MOre to the point has anyone asked the indigenous Andamanese what they call
the islands and thought about renaming it according to their nomenclature?
Out of simple respect for their heritae?
Anna
On Sun, Nov 22, 2009 at 10:03 PM, shibu brooks <shibubrooks@...>wrote:

>
>
>
>
> what  difference does it make if we change the name of  our
> islands..........  will the attitude of the people change.......... just
> imagine the cost which will incure to change all boards of offices.. forget
>  all changing letter head and rubber stamps........
>
> we should be logical in our approach.......
>
> we have vessels in the name of M.V. Swaraj dweep plying between chennai and
> port blair..may the admin can do is give shaeed to the next vessel while
> procuring.
> andaman and nicobar islands is fine .. do we really think about the freedom
> fighters who have laid their lives for us...  freedom is like a cooked cake
> for us.
> ..  i have personally seen the new generation is not at all interested to
> see museums /national monuments. they are interested in beaches./ people
> come to port blair go to havelock same day and return the previous night
> before leaving.
> patriotism/ charity and etticasy begins at home.
>
> When on a trip to Srilanka for drydocking of our vessel  i was so
> enlightened seeing  people start work after the national anthem is sung on
> the pa system.
> we should also have systems like that and make this place a better place to
> live. changing names do thay really matter...........//////////////
>
>
> --- On Sun, 11/22/09, Pankaj Andaman
<psekhsaria@...<psekhsaria%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> From: Pankaj Andaman <psekhsaria@... <psekhsaria%40gmail.com>>
> Subject: [andamanicobar] Renaming of A&N as Shaheed & Swaraj urged
> To: "andamanicobar"
<andamanicobar@...<andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in>
> >
> Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 4:40 PM
>
>
> THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, Nov 22, 2009
>
> Renaming of A&N as Shaheed & Swaraj urged
>
> Port Blair, Nov 21
>
>     The State Conference of All India Forward Block was held recently at
> Delanipur community hall which was inaugurated by Shri Naren Dey,
> Secretary, AIFB and Minister of Agriculture and Consumer’s Affair, Govt.
> of West Bengal. In his address, the Minister urged the party workers to
> work relentlessly to attain democratic and fundamental rights. Shri G
> Devarajan, Secretary, AIFB also addressed the gathering.
>
>     The conference also passed a resolution to press their demand for
> renaming these islands as ‘Shaheed and Swaraj’ as named by Netaji
> Subhash Chandra Bose, declaring 23rd January, the birthday of Netaji as
> Netaji Jayanti/ Desh Prem Diwas besides other issues for the development
> and welfare of the islanders. Earlier, a district conference was held at
> Billiground.
>
>     A State Committee has been constituted at the conference with S/Shri
> Lingamayya as Chairman and A Pandyan, General Secretary besides five
> office bearers and eight committee members, a communication said here.
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Community support needed to conserve biodiversity: Jairam Ramesh
22 Nov 2009, 1603 hrs IST, ET Bureau

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/5257390.cms
COIMBATORE: Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest, Jairam
Ramesh called for community participation to conserve biodiversity and to
protect the environment.

Speaking to reporters at Salim Ali Centre of Ornithology and Natural
History (Sacon), Mr Ramesh said poaching and poisoning of tigers is a
serious issue in India. “In order to control it, we are setting up
protection forces involving local communities apart from upgrading
wildlife crime control bureau,” he added.

He said, out of 37 tiger reserves in India, only 9 are in good shape, 10
in satisfactory condition and remaining in precarious situation. Also,
there are only 1200 to 1400 tigers in the wild now.

Mr Ramesh said the ministry is looking forward to amend the Wildlife
Protection Act 1972 by initiating a stringent punishment for crime
caused to wildlife. “As like FEMA Act or Money Laundering Act, the
punishment for crime caused to wildlife should also be severe. We have
already done some changes to the old act and has circulated it to all
states for inputs,” he added.

He said, police alone cannot safeguard wildlife and forest but, the
local communities should also take some interest in preserving the same.
As an experiment, the forest officials have started involving local
Gujjars for social enforcement in Corbett National Park. The minister is
also looking to involve the local communities in other parts of the
country to protect the environment.

He cited an example of how Sacon is working with social communities
including church groups and students to increase awareness of hornbill,
which is almost extinct in Nagaland. Another example for sustainability
was the work of Sacon at Andaman and Nicobar valley, where they preserve
edible-nest swiftlet, a valuable bird that is currently on smuggling net.

Earlier Mr Ramesh released a wetlands atlas of India, which was prepared
by Sacon based on satellite imagery. “There are over 60,000 inland
wetlands present in India spread over 7 million hectares. These wetlands
are on great threat from real estate people. So the local community and
local administration should take steps to protect them,” he said.

Regarding the proposal of setting up a neutrino observatory at Singara
in Nilgiris, Mr Ramesh said, “after spending almost two months on the
subject, I have come to a conclusion that Singara cannot be permitted.

It is now a closed chapter.”

He said, the observatory is very important for both theoretical and
experimental physics but when matter was evenly balanced, he had to
yearn on the side of environment. He added there would have been a
four-year period of considerable disturbances in that area with serious
implications on the corridor if the project had been given a
go-ahead.

Box Item:

Mr Jairam Ramesh said Institute of Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding,
Coimbatore will introduce four clones each of Eucalyptus and Casuarina
by March 2010 for commercial cultivation. “The college is also working
on GM Eucalyptus, where genes are introduced to make it salt tolerant.
The new variety would be ready for field trials in four years time,” he
added.

Dear citizens of India

It is true what makes the difference if change the name of Islands. It is
useless idea. What is the necessicity of changing the name of the islands.
The original name of A & N Islands are so sweet and inspire the people.
Really people need change of names. It is waste of public money. The
patriotisim should start from our administrators and politicians who are
governing and ruling the islands and misusing the huge funds. Every one
should condemn such useless proposals.

On Sun, Nov 22, 2009 at 10:03 PM, shibu brooks <shibubrooks@...>wrote:

>
>
>
>
> what  difference does it make if we change the name of  our
> islands..........  will the attitude of the people change.......... just
> imagine the cost which will incure to change all boards of offices.. forget
>  all changing letter head and rubber stamps........
>
> we should be logical in our approach.......
>
> we have vessels in the name of M.V. Swaraj dweep plying between chennai and
> port blair..may the admin can do is give shaeed to the next vessel while
> procuring.
> andaman and nicobar islands is fine .. do we really think about the freedom
> fighters who have laid their lives for us...  freedom is like a cooked cake
> for us.
> ..  i have personally seen the new generation is not at all interested to
> see museums /national monuments. they are interested in beaches./ people
> come to port blair go to havelock same day and return the previous night
> before leaving.
> patriotism/ charity and etticasy begins at home.
>
> When on a trip to Srilanka for drydocking of our vessel  i was so
> enlightened seeing  people start work after the national anthem is sung on
> the pa system.
> we should also have systems like that and make this place a better place to
> live. changing names do thay really matter...........//////////////
>
>
> --- On Sun, 11/22/09, Pankaj Andaman
<psekhsaria@...<psekhsaria%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> From: Pankaj Andaman <psekhsaria@... <psekhsaria%40gmail.com>>
> Subject: [andamanicobar] Renaming of A&N as Shaheed & Swaraj urged
> To: "andamanicobar"
<andamanicobar@...<andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in>
> >
> Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 4:40 PM
>
> THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, Nov 22, 2009
>
> Renaming of A&N as Shaheed & Swaraj urged
>
> Port Blair, Nov 21
>
>     The State Conference of All India Forward Block was held recently at
> Delanipur community hall which was inaugurated by Shri Naren Dey,
> Secretary, AIFB and Minister of Agriculture and Consumer’s Affair, Govt.
> of West Bengal. In his address, the Minister urged the party workers to
> work relentlessly to attain democratic and fundamental rights. Shri G
> Devarajan, Secretary, AIFB also addressed the gathering.
>
>     The conference also passed a resolution to press their demand for
> renaming these islands as ‘Shaheed and Swaraj’ as named by Netaji
> Subhash Chandra Bose, declaring 23rd January, the birthday of Netaji as
> Netaji Jayanti/ Desh Prem Diwas besides other issues for the development
> and welfare of the islanders. Earlier, a district conference was held at
> Billiground.
>
>     A State Committee has been constituted at the conference with S/Shri
> Lingamayya as Chairman and A Pandyan, General Secretary besides five
> office bearers and eight committee members, a communication said here.
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I fully endorse the point from Mr Shibu Brooks.After all what is in a
name?Will the freedomfighters who gave their every thing for our today
suddenly be remembered?
Shakti Banerjee

On Sun, Nov 22, 2009 at 10:03 PM, shibu brooks <shibubrooks@...>wrote:

>
>
>
>
> what  difference does it make if we change the name of  our
> islands..........  will the attitude of the people change.......... just
> imagine the cost which will incure to change all boards of offices.. forget
>  all changing letter head and rubber stamps........
>
> we should be logical in our approach.......
>
> we have vessels in the name of M.V. Swaraj dweep plying between chennai and
> port blair..may the admin can do is give shaeed to the next vessel while
> procuring.
> andaman and nicobar islands is fine .. do we really think about the freedom
> fighters who have laid their lives for us...  freedom is like a cooked cake
> for us.
> ..  i have personally seen the new generation is not at all interested to
> see museums /national monuments. they are interested in beaches./ people
> come to port blair go to havelock same day and return the previous night
> before leaving.
> patriotism/ charity and etticasy begins at home.
>
> When on a trip to Srilanka for drydocking of our vessel  i was so
> enlightened seeing  people start work after the national anthem is sung on
> the pa system.
> we should also have systems like that and make this place a better place to
> live. changing names do thay really matter...........//////////////
>
>
>
> --- On Sun, 11/22/09, Pankaj Andaman
<psekhsaria@...<psekhsaria%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> From: Pankaj Andaman <psekhsaria@... <psekhsaria%40gmail.com>>
> Subject: [andamanicobar] Renaming of A&N as Shaheed & Swaraj urged
> To: "andamanicobar"
<andamanicobar@...<andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in>
> >
> Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 4:40 PM
>
>
> THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, Nov 22, 2009
>
> Renaming of A&N as Shaheed & Swaraj urged
>
> Port Blair, Nov 21
>
>     The State Conference of All India Forward Block was held recently at
> Delanipur community hall which was inaugurated by Shri Naren Dey,
> Secretary, AIFB and Minister of Agriculture and Consumer’s Affair, Govt.
> of West Bengal. In his address, the Minister urged the party workers to
> work relentlessly to attain democratic and fundamental rights. Shri G
> Devarajan, Secretary, AIFB also addressed the gathering.
>
>     The conference also passed a resolution to press their demand for
> renaming these islands as ‘Shaheed and Swaraj’ as named by Netaji
> Subhash Chandra Bose, declaring 23rd January, the birthday of Netaji as
> Netaji Jayanti/ Desh Prem Diwas besides other issues for the development
> and welfare of the islanders. Earlier, a district conference was held at
> Billiground.
>
>     A State Committee has been constituted at the conference with S/Shri
> Lingamayya as Chairman and A Pandyan, General Secretary besides five
> office bearers and eight committee members, a communication said here.
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 
 
what  difference does it make if we change the name of  our
islands..........  will the attitude of the people change.......... just
imagine the cost which will incure to change all boards of offices.. forget 
 all changing letter head and rubber stamps........
 
we should be logical in our approach.......
 
we have vessels in the name of M.V. Swaraj dweep plying between chennai and port
blair..may the admin can do is give shaeed to the next vessel while procuring.
andaman and nicobar islands is fine .. do we really think about the freedom
fighters who have laid their lives for us...  freedom is like a cooked cake for
us.
..  i have personally seen the new generation is not at all interested to see
museums /national monuments. they are interested in beaches./ people come to
port blair go to havelock same day and return the previous night before leaving.
patriotism/ charity and etticasy begins at home.
 
