[Reader-list] Fwd: 40th Day of indefinite hunger strike by Lepcha tribals in Sikkim against Teesta hydel project_govt exerting pressure

[Tapas Ray]

I have been following your posts with interest, because (a) it is good 
to see resistance to these destructive projects springing up in diverse 
corners of the country, and (b) I had once been in love with Sikkim, and 
with mountains in general. Here are my thoughts, for whatever they are 
worth.

Your frustration with the media's lack of interest is manifest in your 
post. As a former journalist, I can suggest a simple (simplistic?) 
answer: the issues you mention do not get into the media because they do 
not sell. Celebrity gossip sells.

This will always be the case, and need not bother us too much, because 
even if the mainstream media show some interest, they may not represent 
the standpoint of earth democracy at all, and may - overtly or covertly 
- sell the "Development" line instead.

Therefore, for those who do not live in Sikkim, it may be better to 
concentrate on mobilising support for the hunger-strikers' cause from 
like-minded groups elsewhere. The Sikkim groups may be able to learn 
important lessons from the experience earned by these other groups over 
the years.

Also, I think some list members might be willing to help if a concrete 
plan of action were available.

Tapas Ray


Dr. Vibha Arora wrote:
 > Why arent the issues of Sikkim and the tribal of Northeast being 
represented by
 > Indian Press? We can devote so much attention, inches snd inches in our
 > newspaper columns towards Page 3 issues and yet not cover people who are
 > unselfishly staking everything that they have to fight for their 
community,
 > their forests, their land and their human rights.