Friday, December 24, 2010

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Meeting on Issues of Human Rights Defenders at EU Delegation Office, 14.12.2010


Introduction (9.45- 9.50)

Exchange of views on the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders (9.50 – 10.10)

Discussion on the situation of Human Rights Defenders in India (10.10 – 11.00)

Last time when you had such a meeting Lenin had expressed the threat he and other human rights defenders around or associated with PVCHR are facing.

We are thankful to governments of Ireland, Netherlands and Czech Republic for their constant support in cases related to Dr Lenin. The first secretary, political in Netherlands embassy, in particular was constantly in touch with Lenin to understand the development of the case. He also offered to come down to Varanasi to observe the court proceeding, which has not started yet.

These interactions also resulted in organisations like Frontline providing financial support for covering legal cost. UN rappourtuere too took cognigence of the case.

As a result:

·         There is no direct threat to HRDs working with us from the state.

·         But the indirect threat has increased.

·         No more beating of the accused in the custody.

·         Winning over lawyers is the main strategy to manipulate at the pre trial stage.

·         Nexus between perpetrator, lawyers and lower court to favour some elements in lieu of gain.

 

Discussion on the interaction and communication between Human Rights Defenders and EU diplomats in India (11.00 – 12.00)

·         The victims, perpetrator, human rights defenders, state as well as international agencies are living in different time space. What about the HRDs who do not speak English are we listening to them enough, are we talking about them enough?

·         Relation between state and HRDs are changing due to waves of democratization of information demanding more transparency. HRDs also face the challenges of new accountability. Sometimes leading to deficit of legitimacy.

·         The challenge is to how to reach to the HRDs with real time responses while maintaining relation in virtual time. Issues of human rights defenders must be retooled as a part of the strategy not raised as a part of kneejerk reaction.

·         We all know the power of Internet. India has 85 million internet user, certainly large enough than many of the European country, sadly we have not seen EU creating a dedicated section for leveraging on that target group by posting credible and good narratives of Human Rights Defenders. An effort in this direction would bring synchronization between information availability and media space.

 


By-Dr. Mohan Lal Panda

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Photograph of U.P-IHRE State Launch program

 Photograph of U.P-IHRE State Launch program

Friday, December 03, 2010

Fwd: Press Release: Areva's EPR in India

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---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anne-Laure Meladeck <anne-laure.meladeck@sortirdunucleaire.fr>
Date: Fri, Dec 3, 2010 at 7:40 PM
Subject: Press Release: Areva's EPR in India
To: sdn_int_contacts@sortirdunucleaire.org


Dear all,

For your information, please find below our press release on N. Sarkozy's visit to India and the agreement on the two EPR.

Kind Regards,

Anne-Laure.



Réseau "Sortir du nucléaire", alliance of 873 associations to protect the environnement
http://www.sortirdunucleaire.org/


Press Release :
India treats herself to two EPR for the 26th anniversary of Bhopal, in spite of a strong opposition from the local populations

Lyon 3/12/2010- On the 26th anniversary of the Bhopal industrial catastrophe[1], Nicolas Sarkozy and his Indian counterpart made public an agreement guaranteeing the purchase of two EPR reactors from the French contractor Areva. The reactors would be built next to the city of Jaitapur, in the Maharashtra state, an earthquake prone zone[2] – level 4/5- which would significantly increase the risk of a new major industrial catastrophe in the country.

The two EPR reactors that are currently being built in France and Finland already suffer from important delays and over-costs. The budget for Flamanville is thus already overspent by, at least, 1,7 billion euros. The Indian Government is taking the wrong path of nuclear power, by investing in a very expensive and dangerous source of energy. Renewables such as wind or solar power are, on the other hand, already available and for the same amount of money invested, enable the creation of 15 times more jobs than nuclear power does[3].

A strong opposition from local populations

Three thousand local inhabitants got voluntarily arrested last November as a protest against this project[4]. The building of the two reactors threatens indeed not only the local fishing economy but also the health and security of the populations. The Indian Government refused on November 29 entry visas to scientists from the International Panel on Fissile Materials who had organized a meeting to discuss the Indian nuclear program[5]; as a reminder, India has yet not signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

By imposing itself in spite of the People's will, nuclear power demonstrates once again that it is not compatible with democracy. Whether in India or in France, nuclear power would not exist if the populations were consulted and listened to[6].


Some PR effect around Cancun

It is not pure haphazard if this announcement is made while in Cancun, the United Nations negotiations on climate change are taking place. In order to obtain always more funds to sell reactors to developing countries, the nuclear industry tries to persuade us that nuclear energy is the answer to climate change. Despite Areva's PR attempt, nuclear power is not a solution to CO2 emissions, whereas energy efficiency and renewables are eleven times more effective when it comes to reduce greenhouse gases[7].

The network "Reseau Sortir du Nucléaire" condemns those deals made at the expense of peoples and the environment, and calls upon populations to keep on resisting these destructive nuclear projects.


Media contact:
Steven Mitchell : +33 (0)952 495 022


[1] The Bhopal catastrophe occurred happened during the night of the 3rd of December 1984, and is considered the biggest industrial catastrophe up to this date.

[2] http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/India_earthquake_zone_map_en.svg

[3] Les Sept Vents du Cotentin, "Un courant alternatif pour le Grand Ouest – Quelles alternatives au réacteur EPR ?", 2006.

[4] http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article857678.ece

[5] http://www.nature.com/news/2010/101129/full/468613a.html

[6] BVA poll « Les Français et l'environnement », 2007.

[7] Rocky Moutain Institute, "The Nuclear Illusion""The Nuclear Illusion" , 2008, p.19.





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Dr. Lenin
Executive Director-PVCHR/JMN
Mobile:+91-9935599333
 
Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule.
--The Buddha
 
 
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Presentation of Weimar’s 2010 Human Rights Award to Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, FNF Alumni : MyNews.in

Presentation of Weimar’s 2010 Human Rights Award to Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, FNF Alumni : MyNews.in