Don’t say Tata to the Turtles: Take action now!

Protest came from some people who may not even be doing this for the turtles,coz it seems that all of the nature lovers that they claimed to be,failed to mention about the mass nesting that happened this year.

Oh Yeah!Its True.

But Greenpeace is so busy trying to make headlines that they forgot about the real cause.

I could not agree more it seems Greenpeace from a place of comfort is stamping reject on the future of millions of people in Orrisa desperate for development

Greenpeace’s trouble with NGOs
There are a large number of NGO’s working in Orrisa, who are empathetic towards the issue of development on Orrisa. They are not happy about the high-handed strategy of Greenpeace India which is creating a lot of roadblocks for the Dhamra port in Orrisa. Sradhanjali, an NGO working in the locality has condemned Greenpeace for running a misinformation campaign in this regard. In a press release Sradhanjali said “Olive Ridley turtles nest on sandy beaches as they need soft sand to dig holes for laying eggs, where as the beach north of Dhamra River is silted and muddy beach, which is unsuitable for habitation and nesting of turtles.” The NGO has also said that the “Gahirmatha nesting location is more than 30 km through the coastal sea route from the upcoming Dhamra port. Even two major rivers namely Mahipura and Dhamra separate the Gahirmatha and upcoming Dhamra Port.”

That doesn’t seem very surprising as Greenpeace walked away from the negotiation tables, and are adamant about presenting the facts to appear in their favor

Hmmm!Interesting I think the port should not relocate coz if it does greenpeace won’t have a job and we don’t need that in this phase of recession.

The cry of the poor people of Orrisa

We are all aware that Orrisa is the second poorest state of the country and rampant infant mortality and malnutrition is perhaps the most heart rendering of their problems. We won’t even realize it but we would be crossing path with a large number of people from Orrisa who migrate to larger cities in search of work.

They would like to go back home and be with their families like the rest of us. Alas, even the one chance they had with the development of the Dhamra port and the ancillary industry is being threatened by Greenpeace. The activist groups that live in luxury of developed countries can’t relate to the problems of the poor Indians. But we Indians should be sensitive to the problems of our brother Indians and put a spanner in development work that could help others. Yes please support the Dhamra Port.

The Problem for Olive Ridely Turtles because of Fishing Trawlers

Over the years I have seen a tendency of protest groups to target large corporate of which I agree some are legitimate and others very imaginative. In reality it is people living unconsciously that cause problems for the environment. This is especially true for the developed world the wasted electricity, running tap, food in the bins, fuel guzzling car, plastic bags the list is endless. There are some urban and some rural issues like poaching, felling of trees or excessive fishing.
I don’t know how many people are aware but there is a fishing ban in the Dhamra region as the Olive Ridley turtles get entangled in the nets and are unable to surface to breathe, they suffocate and drown and are eventually washed onto the beaches along the coast here. Unfortunately there aren’t many fishermen who follow this ban.
The solution is very simple they only require to change the nets to special Turtle Excluder Device which would allow the turtles to escape the nets and reach to safety. Sadly little has been done by environmental organization to solve or address this problem.

I’m leaving these comments up, despite the fact that 3 of them come from the same IP address, and likely therefore to be corporate counter-communications from Tata. Thanks, guys — it’s always a good indication that we’re a serious threat when PR flacks get put on the job of trying to undermine our arguments.

Here’s some facts:

All the info you need is compiled at http://greenpeace.in/turtle/

But don’t take Greenpeace’s word for it if you have doubts, have a go at these sources:

1. Over 100 SCIENTISTS including 25 of IUCNs own MTSG (Marine Turtle Specialist Group) have voiced their dissent to the port. (http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1541/t/4058/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=835)

2. Members of the MTSG have written to the Director General of the IUCN voicing their opposition on SCIENTIFIC GROUNDS to the port (http://www.seaturtle.org/mtn/archives/mtn121/mtn121p11.shtml)

3. Several wildlife and social organisations besides Greenpeace have voiced their dissent against the port.These include WPSI, ATREE, BNHS, Kalpavriksha.

4. The Indian National Fish workers union and the Orissa Traditional Fish workers union (representing over 100,000 fisherfolk from Orissa) have voiced their opposition to the port.

Unless you are saying that ALL these scientists and organisations who have NOTHING to gain from this are simply assuming a threat.

While the Tatas, who stand to gain lots and lots of money from a mega-port, are doing this purely out of altruistic concern for the local folk and the biodiverse ecosystem of the region.

The precise threat to the turtles (as well as the rest of the ecosystem in the biodiverse Bhitarkanika national park) cannot be fully ascertained until a proper INDEPENDENT study is done in the area. The Tata’s have in principle agreed to this, however such a study cannot be properly conducted in the absence of a cessation of the work at the port, specifically the dredging.

