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06 NEWS Citizen’s jury condemns Brazilian GM In March ActionAid held the latest and largest of its citizens’ juries in Brazil, to put on trial the illegal introduction of GM crops in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. More than 3,000 landless and small-scale farmers, activists, parliamentarians and journalists gathered to form a jury with potent symbolic and political clout. The aim is to empower those most affected by food insecurity and give a voice to those, such as poor Brazilian farmers, who have traditionally been overlooked by those in power. The jury convened in Porto Alegre after the Brazilian government and multinational seed company Monsanto ignored both environmental law and a legal ruling by introducing a pesticide-resistant soybean to the southern state. The jury unanimously decided that there is insufficient evidence to prove that GM crops would not harm the environment or human health. They also decided there is not enough public information available about GM crops – and until there is, their introduction should be put on hold. ANDRE TELLES/ACTIONAID BRAZIL Poor farmers and citizens in Brazil made their feelings clear about GM in the latest of our citizen’s juries to be held in the country. CAMPAIGNS Comedian and activist Mark Thomas recently visited Kerala, India, to see ActionAid's work with villagers who have been protesting against Coca Cola for over two years. The company is accused of using up tens of thousands of litres of local water, leaving villagers with acute shortages and environmental contamination. Common Cause asked Mark why campaigns like this are so vital. MARTIN HERRING ActionAfrica 16-25 SEPTEMBER 2005 Introducing our brand new experience of a lifetime – Walk in the footsteps of the Maasai The Rift Valley, Tanzania, Africa LIBA TAYLOR/ACTIONAID UK CATHERINE SELLING LIBA TAYLOR/ACTIONAID UK ANDREW AITCHESON/ACTIONAID UK Ghanaian flavour for coffee break launch This year’s 24 hour coffee break was launched in style with a celebration at the Ghanaian High Commission in London on 12 March. Broadcaster Lisa I’Anson, herself an ActionAid child sponsor, was our host for the evening. Guests included Ghanaian celebrities, business people, MPs and ActionAid supporters. Speakers informed guests of the importance of supporting poor farmers by raising funds and campaigning against international trade rules. Two cocoa farmers from the Kuapa Kokoo cooperative in Ghana, Georgina Kwaw and Elizabeth Adjei, explained the difference in their lives as a result of working within a cooperative and gaining a fair price for their produce. To see just how successful you helped us make this year’s 24 hour coffee break, please turn to page 16. New web address As part of our internationalisation process, the website address for ActionAid UK has changed to www.actionaid.org.uk. Our international site can now be found at www.actionaid.org. Please update your bookmarks accordingly. Georgina Kwaw and Elizabeth Adjei, cocoa farmers from Ghana, were joined by singer Mica Paris and broadcaster Lisa I’Anson for this year’s 24 hour coffee break launch at the Ghanaian High Commission in London. How important is campaigning? People don’t have a choice about whether they campaign or not. I genuinely believe that. When actions are taken in your name, like arms deals or globalisation, you have to stand up for yourself. That’s what democracy should be, and ticking a box once every four years just isn’t enough to give people a voice. Why Coca Cola? Because it was stunningly obvious what was going on. Remember these are people who have practically nothing, and they are being forced to fight for a basic necessity like water. Water is not a commodity; it’s a basic human right. It is an incredible fight they are putting up. What was it like meeting the protestors? It was very moving. They are the poorest of the poor, and yet they are standing up to this giant of a company. It was absolutely inspiring. What do you plan to do with the Coca Cola material? We will be taking it on the road, campaigning, doing live shows. I want people to get involved in this – it’s not just about India, it’s happening all over the world. People need to know about this. UPDATE: On March 15 the Indian government issued a court order banning Coca Cola from using local groundwater until the monsoon rains fall in June. For the latest developments, visit www.actionaid.org.uk. Join the famous Maasai warriors on a trip through a landscape rich in acacia trees, savannah grasslands and volcanoes, on a once in a lifetime journey to the spectacular Ngorongoro crater. Expect the company of antelopes, zebras and giraffes as you undertake this demanding, yet infinitely rewarding, trek. Places are limited so call 01460 23 8047 now for a free information pack, or email actionadventures@actionaid.org.uk. ALSO AVAILABLE: ACTION CHINA TREK 2-10 October 2004 (only one month left to register!) HIKE HADRIAN’S WALL 5-10 August 2004 ACTION PERU TREK 5-14 May 2005 TIBET TREK 15-24 May 2005 OTHER CHALLENGES FOR 2005: RIDE THE LAND OF THE RAJ 22 OCTOBER-1 NOVEMBER 2005 MONGOLIA CAMEL CHALLENGE 9-19 SEPTEMBER 2005 TREK THE THREE VOLCANOES: MOUNT ETNA, VESUVIUS AND STROMBOLI 3-8 SEPTEMBER 2005 TREK CUBA 4-13 MARCH 2005 HAVANA-TRINIDAD BIKE RIDE 4-13 NOVEMBER 2005 And, if you still haven’t found what you are looking for, we work with a tour operator* that offers more than 30 challenges in various destinations around the world throughout the year. Call 01460 23 8047, or email actionadventures@actionaid.org.uk for an information pack. common cause SUMMER 2004 www.actionaid.org.uk *ACTIONAID ONLY WORKS WITH TOUR OPERATORS THAT EMPLOY LOCAL PEOPLE AND GUARANTEE PROTECTION TO THE LOCAL ENVIRONMENT. www.actionaid.org.uk common cause SUMMER 2004
08 SPECIAL REPORT SPECIAL REPORT 09 A helping hand for India’s homeless FOR ONCE WE CAN SLEEP IN CALM AND SAFETY... NOW WE FINALLY HAVE A HOME ActionAid India has been working hard to address one of the country’s biggest problems: homelessness. But, with a little determination and a lot of effort, we are making headway, says KATHERINE HAYWOOD. PHOTO: KALPESH LATHIGRA/NB PICTURES/ACTIONAID UK In Lucknow, the capital of the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, at least 600 homeless people died as a result of the harsh winter of 2002/03. This winter there was a dramatic decrease in the number of deaths due, in part, to ActionAid and partners’ success at forcing the state government to open up unused public buildings as night shelters. The campaign was based on the work of Dr Indu Prakash, the coordinator of ActionAid’s national homeless policy. Dr Prakash has been highly successful in opening up government buildings as shelters in Delhi, as part of his work with street children. This winter the work was rolled out to four new cities, one of which was Lucknow. Firstly, local organisations identified several vacant government buildings in areas where hundreds of homeless people were sleeping rough. Next, after vigorous lobbying by ActionAid, the municipal commissioner agreed to open six schools and disused buildings that had been lying vacant for up to ten years. ActionAid provided the homes with sheets, blankets, a caretaker and basic medical facilities. Residents soon flooded in. Almost all of them are migrant daily wage labourers in construction work and other physical activities, with families in the surrounding villages to support. Most have been homeless all of their adult lives, returning to their villages once a month. They earn as little as Rs 50 (65p) a day and, on average, get only 15 days of work a month. Due to the availability of cheap labour, they are often forced to work for under the minimum wage. Even so, their employers often refuse to pay. It is this type of employment insecurity and exploitation that the organisers of the shelters want to help combat. ActionAid’s Hanumant Rawat, Lucknow regional manager, says, “We organised a spontaneous campaign during 2002/03 and distributed blankets to those on the streets, but we realised this could never be a long term solution. We wanted to provide the homeless with more permanent shelter.” It has been a long battle – many of the shelters are still not perfect. Some have irregular water supplies or drainage problems. Others have structural deficiencies. Some people also found that the shelter isolated them from potential employers who pick daily wage labourers off the street. These are all problems that ActionAid hopes to address – but there is a general feeling that a crucial step has been ACTIONAID IS DETERMINED TO KEEP THE REMAINING FOUR SHELTERS IN LUCKNOW OPEN, AND EXTEND THEIR OPENING HOURS TO THE DAYTIME. THE RESIDENTS THEMSELVES SAY THEY HAVE NO PLANS TO MOVE OUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT WAS INSISTING THAT THE HOMELESS THEMSELVES WERE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS CAMPAIGN. THEY RUN THE SHELTERS AND SET THE AGENDA made. Despite the onset of warm weather, the shelters are growing in popularity, with new arrivals each week. Yet, despite these obvious successes, the state government has started to close the shelters now the winter months are over. When asked about the closures, one local assistant district magistrate said, “We don’t see (the shelters) as a permanent solution.” He went on to claim that: “…most of the time these people like sleeping under the open sky”. But ActionAid is determined to keep the remaining four shelters in Lucknow open, and extend their opening hours to the daytime. The residents themselves say they have no plans to move. They like the newfound community that the shelters provide. “We enjoy living collectively,” says Dinesh, 47, from the Shramik Seva Ashram shelter. “Everyone helps each other out, like with money or advice. We are like a family.” And, at a time when religious conflict and hostility is on the increase in India, the shelters have managed to bridge divides. Muhammed Israel, 42, a Muslim in a predominantly Hindu shelter, says, “I feel completely welcome here. We even celebrate our religious festivals together.” Sandeep Khare, from local organisation Vigyan (which runs three of the shelters), wants to build on the community spirit the homeless shelters have created. “As a group, those living in the shelters are now more able to move forward on issues that affect their lives,” he says. Sandeep is working on mobilising the residents to demand the necessary renovation work on the buildings. It is early days yet, but the men of the shelters are already working as a group. In some shelters they have pooled their money for purchasing necessary communal items. Others have offered their skills and time to the renovations. “Our biggest achievement,” says Sandeep, “was insisting that the homeless themselves were at the forefront of this campaign. They run the shelters and set the agenda.” And it certainly seems to be working. “For once we can sleep in calm and safety,” says Dinesh. “Now we finally have a home.” If you would like to support our work in India, please visit www.actionaid.org.uk, call 01460 23 8000 or email commoncause@actionaid.org.uk quoting your supporter number or postcode. common cause SUMMER 2004 www.actionaid.org.uk www.actionaid.org.uk common cause SUMMER 2004
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