in these activities and make use of the exhibition space.
 
Equally important, there will be various workshops and seminars happening during that week as part of the Asian Peoples’ Solidarity for Climate Justice. For your information, we attempt to gather all information regarding these activities and put them in a matrix.
 
Please kindly see in the attached file for crucial information of the common activities, key locations, and the workshop matrix. We will update the matrix on a weekly basis until the Bangkok Talk starts.
 
Lastly, please kindly note that in solidarity of supporting the common activities of Asian Peoples’ Solidarity  for Climate Justice (press conference on September 29th, the common rally on October 5th, and the use of common space for exhibition at the 'Climate Justice Hub' and the Mattayom Wat Benchamabophit School), we would like to request each group which is part of the Asian Peoples’ Solidarity  for Climate Justice to kindly contribute 600 USD (or 20,000 BHT) (please contact Worapoj Wongkitrungruang ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) of Thai Working Group for Climate Justice (TCJ) for transfer information). This amount is strictly for the above indicated common activities, and is apart from expenses which may occur from organizing workshops or other activities of different groups and networks. We do understand the financial limitation of many friends, so we respect any amount or contribution received.
 
See you in Bangkok!
 
In solidarity towards Climate Justice,
 
Kingkorn Narintarakul (Kae)
 
on behalf of Thai Working Group for Climate Justice (TCJ)