9.3.05

O que foi o Movimento Chipko?

Foi um movimento popular que se opôs à desflorestação ordenada pelo governo indiano e que nasceu nos contrafortes dos Himalaias, no estado de Uttar Pradesh, nos princípios dos anos 70. «Chipko» em hindu significa «abraçar» e o movimento recebei esse nome porque as mulheres abraçavam-se às árvores para evitarem que fossem derrubadas. O movimento encarnou uma longa história de oposição dos aldeões contra o derrube das árvores para efeitos comerciais tanto na floresta virgem como na floresta comunal. Ao movimento não foi estranha a filosofia de Mahatma Gandhi quer na forma de empenhamento pacífico de não-violência quer em termos de problematização do desenvolvimento económico orientado para as aldeias como ele defendia.

A campanha Chipko teve como consequência alguns sucessos, e culminou em 1980, com um encontro entre um dos seus lideres, Sunderlal Bahuguna, e a antiga primeira-ministra indiana, Indira Gandhi, após o qual foi decidida a proibição do derrube comercial das árvores das florestas himalaianas de Uttar Pradesh, o que deu tempo para o movimento se expandir. Bahuguna empreendeu então uma marcha de quase 5 mil quilómetros para levar a mensagem Chipko aos aldeãos , ao longo de toda a cordilheira dos Himalaias, ao mesmo tempo que Chandi Prasad Bhatt, o outro líder, iniciava um esforço de plantação maciça de árvores, com a ajuda das populações locais.

Ao princípio, o movimento Chipko preocupara-se com a atribuição justa dos direitos de exploração da floresta, mas com o tempo, evolui para um movimento de carácter ecologista e ambiental. Segundo a filosofia Chico as florestas são fundamentais para a viabilidade da vida humana como para a vida selvagem nos Himalais.

Uma dos slogans do movimento Chipko - « o que é que as florestão nos dão? Solos, água e ar puro» - tornaram-se conhecidas por toda a índia e foram adoptadas por muitas outras comunidades do subcontinente indiano na sua luta contra a desflorestação.

Mais informações num texto, em inglês, retirado da rede:


The Chipko movement

In the 1970s, an organized resistance to the destruction of forests spread throughout India and came to be known as the Chipko movement. The name of the movement comes from the word 'embrace', as the villagers hugged the trees, and prevented the contractors' from felling them.

Not many people know that over the last few centuries many communities in India have helped save nature. One such is the Bishnoi community of Rajasthan. The original ’Chipko movement’ was started around 260 years back in the early part of the 18th century in Rajasthan by this community. A large group of them from 84 villages led by a lady called Amrita Devi laid down their lives in an effort to protect the trees from being felled on the orders of the Maharaja (King) of Jodhpur. After this incident, the maharaja gave a strong royal decree preventing the cutting of trees in all Bishnoi villages.

In the 20th century, it began in the hills where the forests are the main source of livelihood, since agricultural activities cannot be carried out easily. The Chipko movement of 1973 was one of the most famous among these. The first Chipko action took place spontaneously in April 1973 in the village of Mandal in the upper Alakananda valley and over the next five years spread to many districts of the Himalayas in Uttar Pradesh. It was sparked off by the government's decision to allot a plot of forest area in the Alaknanda valley to a sports goods company. This angered the villagers because their similar demand to use wood for making agricultural tools had been earlier denied. With encouragement from a local NGO (non-governmental organization), DGSS (Dasoli Gram Swarajya Sangh), the women of the area, under the leadership of an activist, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, went into the forest and formed a circle around the trees preventing the men from cutting them down.

The success achieved by this protest led to similar protests in other parts of the country. From their origins as a spontaneous protest against logging abuses in Uttar Pradesh in the Himalayas, supporters of the Chipko movement, mainly village women, have successfully banned the felling of trees in a number of regions and influenced natural resource policy in India. Dhoom Singh Negi, Bachni Devi and many other village women, were the first to save trees by hugging them. They coined the slogan: 'What do the forests bear? Soil, water and pure air'. The success of the Chipko movement in the hills saved thousands of trees from being felled.

Some other persons have also been involved in this movement and have given it proper direction. Mr Sunderlal Bahuguna, a Gandhian activist and philosopher, whose appeal to Mrs Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, resulted in the green-felling ban. Mr Bahuguna coined the Chipko slogan: 'ecology is permanent economy'. Mr Chandi Prasad Bhatt, is another leader of the Chipko movement. He encouraged the development of local industries based on the conservation and sustainable use of forest wealth for local benefit. Mr Ghanasyam Raturi, the Chipko poet, whose songs echo throughout the Himalayas of Uttar Pradesh, wrote a poem describing the method of embracing the trees to save them from felling:

' Embrace the trees and
Save them from being felled;
The property of our hills,
Save them from being looted.'