When on a trip to Srilanka for drydocking of our vessel  i was so enlightened
seeing  people start work after the national anthem is sung on the pa system.
we should also have systems like that and make this place a better place to
live. changing names do thay really matter...........//////////////
 

--- On Sun, 11/22/09, Pankaj Andaman <psekhsaria@...> wrote:


From: Pankaj Andaman <psekhsaria@...>
Subject: [andamanicobar] Renaming of A&N as Shaheed & Swaraj urged
To: "andamanicobar" <andamanicobar@...>
Date: Sunday, November 22, 2009, 4:40 PM


THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, Nov 22, 2009

Renaming of A&N as Shaheed & Swaraj urged

Port Blair, Nov 21

    The State Conference of All India Forward Block was held recently at
Delanipur community hall which was inaugurated by Shri Naren Dey,
Secretary, AIFB and Minister of Agriculture and Consumer’s Affair, Govt.
of West Bengal. In his address, the Minister urged the party workers to
work relentlessly to attain democratic and fundamental rights. Shri G
Devarajan, Secretary, AIFB also addressed the gathering.

    The conference also passed a resolution to press their demand for
renaming these islands as ‘Shaheed and Swaraj’ as named by Netaji
Subhash Chandra Bose, declaring 23rd January, the birthday of Netaji as
Netaji Jayanti/ Desh Prem Diwas besides other issues for the development
and welfare of the islanders. Earlier, a district conference was held at
Billiground.

    A State Committee has been constituted at the conference with S/Shri
Lingamayya as Chairman and A Pandyan, General Secretary besides five
office bearers and eight committee members, a communication said here.




------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, Nov 22, 2009

Renaming of A&N as Shaheed & Swaraj urged

Port Blair, Nov 21

     The State Conference of All India Forward Block was held recently at
Delanipur community hall which was inaugurated by Shri Naren Dey,
Secretary, AIFB and Minister of Agriculture and Consumer’s Affair, Govt.
of West Bengal. In his address, the Minister urged the party workers to
work relentlessly to attain democratic and fundamental rights. Shri G
Devarajan, Secretary, AIFB also addressed the gathering.

     The conference also passed a resolution to press their demand for
renaming these islands as ‘Shaheed and Swaraj’ as named by Netaji
Subhash Chandra Bose, declaring 23rd January, the birthday of Netaji as
Netaji Jayanti/ Desh Prem Diwas besides other issues for the development
and welfare of the islanders. Earlier, a district conference was held at
Billiground.

     A State Committee has been constituted at the conference with S/Shri
Lingamayya as Chairman and A Pandyan, General Secretary besides five
office bearers and eight committee members, a communication said here.

THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, Nov 22, 2009

179 Permanent Shelters handed over in Carnic

LG presents symbolic key to TC Chairman

Car Nicobar, Nov 21

     The Lt. Governor, accompanied by the First Lady of the Island, Smti.
Bhawanee Singh, arrived here on a two-day visit to Southern Group of
Islands.

     The Lt. Governor inaugurated newly built Permanent Shelters in Car
Nicobar. The Deputy Commissioner, Nicobars presented details of
permanent shelters being built in the Nicobar District. He expressed the
hope that all the permanent shelters shall be handed over within the
specified time-frame.

     The Lt. Governor presented the symbolic key to Shri. Aberdeen Blair,
Chairman, Tribal Council to signify the handing over of 179 Permanent
Shelters in different villages constructed by CPWD in coordination with
A&N Administration. This was followed by handing over of keys of
permanent shelters alongwith the allotment orders to five beneficiaries
each by the Lt Governor and the First Lady of the islands, Smti.
Bhawanee Singh.

     Addressing the gathering, he expressed his happiness over the
completion of the permanent shelters by the CPWD in time inspite of
various constraints and informed that the Administration is committed
towards early rehabilitation of the tsunami affected families. He also
lauded the cooperation extended by the Tribal Council, Car Nicobar to
the A&N Administration for Tsunami Rehabilitation Programme.   Shri.
Aberdeen Blair, Chairman, Tribal Council, Car Nicobar proposed the vote
of thanks.

     Earlier, the LG & others were received at the IAF Air Base Car
Nicobar by Shri. T. Sreekanth, Deputy Commissioner, Nicobars, the
Superintendent of Police (District) and Shri. Aberdeen Blair, Chairman,
Tribal Council, Car Nicobar.

     In the evening, the Lt. Governor held a meeting with the
representatives of the Tribal Council and reviewed various developmental
works.

     In the second leg of the tour, the Lt. Governor and the First Lady
of the Islands, shall be visiting Nancowry on 22-11-2009.

     Earlier, on his arrival at the APWD Guest House at Car Nicobar, he
was presented Guard of Honour. Thereafter, he proceeded to Tamaloo
village, where he was received by the Village Headman.

Topic: Spirit of Panglong in Kolkata Court

http://www.mizzima.com/edop/commentary/3069-spirit-of-panglong-in-kolkata-court.\
html

Spirit of Panglong in Kolkata Court
by Nandita Haksar Friday, 20 November 2009 12:32

Mizzima News - For the lawyers practicing at the city sessions court in
Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal Thursday, November 12th, 2009 was just
another busy day. They passed by the court of Ms Kavita Dey without as much
as a second look. For them the scene was familiar – lawyers dressed in their
black gowns, the court clerks sitting at the table and the judge dictating
to the stenographer.

The curiosity of some lawyers was aroused when they heard some passionate
arguments and they may have drifted into the room in the hope of hearing
some interesting point of law. The Public Prosecutor was telling the Judge
that foreigners could not be allowed to depose without proper summons. He
argued that summons for foreigners had to be served in accordance with the
proper procedure laid down under the Code of Criminal Procedure.

A look at the large wooden cage at the back of the airy courtroom held 34
men.

Most of them were too tired to stand and were squatting on the cold stone
floor. In any case they could not understand English or the intricacies of
the legal points being debated. There were, however, some men who were
holding the bars straining to listen to the arguments. Anxiety writ large on
their faces.

On the last of the three rows of chairs in the large court room sat two men,
looking calm and unperturbed, but listening carefully.

Finally the lawyer for the 34 men inside the wooden cage had persuaded the
judge to allow him to call his witness. The lawyer informed the Judge that
the first defence witness was Mr Harn Yawnghwe.

Mr Yawnghwe stood up and walked to the witness box. The other person sitting
next to him was requested to go out of the court. The rules did not allow
the defence witnesses to listen to each other before they themselves had
deposed.

Harn Yawnghwe stepped into the rickety wooden witness box and was told to
take oath and was ready to depose. The men in the wooden cage could not hear
him but his dignified presence and his calm demeanor commanded respect. The
Bengali stenographer‘s struggle with Burmese names and unfamiliar accent
lent a slightly comic air.

Harn Yawnghwe was born in Burma 62 years ago. Both his parents came from
Shan aristocracy and that was evident in his bearing. In quiet, measured
words he told the Court that his father had been the first President of the
Union of Burma in 1948. However, when Gen Ne Win staged a coup his father
was imprisoned and died in jail. His older brother was executed by Gen Ne
Win. These tragic circumstances had forced his family to take refuge in
neighbouring Thailand and after that Harn got asylum in Canada and was a
Canadian citizen.

It was not only his parentage but his professional qualifications that were
impressive. He was a trained mining engineer and financial analyst, living
in Canada. But all his life he had been involved in the movement for the
restoration of democracy in Burma.

Harn Yawnghwe had traveled all the way from Canada to testify in the court.
He told the Judge that the 34 Burmese being held inside the wooden cage at
the back of the court were genuine freedom fighters. He also told the court
that he was now the executive director of the Euro Burma Office with its
headquarters at Brussels. The Euro Burma Office had released funds for the
costs of the trial. There was no way that such funding could be given if
there was even a suspicion that the 34 were gun runners involved in
violating Indian security interests.

After he finished his deposition he stepped down and the second witness was
called. The second witness was Dr Tint Swe. Dr Tint Swe told the Court that
he was a professional doctor and had practiced for 15 years before resigning
from his job and joining the National League for Democracy, the party of the
legendary Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The doctor stood for election in 1990 and
won. But the military junta refused to hand over power to the democratically
elected representatives of the people. Instead they sentenced Dr Tint Swe to
25 years of imprisonment and he had to leave his home and country by walking
six days and five nights to reach Mizoram, India.

Dr Tint Swe told the court that he knew that the 34 Burmese accused were
framed by an Indian military intelligence officer called Lt Col Grewal. He
told the court that he knew Grewal personally and he had been instrumental
in deporting 11 other Burmese in 1996. Dr Tint Swe conveyed to the court
that the Prime Minister of the Government in exile (National Coalition
Government of Union of Burma) had wanted to depose in the court but he had
not been given a visa.

That afternoon Mr Harn Yawnghwe and Dr Tint Swe were given permission to
meet the men in the cage. Each of them shook hands with all the 34 freedom
fighters, Arakans and Karens.

At that moment it seemed that Gen Aung San’s spirit descended in the court.
Here were the leaders of the Burmans and ethnic nationalities working
together for the release of Burmese freedom fighters. The 34 Burmese were
Arakans and Karens, Harn Yawnghwe, a proud Shan, representing the Ethnic
Nationalities Council (ENC) and Tint Swe, a nationalist Burman, representing
the NCGUB. Was it the Spirit of Panglong that had come alive in the Kolkata
court?

The majority of the Burmese media had failed to fully grasp the relevance of
the moment, capture the poignancy of the handshakes. For 47 years the
Burmese military has justified itself by following *Buda-batha Myanmar-lumyo
* policy. The military has denied the people democracy and sought to
obliterate the memory of Gen Aung San’s vision of a democratic and federal
Burma. And that vision came alive in a Kolkata court.

In defiance of the Myanmar Junta the representatives of the Ethnic
nationalities and the Burman majority community had come together to fight
for the lives of 34 Burmese freedom fighters.

Indian human rights activists and Indian media were both absent. There was
neither a sense of solidarity with the Burmese peoples’ struggle against the
most brutal regime in the world, nor were they outraged by the fact that
democratic India had kept Burmese freedom fighters in jail for more than 12
years. Indians could have learnt important lessons on the Panglong spirit
and the need to build an inclusive democracy based on federalism.

As I walked out of the court that day I knew that the Panglong spirit had
touched the court and perhaps the 34 Burmese freedom fighters would be free
soon. But I felt an overwhelming sadness that we, Indians and Burmese, had
missed an opportunity to learn a lesson from the moment in history when the
Panglong spirit came alive in the court in Kolkata.

*
The author is a prominent Indian human rights lawyer and a writer. She had
taken up the case of 34 Burmese freedom fighters since 1999. Her latest book
“Rogue Agent: How India's Military Intelligence Betrayed the Burmese
Resistance Movement” reveals that an Indian Military Intelligence officer
named Lt. Col V.S. Grewal as the man masterminding the plot to betray the
Burmese freedom fighters.*

-nandita haksar: hakhon239@...


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 
Can I see the original article? When the Secy -Central Govt gave the order and
it is not being implemented, can we as a group not bring this to his notice for
immediate implementation of the programme?
Best wishes,
Aju Mukhopadhyay


       The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage.
http://in.yahoo.com/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Fwd: 2nd CSE Media Fellowship for South Asia on Coastal Concerns



Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:20:04 +0620
From: cse@equitywatch. org
Subject: 2nd CSE Media Fellowship for South Asia on Coastal Concerns

Second CSE Media Fellowship for the South Asian Region
For journalists from Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
The Coastal Concerns in South Asia

January 2010 – March 2010

South Asia has one of the most bustling coasts with densely populated
habitations on its 12,000 km long coastline. Numerous urban centres dot
the South Asian seaside, buzzing with anthropogenic activities like
industrial, commercial, and tourist. At the same time these coasts are
also ecological treasure-troves with the Sunderbans in Bangladesh,
corals in Sri Lanka, turtles in Pakistan and the abundant and endangered
marine life of Maldives.

