TIGERS THREATENED BY MINING MAFIA IN INDIA?

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Loads of discussions on tigers therefore the attached press release may

be of interest. This is one of the longest investigations I have made in

life, the role of the mining mafia in human and animal abuse. The best

example is the film " The Diamond Empire " directed by Gavin MacFadyen, who

happens to be my former teacher. This astonishing documentary investigates

how an advertising slogan invented by Madison Avenue executives in 1948 has

come to define our most intimate and romantic rituals and ideals. And the

most important company in this entire episode is a firm called Anglo

American De Beers, who engineered the slogan " A Diamond is Forever " , and is

allegedly on the verge of starting mining in Panna, where all the tigers

have disappeared.

Two months ago, I learnt that De Beers is one of the players in Panna and

they allegedly want the protected area denotified to start diamond mining.

The biggest tragedy, as some of you in the US and Europe will recognise, is

that the slogan " A Diamond is Forever " is a myth because the price of

diamonds is artificially fixed. Gavin's film has been shown 17 times in the

US and 4 times in UK but is banned in India. I got a copy when I was

studying in London and distributed it as widely as I could. Some AAPN

members have received a copy also. Read the entire transcript here :

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/programs/transcripts/1209.html

 

The film can be seen online here :

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6186684678299366197

 

Only one comment sums up the entire story : *HERBERT CHAO* *GUNTHER,

Marketing Consultant*:* *Nobody's aware that diamonds and all the

associations we have with diamonds is a product of a marketing strategy.

It's completely invisible, transparent. If you measure it in terms of how

all the myths associated with this advertising campaign have been deeply

inculcated in people -- it's reached deeply into the popular imagination --

this is probably the most successful campaign in history.

 

Now to come to the animal welfare/animal rights connection. De Beers,

alongwith several other major mining companies, is allegedly seeking to

denotify several Protected Areas in India that are home to several

endangered species including tigers. There are many areas harbouring animals

that are slowly but surely coming under the scanner of these firms

throughout the country and if the government accedes to their demands, whole

populations of animals will just be wiped out, leave alone creation of

abysmal working conditions for workers.

 

I have talked about this to several eminent environmental lawyers and they

share my alarm that this mining lobby is possibly the biggest threat to

Indian wildlife under the curent circumstances. AAPN may not be the right

forum to disclose all details of what is actually going on, but I would be

happy to share whatever information I have off list. I am also pleased to

state that some of my colleagues in Kolkata helped me spread this message by

distributing the film , and I am grateful to them for this.

 

I reiterate, the mining mafia is one of the biggest potential threats to

Indian wildlife and endangered animals and appraising ourselves of this

mafia is necessary to understand the enormity of the crimes they have

perpetrated for profit. Tigers and other endangered animals will be their

next victims if their moves are not restricted.

 

Best wishes,

 

 

 

http://pannatigerreserve.net/

 

Welcome To Panna Tiger Reserve

 

Panna National Park is situated in the central Indian state of Madhya

Pradesh, at a distance of around 57 km from Khajuraho. The region, famous

for its diamond industry, is also home to some of the best wildlife species

in India and is one of the most famous Tiger Reserves in the country. The

park is known worldwide for its wild cats, including tigers as well as deer

and antelope. Due to its closeness to one of the best-known Indian tourist

attraction in India, Khajuraho, the park is recognized as an exciting

stop-over destination.

The climate of the region is tropical. Summers, somewhat scorching, are when

one has the maximum chances of encountering the exclusive wildlife of this

park. Winters are cold and comfortable and the temperature generally remains

under 25°C. Monsoon touches this region in July and continues till

mid-September.

Panna is famous for its diamond mining industry and this makes it an

interesting place to visit. Pandav falls is also a major attraction with its

lake that is fed by a waterfall. Another major attraction of this region is

the Rajgarh Palace, a magnificent piece of architecture overlooking the

valley.

PANNA DIAMOND MINE REOPENS AFTER NEARLY FOUR YEARS

 

IT WILL PRODUCE ONE LAKH CARATS: SHRI VIRBHADRA SINGH

Press Information Bureau

 

21 August, 2009 Ministry of Steel

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=52052

 

 

The Steel Minister Shri Virbhadra Singh today rededicated the

Panna Diamond Mine of NMDC in Madhya Pradesh. The mine remained closed for

about 4 years on account of environmental reasons. Speaking in Panna after

reopening of the mine, Shri Virbhadra Singh said the project is not only

very important for NMDC as well as Madhya Pradesh, but also prestigious for

the country as a whole as it is the only mechanized diamond mine in Asia.

 

The Minister said the production capacity of the mine is one lakh carats per

annum. He said, with the reopening the Panna mine, we will be able to meet

at least part of the domestic demand of diamonds. The reopening of Panna

Diamond mine was one of the main programmes to be accomplished during the

first 100 days of the UPA Government.

 

Shri Virbhadra Singh said, NMDC is exploring for diamond reserves

inChattarpur District and coal deposits

in Shahdole and Umaria Districts. It is in the process of acquiring

mininglease for development of coal blocks. NMDC is also making

efforts to locate

alternate diamond resources in the vicinity of Panna. The Minister also

thanked the Madhya Pradesh government for extending unflinching support for

the reopening of the diamond mine.

 

The Minister of State for Steel Shri A. Sai Prathap said, with the

re-opening of the mine, the economic activity in the Panna region will pick

up and Panna township and surrounding areas will one again come alive as a

centre of economic activity. It will also generate both direct and indirect

employment for the local population. The local business, which was adversely

affected due to shifting of NMDC’s workforce in the Diamond mine will also

prosper. He hoped, the reopening of the mine will give a strong impetus to

the economic activity of the entire region.

 

Speaking on the occasion the Steel Secretary Shri P.K. Rastogi said, NMDC

has always given due importance to its corporate social responsibilities and

has undertaken a plethora of welfare measures for the people living around

its projects. Through its CSR activities, NMDC is focusing on infrastructure

development, drinking water, health care and nutrition, education and skill

development for gainful employment. He said, NMDC will continue its

tradition of welfare activities for the local population here also, which

will contribute to the growth of the region as a whole.

 

The Chairman of NMDC Shri Rana Som and senior officials were present on the

occasion.