Thank You, Bianca Jagger, Arundhati Roy et al.,

Ideally, a government stands for the welfare of the people it represents. But most governments are elitist in nature. In such a system the interests of the common man who is without education, social standing, influence or political clout is ignored with a smirk of contempt. Consequently, when the interests of the powerful Big Business and the common man come into conflict, the big business always win hands down, at least in my sacred Mother Land.

A mining company called of all names Vedanta Resources – EE knows for sure they don’t know what the word means, they are tainting the sacred word in the name of their selfish interests – is out to destroy the fragile ecosystem of the Niyamgiri Hills situated in the state economically backward state of Orissa in India. The hills are home to the Dongria Kondh tribe. The whole ecosystem of these sylvan hills sustains this ancient tribe. In a land which is steeped in religious tradition, these hills are holy to the tribe too.
EE has always maintained that the politicians are more to blame for the destruction of the environment than the industrialist. If the politicians refrain from giving licenses to the Big Business to ravage whole ecosystems in the name of progress and development, no harm will be done.

This poor tribe has no influence, financial or political clout like the stinking rich. So they have to be at the receiving end of things while the government looks the other way with a smirk of contempt.

But fortunately some great celebrity folk have come forward in support of the unfortunate tribe. Human rights champions like Bianca Jagger, Arundhati Roy of Booker fame etc., have come forward in defense of Kondhs. They demonstrated right in front of the offices of the company in London against the move. The protest was organized by the great human rights organization, Survival International.

Ms.Roy stated that “it will lead to the devastation of a whole ecosystem” and will destroy not only the entire tribe but “all those whose lives depend on that ecosystem.” Ms.Jagger was afraid that Kondh folk will lose all their economic and cultural rights. Stephen Corry, Survival International’s outspoken director reminded us that the companies just can’t acquire tribal lands with impunity as in the days of the British Raj. He said public opinion will turn against the company thereby ruining its reputation. This will outweigh whatever financial profits they will derive from the evil mines.

The London based company’s proposed mines are not only a Crime Against The Environment but a Crime Against Humanity as well.

WILL THEY EVER LEARN? LORD THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING, SO NEVER FORGIVE THEM.