The Dongria Kondh tribe of India and the land they live in is threatened with destruction by the UK company Vedanta. Vedanta wants to create a giant open-cast mine on the Dongria Kondh’s sacred mountain, destroying the lush forests that grow there and polluting the rivers. The Dongria Kondh’s lives will be completely devastated.
The Survival demonstration outside Coutts Bank previously advertised on this website planned for the 10th June has been cancelled. In reaction to the planned picket Coutts has just informed Survival that they no longer hold shares in Vedanta, the British-based company whose planned bauxite mine will devastate the lands of India’s Dongria Kondh tribe. More info to follow.
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WHERE? Outside Coutts Bank, 440 Strand, London
WHEN? Tuesday 10th June 2008, 18.45 – 20.00
WHAT IS THE EVENT?
Coutts Bank hold shares in Vedanta. When Vedanta makes money, Coutts make money, so they are profiting from the abuse of the Dongria Kondh.
On 10th June Coutts are hosting the opening party of London Jewellery Week, which they are sponsoring. Survival will be there, urging Coutts to withdraw its shares in Vedanta, and to recognise the rights of the Dongria Kondh to live independently on their own land.
For directions, please see the following link:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=530188&y=180575&z
Background info:
There are 8,000 Dongria Kondh living in the Niyamgiri Hills in Orissa, India.
The Niyamgiri Hills are an area of outstanding natural beauty, rich in wildlife and dense forests. The Dongria Kondh farm the hill slopes, growing crops in among the forest and gathering wild fruit, flowers and leaves for sale. Their lifestyle and religion have protected the forests of Niyamgiri for centuries.
The top of the mountain, which is worshiped by the Dongria Kondh as the seat of their god, has rich deposits of the aluminium ore bauxite.
The mining project would lead to displacement of thousands of tribal people and destroy biodiversity and water sources. Niyamgiri hills are the source of Vamshadhara River and major tributaries of Nagaveli rivers – sacred to the Khonds. A large number of wildlife species including tiger, leopards, elephant and mouse deer also abode in Niyamgiri hills. Many of these species are endangered. In the past, efforts have been made by various governmental and non-governmental bodies to declare Niyamgiri hills as sanctuary or reserve area to protect its pristine natural habitat.
The local resistance against the project started with the land acquisition process but because of the poor economic and political clout of Dongria Kondhs, their voices and concerns are ignored by local and state authorities. This is hardly surprising given the Orissa government’s thrust on ‘accelerating economic development’ by handing over rich natural resources to big private companies, both domestic and foreign, for a pittance. Pressure on the financial backers of the scheme in Europe has already resulted in significant disinvestment is Norway and similar action in the UK could really stregthen the tribes hand.
More Details can be found on the website of ‘Survival – The Movement For Tribal People’: