[IPSM] DEC 16: Mass mobilization against Alcan!!

Fri Dec 3 12:26:37 PST 2004

Message en français à suivre

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*****DEC 16: Mass mobilization against Alcan!!*****

Support the struggle of Indigenous and Low-Caste Peoples' Movement   from
Kashipur, India against an Alcan bauxite mining and aluminum  refining
project that  would displaced them from their land against  their wills!

This December 16, 2004 12h00, we are going to the streets and to the 
phones in a mass creative event for global solidarity.

On December 16, 2000 3 villagers from Maikanch village were killed by 
state police for participating in a meeting against this bauxite mining 
project. After the shooting, all project-related work was put on hold 
pending a state-run judicial inquiry. Then in early 2001 NORSK Hydro of 
Norway, the lead investor in the troubled project, divested. Meanwhile 
ALCAN of Montreal, Canada, quietly increased their shares, and
now this aluminum multinational holds a 45% share in the mine and 
refinery project.

To date no justice has been served regarding the murder of the three 
advasis (indigenous peoples). From Alcan't in India's direct meetings 
with senior Alcan officials, it is clear that they have little
understanding of the detrimental impacts of their own activities and of 
the massive resistance to this project.

On October 19, 2004 FIVE THOUSAND Kashipur residents rallied outside  the
local policeheadquarters to demand justice and to demand that the  mining
proposal be cancelled.

On December 16, 2004 they will gather massively to expose these
companies and their exploitative plans.

Let's join them!

***If in Montreal meet at 12h00 at Maison Alcan, 1188 Sherbrooke Street 
West (corner Stanley, metro Peel).

***If elsewhere, call Alcan's CEO of Bauxite and Alumina & Senior Vice 
President Michael Hanley between 12h00-13h00 at +1 514 848 8487

Please find included in this message:

A) Suggested talking points and contact information for solidarity  callers
B) Our demands to ALCAN
C) Detailed Background Information on the Kashipur struggle

A) Talking Points and Contact Information

Solidarity callers should call Michael Hanley at
+1 514 848 8487.
If busy, try the main switchboard at +1 514 848 8000.

The call should be made anytime between 12h00-13h00
Eastern Standard Time on December 16, 2004  to ensure
that your call will be coordinated with the Montreal
event.

Some suggested talking points (speak to what you think
is most important and relevant to why you are
concerned):

-  calling in to honour the memory of Abhilash,
Raghunath and Damodar Jhodia who were killed by a
police-riot for resisting an Alcan-supported project
- concerned that Alcan's project is clearly
propagating a system that oppresses indigenous and
other marginalized peoples
- Alcan can honour these murders too by respecting the
demands of the peoples' movement for self-determined
development and divest from the

- the major demands from the movement:
         - the cancellation of all treaties signed with
		various mining companies
         - access to medical facilities and education
		in harmony with their cultural values
         - local agricultural development through
		small-scale irrigation projects

Questions to ask Alcan:
-why have you increased your share in the project when
other corporations like Norsk Hydro have pulled out?
- why have all "consultations" with the people
required a massive police presence?
- how can you claim that the people support your
proposed project when they have passed official, legal
resolutions against it (through the "Gram Sabha"
village council in 2001)
- how can you claim that only a minority of local
people are against the project when 5000 people
rallied against the project just two months ago
outside the Tikiri police station?
- how can you claim that the peoples support the
project when company and government officials cannot
travel to any of the affected areas without armed
police escort?
- how can you make claims about the environmental
impacts of the project when you have no approved
environmental impacts assessment?
- anything else you would like to express given your
knowledge of the situation or as given in the
background information

2) Our demands to Alcan

1) Publicly release the Environmental Impact
Assessment of the project, or make no claims as to potential
environmental impacts of the proposed project.

2) Recognize the Kashipur peoples' title to the land
and constitutional guarantee for self-determination.
Respect the democratic resolutions and public
demonstrations of the people from the affected
villages against UAIL and its activities on their
land.

3) Follow the example of previous lead investors in
the project, such as Norsk Hydro of Norway, and fully
divest from the joint venture, UAIL.

C) Detailed Background Information

Kashipur block in the Rayagada district of Orissa
contains one of the largest deposits of bauxite ores
in the world. In 1993, a consortium of private
companies collectively known as UAIL (Utkal Alumina
International Ltd) was formed to initiate a project to
extract these ores and produce alumina. The project
area is chiefly occupied by adivasis (indigenous
people of India) and dalits (low cast). This project,
if executed will lead to large scale displacement and loss of
livelihood for these people. The people of Kashipur
have been opposing the project since its
inception.

Why is the project harmful for the people?

Displacement and loss of livelihood: The people of
Kashipur have been farming their land for centuries.
Depriving them of their land would make them destitute
since they do not have any other avenue for earning a
living. The Norwegian development agency,NORAD, has
estimated that about 60000 people will be displaced by
this project. If this project goes ahead it will
completely wipe out a self-sustained community.

Facts on displacement : Adivasis constitute less than
8% of India's population but account for more than 40%
of India's displaced.  Conservative estimates place
the number of people displaced by “development”
projects in India (since 1947) to 33 million. 1.4 million
people have been displaced by such development
projects in Orissa since 1947.  Mining in Orissa has displaced
50 000 people.  New projects are expected to displace
at least another 10 0000 people.

Loss of indigenous culture: The community would be
splintered and this will lead to a loss of indigenous
culture. The loss of community would also lead to
increased insecurity for women and children. The
people will lose Baphlimali hill to the mining
project. Baphlimali hill is sacred to the people since
they believe it to be the abode of the goddess
Baphlimali.

Environmental impact:
The bauxite mining technique proposed in Kashipur is
extremely harmful for the environment. Effluent
discharge - A by-product of bauxite refining is red
mud. It will be disposed of using red mud stacking in
an enclosed area. This method will give rise to at least
125 tons of caustic soda a day. The waste will be
dumped into two streams that are the major key sources
of water for the villages in the surrounding area. Such
large amount of alkaline deposit will raise the pH of
the water to 13, making it unfit for consumption.
Agriculture and aquatic life downstream will be
severely affected. Refer to
http://www.saanet.org/kashipur/images/lake.jpg for an
image of a waterbody polluted by the NALCO mining
project in the vicinity of Kashipur.

Ash disposal: The power requirement of 80MW will
require about 2800-3000 tons of coal per day. This is
expected to generate 900-1000 tons of ash per day that
will be dumped into an ash pond. Refer to
http://www.saanet.org/kashipur/images/pond.jpg for
image of the ash pond at the NALCO mining project near
Kashipur.

Overburden dumping: According to the environmental
clearance given by the government, the company does
not have to take care of overburden dumping for the
first five years. It is expected that the overburden
will be dumped on the slopes of the mined area leading
to siltation of streams, damage of slopes and
cultivable lands.

Violation of fundamental rights: The fifth schedule of
the Indian constitution guarantees the rights of
indigenous people over their natural resources and
land. The adivasis will lose land that belongs to them
according to the Indian constitution.

No tangible benefits for the people: This is a 100%
Export-oriented mining project. All the aluminium
produced will be exported since India is self
sufficient in its Aluminium production.  There are no
plans for Kashipur after the mining is over.

Status of the project:

In spite of the repression, the people of Kashipur are
steadfast in their resolve to oppose the project. Work
on the project hasn't yet started. However a recent
judicial enquiry into the killings of Dec 16,2000,
cleared the company and the government of all wrongdoing. This
paves the way for the starting of the project work.

Resources
1. Alcan't in India website:
http://www.saanet.org/alcant
2. Kashipur web site : http://www.saanet.org/kashipur/
3. Environmental impact of the mining
project:'Assessment of Environmental, Economic and
Social Impacts of Bauxite Mining and Alumina
Processing in Orissa', TARU, June 1996, New Delhi.
4. Information about the fifth schedule:
http://www.mmpindia.org/Fifth_Schedule.htm
5. Killings on Dec16,2000:
http://www.saanet.org/kashipur/articles/pop.htm
6. Judicial enquiry that cleared the government and
the company:
http://www.saanet.org/kashipur/articles/sudhir.htm
7. Information on "UAIL Go Back" - A Film on the
Kashipur movement : http://www.saanet.org/alcant/

Contact Alcan't in India at:
tel: +1 514 398 7432
email: alcantinindia at yahoo.com
post: 3647 University Street, 3rd floor
Montreal, QC H2V 4B4
Canada

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*****le 16 dec: Mobilization contre Alcan!!*****

Manifestez votre appui aux habitants de la région du Kashipur, en Inde, 
dans leur lutte contre la construction d’une mine de bauxite et d’une 
raffinerie d’alumine, promue par la compagnie canadienne ALCAN, sur  leur
territoire.  Ce projet va les déplacer de leur territoire contre  sa
volonté! Cette 16 décembre, 2004 a 12h00 (est), on va allez dans la  rue
dans un manif créative en solidarité globale. On va aussi appeler  Alcan.
maison alcan, 1188 sherbrooke street west

Le 16 décembre, 2000 trois habitants du village Maikanch On été tue par 
la police pour participer dans un meeting contre la construction d’une 
mine de bauxite. Après cet événement, le projet se rendu en pause en 
attendant un enquête judiciaire par l’état. Au début de 2001, NORSK 
Hydro, une corporation de Norvège qui participait aussi dans le projet,  a
décide de se retirer. Cependant, AlCAN, a décide de augmenter ces  parts a
45% dans le projet d’une mine et raffinerie.