Already the possible impacts of dredging are being seen this year. While the Arribada took place, the turtles faced a lot of difficulty due to erosion of their nesting beaches.

The absolute lack of will from the Tatas to follow the PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE to which they should adhere as members of the UN global compact is surprising.

So, dear TataBots, please do try and stick to the facts.

We need to do our own research and then support accordingly rather than believe evrything that is written.

Recently came across exciting news about Record Mass Nesting of Olive Ridley turtles in Gahirmatha beach this year inspite of Dhamra Port construction…

http://www.sakaaltimes.com/2009/03/25131926/Annual-rendezvous-of-Olive-Rid.html

Animated youtube video about turtles nesting in India. ENJOY!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uCWK9ube1k

Thanks Jess for sharing the blogspot link with us.

Check this press release which is worth reading.

Press Release from North orissa University

It has come to our notice that Greenpeace India have placed in their website a report under the title “Bio-diversity Assessment of Dhamra Port Site and Surroundings Areas, Orissa”. The cover page of the report says that the report has been prepared by the North Orissa University. We would like to clarify that no report under the above mentioned title has been prepared by the North Orissa Unversity.

North Orissa University had prepared a report under the title “Rapid Bo-diversity Assessment of Dhamra Estuary, Orissa-India” and the same was submitted to Greenpeace India who were the funding agency.

A comparison of the report as it appears in the website of Greenpeace India and the authentic report of North Orissa University reveals that the Greenpeace India have doctored the authentic report by way of changing the title and its contents for motives best known to them.

We wish to further clarify that the impact of Dhamra Port on the environment and bio-diversity of Dhamra Estuary was not within the scope of our study.

For the sake of convenience we are enclosing herewith a copy of the authentic report of the University and the report as placed by the Greenpeace India in their website along with a comparison in a tabular form which would clearly indicate the changes/deletions/additions and interpolations made by Greenpeace India.

To conclude we take serious exception to such unethical conduct by Greenpeace India.

Sd/-
Prof. Sudarsan Nanda,
Vice Chancellor,
North Orissa University

Greenpeace to see exclusive olive ridley turtles video shared by DPCL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzFBQbEN0vA

Know more about Dhamra Port Project

http://www.slideshare.net/John_SM/ecofriendly-dhamra

“Greenpeace has been variously criticized for being too radical, too alarmist, or too mainstream, for using methods bordering on eco-terrorism, for having itself caused environmental damage in its activities, for taking positions which are not environmentally or economically sound, and for valuing non-human causes over human causes. These criticisms have been made by governments, industrial and political lobbyists and other environmental groups.”

Greenpeace Lies About Apple

Greenpeace Lies About Dhamra Port

Is that like Greenpeace always targets big corporate giant to keep them under pressure and earn money from them ultimately?

I wonder why a non-governmental organization for the protection and conservation of the environment do not like to protect the human beings. I have found in few countries innocent & poor people require protections, importance more than animals.

Why they have been kept ignored and leave behind by this type of so called good organizations.

GREENPEACE HAS NO RIGHT TO CREATE OBSTACLES FOR THE ECONOMICAL & INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF ANY OTHER COUNTRY.

“It is sad that we first decide a villain and then find the proof to crucify them, when our concern could be about the turtles and people of Orissa and finding out ways so that both prosper.” – Cyber activist blogger’s viewpoint on Greenpeace and the turtles

Dhamra Port Project is not only concern about the Orissa’s economy or the society’s betterment but they are also concern about the environmental protection. A very nice video which you will definitely like to share with others

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXJ9×8_sEQQ

Light and lighting are crucial for any industrial project, both during construction and the operational phase. IUCN lighting experts and DPCL are also taking care of implementing lighting safeguards, which would also be turtle safe lighting and would be low pressure sodium vapor lights which have been proven by research to be the least disorienting to turtle hatchlings.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=296928&id=168851070709

Greenpeace, the professed global environment campaign organization, in an instance of unmatched brazenness, falsified the report prepared by North Orissa University on Biodiversity Assessment of Dhamra Estuary. As a result, a group of forty MPs wrote to the Ministry Of Environment and Forests to call on the bluff of Greenpeace. The Orissa Govt. therefore initiated action against Greenpeace proposing a ban on all its activities in the state.

However, after the 102nd Annual General Meeting of Tata Steel in Mumbai, Greenpeace unabashedly has started their tricks once again. This time it has managed to rope in Retd Admiral Ramdas and his wife Mrs. Lalita Ramdas on the issue of Dhamra port but as far as scientific reasoning goes, the issues raised are totally unfounded. We can just hope that the visit of the Ramdas’ to the site will help to stop meaningless agitations and clear the situation once and for all.

