WE CAN WIN THIS!
This is our ONE big chance to make the demands of those in Kashipur be heard by the people that have the power to decide!
LET'S BE LOUD AND CLEAR on Thursday April 22nd!
LIFE IS GREATER THAN INVESTMENT!
DEVELOPMENT IS MORE THAN PROFIT!
The Alcan't in India campaign, supporting the indigenous and low-caste peoples of Kashipur in their work to protect their homes and lives from an Alcan-backed bauxite mine, is organizing a series of events around Alcan's Annual General Meeting (see below for details on the issue).
Documentary film-maker and activist Angad Bhalla, who has made the film "UAIL Go Back" about the issue in Kashipur, will be returning from India with fresh video testimonials from the peoples of Kashipur as well as with banners, placards and other materials to be demonstrated on the streets of Montreal. Frederic Dubois, an independent journalist who travelled to the region in February 2004 and interviewed many leaders and participants of the massive anti-mining movement, will be sharing his experiences and perspectives. Finally Abhimanyu Sud, a member of the Montreal-based Alcan't in India campaign will discuss Alcan's proposed operations in Kashipur in the context of the multinational's operations in Quebec, British Columbia and the rest of the world.
This is your opportunity to support the 60,000 people of Kashipur whose lives are threatened by the 100% export-oriented mining and refining project. Your presence at the demonstration outside the Alcan general assembly can stop this destructive project! WE CAN WIN THIS! Together we can take the honest message of the peoples of Kashipur directly to Alcan. You can learn more about the history of struggle around Kashipur at the teach-in several days before the demonstration.
EVENTS:
***CREATIVE DEMONSTRATION***
Thursday April 22nd 2004: 9:30am-12:00pm
Location: Centre Mont-Royal, ready to make noise at 9:30am
2200 Mansfield Street (between Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve)
**PRESS CONFERENCE**
Tuesday April 20th 2004: 10:30am-12pm
Location: School of Community and Public Affairs, Concordia University
2149 Mackay Street, basement (between Sherbrooke and de Maisonneuve)
*Kashipur Solidarity TEACH-IN*
Saturday April 17th 2004: 2pm-4pm
Location: South Asian Women's Community Centre
1035 Rachel Est, 3rd floor (corner Christophe-Colomb)
For more info, contact:
Abhimanyu Sud
abhimanyu(at)riseup.net
(514) 398-7432
BACKGROUND
The Alcan't in India project is developing a long-term solidarity relationship with the indigenous and low-caste peoples of the Kashipur region in Orissa, India. For twelve years now the peoples of Kashipur have been struggling to stop a massive bauxite mining and refining project on their land in which the Montreal-based aluminum corporation Alcan has a 45% share. It is estimated that up to 60,000 people in Orissa could be displaced by bauxite mining and refining projects in the coming years.
The mine and refinery will destroy their ancestral homelands, their spiritual sites, their clean water, clean food, their very culture for the sake of a 100% export-oriented aluminum project. The rest of the investment is controlled by Indal, the Indian Aluminum Corporation, which is a former Alcan subsidiary. As a solidarity group, our primary objectives are to support the developmental objectives laid out by the peoples of Kashipur themselves. Their three primary objectives include: cancellation of all mining treaties with various aluminum corporations, development of small scale irrigation structures, and development of medical and educational facilities in accord with their culture. Being so close to the headquarters and operations of a major investor in this proposal, the Alcan't in India project is best position to support the first objective of cancellation of mining treaties.
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