Habitat to both biodiversity and humans – coasts are under constant
struggle to conserve the former and sustain the latter. Naturally, they
are under tremendous pressure – from population, pollution, wastes,
industrial activities and tourism. So are the communities dependent on
coasts – the fisherfolk. They are increasingly being pushed to the brink
with their livelihood and habitat destroyed by unchecked urbanisation,
commercial fishing and tourism.

To add to the woes, climate change induced natural disasters like
cyclones, tsunamis and sea level rise only aggravate the crisis
displacing populations and wiping pout marine life. And anthropogenic
pressures only further intensify the ravages of climate change. On one
hand Maldives faces extinction due to sea level rise, Bangladesh is
losing large tracts of land and its biodiversity to erosion. While
Pakistan's fisherfolk are losing their catch, Sri Lanka is witness to
coastal degradation due to dense habitation. The worst sufferers in
these cases are both, the region 's ecological wealth and the coastal
communities.

Under the second CSE Media Fellowship programme for the South Asian
region, Centre for Science and Environment invites journalists from
Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka to study, investigate and
report on the pressures, conflicts, impacts, actions and inactions that
are being played out on their coasts. The fellowship offers a unique
opportunity to travel to these regions to look at the issues and
concerns at close range, and to write and comment on them.

Suggested areas of research
Industrial development
Cities on the coast
Tourism
Climate change
Coastal habitats and their conservation
Communities and livelihoods
Legislation and regulation

Duration

Two months – January 2010 to March 2010.
Compensation and funding

Selected fellows will each receive a stipend of Indian National Rupee
50,000 to support research, travel and writing between January 2010 and
March 2010. The stipend will be released in two instalments – the first
as a travel grant at the start of the fellowship programme and the
second after its successful completion.

Who can apply
These fellowships are open to journalists from Bangladesh, Maldives,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka only, including freelancers, photojournalists and
television/video journalists.

Applications must be accompanied by the following documents:
Curriculum vitae
For print journalists, three samples of published work on development
issues. By `published work', we mean articles published by / in national
or regional newspapers or magazines.
Those writing in regional languages must have at least one of their
articles translated into English.
For television and radio journalists, two samples of telecasted /
broadcasted programmes on development issues – those telecasting /
broadcasting in regional languages must also give a short written
summary of the programme along with the CDs of the samples.
A letter of support from the editor that the output under the fellowship
will be published / broadcast (mandatory for all candidates, including
freelancers) .
A comprehensive fellowship proposal outlining (a) the subject/s and
story ideas that the applicant proposes to focus on, (b) tentative
travel plans and (c) a list of people who might be interviewed.

Last date for submission of applications
December 25, 2009
Fellowships output

Selected applicants from the print media will be expected to generate
feature and news article/s totalling 5,000 words, based on the research
carried out under the fellowship. Original clippings of these articles
will have to be submitted at the completion of the fellowship programme.
They will also be expected to take and submit photographs of the areas
they travel in for their stories.

Selected applicants from the audio-visual media will be expected to
generate either a single film/broadcast or a series of episodes, based
on the research carried out under the fellowships. Video and audio CDs
of these outputs will have to be submitted at the completion of the
fellowship programme.

Applications for the fellowship should be addressed to:
Shachi Chaturvedi
Assistant Coordinator
Media Resource Centre
Centre for Science and Environment
41, Tughlakabad Institutional Area
New Delhi 110 062
Ph: 91-11-29955124, 29955125, Fax: 91-11-29955879
Mobile: +91-98187 50007
Email: shachi@cseindia. org
http://www.cseindia .org

*Fishworkers: allow deep sea fishing *
*Date:21/11/2009* *URL:
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/11/21/stories/2009112160050300.htm*
Special Correspondent

   ------------------------------
*

Union will observe

Deep Sea Fishing

Day today.
*
------------------------------

  Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation
(KSMTF) will observe the World Fishworkers’ Day on November 21 as Deep Sea
Fishing Day.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, State president of the
Federation T. Peter and secretary Anto Elias said the proposed Marine
Fishing Regulation Bill to be presented in Parliament would be an
infringement of the livelihood rights of traditional fishermen.

“The new Bill makes it mandatory for fishworkers to secure a permit from the
Union government to venture out beyond the territorial waters at a distance
of 12 nautical miles from the coast. The Bill says the Coast Guard will have
the authority to apprehend any vessel that crosses this line and arrest the
occupants who can be sentenced to three years imprisonment or Rs.9 lakh as
fine.”
‘Draconian law’

  Terming the provisions draconian, they said depletion of fish stocks in the
near shore areas was forcing fishermen out to the deep sea.

“In fact, the Murari Commission appointed by the Government to study the
problems of fish workers had recommended that traditional fishermen be
equipped for deep sea fishing. The proposed Fishing Regulation Bill ignores
the fact that fish workers travel more than 100 nautical miles from the
coast daily to get enough catch. It is an encroachment on our right to fish
anywhere in the Exclusive Economic Zone upto 200 nautical miles. The
government has also ignored our contribution to coastal security.”

On November 21, the federation will organise seminars and discussions
throughout the State to focus attention on the emerging threat to the
livelihood of fish workers.

Mr. Peter also added that it was ironic that fish workers who are the among
the most affected by global warming and climate change, did not figure in
the discussions to mitigate the effects.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

A response to the Draft of the Marine Fisheries (Regulation and Management)
Act 2009

from Thomas Kocherry, WFFP, 48 Vayakarai, Manavalakurichy, KK Dt.,
Tamilnadu-629252,

Email: thomasksa@gmail. Com,  Mobile: +91 936 064 5772, Land line: +91 4651
237 297

A critique

1.       At last we have a draft. Congratulations to those who are
responsible on making this draft and seeking wide consultations.

2.       No principles or guidelines for management are laid out, leaving it
to the Govt of India to make all decisions in this regard. This kind of
freedom was used since 1978 by the GOI, with out enacting a legislation in
the entire EEZ by the Parliament as proposed by the High Power committee
called Majumdar Committee.?

    1. The main instrument of management visualised is the "management plan".
    Management plans can be developed by the Govt of India from time to time to
    cover different areas of sea, different fisheries and so on. The objectives
    mentioned with regard to Management plans are (i) conservation of fish
    resources and (ii) law and order at sea. What about the conservation of fish
    resources and protection of traditional fisher people proposed by the Draft
    Bill of Majumdar Committee in 1978?
    2. In addition, the GOI has powers to make rules that will govern boat
    safety, boat operations, worker welfare, national security related matters,
    etc. These are good, but if these are clear and supported by the fishing
    community, will never be implanted. This is` the  lacuna in the Marine
    Fishing Regulation Acts in the coastal states.
    3. The Management plans can be drawn up by the GOI based on consultations
    with whomsoever it deems necessary. Only where the management plans relate
    on the territorial waters, the GoI is bound to consult the State Govts.
    Otherwise there is no requirement to consult the state Govts. Unless the
    coastal states and the GOI work together the management in fisheries will
    never be done. This we have to learn from the past experience.
    4. All fishing beyond the territorial waters will require a separate
    permit from the GOI. In other words, a good proportion of the  existing
    fleet, at least seasonally, which fish beyond the 12 nautical miles will
    require an additional permit to do so. Whether they will get such a permit
    may depend upon the management plan(s). This kind of Unnatural boundary is
    going to create endless problems as we have boundaries with different
    nations.
    5. Violations are categorized under two categories. Section 3 deals with
    fishing without permit while Section 6 deals with fishing boats found in the
    EEZ without stowing the gear in the prescribed manner. Section 6 seems to
    deal with the fact that "innocent passage" (that is without fishing) is
    allowed as per international law and hence there is a need for plug that
    loophole by prescribing the way gear should be stowed when not fishing.
    There is no organic understanding of different kinds of fishing existing in
    India?
    6. Punishments for violations are clearly prescribed. Small boats (up to
    12 m length) are allowed two "innocent" entries into the EEZ within a period
    of 3 months, but will be fined Rs.25,000 subsequently. All bigger boats will
    be severely punished. For boats fishing without permit, the owner and master
    can be imprisoned up to 3 years. Alternatively they can be fined Rs.9 lakhs
    or the amount equal to the value of the boat, whichever is higher. The
    punishment can also be a combination of a fine and imprisonment. Are you
    making this` law for the good of the fisher people or for the good of some
    government officials? Let these people read the draft bill of the High Power
    Committee, Majumdar Committee. Law is` meant for  the Protection of the
    Traditional Fishing Community, Conservation of Fish Resource and to maintain
    law and order in the sea?
    7. Once conviction occurs, the boat and nets can be confiscated and will
    rest with the GOI.

An officer of the Coast Guard or any other officer designated by the GoI can
inspect and enforce the law. Those found violating the law will be handed
over to courts for further action. This is unlike the MFRAs, where the
system of punishment is by the executive (fisheries department). The lowest
court in which the fishermen can be prosecuted under the Bill will be a
Metropolitan Magistrate Court. There is also the provision that the case
will be fought in a court that will be decided by the GoI and not
necessarily the nearest one to the location of the offence. Majority of the
fishing community depend on fishing for livelihood. After the enactment of
this ACT, all the poor fisher people will land up in jails, it looks like
that? The main concern of the Act should be conservation of the fish
resource, protection of the fishing community and maintaining law and order.
The law` makers should know that the real culprits and criminals are the big
boats. They need to be dealt with a strict law.

Historical understanding of this Proposed Act

·         There was a big law and order problem in seventies in the sea
between mechanized boats and traditional cuttamarans and plank built boats.
At that time GOI appointed a high power committee called Majumdar Committee.
It recommended  Marine Fishing Regulation Draft Bill to be enacted by the
Parliament for the entire EEZ in 1778. The main features were Parliament
should enact the law. It is a regulation and prohibition  fishing crafts and
gears for the protection of traditional fisher people, conservation of fish
resources and maintain law and order in the sea.

·         Unfortunately  instead  GOI enacting the Law, it passed to the
coastal states. All of the enacted marine fishing regulation act. But the
problem continued both in the territorial waters and EEZ.

·         The purpose of the Act was defeated. The law and order problem
continued. There is no proper fishing management in the territorial waters
and EEZ.

·         The entire fishing community 10 million rose up against the deep
sea fishing policy, foreign vessels and big vessels in 1991. Another High
Power Committee was appointed and it recommended 21 proposals. The Cabinet
of GOI approved these on 27th September 1997 and they are statutory law.
This also gives protection to the 10 million fisher people and asked GOI to
have a fishing regulation in the entire EEZ. It took a very clear stand in
favour of 10 million fisher people, stop all foreign vessels and big vessels
except when there is resource specification.



My suggestions

1.       The purpose of the Act is to protect the sea going fisher people,
conserve fish resource, and to maintain law and order in the sea.

2.       It is to  prohibit and regulate fishing crafts and gears for
achieving the above purpose.

3.       This prohibition and regulation is done by assessing fish resource
and priority should be given to those who depend on fishing for livelihood.
Therefore elimination of crafts and gears is done from  top to bottom for
exploiting the available fish resource. The biggest crafts and gear is
`eliminated first, and then the second biggest and so on.

4.       Fishing  should be in the concurrent list and  coastal states and
GOI should work together and Legislation of EEZ and Territorial waters
should go together.

5.       We need to assess t the fish resource in the territorial waters and
EEZ and we need to calculate the fishing crafts and gears accordingly.

6.       Traditional crafts and gears should be  free to operate anywhere in
EEZ and territorial waters. Restrictions and prohibitions  should be
applicable only to big vessels.

7.       Only owner operator gets the permits for fishing.

8.       We have more than enough fishing crafts and gears and what is
needed is regulation and prohibitions only.

9.       We need to regulate pollution for protecting the fish resource.

10.   Conservation Mangroves should be part of this legislation.

11.   Prohibit all Industrial and intensive aquaculture.



LET US REDRAFT THE DRAFT BILL TAKING INTO ACCOUNT OF THE ABOVE.


On Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 10:45 PM, thomask_sa kocherry
<thomasksa@...>wrote:

> Dear Nanda,
> I recieved your draft bill today 19-11-2009 dated 15th June, 2009 with a
> covering letter by the Hon. mInister Prof. K.V.Thomas dated 9th November
> 2009. In your letter you have asked me to respond to the bill within two
> weeks.
> However I am responding within two weeks within the given time on reciept
> of your bill.
> thomas kocherry
>
> --
> -------------------------------------------------------
> Thomas Kocherry
>
> World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) Special Invitee,
> National Fishworkers' Forum (NFF), India
> National Alliance of Peoples Movements(NAPM), India.
>
> 48, Vayakarai, Manavalakurichy-P.O., Kannyakumari
> Dt.,Tamilnadu-629252.India
>
> Tel/Fax: (91)4651 237 297, .Tel: (91)4651 200 517.Mobile: (91) 936 064
> 5772.
> Supportive Emails:
> thomaskocherry@...,
> thomask_sa@...,
> In case there is no response from my mobile please contact: 09965854081
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> "The life of the Planet and the welfare of the whole humanity should not be
> sacrificed by the greed of a few".
> -----------------------------------------------------------
>



--
-------------------------------------------------------
Thomas Kocherry

World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) Special Invitee,
National Fishworkers' Forum (NFF), India
National Alliance of Peoples Movements(NAPM), India.

48, Vayakarai, Manavalakurichy-P.O., Kannyakumari Dt.,Tamilnadu-629252.India

Tel/Fax: (91)4651 237 297, .Tel: (91)4651 200 517.Mobile: (91) 936 064 5772.
Supportive Emails:
thomaskocherry@...,
thomask_sa@...,
In case there is no response from my mobile please contact: 09965854081
-----------------------------------------------------------
"The life of the Planet and the welfare of the whole humanity should not be
sacrificed by the greed of a few".
-----------------------------------------------------------


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The Irrawaddy online
Coco Islands to Open for Tourism
By WAI MOE  Thursday, November 19, 2009

Sitting 300 kilometers off the Burmese mainland in the Indian Ocean, the Coco
Islands were once known as "Burma's Devils Island," infamous as a detention
center for political prisoners.

After the penal colony was closed in 1971, the tiny islands—which form the
northern link in the Andaman Islands chain—were handed over to the Burmese navy.
In the 1990s, China reportedly established a signals intelligence base on Great
Coco Island, though it was never confirmed.

And now, Burma's tourism authorities intend to open the islands up to foreign
and domestic tour groups with the first ferry of tourists due to sail on Friday.

"Four hundred tourists will sleep on the boat for two nights and will spend two
days on the island," said an official from the Rangoon Division Peace and
Development Council.

A return ticket price for the first tour has been quoted at 25,000 kyat (US $25)
although the price is expected to be much higher for foreign tourists. Travel
agencies in Rangoon expect the tours to be popular though little is known about
any facilities on the islands.

A travel agent in Rangoon, who asked to remain anonymous because of security
concerns, said that the 400 tourists will sleep in wooden bungalows on Great
Coco Island.

The three small islands that make up the chain are home to a small fishing
community, coconut farmers and a handful of marine biologists who monitor the
conservation of green turtles.

Apart from that, tourists will find little more than palm trees, white sandy
beaches and pristine waters.

The Coco Islands were under Indian control until 1882 when they were passed into
the administration of British Burma. The British planned to build a prison on
the islands, but they did not pursue the plan.

However, under late dictator Gen Ne Win's interim government, a penal colony was
founded on Great Coco Island in January 1959. Political dissidents accused of
threatening security and disrupting the social stability of Burma were sent to
the penal colony.

"After Ne Win's coup d'état in 1962, and the installation of a military
government, the prison gained the reputation of being a Burmese `Devil's
Island,'" wrote Burma researcher Andrew Selth.

The number of political prisoners sent to the prison camp on Great Coco Island
increased in 1969. They had to harvest coconuts, work on "development projects"
and grow their own food.

Many of the dissidents were members and sympathizers of the Communist Party of
Burma. Of the thousands of prisoners sent to the island, only three
prisoners—Mann Aung Kyi, Mann Nyein Maung and Aung Ngwe—are known to have
escaped when they floated across the Indian Ocean clutching driftwood. However,
they were rearrested when they reached the Burmese mainland.

Due to worsening food and living conditions, political prisoners on the island
conducted three known hunger strikes. The first hunger strike was in 1969 and
ended after seven days when the authorities gave in to their demands.

In the following two years, a 40-day long strike and a 53-day long strike
occurred. After eight hunger strikers had died during the second protest, the
prison authorities gave in and closed the penal colony on Great Coco Island in
December 1971. All the prisoners were transferred to Insein Prison in Rangoon.

Panmawaddy Naval Base took over from the disused prison and remains there to
this day.

A strategic point in the Indian Ocean, the Coco Islands attracted attention in
1992 when analysts and journalists reported China's involvement in setting up a
radar station, apparently to monitor Indian activity. However, other Burma
watchers, such as Selth, say the reports are untrue.

Some analysts said that the base on Great Coco Island was a part of China's
"String of Pearls" strategy, aimed at building naval bases from the South China
Sea to the Middle East to guard China's energy supplies.

Even though evidence has surfaced regarding China's assistance in upgrading the
Burmese naval base on the islands, there is still a lack of solid evidence about
China's military involvement.

Analysts point to the Coco Islands strategic location and China's new
billion-dollar pipeline project from Burma's Arakan State to its southwestern
province of Yunnan, which will ultimately carry more than 80 percent of China's
imported oil and gas.

China's oil and gas will pass through the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean and
analysts say that local naval bases would be a valuable asset.

I think the suggestions in this mail are reeally very thoughtful and can be
implemented without increasing conflicts or threats to endangered groups of
indigenous peoples.Can we know why/how they are not implemented/ can be
implemented?
BTW all Delhites are not settlers. There is a community culture cuisine and
language that is the heart of the early/original inhabitants, it is only New
Delhi which is the city of Govt. employees and bureaucracts who may then
settle in South Delhi or gurgaon or return to their states. It would be more
correct to say it is a city of refugees, post partition just as people
soutght refuge here post 1857.
Nina Rao

2009/11/16 <sio@...>

>
>
> Dear All,
> As ATR issue is back in the Hot seat of Topic, let me forward the same
> mail i had sent a month back on the topic. Let us generate healthy
> discussion on the ATR issue without confining to strangled views and
> extreme beliefs which, i fear, will not yield a solution.
> Narayan, Port Blair
>
> ---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
> Subject: Tribals - Settlers - Interventions - Some steps to lead to
> solution From: sio@... <sio%40and.nic.in>
> Date: Wed, October 14, 2009 11:52 am
> To: andamanicobar@... <andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Dear All,
> The debate in this forum takes interesting turns referring to a particular
> event at a time and then peters off till another event comes up. And,
> objectivity is sometimes lost when debate takes place from business motive
> or Go Safe position or Passionate involvement.
> Let us face a few facts :
> 1. The tribals issue and their protection should not be seen in isolation.
> The external factors need to be considered and tackled for any meaningful
> and lasting solution.
>
> 2. Some of us in this forum objected to the term 'PTG' to describe the
> tribals (Primitive Tribal Groups). I feel the same kind of pain when the
> people in these islands are described as 'Settlers' in this forum. I would
> prefer to call them as Inhabitants, the term "Settlers" is quite
> disturbing, as is being referred to in this forum. We know that Delhi is
> itself a land of "Settlers" and so can you treat all residents of Delhi as
> outsiders who have grabbed the land ?
>
> 3. The Inhabitants have been settled in these islands for decades by Govt
> measures and they have a right to the land.
>
> 4. The ATR has been a blunder but it is there to stay till alternatives
> are fully in place.
>
> 5. In Andaman, any government action needs clearance from Environment
> (Forests) and Security (Defence) for many activities and is not easy.
>
> How do you reconcile all these facts ?
> To my mind, the most crucial thing is to create awareness in the local
> population of the need to protect the tribals. The much talked about
> Tribal tourism in this forum, i feel, is an exaggeration. There are more
> factors damaging to the tribals. Are there a few steps than can be taken
> to protect the tribals in this situation ? Yes.
>
> 1. Improve the shipping services from Port Blair to Diglipur, Mayabandar
> and Rangat (DMR) so that there is at least one ship during the day and one
> during the night (to and fro). Have separate ships for passenger and
> cargo.
> 2. The ships need to be all weather proof & run safely during monsoon also.
> 3. I have seen Jarawas jolly riding on the lorries and trucks on the ATR
> in the reserve areas. Ban movement of all cargo through ATR (lorries etc)
> as cargo can defintely go by ships.
> 4. Increase number of govt buses through ATR, as these follow the convoy
> system very rigourously and do not allow Jarawa interaction and they do
> not stop anywhere in the reserve.
> 5. Charge heavily for private vehicles to go through ATR even for the
> inhabitants so that they travel by govt buses. This can discourage the
> 'tribal tourism' and also reduce pollution and prevent deforestation.
> 6. The ATR runs through Jarawa reserve area for around 40( or 60 kms). And
> Andaman is such that sea can be reached by road within a 5 km stretch. So
> try for ship journey in this reserve area with Vehicle ferry, while other
> places (outside reserve) can still be travelled by road.
>
> The other steps include Relocating the people living near the Jarawa
> reserve (Tirur etc.,) to other areas away from the reserve. This will
> prevent jarawa-inhabitant conflict and intervention which to me is more
> serious, as there is scope of continous interaction between the two
> communities.
>
> In fact, i would go far to say that we may even open up for discussion, if
> nothing else, the idea of Relocating the Jarawas themselves (numbering
> around 300 now) to an isolated island, if the right environment can be
> found so that they are preserved. I am suggesting this because, by the
> time the right decision is taken by the govt, the jarawas may well be out
> of existence in the world.
> Narayan, Port Blair
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear Pankaj,
 
I am glad to read that atleast some efforts have been taken to shift the road to
bartang Island. recently i had been to Andaman during 16 Oct to 27 Oct as a
tourist and felt very bad while tour to bartang regarding Jarwas.
 
sumedh nagrare  

--- On Thu, 19/11/09, Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...> wrote:


From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...>
Subject: [andamanicobar] Alternate Route to Baratang Doomed
To: "andamanicobar" <andamanicobar@...>
Date: Thursday, 19 November, 2009, 10:13 PM


 



Alternate Route to Baratang Doomed
THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS
VOL. 34 | ISSUE. 16 | FRIDAY | 13 NOV 2009

By Zubair Ahmed

The administration once again seems to be procrastinating on the issue
of alternate route to Baratang through McCarthy Jetty in Shoal Bay. In a
meeting held during the visit of Gautam Mukherji Secretary, Ministry of
Tribal Affairs and Member, Planning Commission in May this year, the
Chief Secretary had tried to apprise them about the ground realities of
the Jarawa tribe. Setting everything aside, the Secretary, Ministry of
Tribal Affairs had, in clear terms, mentioned in the meeting that a
Detailed Project Report should be prepared in 3 months and the tourist
traffic diverted from ATR to the new proposed route within six months.
He had also assured the meeting that the expenses in procuring transport
system and boats will be met by his ministry.

Despite the set deadline, nothing has moved yet in the administration.
Status quo continues and there is nothing concrete done in implementing
the decision. It seems that the administration has appointed or is in
the look out for another consultant to prepare the DPR, the outcome of
which will remain a distant dream.








       The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage.
http://in.yahoo.com/

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

this is an interesting newsletter on marine protected areas from around
the world.
Can be accessed at the following link
http://depts.washington.edu/mpanews/MPA111.pdf

I have also pasted the list of contents below:
---

MPA News
International News and Analysis on Marine Protected Areas
Vol. 11, No. 3 November- December 2009

Table of Contents
- Seismic Surveys and MPAs: How Should Managers Address the Issue of
Underwater  Noise?

