Agriculture irrigation

PARIS (AFP) - Governments worldwide are using the Covid-19 pandemic to push through destructive development projects and roll back protections of indigenous groups, according to a global report on deforestation and rule of law released on Thursday (Feb 18). An assessment by the Forest People's Programme of post-pandemic stimulus plans in Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Indonesia and Peru found that projects such as mines, industrial agriculture plantations and dams were fuelling a rise in rights abuses. Those five countries contain the majority of the world's tropical forests. "During the pandemic, governments have not only failed to stop land grabs and human rights violations by corporate actors, but have rewritten and reversed hard-won policies that are vital at protecting human rights," said Myrna Cunningham, president of the FILAC indigenous rights group. Numerous studies have shown the vital role indigenous groups play in averting climate change and … [Read more...] about Covid-19 an excuse to strip tropical forests, say indigenous groups

Not long after marking 100 days of ongoing protests , farmers demonstrating at several locations in India have asserted that they will stay firm in their demands despite attempts to scare them into ending their movement. The reaction came hours after some unidentified individuals fired three shots into the air near one of the main protest sites, the Singhu border, on the outskirts of Delhi. Farmer groups have been protesting at this site against three contentious agriculture reform laws since last November. According to the farmers, four men drove up in a car and fled after firing into the air. "One of the miscreants from the car had an argument with us. They later fired bullets into the air. If they [the miscreants] want to test us or check our strength, then they should know that we are not scared of such attacks", Paramjeet Singh of Samyukta Kisan Morcha, a united front of over 40 Indian farmers unions, tells Sputnik. He further stressed that they would not back down until … [Read more...] about Indian Farmers Vow to Stay Resolute as Shots Fired Near Protest Site on Delhi Outskirts

Rajdeep Ramesh Singh, who was arrested on Tuesday for blocking Bollywood star Ajay Devgn's car, has been released on bail by Mumbai police on Wednesday morning. The 28-year-old had obstructed Devgn's car and accused him of not speaking out in support of farmers protesting against the new agricultural laws. The incident occurred in Mumbai city’s film studio as Ajay was on the way to a shoot for his forthcoming Hindi movie Gangubai Kathiawadi. The actor was stopped for around 15 minutes by Rajdeep. A video of the disturbance, showing Rajdeep causing a fracas in front of Ajay's car, abusing him and demanding he speaks out in support of the farmers’ protest and against the new law, has gone viral. When Devgn's bodyguard asks Singh to move aside, the two end up in a scuffle. — ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2021 Last month, Ajay was one of several Indian celebrities to issue a tweet urging people not to fall for any false propaganda against the country as many American celebrities - … [Read more...] about Indian Man Released on Bail After Attacking Actor Ajay Devgn for Silence on Farmers’ Protests

A 50-year-old farmer committed suicide on Sunday morning by hanging himself from a tree at Delhi's Tikri-Bahadurgarh border. The place is one of the main protest sites of people demonstrating for the revocation of three farm laws. According to the police, the man identified as Rajveer Singh, hailed from the Hisar district of the northern Indian state of Haryana. A large portion of the people participating in the ongoing agitation by farmers are from this area. Today One more farmer named Rajveer Singh, aged 50, from Village Sisayh District Hisar has committed suicide @sushant_says @ndtv pic.twitter.com/xqQsQ6UEV6 — BKU EKTA UGRAHAN (@Bkuektaugrahan) March 7, 2021 In his suicide note, Singh called upon farmers to go back home only after the three farm laws are repealed, and the Minimum Support Price (MSP) is guaranteed. He also demanded the federal government to fulfill his last wish and repeal the laws. "The government demands sacrifice ; hence I sacrifice on … [Read more...] about 50-Year-Old Farmer Commits Suicide at Main Protest Site on Delhi Border

From blocking expressways to launching a bicycle rally, farmers protesting against the Narendra Modi-led central government’s new farm laws have planned a series of events in March. Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella organisation of farmers' unions protesting on the border of the Indian capital Delhi, has stated that they would block the Western Peripheral Expressway on 6 March. This expressway connects the Indian states of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and is close to Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the 136-km Kundli–Manesar–Palwal Expressway in 2018. According to the plans, the expressway will be blocked for five hours, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (local time), as their agitation would be entering its 100th day. Throughout the rest of the country, supporters will hoist black flags above their homes and offices to show support for the movement. The events will take place almost one-and-a-half months after Delhi witnessed a major farmers’ protest, the ‘ … [Read more...] about 100th Day of Protest: Indian Farmers to Block Western Expressway on Saturday, Ahead of Bicycle Rally