The Chipko protests in Uttar Pradesh achieved a major victory in 1980 with a 15-year ban on green felling in the Himalayan forests of that state by the order of Mrs Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India. Since then, the movement has spread to many states in the country. In addition to the 15-year ban in Uttar Pradesh, the movement has stopped felling in the Western Ghats and the Vindhyas and has generated pressure for a natural resource policy that is more sensitive to people's needs and ecological requirements.

Listagem das Resoluções da ONU contra o Estado de Israel

Face à ocupação prolongada do Líbano pelo Exército da Síria, os EUA exigiram mais rapidez na retirada completa e imediata de todo o exército sírio do Líbano, segundo as notícias acabadas de serem publicadas pelos órgão de informação internacional.
O porta-voz da Casa Branca, Scott McClellan chamou à recente proposta síria de retirada gradual do seu exército como uma meia-medida que está longe de cumprir com a Resolução 1559 do Conselho de Segurança das Nações Unidas e que dizia muito claramente:«todas as forças estrangeiras precisam de deixar o Líbano imediatamente".

O Ministro da Defesa israelita Shaul Mofaz não perdeu a oportunidade para recordar que a Síria será forçada a retirar tropas nos próximos dois meses e - segundo ele - ter-se-á que dizer ao Presidente sírio, Bashar Assad , que deverá retirar as suas tropas do Líbano "... antes das próximas eleições libanesas marcadas para Maio".

E acrescentou: " Tal retirada permitirá aos cidadãos do Líbano escolher um governo que não seja um governo-fantoche da Síria, um governo libanês soberano que poderá estender a sua soberania em todo o território do Líbano inclusive no sul, onde Hezbollah está estabelecido".

Enquanto isso, e ao mesmo tempo que o mundo ouve estas declarações, há uma outra ocupação que os Estados Unidos teimam em não ver e à qual comunidade internacional assiste impávida. Com efeito, não há nenhum clamor por parte dos governos dos Estados mais poderosos relativamente à ocupação, que se prolonga ali ao lado, dos territórios palestinianos e que o Exército israelita impõe a ferro e fogo aos palestinianos.


E a verdade é que basta recordarmo-nos das múltiplas resoluções das Nações Unidas contra Israel para concluirmos das constantes ilegalidades cometidas pelo Estado de Israel.

Por ser do maior interesse seguem-se a lista das Resoluções da ONU que condenam o Governo e o Estado de Israel de 1955 a 1992:

* Resolution 106: 'condemns' Israel for Gaza raid.

* Resolution 111: 'condemns' Israel for raid on Syria that killed fifty-six people.

* Resolution 127: 'recommends' Israel suspends it's 'no-man's zone' in Jerusalem".

* Resolution 162: 'urges' Israel to comply with UN decisions.

* Resolution 171: ‘determines flagrant violations' by Israel in its attack on Syria.

* Resolution 228: 'censures' Israel for its attack on Samu in the West Bank, then under Jordanian control

* Resolution 237: 'urges' Israel to allow return of new 1967 Palestinian refugees.

* Resolution 248: 'condemns' Israel for its massive attack on Samu in the West Bank, then under Jordanian control

* Resolution 250: 'calls' on Israel to refrain from holding military parade in Jerusalem.

* Resolution 251: 'deeply deplores' Israeli military parade in Jerusalem in defiance of Resolution 250.

* Resolution 252: 'declares invalid' Israel's acts to unify Jerusalem as Jewish capital.

* Resolution 256: 'condemns' Israeli raids on Jordan as 'flagrant violation.

* Resolution 259: 'deplores' Israel's refusal to accept UN mission to probe occupation.

* Resolution 262: 'condemns' Israel for attack on Beirut airport.

* Resolution 265: 'condemns' Israel for air attacks for Salt in Jordan.

* Resolution 267: 'censures' Israel for administrative acts to change the status of Jerusalem.

* Resolution 270: 'condemns' Israel for air attacks on villages in southern Lebanon.

* Resolution 271: 'condemns' Israel's failure to obey UN resolutions on Jerusalem.

* Resolution 279: 'demands' withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon.

* Resolution 280: 'condemns' Israeli's attacks against Lebanon.

* Resolution 285: 'demands' immediate Israeli withdrawal form Lebanon.

* Resolution 298: 'deplores' Israel's changing of the status of Jerusalem.

* Resolution 313: 'demands' that Israel stop attacks against Lebanon.

* Resolution 316: 'condemns' Israel for repeated attacks on Lebanon.