- On Balancing Science and Conservation in an MPA: A Case from Eastern
Canada

-New Initiative Guides Protection of Significant Areas in Open Ocean,
Deep Sea
-New Coordinator of World Heritage Marine Programme Describes
- Plan Forward
- Notes & News

VISITS TO JARAWA HAMLETS: MORE PROBLEMS LESS SOLUTION

The visits of the official team to two different hamlets made it
abundantly clear that there was no simple solution to the question of
Jarawa survival.


By Govinda Raju

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS
VOL. 34 | ISSUE. 16 | FRIDAY | 13 NOV 2009
http://www.lightofandaman.com/news3.asp

The recent developments on the Jarawa front in South Andaman, it
appears, has forced the administration to have a second look on the
issue from an altogether a different angle.

Vivek Rae, Chief Secretary has been addressing the Jarawa issue in
different forums, as if thinking aloud, whether a different approach
should be adopted to ensure their wellbeing; particularly if they should
be taught cultivation of the items they have developed a taste for. He
expressed such thoughts when speaking at the Seminar on Homogeneous
Communities of A&N Islands at JNRM on October 12, 2009.

He again emphasised the need for preserving and protecting the
aboriginal tribes like Jarawas in the concluding function of Gandhi
Jayanti at Mahatma Gandhi Govt College at Karmatang, Mayabunder on
October 29, 2009.

The matter did not rest there. On his return journey from Madhyottar
Andaman, the Chief Secretary along with Development Commissioner,
Secretary (Tribal Affairs), A Justin, Anthropologist and Dr Kar Medical
Officer in-charge went to Lakda Lungta, a Jarawa settlement off Kadamtala.

Rudimentary Jarawa shelter

The team had an extensive interaction with the members of the tribe in
general and the enigmatic Enmai; the boy who had broken his leg and got
it fixed at GB Pant Hospital, Port Blair, in particular. Enmai however
has attained manhood, has a family and children. He told the group that
he was not fascinated by the town life. Occasional visit did not matter
though, according to him. They were happy and content with their
lifestyle. Enmai wished the tribe to have lots of children. They however
were worried about the healthcare of the children. They did not crave
for food support but would not mind it occasionally. Education too they
would not mind, the members of the tribe told Vivek Rae and his team.

The Chief Secretary found that their vocabulary was good enough to
articulate their thoughts. The workers of Andaman Adim Janjati Vikas
Samiti stepped in where the tribals fumbled for words. Sources said that
A Justin, Officer-in-charge of Anthropological Survey of India and Dr
Kar were intent on monopolizing the entire conversation even though they
are not very conversant with Jarawa dialect. The team however, found the
expedition a very fruitful exchange.

On the way back the team came across two members of the tribe; Momo and
Topo in Baratang. They demanded an ambulance to shift their patients to
hospital. When the CS said that they could use the police vehicle they
said: “Is mein kabhi diesel nahi rehta, kabhi kharab rahta hai.”

The Chief Secretary followed it up with another visit to the Jarawas in
their settlement; this time at Jhaow Kona off Tirur on Guru Nanak’s
birthday; November 02, 2009. He was accompanied by Tapan Mandal,
Development Commissioner, Shyami Sodhi, Secretary (TW) and District
Superintendent of Police, South Andaman and police personnel.

The exchange, as per sources, was encounter entirely of a different
kind. Here, the chief spokesman was clad in jeans and T-shirt. The
tribals demanded food, cloths, iron for making arrows, less intrusion of
hunters and the right to admit their children into schools. To the
question if it would be all right if a school was set up in their
settlement they answered in the affirmative. In fact, they liked the
idea very much. The Chief Secretary did not broach the subject of
cultivation by the tribals, though.

The team had a detailed interaction with the villagers of the area.
Mahadev Majhi, Pradhan, Tusonabad Gram Panchayat and Raja Ram, Member
Zilla Parishad generally spoke on behalf of the villagers. They
registered their strong protest against the idea of a 5-kilometre buffer
zone from the tribal reserve. They also told the group that the Outpost
of Jarawa Protection Force was inside the village that did not serve any
purpose of the villagers or the tribe. It should be shifted to the
border of the Tribal Reserve to be of any use.

They also told the group that the resort provided livelihood to 50
villagers at present. When in full steam, it was likely to engage about
150 people. Amy attempt to close it down would mean livelihood loss of
150 families.

The Chief Secretary asked the Panchayat to keep the Collinpur Beach
clean. That would provide the Panchayat a source of revenue. Mahadev
Majhi requested for an order to that effect to protect the workers from
the operation of Protection of Aboriginal Tribes Regulation. The Chief
Secretary agreed to it, according to the Pradhan.

The inference drawn by Vivek Rae, Chief Secretary is not known.

Alternate Route to Baratang Doomed
THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS
VOL. 34 | ISSUE. 16 | FRIDAY | 13 NOV 2009

By Zubair Ahmed

The administration once again seems to be procrastinating on the issue
of alternate route to Baratang through McCarthy Jetty in Shoal Bay. In a
meeting held during the visit of Gautam Mukherji Secretary, Ministry of
Tribal Affairs and Member, Planning Commission in May this year, the
Chief Secretary had tried to apprise them about the ground realities of
the Jarawa tribe. Setting everything aside, the Secretary, Ministry of
Tribal Affairs had, in clear terms, mentioned in the meeting that a
Detailed Project Report should be prepared in 3 months and the tourist
traffic diverted from ATR to the new proposed route within six months.
He had also assured the meeting that the expenses in procuring transport
system and boats will be met by his ministry.

Despite the set deadline, nothing has moved yet in the administration.
Status quo continues and there is nothing concrete done in implementing
the decision. It seems that the administration has appointed or is in
the look out for another consultant to prepare the DPR, the outcome of
which will remain a distant dream.

SEAMEN'S STRIKE ENDS IN VICTORY

It was a relief that both the parties finally agreed to meet halfway
paving the way for an amicable solution. The fact however remains that,
if the Administration had acted with tact and resolve, the situation
would not have arisen in the first place.
A degree of callousness in dealing with the matters of the workers too
was responsible for the present impasse: P Abdul Samad.

By Govinda Raju

THE LIGHT OF ANDAMANS
VOL. 34 | ISSUE. 16 | FRIDAY | 13 NOV 2009 |
http://www.lightofandaman.com/coverstory.asp

The 22-day old agitation of Inter Island Seamen Union including eight
days of hunger strike by P Abdul Samad, General Secretary ended with the
administration meeting the demands of the Union more than halfway. Some
demands were met in full, some partially and others left at the previous
level. A fresh Wage Agreement is to be signed between the administration
and the Union.

The Seamen Union was pushed to the wall when all the avenues for an
amicable settlement with the administration failed repeatedly inspite of
court orders, according to P Abdul Samad, General Secretary of the
Union. The strike had started on October 19, 2009 and finding no
response from the A&N Administration PA Samad resorted to an indefinite
hunger strike on November 2, 2009. Even then there was no response till
7th when the administration opened channels of track two negotiations by
calling the members of the Union through the director of shipping services.

After prolonged negotiations, a final deal was struck in the late
evening in the chamber of Shakti Sinha, Principal Secretary (Shipping)
on 10th, hours before his departure to New Delhi for Budget meeting.

“I take it as 60% success for the Union” P. Abdul Samad told LoA in an
exclusive interview. “However, the victory lies in the Administration
treating the Foreshore seamen as Home Trade seamen as envisaged in the
Merchant Shipping Act and; also in endorsing the first ever wage
agreement” he added. The Wage Agreement would be for the years 2006-2008.

The union members took out a victory rally through the main streets of
town in the evening and held a public meeting at Tiranga Park.

It was the first public agitation, strike and hunger strike to press
home the demands in the islands in decades.

In the meantime all the Unions affiliated to various political parties
like Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Bhartiya Janata Party, CITU and others
expressed their solidarity with the Inter Islands Seamen Union. However,
the Unions affiliated to INTUC kept aloof from the agitation.
Victorious members of the union and supporters marching through the streets

“The agitation was thrust upon the Union for failure of the
Administration in resolving the issue for almost two years inspite of
repeated court order” commented a senior member of the Union.

“We don’t have anyone in the Administration who is well versed with the
merchant Shipping Act. The Director is from Indian Navy and the
secretaries and commissioners are IAS officers who did not have an
exposure to MS Act, its applicability and implementation. Both Janak
Digal the former Arbitrator and Shyami Sodhi, the last Arbitrator
appointed by the Administration could not fathom the depth of MS Act and
hence the trouble” said Samad.

“A degree of callousness in dealing with the matters of the workers too
was responsible for the present impasse”  Samad concluded.

here is port blair all major discussion is arm chair and restricted till it is
published in the DT
how far its going to be implemented  god only knows.
 
The water crisis . solid planning was going on to get fresh water from rutland
it almost 5 five now.
I personally with the editor Of LOA Mr Govinda raju had personally gone to
rultland to see the water bodies and the source . approx. around 4lakh lts of
water if flowing into the sea.
there were plans to make fresh water lake in (joda kalan).
 
sea plane is nothing new to the islanders the andaman flying culb had one long
before. which was used for touring the officers of the Admin and finally it had
its fate one day and was lying turtle for some time in the haddo wharf.
 
Makcruzz is a self initiated effort of the Mak lines . I wish them all the best
and really appreciate their efforts.
 
The tourism Dept does not even have a brochure of their own////outdated website.
there was a discussion in the andaman.ning.com about handing over ross island to
tourism dept.
one can go through and see what opinion do the people of this islands have about
the dept.
 
In the name of tourism there is an MMs circulated where the jarawa's are made to
dance for food. this is given to the tourist who shows interest in jarawas.
almost all the drivers have it in their mobile.
 
anyway there are plenty of things to be told.
lets hope for the best
 
regards
shibu varghese

--- On Wed, 11/18/09, Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...> wrote:


From: Pankaj Sekhsaria <psekhsaria@...>
Subject: [andamanicobar] Andaman tourism plans to soar high with seaplane
operation
To: "andamanicobar" <andamanicobar@...>
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 7:27 PM


Andaman tourism plans to soar high with seaplane operation
http://www.andamansheekha.com/

Staff Correspondent

Onboard MV Makruzz, Nov 17: Andaman and Nicobar Islands will soon be
having seaplane operation in Island sector for visiting tourists. This
will be first of its kind of attraction for tourists in entire India,
the administration claims.

         “We will be getting seaplanes in another two months, which will
change the total tourism scenario in Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” Binay
Bhushan, the Director of Andaman Tourism told media persons while
traveling for Havelock island, onboard M V Makruzz.

         The Director said that paper works for the introducing
Seaplanes in Andaman Islands are almost over which means very soon
tourists can enjoy seaplane trips in Andaman Islands.

         “This will be a unique experience for tourists,” the Director
added. According to sources in Tourism Department Pawan Hans Helicopters
Limited (PHHL) will launch this seaplane service in Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, which currently operates helicopter services to connect these
remote scattered Islands.

         “There won’t be any subsidy in Seaplane ticket fare as it is
introduced only for tourism, hence tourists will have to pay full fare,”
sources in Tourism Department added. Mr. Binay Bhushan added that some
other major projects like Canopy Walk and Light Show in Ross Island have
also been taken up by the Tourism Department which will be some more
added attractions for Andaman Tourism. “Four Five-Star Hotels are also
coming up in these islands which will surely generate employment
together with promoting Andaman tourism,” the Director added.

   More.


------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sir,
 
does things work writing letters. in that case people in the admin have become
effecient
judiciary system will take more than a decade.
 
shibu varghse
--- On Tue, 11/17/09, Francis Xavier Neelam <fxneelam1@...> wrote:


From: Francis Xavier Neelam <fxneelam1@...>
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Beta Version of The Light of Andamans Website
To: andamanicobar@...
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 10:21 PM


 



She must do what Rengi did. Write a letter to the Amdinistration
laying claim to the prime lands in Port Blair as ancestral property,
and threaten to go to court.

