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Slogan-shouting activists highlight various environmental crimes and human rights violations that Vedanta Alumina has allegedly committed across the country, after barging into UK charity World Environment Foundation’s Global Convention on Climate Security in Palampur, Himachal Pradesh
The launch of the Global Convention on Climate Security at the Palampur Agriculture University grounds was disrupted on Saturday, June 13, 2009, by a group of environmental activists protesting the World Environment Foundation’s (WEF) choice of Vedanta Alumina as winner of the environmental management award. Around 15 protestors from different parts of the country pushed their way in, seizing the microphone to address schoolchildren participating in a human chain at the university grounds, highlighting Vedanta and its subsidiaries’ dubious track record with regard to environmental management, respect for the rule of law, financial integrity and sensitivity to the rights of indigenous communities. Grabbing the stage from a surprised WEF president Madhav Mehra, Mamata Dash of the New Delhi-based Kashipur Solidarity Group and Gumanji of Him Niti Abhiyan said the Golden Peacock was nothing but a “green wash” and deceptive use of “green marketing or PR” by a company that was mired in controversy. The activists drew attention to the fact that the Orissa Pollution Control Board had indicted the company for violation of its norms, while the Norway government too had banned Vedanta. The protests began as soon as the main organisers and other foreign delegates arrived at the venue. Activists briefed the Tibetan Prime Minister in exile, Samdhung Rinpoche, who was present as a chief dignitary, about their national campaign against the company and the devastation caused by Vedanta in Orissa. Rinpoche immediately walked out of the venue. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal who was scheduled to inaugurate the convention also disassociated himself from the convention although he was present in Dharamshala, just 40 km from the venue. Hundreds of children from schools in Palampur, present at the ceremony, cheered the protesters who shouted ‘Stop green washing corporate crimes’ and ‘Stop selling climate change’ before leaving the venue. Vedanta was allegedly chosen for the award on the basis of its claim that its controversial Lanjigarh aluminium refinery is a zero-discharge unit. Giving the 36 people listed as jurors by WEF on its website the benefit of the doubt, more than 170 social organisations, individual activists and concerned persons had earlier written to them with evidence on the company’s controversial track record. Dismissing the organisers of the award and the award winners as “birds of a feather”, the endorsers asked dignitaries and jurors to dissociate themselves from the awards or risk being tarred by the same brush. Delegates at the conference were also given pamphlets and copies of the letter written to jurors. “We do not expect any integrity from the organisers of the Golden Peacock Awards. However, many of the jury members are persons of good reputation and integrity. We are concerned that your decision may have been arrived at in the absence of full information. We would also like to give you an opportunity to review some disturbing information regarding the conduct of Vedanta and its subsidiaries, and to dissociate yourselves from the award to Vedanta to avoid a Satyam-style embarrassment,” the letter to the jurors read. In January 2009, WEF withdrew the Golden Peacock Award given to Satyam Computers, literally days before the company submitted its fraudulent balance sheet to shareholders. Mamata Dash, who is an activist based in Orissa, tried to draw the attention of delegates to crimes committed by Vedenta on the Dongria Kondh adivasis in the Niyamgiri hills. Later, Mehra made a statement that he had no interest in Vedanta and that they would review the award and even withdraw it just as they had done in the Satyam case, if the facts were found to be true. Source: UNI, June 13, 2009
The Tribune, June 13, 2009
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