NAPM organises State Convention on Climate Change in Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, Nov 16: National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) along with Lok Shakti Abhiyan (LSA) organised State Convention on Climate Change at Lohia Academy, Bhubaneswar on 15th Nov 2015.
“The Convention is organised to give a massage “Development without Destruction” to the next World Climate Change Summit 2015 to be held from 30th Nov to 11th Dec 2015 in Paris” said Prafulla Samantara, the national Convener of NAPM and the president of the Lok Shakti Abhijan.
It is to be noted that the objective of the 2015 conference is to achieve, for the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, a binding and universal agreement on climate, from all the nations of the world.
While Mr. Madhuresh Kumar of NAPM inaugurated the State convention, Lingaraj of the Farmers Movement presided over the conference. Around 200 participants across the State of different struggle groups joined the convention. On the occasion, Mr. Natabara Sadangi, an expert of Natural Farming was felicitated by in the convention.
In the convention the Central Govt. was urged to follow its Action Plan on Climate Change (In-tender Nationality Determined Contribution) in letter and spirit in the process of development. The action Plan submitted by India to the UNO for Paris Convention on climate change 2015, speaks that India is being guided by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.
“We must promote sustainable production process and also sustainable life styles across the globe and extravagant way of life and a profligate pattern of consumerism a grave threat to environment.” It also says that the “Indian development process is guided by the aspiration of making India prosperous and progress on the path of “Development without Destruction”.
But in the actual practice, the development policy of our nation under globalization and liberalization of global capitalism is destructive in nature as the more investment is more exploitation of natural resources and more use of fossil fuels forcing common people to be victims of environmental injustice and economic inequality.
Therefore this convention urges the Indian Government to implement its Action Plan which needs change in the present economic policy from capitalist profit making investments to sustainable development which can protect our nature and prevent climatic change.
“This convention feels that the impact of aggregate INDSCS (Intended Nationality Determined Contributions) of all nations is insufficient to limit global warming up to even 2 degree Celsius as assessed by the CSE.
This convention also urges that India should take a lead along with Third World Countries to pressurize the rich Western Countries to agree for reduction of high consumption and simplify luxurious life style to provide basic needs of the poor people in the world to keep Mother Earth sustainable without destruction.
This is possible only if there will be an agreement to limit the increase of global warming up 1.5 degree Celsius at the end of 21st century.In view of reducing use of fossil fuel and to have space for carbon budget.
“In our State of Odisha, it is highly essential to protect green hills like Khandadhar, Niyamgiri, Karlapat, Deomali, Maliparvat, Kuturumali which should be declared as mining free zones. There should be limitation in production of Thermal Power upto 7000 megawatt instead of 70,000 mw, in Odisha otherwise this will destroy our rivers like Mahanadi, Baitarani, Ebb, Tel etc. The Govt. of Odisha and Centre should compel the corporates to produce renewable energy like solar and wind at least 50% of their need within 5 years. No mines coal including underneath of agricultural land be allowed to be mined.” Said Rabi Dash.
“Instead of indiscriminate mining and mines based polluting industries there should be priority for sustainable agriculture along with giving economic support to farmers to shift chemical farming to natural farming.” Natabar Sarangi emphasised.
“After historic decision of Gram Sabhas in 2013, no mining will be done in Niyamgiri. But the existing Alumina Plant of Vedanta Company at Lanjigarh is a threat of ecology of Niyamgiri and and river Bansadhara. So, this convention demands to dismantle the plant in the interest of rich Niyamgiri and river Bansadhara for Environmental Justice and tribal’s Socio-economic security.” Reiterated Lingraj Azad.
It also urges Central Govt. to stop Polavarum Dam as well as not to proceed for proposed Manibhadra Dam under river link project on river Mahanadi. These big dams are threat to river system as well as Ecosystem of natural forests.
Among others who address the conference are Prafulla Samantara National Convenor of NAPM and president ofLok Shakti Abhiyan, Mr. NatabaraSadangi, Rabi Das(Veteran Journalist), Lingraj Azad(leaders of Niyamgiri Surakhya Samiti), Mr. Stalin(Director of video journalism)and Leaders of the Banshadhara, Deomali Surakhya Samiti, Anti-Thermal Power Movements, Anti-POSCO Movements, Zindabad Sangathan etc.