A cette date il n’y a pas de justice concernant la mort des trois 
adivasis (autochtones indiennes). D’après les rencontres de Alcan’t in 
Inde avec ALCAN, ce évident que il n’y a pas de compréhension aux  impact
préjudiciable de leurs activités. Il n’y pas non plus de
compréhension de la résistance massive et populaire a ce project.

Le 19, octobre, 2004, cinq mil habitants de la région du Kashipur se  sont
manifestez au dehors de bureau de la police en demandant justice  et que
le projet minière soit arrêtez.

Cette 16 Décembre, 2004, ils vont se rejoindre pour exposer ces
compagnies et leur plan exploitants.

Il faut les rejoindre!

Si vous habitez à Montréal, on va se rejoindre à la Maison Alcan, 1188 
Rue Sherbrooke Ouest (corner Stanley, metro Peel).

Si vous ne pouvez pas assister, ou vous habitez de hors de Montréal, 
appelle le CEO de Alumina et Bauxite et Vice Président Michael Hanley 
entre 12h00-13h00 (EST) a +1 514 848 8487

Trouvez dans ce message:

A)Suggestions pour votre appelle et renseignements
pour contacter ALCAN ceux qui vont appeler en
solidarité.
B)Nos demandes a ALCAN (anglais)
C)Information détaille de la lutte à Kashipur
(anglais)

A) Points suggérés pour demander a ALCAN et
renseignements
Ceux qui appelle en solidarité doivent appeler Michael
Hanley au
+1 514 848 8487.
Si ce toujours occupe, essayez le numéro principal, +1
514 848 8000.

L’appelez doit être fait entre 12h00-13h00 (EST) le 16
décembre, 2004 pour assurer que votre appelez va être
coordonne avec la manif a Montréal.

Quelques suggestions pour votre appelle (parlez de ce
que vous croyez est le plus importante et de ce que
vous inquiet le plus):

-  appelle en honneur a la mémoire de Abhilash,
Raghunath et Damodar Jhodia qui ont été tues par la
police en résistant le projet qui ALCAN appui.
- inquiet au projet d’Alcan car ce projet propage une
système d’oppression autochtone
- Alcan peut aussi honorer ces  assassinats en
respectant le désir et demandes d’auto-determination
des habitants de Kashipur mais surtout de dépouiller

- Les demandes principales de mouvement sont:
         - cancelation de toutes contrats signes par
		les compagnies minières.
         - accès aux moyens médicaux et éducation, en
		harmonie avec leur valeurs culturelles.
         - développement agricultural local à partir de
		un projet d’irrigation qui soit en petit échelle.

Questions pour demander a Alcan:
-pour quoi vous avez augmenté vos parts dans un projet
quand Norsk Hydro s’avait retiré?
- pour quoi toutes les  "consultations" avec les
habitants à Kashipur ont eu besoin la présence de la
police ?
- comment est-ce que vous pouvez dire que les
habitants supportent votre projet quand ils ont eu une
résolution légal contre vous (a travers de  "Gram
Sabha" conseil du village en 2001)
- comment est-ce que vous pouvez dire que seulement
une minorité des habitants locaux sont contre le
projet quand cinq mil gens ont organise une manif
contre le projet il y a deux mois au dehors de la
station de police Tikiri?
- comment est-ce que vous pouvez dire que les gens
supportent le projet quand gens de la compagnie et du
gouvernement peuvent pas aller dans les zones affectes
sans la  présence de la police?
- comment est-ce que vous pouvez avoir des opinions de
l’impact environnemental du projet quand vous n’avez
pas approuvez l’évaluation de l’impact
environnemental?

2) Nos demands a ALCAN

1) Publicly release the Environmental Impact
Assessment of the project, or make no claims as to potential
environmental impacts of the proposed project.

2) Recognize the Kashipur peoples' title to the land
and constitutional guarantee for self-determination.
Respect the democratic resolutions and public
demonstrations of the people from the affected
villages against UAIL and its activities on their
land.

