[IPSM] THURSDAY: Alcan't in India demonstration!

Tue Apr 20 12:33:39 PDT 2004

Dear IPSMers - we really hope that many of you can come out to the 
demonstration at the Alcan AGM on the 22nd.  We really feel that with a 
critical mass we can stop the mine!

Please send this callout to all of your contacts.

In solidarity,
Abhimanyu

--please diffuse widely--
(le message en français suit)

WE CAN WIN THIS! TAKING THE FIGHT TO THE ALCAN SUITS!

Massive mobilization and march to urge Alcan executives and shareholders  to
pull out of a destructive mining project in Kashipur, India. This is our  ONE
big chance to make the demands of those in Kashipur be heard by the people
 that have the power to decide!

LET'S BE LOUD AND CLEAR on Thursday April 22nd!

LIFE IS GREATER THAN INVESTMENT!
DEVELOPMENT IS MORE THAN PROFIT!

The Alcan't in India campaign, supporting the indigenous and low-caste 
peoples of Kashipur in their work to protect their homes and lives from an
 Alcan-backed bauxite mine, is organizing a series of events around
Alcan's  Annual General Meeting  (see below for details on the issue).

Documentary film-maker and activist Angad Bhalla, who has made the film 
"UAIL Go Back" about the issue in Kashipur, will be returning from India 
with fresh video testimonials from the peoples of Kashipur as well as with
 banners, placards and other materials to be demonstrated on the streets
of  Montreal.  Frederic Dubois, an independent journalist who travelled to
the  region in February 2004 and interviewed many leaders and participants
of  the massive anti-mining movement, will be sharing his experiences and 
perspectives.  Finally Abhimanyu Sud, a member of the Montreal-based 
Alcan't in India campaign will discuss Alcan's proposed operations in
Kashipur in  the context of the multinational's operations in Quebec,
British Columbia  and the rest of the world.

This is your opportunity to support the 60 000 peoples of Kashipur whose 
lives are threatened by the 100% export-oriented mining and refining 
project.  Your presence at the demonstration outside the Alcan general 
assembly can stop this destructive project!  WE CAN WIN THIS! Together we 
can take the honest message of the peoples of Kashipur directly to  Alcan.

You can learn more about the history of struggle around Kashipur at the 
teach-in several days before the demonstration.

EVENTS:
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***CREATIVE DEMONSTRATION***
Thursday April 22nd 2004: 9:30am-12:00pm

Location:
Centre Mont-Royal, ready to make noise at 9:30am
2200 Mansfield Street (between Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve)
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*Kashipur Solidarity TEACH-IN*
Saturday April 17th 2004: 2pm – 4pm

Location:
South Asian Women's Community Centre
1035 Rachel Est, 3rd floor (corner Christophe-Colomb)
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**PRESS CONFERENCE**
Tuesday April 20th 2004: 10:30am-12pm

Location:
School of Community and Public Affairs, Concordia University
2149 Mackay Street, basement (between Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve) 
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For more info, contact:

Abhimanyu Sud
abhimanyu at riseup.net
(514) 398-7432

BACKGROUND

The Alcan’t in India project is developing a long-term solidarity 
relationship with the indigenous and low-caste peoples of the Kashipur 
region in Orissa, India.  For twelve years now the peoples of Kashipur 
have been struggling to stop a massive bauxite mining and refining project
on  their land in which the Montreal-based aluminum corporation Alcan has
a  45% share.  It is estimated that up to 60 000 peoples in Orissa could
be  displaced by bauxite mining and refining projects in the coming years.
  The mine and refinery will destroy their ancestral homelands, their
spiritual  sites, their clean water, clean food, their very culture for
the sake of a  100% export-oriented aluminum project.  The rest of the
investment is  controlled by Indal, the Indian Aluminum Corporation, which
is a former  Alcan subsidiary.  As a solidarity group, our primary
objectives are to  support the developmental objectives laid out by the
peoples of Kashipur  themselves.  Their three primary objectives include:
cancellation of all  mining treaties with various aluminum corporations,
development of small  scale irrigation structures, and development of
medical and educational  facilities in accord with their culture.  Being
so close to the headquarters and operations of a major investor in this
proposal, the Alcan't in India  project is best position to support the
first objective of cancellation of  mining treaties.

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ON PEUT GAGNER ! PORTONS LA LUTTE JUSQU'AUX PROPRIÉTAIRES D'ALCAN !

Mobilisation massive et marche pour demander aux directeurs et
actionnaires d'ALCAN de se retirer du projet de mine qui menace la région
du Kashipur,  en
Inde.

Ceci est notre chance de faire entendre les demandes des habitants du 
Kashipur à ceux qui ont le pouvoir de décider!

PARLONS FORT ET SOYONS CLAIRS, le jeudi 22 avril !

LA VIE VAUT PLUS QUE L'INVESTISSEMENT !
LE DÉVELOPPEMENT C'EST PLUS QUE DES PROFITS !

Solidaire des communautés indigènes et hors-caste du Kashipur dans leur 
lutte pour protéger leur habitat et leurs vies contre un mégaprojet de 
mine
de bauxite financé par ALCAN, la campagne ALCAN't en Inde, organise une 
série d'événements ciblant l'assemblée générale des actionnaires d'ALCAN.

Le documentariste et activiste Angad Bhalla, qui a tourné le film UAIL Go 
Back, sur les enjeux du Kashipur, sera de retour d'Inde avec de récents 
témoignages d'habitants du Kashipur. Il apportera aussi des bannières et 
des affiches qui seront déployées dans les rues de Montréal.

Frédéric Dubois, journaliste indépendant qui a voyagé dans la région en 
février dernier, a interviewé plusieurs leaders et participants du 
mouvement populaire d'opposition aux mines. Il partagera son expérience et
ses  perspectives.

Finalement, Abhimanyu Sud, membre de la campagne montréalaise ALCAN't en 
Inde, parlera des projets d'ALCAN au Kashipur, dans le contexte des 
activités multinationales qui ont cours au Québec, en Colombie-Britannique
 et dans le reste du monde.

Ceci est votre opportunité de prêter support aux quelques 60 000 habitants
 du Kashipur dont les vies sont menacées par un projet de mine et de 
raffinerie orienté à 100% sur l'exportation.

Votre présence à cette manifestation à l'extérieur de l'assemblée générale
 des actionnaires d'ALCAN peut arrêter ce projet destructeur.

ON PEUT GAGNER !

Ensemble nous pouvons porter le message des habitants du Kashipur 
directement à ALCAN.

Vous pouvez en apprendre plus sur l'histoire des luttes au Kashipur lors  du
teach-in, plusieurs jours avant la manifestation.

EVENEMENTS:
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***MANIF CRÉATIVE***
Jeudi 22 avril 2004: 9h30-12h00

Lieu:
Centre Mont-Royal
2200 rue Mansfield (entre Sherbrooke et de Maisonneuve)
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*ATELIER D'INFORMATION*
Samedi 17 avril 2004: 14h00-16h00

Lieu:
Centre Communautaire des Femmes Sud-Asiatiques
1035 Rachel est, 3eme étage (coin Christophe-Colomb)
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**CONFÉRENCE de PRESSE**
Mardi 20 avril 2004: 10h30-12h00

Lieu:
École des Affaires Publiques et Communautaires
de l'université Concordia
2149 rue Mackay, sous-sol (entre Sherbrooke et de Maisonneuve)
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Pour plus d'infos:

Abhimanyu Sud
abhimanyu at riseup.net
(514) 398-7432

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