[Reader-list] FISHER PEOPLE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE FORCES RESPONSIBLE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

[T Peter]

FISHER PEOPLE STRUGGLE AGAINST THE FORCES RESPONSIBLE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

The conference ended with a resolution with the seven questions:-
1. What are the industries which contribute heavily to the climate change
that you recommend for immediate closure or phased out or stopped and why?
2. What are the industries which cause climate change that you recommend
to be controlled and regulated and why?
3. What are the forms of energy production which cause climate change that
you recommend to be stopped, controlled and regulated and why?
4. What are the forms of agricultural practices and production that you
recommend in this context and why?
5. What are the forms of consumption practices and lifestyle pattern
responsible and why?
6. What do you suggest as a plan of action in the context of shrinking
coastal land and sea intrusion damaging houses of fisher families?
7. Is it justice that the marginalized people becoming climate refugees as
a result of climate change should pay the damages and why?

Resolution of Nagercoil conference of fisher people unlike other
resolutions concluded with questions as a resolution to International and
national government, industry and civil society organizations on the
following aspects like the polluting industries, chemical farming
practices, non-renewable energy sectors, carbon emitting life style and
the need for taxing the polluters to pay the price for ecologically
affected fisher people and other marginalized communities.


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Ensuring justice for climate refugees
http://www.hindu.com/2008/04/21/stories/2008042151100200.htm
Special Correspondent
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Speakers
call for change in consumption pattern to save ozone layer
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:
Speakers at a conference organised by fishworkers' organisations in South
India at Nagercoil on Friday highlighted the impact of climate change on
the livelihood of marginalised sections of society and the need for
government intervention to tackle the emerging threats. The meeting
decided to launch a protest movement against the failure to rehabilitate
the families displaced by heavy sea erosion.

Fisherfolk from the coastal areas in South India participated in the
conference organised by Tamilnadu Fisher workers Union (TFU), Kerala
Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) and Voices from the
Margins (VFM).

T. Peter Dass, president, Tamilnadu Fish workers Union (TFU) pointed out
that climate change was responsible for the worsening sea erosion all
along the coast.

Inaugurating the workshop, M.Pakkirisamy, district revenue officer, said
that sea level was rising over the last decade at an unimaginable rate of
increase. Sea level is expected raise five meters over the next 50 years
and it is going to affect the coastal communities. He stressed the need to
change the consumption pattern to prevent further depletion of the ozone
layer in the atmosphere.

K.P. Sasi, activist filmmaker, said the government was yet to come up with
a strategy to minimise carbon emission. He called for a change in the
production process in the industrial, agriculture and energy sectors to
achieve this objective. "There has been no action to address the problems
of the people affected by climate change and marginalized people who are
becoming refugees as a result of ecological impacts thrust upon them."

Dr. A.D. Shobana Raj, ecological researcher, highlighted the depletion of
coastal areas caused by heavy sea erosion.

"Almost 80 per cent of the water resources in the coastal area have become
saline and people are facing water crisis because of the intrusion of sea
water. As many as 132 coastal sea weeds have disappeared over the last 10
years. If the global temperature rises 2 degree Celsius, it will impact on
micro organisms, leading to several contagious diseases affecting coastal
people," he pointed out.

Dr. S.P.Udayakumar, social activist, called for a drastic change in energy
consumption pattern. "The solution for climate change lies in shifting
from fossil fuels to renewable sources. Our transportation pattern should
move towards effective and efficient public transport system rather than
promoting cars which will lead to increase in carbon emission and
vehicular pollution," he said.

Sathya Sivaraman, journalist and filmmaker stressed the need for a system
to identify polluters.

"The United States is responsible for 25 per cent of carbon emission and
it should take the responsibility to compensate the victims of carbon
emission and climate change. Carbon emitting industries should be changed
and if this is not possible all such industries should be closed."

Calling for an end to chemical farming practices, polluting industries and
carbon-emitting life style, T.Peter, president, KSMTF, said fisher people
were the most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

He exhorted the coastal communities to launch a mass movement demanding
steps to tackle the threats.

In the concluding session, S.M.Prithiviraj, convener, Voices from the
Margins, explained how heavy sea erosion, changes in pattern of fish
catch, reduction in fish wealth, and loss of working days as a result of
climate change and tidal waves had affected the livelihood of the
fishermen community in south India.
...........................................................................


Peter Dass, Tamilnadu Fishworkers Union (TFU)
<tfupeterdhas at yahoo.com>

T.Peter, Kerala Independent Fishworkers Federation (KSMTF)
<peter.ksmtf at gmail.com>

S.M.Prithiviraj,Voices from the Margins(VFM)
<voicesfromthemargins at gmail.com>