On 11/17/09, Anvita Abbi <anvitaabbi@gmail. com> wrote:
> Dear All,
> I visited the widow of Nao Jr who is known as Boa jr, last night at Port
> Blair only to find out that the govt has refused to give her the pension due
> to her for the deceased husband because she fails to produce the marriage
> certificate. When she asked AAJVS who are supposed to keep all the records
> of birth, death and and marriage of all the tribals it refused to have
> it any in its stock. If you all recall ASI takes a pride in exhibiting
> photiographs of her marriage to Nao in every exhibition on tribes. When she
> approached ASI they sang the same song saying the photograph is buried in
> some file. Almost 10 months have passed since Nao died and this widow has
> been harrassed by various officials for a piece of paper which she never had
> ever.
> Can any one suggest or help in this case?
> Anvita Abbi
>
> On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 5:26 AM, Big Dreamz <big_dreamz123@ yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>
>> Its nice to see the most reputed newspaper of A&N islands on the net.
>> NM Bashir
>> --- On Tue, 10/11/09, zubair ahmed
>> <zubairpbl@gmail. com<zubairpbl%40gmail. com>>
>> wrote:
>>
>> From: zubair ahmed <zubairpbl@gmail. com <zubairpbl%40gmail. com>>
>> Subject: [andamanicobar] Beta Version of The Light of Andamans Website
>> To: andamanicobar@ yahoogroups. co.in <andamanicobar% 40yahoogroups. co.in>
>> Date: Tuesday, 10 November, 2009, 8:13 PM
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Group Members,
>>
>> The beta version of the website of The Light of Andamans has been
>> launched.
>>
>> http://www.lightofa ndaman.com/
>>
>> Latest issues will be updated soon.
>>
>> We look forward to your valuable suggestions and comments.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Zubair Ahmed
>>
>> Tel: 03192 246191
>>
>> Mb: +919932081771
>>
>> Email: zubairpbl@gmail. com
>>
>> Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>> The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage.
>> http://in.yahoo. com/
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Prof. Anvita Abbi
> Chairperson
> Centre For Linguistics
> School of language, Literature and Culture Studies
> Jawaharlal Nehru University
> New Delhi 110067, India
>
> Phone +91-11-26704234 [Uni]
> +91-11-26742401 [Res]
> www.andamanese. net
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>










[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Andaman tourism plans to soar high with seaplane operation
http://www.andamansheekha.com/

Staff Correspondent

Onboard MV Makruzz, Nov 17: Andaman and Nicobar Islands will soon be
having seaplane operation in Island sector for visiting tourists. This
will be first of its kind of attraction for tourists in entire India,
the administration claims.

          “We will be getting seaplanes in another two months, which will
change the total tourism scenario in Andaman and Nicobar Islands,” Binay
Bhushan, the Director of Andaman Tourism told media persons while
traveling for Havelock island, onboard M V Makruzz.

          The Director said that paper works for the introducing
Seaplanes in Andaman Islands are almost over which means very soon
tourists can enjoy seaplane trips in Andaman Islands.

          “This will be a unique experience for tourists,” the Director
added. According to sources in Tourism Department Pawan Hans Helicopters
Limited (PHHL) will launch this seaplane service in Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, which currently operates helicopter services to connect these
remote scattered Islands.

          “There won’t be any subsidy in Seaplane ticket fare as it is
introduced only for tourism, hence tourists will have to pay full fare,”
sources in Tourism Department added. Mr. Binay Bhushan added that some
other major projects like Canopy Walk and Light Show in Ross Island have
also been taken up by the Tourism Department which will be some more
added attractions for Andaman Tourism. “Four Five-Star Hotels are also
coming up in these islands which will surely generate employment
together with promoting Andaman tourism,” the Director added.

    More.

THE DAILY TELEGRAMS, Nov 18, 2009

Development of Eco-Tourism Infrastructure, MoU signed

Port Blair, Nov 17

     The Andaman & Nicobar Administration is consulting the Karnataka
State owned Jungle Lodges & Resorts Ltd. (JLR) to develop its own
ecotourism infrastructure. An agreement was signed in this regard with
the JLR by Andaman & Nicobar Administration yesterday. The Principal
Chief Conservator of Forests & Secretary Environment & Forests, Shri S S
Choudhury representing Andaman & Nicobar Administration and Shri N.D.
Tiwari, Managing Director on behalf of JLR signed the agreement in the
presence of Shri K. Jyothiramalingam, Principal Secretary, Dept. of
Kannada, Culture, Information and Tourism Department, government of
Karnataka.

     Jungle Lodges & Resorts Ltd. has been operating successfully in the
space of wildlife and eco-tourism for close to 3 decades now. The
company has expanded from 1 resort in 1980 to a chain of 12 resorts as
on date. Apart from the routine operations, JLR is involved a variety of
other activities related to wildlife and eco-tourism. This includes the
conduct of workshops for IFS officers from across the country, workshops
for naturalists and consulting for other state governments on aspects of
eco-tourism. JLR has now completed consultancy for the Governments of
Orissa and J&K while the project for the Govt, of Maharashtra is
underway. The latest foray of JLR is the signing of an agreement with
the Andaman & Nicobar Administration.

     As part of the consultancy the Eco-tourism potential of Andaman &
Nicobar Islands will be explored. The development of eco-tourism in the
area will also be facilitated. Besides, a plan will be prepared for
development and management of eco-infrastructure and eco-lodge
management. Matters pertaining to Marketing and Development of
organizational structure for ecotourism in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands
will be looked into.

She must do what Rengi did.  Write a letter to the Amdinistration
laying claim to the prime lands in Port Blair as ancestral property,
and threaten to go to court.

On 11/17/09, Anvita Abbi <anvitaabbi@...> wrote:
> Dear All,
> I visited the widow of Nao Jr who is known as Boa jr, last night at Port
> Blair only to find out that the govt has refused to give her the pension due
> to her for the deceased husband because she fails to produce the marriage
> certificate. When she asked AAJVS who are supposed to keep all the records
> of birth, death and and marriage of all the tribals it refused to have
> it any in its stock. If you all recall ASI takes a pride in exhibiting
> photiographs of her marriage to Nao in every exhibition on tribes. When she
> approached ASI they sang the same song saying the photograph is buried in
> some file. Almost 10 months have passed since Nao died and this widow has
> been harrassed by various officials for a piece of paper which she never had
> ever.
> Can any one suggest or help in this case?
> Anvita Abbi
>
> On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 5:26 AM, Big Dreamz <big_dreamz123@...> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>
>> Its nice to see the most reputed newspaper of A&N islands on the net.
>> NM Bashir
>> --- On Tue, 10/11/09, zubair ahmed
>> <zubairpbl@...<zubairpbl%40gmail.com>>
>> wrote:
>>
>> From: zubair ahmed <zubairpbl@... <zubairpbl%40gmail.com>>
>> Subject: [andamanicobar] Beta Version of The Light of Andamans Website
>> To: andamanicobar@... <andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in>
>> Date: Tuesday, 10 November, 2009, 8:13 PM
>>
>>
>>
>> Dear Group Members,
>>
>> The beta version of the website of The Light of Andamans has been
>> launched.
>>
>> http://www.lightofa ndaman.com/
>>
>> Latest issues will be updated soon.
>>
>> We look forward to your valuable suggestions and comments.
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Zubair Ahmed
>>
>> Tel: 03192 246191
>>
>> Mb: +919932081771
>>
>> Email: zubairpbl@gmail. com
>>
>> Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>> The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage.
>> http://in.yahoo.com/
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Prof. Anvita Abbi
> Chairperson
> Centre For Linguistics
> School of language, Literature and Culture Studies
> Jawaharlal Nehru University
> New Delhi 110067, India
>
> Phone +91-11-26704234 [Uni]
>           +91-11-26742401 [Res]
> www.andamanese.net
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

Will it not be advisable for any of us based in Port Blair to go to the
concerned office and sort it out for her ? It will be very difficult for her to
get it done withou assistance.
 
S.K.Patnaik
81, Fishery Lane,
Budheswari Colony, Bhubaneswar - 751006. India
Phone : +91-674-2313364,  Mobile : 9437036606
Email : saroj_p9@...




________________________________
From: Anvita Abbi <anvitaabbi@...>
To: andamanicobar@...
Cc: zubairpbl@...
Sent: Tue, November 17, 2009 4:21:13 PM
Subject: Re: [andamanicobar] Beta Version of The Light of Andamans Website

 
Dear All,
I visited the widow of Nao Jr who is known as Boa jr, last night at Port
Blair only to find out that the govt has refused to give her the pension due
to her for the deceased husband because she fails to produce the marriage
certificate. When she asked AAJVS who are supposed to keep all the records
of birth, death and and marriage of all the tribals it refused to have
it any in its stock. If you all recall ASI takes a pride in exhibiting
photiographs of her marriage to Nao in every exhibition on tribes. When she
approached ASI they sang the same song saying the photograph is buried in
some file. Almost 10 months have passed since Nao died and this widow has
been harrassed by various officials for a piece of paper which she never had
ever.
Can any one suggest or help in this case?
Anvita Abbi

On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 5:26 AM, Big Dreamz <big_dreamz123@ yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
>
> Its nice to see the most reputed newspaper of A&N islands on the net.
> NM Bashir
> --- On Tue, 10/11/09, zubair ahmed <zubairpbl@gmail. com<zubairpbl%40gmail.
com>>
> wrote:
>
> From: zubair ahmed <zubairpbl@gmail. com <zubairpbl%40gmail. com>>
> Subject: [andamanicobar] Beta Version of The Light of Andamans Website
> To: andamanicobar@ yahoogroups. co.in <andamanicobar% 40yahoogroups. co.in>
> Date: Tuesday, 10 November, 2009, 8:13 PM
>
>
>
> Dear Group Members,
>
> The beta version of the website of The Light of Andamans has been launched.
>
> http://www.lightofa ndaman.com/
>
> Latest issues will be updated soon.
>
> We look forward to your valuable suggestions and comments.
>
> Regards,
>
> Zubair Ahmed
>
> Tel: 03192 246191
>
> Mb: +919932081771
>
> Email: zubairpbl@gmail. com
>
> Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage.
> http://in.yahoo. com/
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>

--
Prof. Anvita Abbi
Chairperson
Centre For Linguistics
School of language, Literature and Culture Studies
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi 110067, India

Phone +91-11-26704234 [Uni]
+91-11-26742401 [Res]
www.andamanese. net

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]







[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear All,
I visited the widow of Nao Jr who is known as Boa jr, last night at Port
Blair only to find out that the govt has refused to give her the pension due
to her for the deceased husband because she fails to produce the marriage
certificate. When she asked AAJVS who are supposed to keep all the records
of birth, death and and marriage of all the tribals it refused to have
it any in its stock. If you all recall ASI takes a pride in exhibiting
photiographs of her marriage to Nao in every exhibition on tribes. When she
approached ASI they sang the same song saying the photograph is buried in
some file. Almost 10 months have passed since Nao died and this widow has
been harrassed by various officials for a piece of paper which she never had
ever.
Can any one suggest or help in this case?
Anvita Abbi

On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 5:26 AM, Big Dreamz <big_dreamz123@...> wrote:

>
>
>
> Its nice to see the most reputed newspaper of A&N islands on the net.
> NM Bashir
> --- On Tue, 10/11/09, zubair ahmed
<zubairpbl@...<zubairpbl%40gmail.com>>
> wrote:
>
> From: zubair ahmed <zubairpbl@... <zubairpbl%40gmail.com>>
> Subject: [andamanicobar] Beta Version of The Light of Andamans Website
> To: andamanicobar@... <andamanicobar%40yahoogroups.co.in>
> Date: Tuesday, 10 November, 2009, 8:13 PM
>
>
>
> Dear Group Members,
>
> The beta version of the website of The Light of Andamans has been launched.
>
> http://www.lightofa ndaman.com/
>
> Latest issues will be updated soon.
>
> We look forward to your valuable suggestions and comments.
>
> Regards,
>
> Zubair Ahmed
>
> Tel: 03192 246191
>
> Mb: +919932081771
>
> Email: zubairpbl@gmail. com
>
> Growing older is mandatory. Growing up is optional.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> The INTERNET now has a personality. YOURS! See your Yahoo! Homepage.
> http://in.yahoo.com/
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>



--
Prof. Anvita Abbi
Chairperson
Centre For Linguistics
School of language, Literature and Culture Studies
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi 110067, India

Phone +91-11-26704234 [Uni]
           +91-11-26742401 [Res]
www.andamanese.net


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

For the full stories go to the MAP website.