Tata Steel has always maintained a strong focus on environment sustainability and environment management in all its operations. We have seen that in the issues regarding the construction of a deep-sea port at Dhamra in Orissa, the Company has been forthcoming in sharing the concerns of activists and ever willing to implement practical means of mitigating any adverse impact of port construction on the marine eco-system in that area. The Company has held at least eight to nine sessions of meetings with Greenpeace and other environmental organizations in the matter of Dhamra Port. Tata Steel has made it abundantly clear that it is willing to have further discussions in order to alleviate any unnecessary doubts that the dissenters may yet nurture against the project.

Here is an outline of events as they happened till date.

The JV agreement with L&T to build a port at Dhamra was signed by Tata Steel in 2004. At the very onset, discussions were initiated with WWF- India, BNHS, Mr Kartik Shankar, Mr Bittu Sehagal and others.

The company was duly concerned with the objections raised by different environmental organizations and agreed not to begin construction work till a detailed study was complete. Responding wholeheartedly to the demands of activists, Tata Steel agreed for a proposal for a further study of the impact of the port on turtles and on the marine and island eco-system.

In 2005, BNHS and WWF-India, with an unprecedented suddenness, reversed their stand and refused to conduct the assessment study as they had promised. However, the organisations did not provide any reasons for their turncoat attitude.

In March 06, in an address to ED, Greenpeace India, the Chairman of TATA Sons made it clear that commitments were meant to be honoured at both ends. The Company had fulfilled their promise by withholding construction work for the proposed study, which never actually took off. The MD of Tata Steel also met Greenpeace officials in their Bangalore office.

In January 2008 a meeting was subsequently conducted between Greenpeace and Tata Steel and a list of concerns was presented by Greenpeace with regard to Dhamra Port. DPCL on 8th March 2008, gave a detailed and comprehensive explanation to all the points raised by Greenpeace. Subsequent objections were allayed on 3rd May 2008.

Further on 23rd October 2008, MD, Tata Steel along with senior executives of Tata Steel, L&T and DPCL met Greenpeace, BNHS, WPSI, Wild Society of Orissa, Sanctuary Asia and other environmental organizations to discuss the concerns and the way forward on the subject with regard to Dhamra Port.

A team of Company Executives and environment experts visited Bhitarakanika National Park, Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and the Dhamra Port site on February 2009, supervising the ongoing dredging operations.

On fourth meeting on 20th Feb 2009 in Kolkata, Tata Steel, L&T and DPCL agreed to conduct the additional biological impact assessment in close collaboration with NGOs’ of environmental organizations team led by a mutually agreed upon Scientists team. However the NGOs’ in a further instance of unreasonableness, insisted upon complete cessation of on-going dredging operation of Dhamra Port even before the commencement of study. However DPCL, Tata Steel and L&T team showed it preparedness to adjust the schedule of works including dredging to facilitate the study after due recommendation by the Scientists team.

The 102nd AGM of Tata Steel had been attended by a number of Greenpeace activists who happen to be shareholders of the Company as well. The AGM highlighted Tata Steel’s interests in further conference with Greenpeace in the matter of the port in addition to an invitation to activists to visit the port site yet again.

From the sequence of events, it is absolutely clear that the only thing that Greenpeace wants is to prolong the situation of deadlock in the matter of Dhamra Port. Perhaps, due to a lack of other valid issues on their agenda, Greenpeace is carrying on with a stance of stiffness, lest they have to give in to valid scientific reasoning. The only deduction that may be drawn from Greenpeace’s lack of willingness in discussion is that they have lost their own conviction long before and fear that they will have to admit it as such in an open forum. It is indeed a very sorry state of affairs in which progress is kept at stake and the environment is being used as a pawn by people who profess themselves to be friends of the environment.

Some shareholders of Tata Steel brought up the concerns raised by Greenpeace about the impact of the Dhamra Port on the nesting habitat of Olive Ridley Turtles at Tata Steel’s 102nd AGM in Mumbai on the 27th August’09 and requested the Chairman of Tata Steel, Mr Ratan Tata, to discuss the Dhamra Port issue with them.

Mr Tata responded immediately to their concerns and said that my invitation is “ to you Admiral Ramdas” and anybody else who would be interested and Mr Muthuraman would make the arrangements for you all to take the time to satisfy yourselves in terms of what we are doing.
Know more: Response to GPs activity on Websites

http://www.d-r-a-g.org/river-system-facts/greenpeace-failure-arribada-continues-at-gahirmatha-nesting-beach.

In the blog post it is clearly mentioned that –

In order to facilitate the movement of large size vessels, a deep-sea port was proposed on the north of the mouth of river

Dhamra, on the eastern coast of India….

Unfortunately, ever since its inception, certain groups and individuals, mostly campaigners like Greenpeace have expressed

unfounded and biased apprehensions to malign the project as an environmental threat….This video clearly narrates the

misconceptions that have been spread, and the actual facts to counter them…..