For the villagers of Mahan, this World Environment Day stands out in quite a contrast from the one last year in 2014.
Then, Mahan was battling for its very existence as their ancient forests and tribal villages were being forcefully taken away by a London-based MNC for mining dirty coal. It was a long battle we fought together. Our activists and volunteers lived with them and even collected Mahua from the old forest to support their struggle. When the government realized that they can no longer sweep under the table the massive human rights violation and environmental damage, they had to finally call off its auction earlier this year.
So then now, it should have been a call for celebration. But they stand today with cloth gags on their mouth and around their trees to protest the crackdown on voices that stand for environment. Ujraj Singh Khairwar, from Amelia village said today, “There is no alternative to environment. We stand with Greenpeace India and its right to speak out for environment and justice!”
05 June 2015
The people of Mahan stand in strong solidarity of Greenpeace India. Mahan was recently declared as a no-go area for mining. For years, Greenpeace India has been actively campaigning against coal mining in this area.
The Story of Renewable Energy in Dharnai, Bihar
The story of dirty energy is incomplete without a narrative of clean energy. In the race for development, rural India has been conveniently ignored. Last year Greenpeace India facilitated the installation of a decentralised solar microgrid in Dharnai, a small village in the district of Jehanabad, Bihar. It powers their homes, the schools that the children attend, a training centre and a primary healthcare centre. While standing in front of the microgrid station with a group of fellow residents, Kamal Kishore said today, “For 30 years we lived in darkness. Thanks to Greenpeace, it was energy from the sun that finally lit up our village in 2014. This is real electricity that does not pollute and comes from the sun. I support Greenpeace India because they delivered to us what politicians have only been promising for over 30 years.” The villagers here have covered their faces with blue ribbon to support the voice that lit up Dharnai. They pray for more Dharnais to sprout up across rural India and bring an energy revolution to the nation.
05 June 2015
People of Dharnai express their solidarity for Greenpeace India. A solar micro grid that was set up by Greenpeace India in 2014 has changed their lives!
Living Soils in Kedia, Bihar, and Tea in Assam
Not far from Dharnai, village Kedia in Jamui district has been experimenting with chemical-free agriculture to prepare for climate resilience and safeguard health of their soil, food and the villagers themselves. Last season they reaped a bountiful harvest without chemical despite unseasonal rains which wiped away standing crops elsewhere. As this blog goes live, the people of the village are gathering near the community hall to send their wishes to the Greenpeace community that has helped them through this transition into ecological agriculture. There is a similar support coming from small tea growers in Dimakuchi village, Udalguri district in Assam. Major tea companies in India have made commitments to transition to Non-Pesticide Management and provide support to tea growers for this, thanks to the Clean Chai campaign Greenpeace initiated.
But it seems that the very government they have elected has failed to hear their voices and the stories of change. If Greenpeace India has been alleged to be working against the interest of the nation, then the question arises, whose nation is it? Not their nation if these allegations are to be believed. Signing off with a little sadness and much hope. Happy Environment Day!
Manvendra Singh Inaniya is a campaigner with Greenpeace India
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