3) Follow the example of previous lead investors in
the project, such as Norsk Hydro of Norway, and fully
divest from the joint venture, UAIL.

C) Detailed Background Information

Kashipur block in the Rayagada district of Orissa
contains one of the largest deposits of bauxite ores
in the world. In 1993, a consortium of private
companies collectively known as UAIL (Utkal Alumina
International Ltd) was formed to initiate a project to
extract these ores and produce alumina. The project
area is chiefly occupied by adivasis (indigenous
people of India) and dalits. This project, if executed
will lead to large scale displacement and loss of
livelihood for these people. The people of Kashipur
have have been opposing the project since its
inception.

Why is the project harmful for the people?

Displacement and loss of livelihood: The people of
Kashipur have been farming their land for centuries.
Depriving them of their land would make them destitute
since they do not have any other avenue of earning a
living. The Norwegian development agency NORAD has
estimated that about 60000 people will be displaced by
this project. If this project goes ahead it will
completely wipe out a self-sustained community.

Facts on displacement : Adivasis constitute less than
8% of India's population but account for more than 40%
of India's displaced.  Conservative estimates place
the number of people displaced by development projects
in India (since 1947) to 33 million. 1.4 million
people have been displaced by development projects in
Orissa since 1947.  Mining in Orissa has displaced
50000 people.  New projects are expected to displace
atleast another 100000 people.

Loss of indigenous culture: The community would be
splintered and this will lead to a loss of indigenous
culture. The loss of community would also lead to
increased insecurity for women and children. The
people will lose Baphlimali hill to the mining
project. Baphlimali hill is sacred to the people since
they believe it to be the abode of the goddess
Baphlimali.

Environmental impact:
The bauxite mining technique proposed in Kashipur is
extremely harmful for theenvironment. Effluent
discharge - A by-product of bauxite refining is red
mud. It will be disposed using red mud stacking in an
enclosed area. This method will give rise to at least
125 tons of caustic soda a day. The waste will be
dumped into two streams that are the major source of
water in the villages in the surrounding area. Such
large amount of alkaline deposit will raise the pH of
the water to 13, making it unfit for consumption.
Agriculture and acquatic life downstream will be
severely affected.Refer to
http://www.saanet.org/kashipur/images/lake.jpg for
image of a waterbody polluted by the NALCO mining
project in the vicinity of Kashipur.

Ash disposal: The power requirement of 80MW will
require about 2800-3000 tons of coal per day. This is
expected to generate 900-1000 tons of ash per day that
will be dumped into an ash pond. Refer to
http://www.saanet.org/kashipur/images/pond.jpg for
image of the ash pond at the NALCO mining project near
Kashipur.

Overburden dumping: According to the environmental
clearance given by the government, the company does
not have to take care of overburden dumping for the
first five years. It is expected that the overburden
will be dumped on the slopes of the mined area leading
to siltation of streams, damage of slopes and
cultivable lands.

Violation of fundamental rights: The fifth schedule of
the Indian constitution guarantees the rights of
indigenous people over their natural resources and
land. The adivasis will lose land that belongs to them
according to the Indian constitution.

No tangible benefits for the people: This is a 100%
export oriented mining project. All the aluminium
produced will be exported since India is self
sufficient in its Aluminium production.  There are no
plans for Kashipur after the mining is over.

Status of the project:

In spite of the repression, the people of Kashipur are
steadfast in their resolve to oppose the project. Work
on the project hasn't yet started. However a recent
judicial enquiry in the killings of Dec16,2000 cleared
the company and the government of all wrongdoing. This
paves the way for the starting of the project work.

Resources

1. Alcan't in India website:
http://www.saanet.org/alcant
2. Kashipur web site : http://www.saanet.org/kashipur/
3. Environmental impact of the mining
project:'Assessment of Environmental, Economic and
Social Impacts of Bauxite Mining and Alumina
Processing in Orissa', TARU, June 1996, New Delhi.
4. Information about the fifth schedule:
http://www.mmpindia.org/Fifth_Schedule.htm
5. Killings on Dec16,2000:
http://www.saanet.org/kashipur/articles/pop.htm
6. Judicial enquiry that cleared the government and
the company:
http://www.saanet.org/kashipur/articles/sudhir.htm
7. Information on "UAIL Go Back" - A Film on the
Kashipur movement : http://www.saanet.org/alcant/

Contact Alcan't in India at:
tel: +1 514 398 7432
email: alcantinindia at yahoo.com
post: 3647 University Street, 3rd floor
Montreal, QC H2V 4B4
Canada