* Resolution 317: 'deplores' Israel's refusal to release Arabs abducted in Lebanon.

* Resolution 332: 'condemns' Israel's repeated attacks against Lebanon.

* Resolution 337: 'condemns' Israel for violating Lebanon's sovereignty.

* Resolution 347: 'condemns' Israeli attacks on Lebanon.

* Resolution 425: 'calls' on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon.

* Resolution 427: 'calls' on Israel to complete its withdrawal from Lebanon.

* Resolution 444: 'deplores' Israel's lack of cooperation with UN peacekeeping forces.

* Resolution 446: 'determines' that Israeli settlements are a 'serious obstruction' to peace and calls on Israel to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention.

* Resolution 450: 'calls' on Israel to stop attacking Lebanon.

* Resolution 452: 'calls' on Israel to cease building settlements in occupied territories.

* Resolution 465: 'deplores' Israel's settlements and asks all member states not to assist Israel's settlements program.

* Resolution 467: 'strongly deplores' Israel's military intervention in Lebanon.

* Resolution 468: 'calls' on Israel to rescind illegal expulsions of two Palestinian mayors and a judge and to facilitate their return.

* Resolution 469: 'strongly deplores' Israel's failure to observe the council's order not to deport Palestinians.

* Resolution 471: 'expresses deep concern' at Israel's failure to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention.

* Resolution 476: 'reiterates' that Israel's claim to Jerusalem are 'null and void'.

* Resolution 478: 'censures (Israel) in the strongest terms' for its claim to Jerusalem in its 'Basic Law'.

* Resolution 484: 'declares it imperative' that Israel re-admit two deported * Palestinian mayors.

* Resolution 487: 'strongly condemns' Israel for its attack on Iraq's nuclear facility.

* Resolution 497: 'decides' that Israel's annexation of Syria's Golan Heights is 'null and void' and demands that Israel rescinds its decision forthwith.

* Resolution 498: 'calls' on Israel to withdraw from Lebanon.

* Resolution 501: 'calls' on Israel to stop attacks against Lebanon and withdraw its troops.

* Resolution 509: 'demands' that Israel withdraw its forces forthwith and unconditionally from Lebanon.

* Resolution 515: 'demands' that Israel lift its siege of Beirut and allow food supplies to be brought in.

* Resolution 517: 'censures' Israel for failing to obey UN resolutions and demands that Israel withdraw its forces from Lebanon.

* Resolution 518: 'demands' that Israel cooperate fully with UN forces in Lebanon.

* Resolution 520: 'condemns' Israel's attack into West Beirut.

* Resolution 573: 'condemns' Israel 'vigorously' for bombing Tunisia in attack on PLO headquarters.

* Resolution 587: 'takes note' of previous calls on Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon and urges all parties to withdraw.

* Resolution 592: 'strongly deplores' the killing of Palestinian students at Bir Zeit University by Israeli troops.

* Resolution 605: 'strongly deplores' Israel's policies and practices denying the human rights of Palestinians.

* Resolution 607: 'calls' on Israel not to deport Palestinians and strongly requests it to abide by the Fourth Geneva Convention.

* Resolution 608: 'deeply regrets' that Israel has defied the United Nations and deported Palestinian civilians.

* Resolution 636: 'deeply regrets' Israeli deportation of Palestinian civilians.

* Resolution 641: 'deplores' Israel's continuing deportation of Palestinians.

* Resolution 672: 'condemns' Israel for violence against Palestinians at the Haram al-Sharif/Temple Mount.

* Resolution 673: 'deplores' Israel's refusal to cooperate with the United Nations.

* Resolution 681: 'deplores' Israel's resumption of the deportation of Palestinians.

* Resolution 694: 'deplores' Israel's deportation of Palestinians and calls on it to ensure their safe and immediate return.

* Resolution 726: 'strongly condemns' Israel's deportation of Palestinians.

* Resolution 799: ’strongly condemns' Israel's deportation of 413 Palestinians and calls for their immediate return.


Consultar:

-Texto da 4ª Convenção de Genebra http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/0/6756482d86146898c125641e004aa3c5?OpenDocument


- Para mais informações: http://www.palestine-un.org/info/occ.html


750 biólogos norte-americanos protestam contra o desvio de verbas de investigação científica para programas de bio-terrorismo

Segundo a revista New Scientist 750 biólogos norte-americanos, dos mais categorizados da comunidade científica dos Estados Unidos, subscreveram um abaixo-assinado de protesto contra as intenções da Administração Bush de desviar os fundos da Investigação científica no domínio da biologia para a pesquisa científico-militar em programas no âmbito do bio-terrorismo.

Mais informações:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7074