| Dear URVASHI,
What would you like, a lush forest or a barren gaping coal mine? If the coal ministry has its way then a lot of the rich forest areas in the country will become polluting coal mines. Recently an elephant reserve in a thick forest in Chhattisgarh was scrapped to mine coal in the region.[1]
The environment and forest ministry marked certain forests in central and eastern India as No-Go for coal mining. [2] These areas are home to wildlife such as tigers, leopards and elephants, and crucial to the livelihoods of millions. [3] The coal ministry supported by other ministries with vested interests now is now pressurising the government to revoke this classification. [4]
A Group of Ministers will soon decide what is more important, forests or coal.[5] Coal is being backed by powerful ministries and corporate lobbies and to ensure these forests, the wildlife and the communities that depend on them count, we have to gather more support. In just five days over 17000 people have joined team forests, but we need many more.
Can you also join them to show your support for the forests?
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/en/What-We-Do/Stop-Climate-Change/Quit-Coal/support-the-forests/
More people taking a stand for forests and those who depend on them will help strengthen the support for No-Go zones. The government needs to know that the people of this country want their forests and wildlife protected from coal mining.
There are clean and viable renewable energy options which can help minimize our dependence on coal to meet our growing electricity demand.[6] However once destroyed a natural forest cannot be re-created.
Mining coal in these forests will destroy them, displace wildlife and communities and contaminate nearby rivers and water resources.[7] Biodiversity, people and water are precious and need to be protected from the dangers of coal mining.
Show your support for forests and those who depend on them now.
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/en/What-We-Do/Stop-Climate-Change/Quit-Coal/support-the-forests/
Thanks a billion!
Preethi Herman
Climate Campaigner
Greenpeace India
Sources:
1. Chhattisgarh govt scraps elephant reserve plan for coal mining, The Times of India, January 16, 2011
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Chhattisgarh-govt-scraps-tusker-reserve-plan-to-please-miners/articleshow/7294639.cms
2. 35% of India's coal mining areas are in 'no go' zones, DNA, March 27, 2010
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_35pct-of-india-s-coal-mining-areas-are-in-no-go-zones_1363884
3. Forests will rescue India, says Jairam Ramesh, new.rediff.com, August 11, 200
http://news.rediff.com/slide-show/2009/aug/11/slide-show-1-forests-are-indias-rescuer-says-jairam-ramesh.htm
4. Allow mining in 90% no-go zones, Hindusthan Times, October 29 2010
http://www.hindustantimes.com/Allow-mining-in-90-no-go-zones/Article1-619206.aspx
5. GoM will look into sensitive 'no-go' mining areas, Deccan Herald, January 13, 2011 http://www.deccanherald.com/content/128848/cabinet-decides-set-up-gom.html
6. Greenpeace provides an alternate energy vision for India, Greenpeace, March 24, 2009
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/en/news/greenpeace-provides-an-alterna/
7. Case study of Damodar river, rainwaterharvesting.com
http://www.rainwaterharvesting.org/crisis/River-Damodar10.htm
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