MAP ANNOUNCEMENTS
MAP Calendar Release
Dear Friend of the Mangroves,

First, I hope that you are doing well! With this Fall season now in full swing,
I am keeping very busy taking on old tasks that are needing attention and
initiating new ones. I ask now for your help on a yearly task that you have
helped with before, and your help has been important to us then as it is still
important now.

Our 2010 Children's Art Calendar has just been proofed, and we are now ready to
begin production for printing and distribution. As usual, we can offer the
calendars at half price to outlets or for $8 per calendar for those who purchase
in bulk (20 or more). Otherwise, we are asking $12 per Calendar.

Note there are two versions, and the difference is that one calendar is for
international distribution with certain dates marked that have intl.
significance, while the 2nd version has these same dates, but added to them are
US holidays so this can be sold here in the US. We decided to print this 2nd US
oriented version because we had received suggestions that we include US holidays
so the calendars are more useful for the bulk of our calendar buyers who are in
the US.

Our plan thus far is to print 250 Intl. ones and 550 US ones. We would like to
print more, but without help in distributing these and selling them, we are
restricted to this smaller scale for now! Let us know soon if you want any bulk
orders for distribution in your area. As you will see from this year's selection
of beautiful children's art from the many contributing nations, we are very
happy to present this new year to all on our list!

PLEASE SEND US YOUR ADVANCE ORDERS NOW, SO WE CAN BETTER DETERMINE HOW MANY
CALENDARS WE SHOULD PRINT THIS YEAR!
Order Here

Cheers,
Alfredo


FEATURED NEWS:
AFRICA

Senegalese NGO Plants 34 Million Mangroves
SENEGAL - A Senegalese environmental NGO announced on Friday that it had planted
34 million mangrove trees in three months in a project largely financed by
French dairy giant Danone to offset its carbon footprint.   Read More
Source:  AFP  11/6/2009


SE ASIA

Up for Grabs: Deforestation and Exploitation in Papua's Plantations Boom
INDONESIA - The planned expansion of plantations in the Papuan provinces of
Indonesia should be immediately suspended and reviewed amid concerns over
massive deforestation and widespread exploitation of local communities,
environmentalists warned today.   Read More

Source:  EIA International  11/10/2009


S. Sumatra`s Mangrove Forests in Critical Conditions: Official

INDONESIA - Mangrove forests in South Sumatra are in critical conditions due to
the conversion of coastal areas into shrimp and fish farms by local residents, a
provincial maritime official said.   Read More
Source:  Antara News  11/2/2009



As Tidal Surges Worsen, North Jakarta's Urban Planning Remains Under Water
INDONESIA - Rini, a housewife living in the Marunda area in North Jakarta, is
used to the monthly floods that come whenever the Java Sea rises. But the tidal
surge on Thursday caught her off guard.   Read More
Source:  Jakarta Globe  11/9/2009


Replanted Surabaya Mangroves Die
INDONESIA - The protected forest on the eastern coast of Surabaya has lost about
7.6 million mangrove trees that were planted as part of reforestation efforts.
Officials blamed the loss on the local residents' lack of concern about the
preservation of the mangrove ecosystem.   Read More
Source:  Jakarta Globe  11/13/2009


Move to Restore Mangrove Forests
MALAYSIA - Years ago, the whole of the Pulau Indah coastal area off Klang, was
covered with mangrove trees. Now, only about 20% of the trees remain. "This
island used to be covered with 2,000ha to 3,000ha of mangrove forest but now
only a small portion of it is left."   Read More
Source:  The Star Online  11/3/2009


Of Fish and Men: A Fable of Modern Times

MALAYSIA - Once upon a time, there was a group of fishing villages in the
district of Pontian, a sleepy part of the state of Johor. The villagers, as you
might have suspected, were fishermen who had settled in the area for many
generations, some Malay, some Chinese, and although, as is the case in this
world of ours, there was a degree of poverty, most of them made a good living
plying their traditional trade.    Read More
Source:  Malaysia Kini  11/10/2009


Lanao Norte Coops Conduct Tree Planting
PHILIPPINES - In celebrating the Cooperative Month in October under the theme:
"One Cooperative Movement, One Vision, One Nation: Bagong Batas, Bagong Sigla sa
Kooperatiba," cooperatives in the province conducted a tree planting activity
signifying their unity and responding to the call of our nation to protect
mother nature at Barangay Caromatan, Kolambugan, this province.   Read More
Source:  Philippine Information Agency  11/10/2009


Mekong Delta Battles Climate Change and Rising Tides

VIETNAM - In late April 2009, thousand of people in Vi Thanh commune, Hau Giang
province had to buy fresh water because sea water encroached into all rivers and
canals in the area. This phenomenon had never happed so far in the region.
Experts attending the Mekong Delta Climate Change Forum said in the future it
will happen more frequently.   Read More
Source:  VietnamNet Bridge  11/13/2009


SOUTH ASIA
Fish Inbreeding Causes Concern
BANGLADESH - The current unplanned inbreeding of fish may cause genetic
deteriorations in aquaculture production and open ocean fisheries, says Golam
Hossain, Director General of the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI).
Hatchery stocks in floodplain and other open waters may be compromised.   Read
More

Source:  FIS  10/30/2009


Muslim Scientist Awarded By UN, Ignored By India
INDIA - Khan's sojourn into mangrove vegetations began when he was studying for
his Master's degree in Biotechnology. His thesis included a part on "Mangroves -
A Life Saving Vegetation". While working on it, he traveled around coastal areas
of the Tamil Nadu state of India.   Read More
Source:  Islam Online  11/3/2009

Debris Dumped on BKC Mangroves
INDIA - Environmentalists are furious at the manner in which MMRDA has laid
utility lines on pavements, as the contractor has dumped truckloads of debris on
the mangrove plantation in the Bandra-Kurla Complex.   Read More
Source:  Times of India  11/11/2009


NORTH AMERICA

Miami-Dade Commissioners Consider Cashing in on old Glades Jetport

UNITED STATES - Faced with a looming half-billion-dollar deficit from the
expansion of Miami International Airport, the Miami-Dade Aviation Department
wants to cash in on an Everglades jetport it was forced to abandon decades ago.
Read More
Source:  Miami Herald  11/2/2009


Don't go Drill Crazy in the Everglades
UNITED STATES - In search of money to help pay off Miami International Airport's
expansion, officials want the county to consider drilling for oil and gas at an
old jet port that's now part of the Big Cypress National Wildlife Preserve as
one potential way to get money.   Read More
Source:  Miami Herald  11/3/2009

New Sustainable Seafood Certification Set in the US
UNITED STATES - The Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) has become the main
aquaculture seafood's standards-setting organisation thanks to the creation of
the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification logo, set in partnership with
leading US distributor Foodservice - as announced on October 29.   Read More
Source:  Green Planet  11/2/2009

LATIN AMERICA
DIY Paradise Preservation
HONDURAS - The Bay Islands of Honduras give visitors a taste of what the
Caribbean was like before development surged: a laid-back paradise with clear
turquoise water, lush tropical vegetation and an easy integration into island
life with no high-rises, no traffic and no stress.   Read More
Source:  Tonic  11/6/2009

CARIBBEAN
South Bimini Image Wins Grand Prize in 'Ocean in Focus' Conservation Photogrpahy
Contest
BAHAMAS - Project AWARE Foundation and SeaWeb have chosen the Grand Prize winner
for their second annual "Ocean in Focus" conservation photography contest, and
this year the image comes from right here in Bimini!   Read More

Source:  Bahama Islands Info  10/28/2009


AUSTRALIA/OCEANIA

Fiji's Environment Department Wants Tougher Management of Mangrove Areas
FIJI - The Department of Environment in Fiji says it expects to see tougher
management of mangrove areas after it was found that the removal of mangroves
helped contribute to the deadly January floods.  Read More Source:  Radio New
Zealand International  11/3/2009

ISSUES ARTICLES
WWF Confronted with Global Resistance for End to 'Greenwashing'

An Open Letter signed by more than 80 organizations from 31 countries was
delivered yesterday to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and to
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) co-initiator of the initiative. In the letter, they
are urged to end the "greenwashing" and certification of palm oil plantations as
being "sustainable".   Read More
Source:  Pacific Scoop  11/6/2009


Investment in Ecosystems will Reap Rewards - UNEP
ENGLAND - Nations that take into account natural resources in their investment
strategies will have higher rates of return and stronger economies, a report
backed by the United Nations' Environment Programme said on Friday.   Read More
Source:  Reuters  11/13/2009

Special Session of the United Nations Forum on Forests
UNITED STATES - The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) met in Special
Session at UN Headquarters in New York on Friday, 30 October 2009. At the
special session, delegates reached a decision on the need for urgent global
action to catalyze funding for sustainable forest management around the world.  
Read More
Source:  IISD Reporting Services  10/30/2009



Report on Peatland Emissions Changes Global Picture
UNITED STATES - Wetlands International in cooperation with Greifswald University
has presented the first ever overview of peatland emissions and peat stocks per
country. The overview presented today turns the official emission figures of
many countries upside down.   Read More

Source:  Wetlands International  11/4/2009


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Light of the Andamans accuses so-called tribal activists of engaging in "shadow
boxing" and not providing concrete ideas about how to deal with the increasingly
complex Jarawa situation. Truth is, there is no dearth of concrete ideas, but
there is a lack of political will to implement them. Simply enforcing the High
Court order of 2002, regarding the Jarawa, would have gone a long way toward
preventing the kind of situation that has arisen now. We are faced with an
extraordinary apathy on the part of the administration, and I for one have no
ideas on how to overcome that. It is the real challenge.
Below is a paper some of us presented at a court-ordered Jarawa seminar in 2004,
offering principles and ideas for dealing with the Jarawa. The paper is
incomplete: a key principle should be added to the list given below, and that is
Self-determination. It is the natural right of the Jarawa to choose whether they
will integrate or not, and at what pace. The pace should not be forced by, for
instance, reducing the resources of their territory so that they have to depend
upon dole.


                                        AN ALTERNATIVE FRAMEWORK
FOR JARAWA POLICY



Submitted by a Group of Independent Experts & Observors





The crisis of existence facing the Jarawa, combined with the Honourable High
Court's directive to produce a thoughtful and well-considered policy for dealing
with this exigency, provides an extraordinary opportunity. For the first time in
India, and likely in the world, many heads-administrators, experts and concerned
individuals-are coming together to think about how best to deal with a hitherto
isolated tribal group, and, most important, to put a just and humane policy in
place.

We hold that the premise in this discussion must always be that the best
interests of the Jarawa have to be served. Lively debate exists on the means by
which this might be accomplished-isolation or integration-and the present
proposal does not claim to have all the answers. We take as a given, however,
that the territorial rights of the Jarawa must be secured, in law and in
practice, so that they have as much forest and coastline as they need to live
well. Territorial and cultural integrity appears to be essential to the physical
and mental health of a hunter-gatherer group. Let us not forget that thousands
of years before we came, the aboriginals lived on the Andamans; their moral
rights to the archipelago's resources outweigh ours.

