Dear Friends,
It was a great expression of solidarity in the Candle Light Vigil organized by the civil society of Delhi on 18th March at India Gate, New Delhi. This was a spontaneous response to express our solidarity with the people of Japan affected by triple disasters. The Principal Councilor of Embassy of Japan Mr. Kochiro Uchiama who participated in the vigil shared our grief and promised to communicate our solidarity to the people of Japan.
As discussed and agreed already, an Anti-Nuclear Parliament March has been organized on the 25th March, Friday starting from Mandi House to Parliament at 12.00 noon. This protest march is to state our stand that we oppose all forms of nuclearisation of India, including nuclear (fission) power and weaponisation plans ane programmes AND demand an immediate moratorium on all new projects, and a stringent review of existing plants by independent experts. We demand for sustainable alternative forms of energy.
All of us are aware of the fact that more than the earthquake and tsunami it is the radiation from the nuclear plants which are likely to cause a larger damage to people’s health & well being, and is also draining resources & attention from critically needed recovery from the natural disasters. If this is the fate of a country whose technological & managerial capabilities are world renowned, where standards are generally maintained strictly to norms, what would happen in a country like India where these are routinely thrown to the winds with a ‘chalta hai’ attitude?
Our government continues to talk of review and safety measures, while others have taken the decision to close down many nuclear plants. It is reported that Germany shut down 7 of its older 17 nuclear plants that are currently in operation. It is also reported that Governor Cuomo of New York wanting to take a second look at the Indian Point nuclear plant in New York.
It is also reported that there are 21 operating nuclear reactors in India, along with a host of reprocessing, fuel-fabrication, mining and other nuclear plants, all potential sources of lethal ionising radiations. At this juncture when the entire world is resisting nuclear plants, the government of India, its scientific advisors and corporate interests are ridiculing the impending danger. It is reported that around 40 power companies have formed a consortium to lobby for the private sector’s entry into the nuclear power generation. These destructive policies and programmes based on corporate greed, corruption, global warfare, nuclear weapons resulting in environmental destruction and institutionalized exploitation would destroy our present and deny future to our children.
Against this anti-life and anti-people policies and programmes of the government of India, we are committed to alternate sources of energy that can be made available on a large scale to all the citizens of India. To protest nuclear plants and to demand for sustainable alternate forms of energy, this Parliament March is being organized. The Programme is:
Date: 25th March, 2011 Friday
Time: 12.00 noon
Venue: Assemble infront of the Sahitya Academy Lawns, Mandi House and then March towards Jantar Mantar.
Kindly circulate this information and invite everyone to be part of this protest march. Kindly come with placards and banners that register our protest against nuclearisation and demand for alternatives. Same appeal is made to friends in other parts of India.
This is also to announce that on 28th March 2011, Monday a protest rally and public meeting is organized by various people’s groups from both Fatehabad & other districts of Haryana, to say a clear NO to the proposed Gorakhpur Nuclear Power Plant. Some friends from Ajaadi Bachao Andolan, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha (BJVJ), Delhi Platform are supporting this struggle. Several activists and prominent citizens from Delhi are likely to join this people’s protest in Fatehabad on 28th. Let us express our solidarity with the people of Fatehabad who are resisting death and devastation and demanding for alternatives.
In solidarity
Anti-Nuclear Struggles’ Solidarity Forum
Adivasi Mahila Mahasangh – Jashpur – Chhattisgarh,AISWACS, Ajaadi Bachao Andolan, Bharat Jan Vigyan Jatha (BJVJ), Birsa Munda Bhu Adikar Manch – Rewa – Madhya Pradesh, Chetanalaya, CNDP, COVA, CRI, CTS, Delhi Forum, Delhi Platform, Delhi Solidarity Group, Domestic Workers Forum, Dynamic Action – Kerala, Focus on the Global South, Greenpeace, Himalaya Niti Abhiyan – Himachal Pradesh, ICR, Indian Social Institute – Delhi, INSAF, Institute for Democracy and SustainabilityJan Sangharsh Vahini – Delhi, Janawadi Sanskrutik Andolan – Odisha, Jharkhandis Organisation Against Radiation, JPDC- CBCI, JRS, Kaimoor Kshetra Mahila Mazdoor Kisan Sangharsh Samiti – Sonbhadra –UP, Nadi Ghatti Morcha – Chhattisgarh, Naga peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), National Centre for Advocacy Studies (NCAS), National Domestic Workers’ Union (NWDU), National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF), National Forum of Forest People and Forest Workers (NFFPFW), National Forest Rights Campaign, Nawa Chhattisgarh Mahila Sanghattan – Chhattisgarh, NAPM, NCDHR, Partners in Justice Concerns – Bangalore, PEACE, Pennurumai Iyyakam – Madurai – Tamil Nadu, PSA, SAPI, Skill Share India, The Other Media, Vidyajyoti, Vikalp – Saharanpur – UP and many individuals and organizations.
Contact details of some of the persons:
Anil Choudhary – 9811119347, Asit – 9873748177, Bhupender Rawat – 011-20506929, Dominic Mardi – 9968302208, John Chathanatt – 9868428308, Madhuresh – 9968302208, Prakash Louis – 9868240450, Priya Pillai – 9999357766, Rajendra Ravi – 9868200318, Seela Mahapatra – 9212587159, Soumya Dutta – 9213763756, Tarini Manchanda – 9350163480
Vijayan – 9868165471, Xavier Jeyaraj – 9868476957