2012: South Asia
Bangladesh
Seminar, Photo Exhibition, Social Media Campaign
A seminar was held at Begum Rokeya University, one of the major public universities in the northern region of Bangladesh. The seminar was chaired by vice chancellor of the university, M. A. Jalil Mia, and the Chief guest was Major General (retired) Amsa Amim, the district council administrator of Kurigram and former ambassador of Bangladesh. Sheikh Rokon, secretary general of Riverine People, presented the major paper at the seminar.
There was also a day-long riverine photo exhibition in Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur.
The Riverine People also launched a social media campaign about the importance of free-flowing rivers in Bangladesh, and published an article about the importance of the International Day of Action for Rivers in leading Bangla and English newspapers.
Contact:
Sheikh Rokon
Secretary General at Riverine People
Email: riverine.people@gmail.com
Press Release: State of Bangladesh Rivers
Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Jatyo Nadi Raksha Andolon (BAPA) jointly organized a Press Conference on March 14th in Dhaka. Dr. Mohd. Abdul Matin, General Secretary of BAPA, spoke about the Day of Action for Rivers and then presented the "State of Bangladesh Rivers Report 2011" composed on the basis of the information gathered by the BAPA River Monitoring Cell. The 3 page summary is based on 255 reports on the physical conditions of 73 rivers of Bangladesh, and depicts the severity of the ecological, socioeconomic and health impacts from degraded rivers, and also described river restoration methods. Dr. Matin also raised a 18 points charter of demands for the survival and further improvement of the rivers of Bangladesh.
The gathering included around 30 members of press from different media houses, both printing and electronic, BAPA members and representatives of other eco-friendly organizations coming from different parts of the capital city. The monitoring report is published annually.
Contact:
Dr. Mohd Abdul Matin
General Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), and
Coordinator, Jatyo Nadi Raksha Andolon (JNRA)
memory14@agni.com
Mass Gathering on River
BAPA Baral River Raksha Andolon organized a mass gathering on the earthen cross dam made on the river at Chatmohor, Pabna, demanding for immediate removal of all the regulators and cross dams from the river.
Contact:
Dr. Mohd. Abdul Matin
General Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), and
Coordinator, Jatyo Nadi Raksha Andolon (JNRA)
memory14@agni.com
Street Demonstrations
In Sylhet, Habiganj and Moulvibazar, BAPA branches organized demonstrations, including bringing a river into the streets to symolize a dried river. BAPA branches in Sunamgon,Khulna and Barisal organized separate citizen gatherings on the streets.
Contact:
Dr. Mohd. Abdul Matin
General Secretary, Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), and
Coordinator, Jatyo Nadi Raksha Andolon (JNRA)
memory14@agni.com
Vow Taking and Demonstration
In Sylhet, Bangladesh, a demonstration was held in opposition to the Tipaimukh Dam, and to hold a vow among participants that they will continue to fight for river and wetlands in the region.
Veteran educationist Professor Sadruddin Chowdhury led the event of oath taking for "unleashing all potentials to preserve the rivers and wetlands and undo the construction planning of the monstrous Tipaimukh dam at the upstream of Surma!"
Contact:
Mahammad Hilaluddin
angikarbd@yahoo.com
Rally and Convention Against Tipaimukh Dam and Petroleum Exploration in Manipur
Zeliangrong Indigenous Peoples Forum Manipur, Citizen Concerned for Dam Development (CCCD), and many more organizations in Manipur, organized a rally, convention at Nungba Bazar, and demonstrations beside the Barak River on March 13th and 14th to campaign against the Tipaimukh dam and petroleum exploration in Manipur. The rally was attended by affected villagers of both projects, environmental and human rights groups and also students and youth from the Nungba town area. In the convention, participants adopted a resolution affirming their position against Tipaimukh dam and petroleum exploration in Manipur because of these projects' adverse affects on rivers, forests and other ecosystems in the region which people depend on for their survival. On March 14th, some participants gathered along the Barak River to continue protesting the Tipaimukh dam.
Contact:
Jiten Yumanm
CCCD
jitnyumnam@yahoo.co.in
India
Mass Event at the Hindon River in Ghaziabad.
Contact:
Hindan Vahini
hindanvahini@gmail.com
Launch of People-River Policy Draft
A People-River policy draft was launched, to lobby state, central government, and other stake holders.
Contact:
Annadurai Sadamayan
indianrivertnprm@gmail.com
Demonstration Against Dams in Subansiri Valley
The International Day of Action for Rivers was observed near Chauldhuwa Ghat on the bank of the Subansiri in the district of Lakhimpur, Assam, India by the Peoples' Movement for Subansiri Brahmaputra Valley (PMSBV) on the evening of March 14th. The PMSBV has been observing the Day of Action for Rivers in protest against the construction of 2000MW Lower Subansiri hydroelectric project at various places of the Subansiri Valley since 2005.