Any final policy on the Jarawa should allow them a large measure of independence
in choosing their own future. However, until a long-term vision for the Jarawa
is finalized, we hold that the Jarawa need to be shielded from harmful outside
influences. All dealings with the Jarawa, and indeed the other Andaman
aboriginal groups, must therefore meet three criteria:



a) Sensitivity: All individuals dealing with the Jarawa and other Andaman and
Nicobar aboriginals (including the Onge, Great Andamanese and the Shompen), must
be trained and made aware of their cultural practices. These personnel must have
respect for the validity of aboriginal practices as a means of survival in the
island and forest environment. Outsiders must not denigrate aboriginal practices
or seek to impose foreign practices except for such cases as are essential for
their survival.

b) Minimality: To minimize the chances of abuse, the least possible number of
outsiders may deal with the Jarawa and all other aboriginal groups of the
Andamans. Only the least possible number of outsiders should be allowed to enter
the Jarawa reserve. Adequate care must be taken to ensure that outsiders do not
transmit disease. Programs and other activity involving the aboriginals,
including medical intervention, must be kept down to the absolute essentials and
accomplished with minimal exposure to outside influences.

The Sentinel Islanders must be left completely alone and no attempts can be made
to establish contact with them. Vigilance from a distance may be in order,
however.

c) Accountability: Mechanisms must be put in place to swiftly and firmly deal
with abuse of aboriginals by outsiders, especially if these outsiders are
personnel who are entrusted with responsibilities regarding aboriginals.
Individuals  who have negative dealings with aboriginals must be suitably
punished and never allowed near them again. Justice must not only be done but
also be seen to be done.



With these principles in mind, we submit the following policy guidelines for
dealing with the Jarawa. We further take this opportunity to suggest reform in
other Andaman and Nicobar tribal regions. If this proposal passes muster, we
would like to recommend in addition that a Policy Panel be formed to work out
its detailed implementation. This Panel will preferably contain only three
members: a senior member of the Andaman administration, a knowledgeable
anthropologist and a senior, independent and concerned administrator as
chairperson.



POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.

1.      The Honourable Supreme Court's recommendation on Inner Line regulations
must be implemented on a war footing. The Andaman Islands are facing immense
problems, most immediately water shortage and unemployment, because of unchecked
immigration. Overpopulation impedes tribal security by increasing pressure on
resources in the tribal reserves.



    2. The Honourable Supreme Court's Order to close sections of the Andaman
Trunk Road must be immediately implemented. In addition, the section of Jarawa
forest east of the Andaman Trunk Road that was denotified in the 1970s may be
restored to the Jarawa reserve. A suitable process for identifying this land
should be initiated immediately. Increasing the territory of the Jarawa will
better ensure their survival, help regenerate the forest and likely also improve
the water situation on South Andaman.



3. An Integrated Security Force headed by the Lieutenant Governor needs to be
formed to defend the Jarawa Reserve and other tribal reserves from poaching by
land and sea. This Force needs to incorporate the principles of Sensitivity,
Minimality and Accountability. It should include representatives from relevant
departments such as Forest, Coast Guard, Defence, Police, Fisheries and others.
Further, the boundaries of the Jarawa and other reserves need to be clearly
demarcated. No authority can have bases within the Jarawa reserve. Strict
guidelines need to be worked out on the extent to which personnel from any
authority can enter the reserve in pursuit of poachers. Possibly the Jarawa
themselves can assume to an extent their old task of defending their forest.

.

4. The administration must close legal loopholes that impede prosecution of
poachers. Strict, effective penalties, including prison terms, must be
introduced for poachers, for others who extract resources such as sand from the
tribal reserves, and also for those having harmful dealings with the aboriginals
such as offering intoxicants.



5. Strenuous efforts must be made to sensitize local populations to the rights
of the Jarawas and other aboriginals, and to the dangers posed by harmful
contact. Support for the Jarawa among the local population will be invaluable.



6. The AAJVS must be replaced by a new, streamlined organization that is
passionately dedicated to serving the Jarawa and other aboriginal groups. For
the moment let us call this organization the Andaman Adivasi Service Agency or
AASA, which may be registered as a trust.

We postulate the following structure for the AASA to incorporate the principles
of sensitivity, minimality and accountability. The AASA will be run by an
Executive Council of five members. The Council will have no Chairman but a
Convener. Two of its members will be government officials, including the
Lieutenant Governor, while three will be non-governmental. Council members will
be required to make at least two unannounced spot checks a year of each and
every tribal reserve served by AASA. In early stages, Council members will meet
once in three months to resolve problems, and in later stages once in six
months.

The Executive Council will hire an Executive Officer who will be responsible for
running the AASA. This Executive Officer will need to be not only sensitive but
dynamic: this will not be a desk job. He or she will be in charge of hiring,
training, deploying, overseeing and if necessary firing all employees. To
enforce accountability it is necessary to stop not only the proliferation of
personnel in the tribal reserves but also the proliferation of departments. To
this end, the Executive Officer should be responsible for hiring and overseeing
not only anthropologists and welfare personnel but also doctors and all other
staff posted at tribal reserves.

To ensure minimality, we recommend that the Jarawa be served by three teams, one
posted at Kadamtala, one at Baratang and one at Thiroor. Each team will contain
a highly qualified and competent anthropologist, chosen by a nation-wide
competition, who will serve as an interface between the Jarawa and the outside
world. The team will also contain a highly trained and sensitized doctor. For
the present moment we see no need for welfare staff serving the Jarawa. Only
members of the Executive Council and Policy Panel, the Executive Officer, the
resident anthropologist and the resident doctor may enter the Jarawa reserve.
The staff requirements at other tribal reserves may be worked out by the Policy
Panel.



7. An Advisory Body must be constituted with adequate expertise, including
knowledgeable anthropologists, to advise the Executive Council on long-term
policy regarding the Jarawa. The Advisory Body will be charged with developing a
visionary and humane long-term policy regarding the Jarawa and other aboriginal
groups. It will determine what the principles of Sensitivity, Minimality and
Accountability mean in practice. The policy formulated by the Advisory Body will
provide a framework allowing the Executive Council and the Integrated Security
Force to solve day-to-day problems in a rational, consistent and guided manner.
At present many questions remain unanswered, most importantly that of isolation
versus integration. The Advisory Body is also entrusted with developing a
long-term plan for research that meets the criterion of minimality but that can
generate sufficient information to enable the Executive Council to formulate and
revise policy periodically. The Advisory Body must within a year develop a
long-term vision plan that incorporates not only questions of human rights but
also the ecology and development of the Andamans as a whole. Until the Advisory
Body is constituted, the Policy Panel will determine the implications of
Sensitivity, Minimality and Accountability.



The proposal outlined above was formulated by Dr. Madhusree Mukerjee in
consultation with a senior administrator who remains unnamed. It bears the
consensus of a number of concerned individuals, experienced administrators and
anthropologists who have looked far and wide for information and guidance
relevant to the task at hand. We believe that, barring minor modifications, it
will hold up to scrutiny and earnestly hope that it will be adopted as the
policy toward the Jarawa and other threatened aboriginals on the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.





Samir Acharya

Society for Andaman & Nicobar Ecology (SANE),

C/o Tarang Trades, Middle Point, Port Blair - 744101.

Tel: 03192 - 232929 / 236014. Email: sane@...





Dr. Vishvajit Pandya

Professor, Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information & Communication Technology,
Ahmedabad





Dr. Sita Venkateswar

Anthropologist, Massey University, New Zealand





Pankaj Sekhsaria

Kalpavriksh Environmental Action Group, Pune





Dr. Madhusree Mukerjee

Author, The Land of Naked People, New York





Rasheed Yusoof

Vice President, Nicobar Youth Association, Nancowry






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Dear All,
As ATR issue is back in the Hot seat of Topic, let me forward the same
mail i had sent a month back on the topic. Let us generate healthy
discussion on the ATR issue without confining to strangled views and
extreme beliefs which, i fear, will not yield a solution.
Narayan, Port Blair

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Tribals - Settlers - Interventions - Some steps to lead to
solution From:    sio@...
Date:    Wed, October 14, 2009 11:52 am
To:      andamanicobar@...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear All,
The debate in this forum takes interesting turns referring to a particular
event at a time and then peters off till another event comes up. And,
objectivity is sometimes lost when debate takes place from business motive
or Go Safe position or Passionate involvement.
Let us face a few facts :
1. The tribals issue and their protection should not be seen in isolation.
The external factors need to be considered and tackled for any meaningful
and lasting solution.

2. Some of us in this forum objected to the term 'PTG' to describe the
tribals (Primitive Tribal Groups). I feel the same kind of pain when the
people in these islands are described as 'Settlers' in this forum. I would
prefer to call them as Inhabitants, the term "Settlers" is quite
disturbing, as is being referred to in this forum. We know that Delhi is
itself a land of "Settlers" and so can you treat all residents of Delhi as
outsiders who have grabbed the land ?

3. The Inhabitants have been settled in these islands for decades by Govt
measures and they have a right to the land.

4. The ATR has been a blunder but it is there to stay till alternatives
are fully in place.

5. In Andaman, any government action needs clearance from  Environment
(Forests) and Security (Defence) for many activities and is not easy.

How do you reconcile all these facts ?
To my mind, the most crucial thing is to create awareness in the local
population of the need to protect the tribals. The much talked about
Tribal tourism in this forum, i feel, is an exaggeration. There are more
factors damaging to the tribals. Are there a few steps than can be taken
to protect the tribals in this situation ? Yes.

1. Improve the shipping services from Port Blair to Diglipur, Mayabandar
and Rangat (DMR) so that there is at least one ship during the day and one
during the night (to and fro). Have separate ships for passenger and
cargo.
2. The ships need to be all weather proof & run safely during monsoon also.
3. I have seen Jarawas jolly riding on the lorries and trucks on the ATR
in the reserve areas. Ban movement of all cargo through ATR (lorries etc)
as cargo can defintely go by ships.
4. Increase number of govt buses through ATR, as these follow the convoy
system very rigourously and do not allow Jarawa interaction and they do
not stop anywhere in the reserve.
5. Charge heavily for private vehicles to go through ATR even for the
inhabitants so that they travel by govt buses. This can discourage the
'tribal tourism' and also reduce pollution and prevent deforestation.
6. The ATR runs through Jarawa reserve area for around 40( or 60 kms). And
Andaman is such that sea can be reached by road within a 5 km stretch. So
try for ship journey in this reserve area with Vehicle ferry, while other
places (outside reserve) can still be travelled by road.

The other steps include Relocating the people living near the Jarawa
reserve (Tirur etc.,) to other areas away from the reserve. This will
prevent jarawa-inhabitant conflict and intervention which to me is more
serious, as there is scope of continous interaction between the two
communities.

In fact, i would go far to say that we may even open up for discussion, if
nothing else, the idea of Relocating the Jarawas themselves (numbering
around 300 now) to an isolated island, if the right environment can be
found so that they are preserved. I am suggesting this because, by the
time the right decision is taken by the govt, the jarawas may well be out
of existence in the world.
Narayan, Port Blair

Please see the last line of the report. Does anyone have details of the
proposed photovoltaic project in the islands?
pankaj
---

NTPC to invest Rs 8,100-cr in renewable energy

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blnus/02111591.htm

NEW DELHI: State-run NTPC is likely invest about Rs 8,100 crore for
setting up over 1,000 MW renewable energy projects in the country by 2017.

The company has set a target of adding at least 1,000 MW of power
through renewable energy sources by the end of the next plan period
(2012-17), sources said.

This capacity addition is likely to consist of wind energy projects (650
MW), hydro energy from units of smaller than 25 MW (350 MW) and solar
energy projects (50 MW).

On an average, generating one MW hydro power costs Rs 7 crore, wind
power Rs 8 crore and solar Rs 10 crore.

The first 100 MW renewable plant based on wind energy is likely to be
commissioned by the end of 2010, sources said, adding, the company has
signed an agreement with Karnataka Power Corp for setting up wind energy
projects aggregating to 500 MW capacity.

Feasibility studies for 8 MW hydro-energy based project at
NTPC-Singrauli has been finalised and the notice inviting tender would
be issued soon.

The company is planning to implement solar thermal energy projects of 15
MW at NTPC's project in Anta, 25 MW at NTPC- Rihand or Singrauli and 6
MW solar photovoltaic based projects at Andaman and Nicobar Islands. - PTI