Normally disclaimers are posted on the forums like website, google-group, print media and news channels. For the first time I’m writing a claimer. When we in Indian Youth Climate Network (IYCN) decided to endorse Independent People’s Tribunal (IPT) against forced displacement, land acquisition and operation green hunt, we were bombarded with lot of questions like: Why are we doing this? This is very sensitive issue, we should not touch it. Why IYCN and http://whatswiththeclimate.org are the bodies sending out and advertising the proceedings (of IPT), of course these things are tangentially related but it strikes odd and in some ways unsmart to be laying all this into IYCN.
After all these questions and proceedings of the tribunal it became important for me and rest of the team, to write our own point of view-where do we stand on this whole issue. I will answer these questions with three arguments.
First argument: Operation Green Hunt, Land Acquisition & Resource Grab, through state, is happening in the central part of country which is mostly inhabited by the indigenous population. The very same people are actually living in harmony with environment; they worship and protect Mother Nature. In the typical “Climate” Activist way I can say that these people have lowest or negative “Carbon Footprint”. (Can someone calculate the carbon footprint of “Savior” of the world Mr. Al Gore?). Destruction of their sustainable lifestyle through war and other mechanisms is unacceptable on all grounds. They are the people who are a real inspiration for the “environmentalists”. Their land is supposed to be acquired through “Operation Green Hunt” collaborative effort of state and corporations. The forest and agricultural land after encroachment by these two players will be used for mining, setting up polluting industries like sponge iron and steel, thermal power plants etc. These are the most disastrous and ecologically destructive tasks, which are unacceptable to “Climate” Activist for that matter to all those who are working on environmental issues. Apart from that the production and use of arms and ammunition is highly carbon intensive.
In developing countries like India environmental activism is more than a conservation effort or symbolic acts. The very livelihood of the people here, which is sustainable, is dependent on clean and peaceful environment. The war will not only take the lives of the people but the flora and fauna in the area will also be destroyed. So for us it becomes extremely important to oppose this inhuman operation.
Second argument: Let’s check the name of the organization “Indian Youth Climate Network”, “Indian” as an Indian how can we accept the displacement and genocide of our very own people, who are living the most sustainable life on earth even more than the “Climate” Activist. “Youth”, Youth is always defined as a group of those who don’t adapt to the given circumstances they always seek for change. How can the youth of this nation keep his/her mouth shut when injustice is happening in present circumstances with co-citizens? Now “Climate”, Climate word is not only related to the average pattern of weather, it is also used as a metaphor for example “Political or Economic Climate”, here this has nothing to do with atmosphere. When we talk about climate we need to talk about the issues which are relevant to the climate of different socio-economic spheres.
Third argument: This is based on humanitarian grounds. We are not Maowadi or Maoist sympathizers. Our sympathy is with the people who are suffering because of war between the state and ultra left militia. The war and injustice is unacceptable to the residents of this country where great spirits like “Buddha”, “Kabir”, “Bullah Shah”, “Mahatama Gandhi” were born. We appeal to all parties to abjure violence and become a part of dialogue so that sustainable, participatory and ecologically sound democracy can be reinstated in this country.
I will conclude with the words of my colleague Mr. Rishab Khanna
“I think all of us are aware about the naxal problem, and I am sure most of you know that it is the most pressing threat to our internal security. Most of the mining and deforestation in this country is happening in the naxal belt so it is related the climate justice issue. The indigenous people are fighting for forest and other sensitive ecosystems. It is our duty to support their struggle, even if it means by participating in the event or spreading the word about the event.
Mr. Prashant Bhushan and Dr. Vandana Shiva are very senior activists (there are a lot of others as well who endorsed and participated in this event) and respected all over the world for their commitment to environmental justice.
All I know is that the constitution of our country confer the right to life to its citizens (under article 21). We cannot be ignorant to the killings of our brothers and sisters by our own tax money!”
With deep regards
Kabir Arora
Indian Youth Climate Network