Contact:
Monoj Gogoi
gmonoj@gmail.com
Actions Along Barak and Thoubal Rivers
In Manipur, the Day of Action for Rivers was celebrated along the Barak River on March 14th, and the Mapithel Dam site along the Thoubal River on March 17th.
Contact:
Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh
ranjanrk50@gmail.com
Ritual Along Teesta River
A riverside ritual was performed by a Lepcha tribal shaman on the bank of the river Teesta in Sikkim, India to observe the International Day of Action for Rivers on the 14th March. This river is being targeted with series of dams, and this is the last free flowing stretch of the river.
For more information about the issue of dams and development in Northeast India, visit Panos Relay programme website.
Relay programme works to strengthen media coverage of critical international development issues. Through a fellowship programme for local journalists, Relay in partnership with Panos South Asia sought to engage different stakeholders in a constructive debate concerning dams and development, highlighting underreported perspectives for audiences in the Northeast region of India.
More information:
http://panosrelay.org.uk/projects/strengthening-media-capacity-to-report...
http://www.actsikkim.com/
Contact:
Magda Rossmann
Intern, Relay Programme
magdalena.rossmann@panos.org.uk
Demonstration in Arunachal Pradesh
The forum for Siang Dialogue, Siang Peoples' Forum, and the Mebo Area Bachao Committee organized demonstrations on March 14th in support of keeping the Siang River undammed.
The Siang River is the Yarlung Tsangpo that comes in from China. The Siang becomes the Brahmaputra after it meets other rivers.
Contact:
vtaram@yahoo.com
Anti Big-Dam Week of Demonstrations
Matu People's Organization held demonstrations from March 14th to the 22nd, for an Anti Big Dam Week. One demonstration was held at Alakanada River, in the Chamoli District, Uttarakhand, near the Vishnugad-Pipalkoti Hydroelectric Project (444MV). Other demonstrations were held in the village of Jakhol, in Uttatakashi District, Uttatakashi, which is affected the the Jakhol-Sankar Hyroelectric Project (51 MW). This village is in the Govind Wildlife Santuary; where villagers are reported not have traditional rights.
More information:
http://matuganga.blogspot.com/
Contact:
Vimal Bhai
bhaivimal@gmail.com
Associate with National Alliance of Peoples' Movements
http://napm-india.org/
matujansangthan@gmail.com
Pakistan
Commencement - Campaign Against the Bhasha Dam
The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) began its campaign against the Bhasha Dam on March 14th, and many demonstration will be held until April 1st. On the 14th, a march was held through the city of Hyderabad, and speeches given in front of the Hyberabad press club. Hundreds of fishermen, herders and farmers along the stream of the river Indus near Almanzar Kotri/Jamshoro Bridge. Rose petals were thrown into the river, boats were decorated and taken downstream, and the renowned folk singer Moula Bakhsh opened the event with a song in tribute to the Indus River.
More information:
http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2012/02/fisherfolk-to-launch-campaign-ag...
Contact:
Mr. Hussain Jarwar
General Manager, PFF
Email: hussainjarwar1@gmail.com
Poster Contest and Media Outreach
Klimatech Environmental Club celebrated the International Day of Action for Rivers’ on March 14 at River Ravi near Saggiyan Bridge, Lahore. They also raised their voices to save their Ravi through mass media. Activities included a poster competition and a short speech on river conservation and water corruption.
Contact:
Mohsin Jamshaid
Email: info@klimatech.pk
Islamabad Walk of Awareness for Rivers
The Klimatech Environmental Club (KEC) celebrated the Day of Action for rivers at Lake View Park in Islamabad with a "Walk of Awareness," speeches on river conservation and rivers pollution, and a poster competition. The club aims to united environmentalists internationally for a better local and global environments.
Contact:
Sami Khan
samikhan90@live.com
Indus River Publicity and Film Screening
In Karachi, two papers describing the existing and potential affects of dams in the region - "Water in River Indus Downstream Kotri and Manchar Lake" were launched at an event organised by Friends of Indus Forum (FIF) in collaboration with WWF Pakistan. The documentary, "We All Live Downstream" was screened, depicting the the global scale of the effects of dams, followed by a discussion of the Indus Water Treaty.
More information:
http://tribune.com.pk/story/350609/thatta-and-badin-may-cease-to-exist-i...
Please email us with your plans for this year's International Day of Action For Rivers at dayofaction@internationalrivers.org.