Popular Radio Music Show Spreads Climate Change Message

Tribals sit with their children in Rngi, about 30 km (19 miles) south from Shillong, the capital of India's northeastern state of Meghalya, in January 2007. Families in remote areas of the state are now getting information about climate change via a popular FM radio music program.

By Teresa Rehman

Shillong, Apr 15 :  Climate change issues are reaching a remote new audience in Meghalaya, a hilly state in northeast India, via 'Mawsawa,' a popular FM radio music show.

'Mawsawa' in the local Khasi language, means a "tone that echoes back," a metaphor for imitation and spoof.

The pioneering show is "basically a spoof on Western music. For instance, a Bryan Adams song is sung in the local language but in the same tune, using traditional musical instruments. And the lyrics would be something to do with the environment and climate change," said Ian Khongmen, the head of 93.5 Red FM radio, the station that hosts the show.

The station, working in cooperation with the state government, is committed to raising awareness about the problems associated with climate change in the area, but is managing it with a new vigor, spiced with humor and drama, listeners say.

Better yet, the show is reaching even small remote villages that have yet to be electrified and do not yet have the luxury of television - places where a battery-powered radio may be the only way of receiving messages on climate change.

REACHING REMOTE AREAS WITH RADIO

"On my tours to remote hamlets, I have seen people listening to FM radio even on their mobile phones. I have seen farmers working and listening to radio. It was then that we decided to tie up with the FM station to spread the message of climate change and other environmental disasters at the grassroots level," said P.S. Nongbri, Meghalaya's deputy conservator of forests.

How effectively is the program reaching rural areas? Last year, when the forest department did a segment for World Wildlife Week in which they broadcast bird calls and asked listeners to identify the birds, "it was only people from interior villages who could answer correctly and win prizes. We were amazed by the reach of the radio," Nongbri said.

Talking about environment issues is an ongoing mission for the FM station. It has developed exclusive characters like Kong Lor (Kong is an endearing term for elder sister), who have become a vehicle for its messages.

"Kong Lor is like the conscience-keeper of the community who talks about the values and tradition which give us a sense of pride. She talks about environmental problems but with a lot of zest and spectacle and manages to strike the right emotional chord among the listeners," said Khongmen, the station head.

The radio station, on the air from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m., last year ran a series of segments aimed at generating awareness about the region's 'sacred groves' - protected forests that are tied up with local religious beliefs and are considered conservation models.

Another set of programs, for Earth Day, focused on the need for tree planting.

Disc jockeys regularly make their way to local festivals, and have helped put on street plays on environmental issues in association with local traditional institutions, or 'dorbars'.

"Our station is entertainment-based but we try to push in these pertinent issues," said R.J. Ashlyn, a presenter who runs a listener call-in evening show.

Meghalaya has witnessed large-scale deforestation due to illegal and poorly planned coal mining as well as pollution of its water resources by cement and limestone plants. Trees on Nongkhum island, the one of the biggest river islands in the West Khasi hills, are being indiscriminately felled to produce charcoal.

"Destruction of catchment areas of main rivers and streams caused by mining is the most pertinent problem in Meghalaya now," Nongbri said.

MUSICIANS JOIN INITIATIVE<

The radio initiative has caught on with local musicians with similar environmental interests. Kit Shangpliang, a musician from Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, has been penning songs on themes including social evils, poverty and terrorism, and now has taken up climate change as well.

His rock band 'Summersalt' regularly focuses on conservation themes, be it conservation of forests or of indigenous culture and values. Songs use indigenous musical instruments of the Khasi people or even traditional kitchen tools turned into instruments.

"We want to look at conservation in a holistic manner. It's encouraging to see radio stations like Red FM talking about climate change," Shangpliang said.

The lyrics of one popular Khasi-language song go like this: "Have you given some thought to the destruction? Mother Earth is in shambles, the forests have been felled again and again. Have you thought how the creator would feel? Feel the pain, the sky has to endure." Radio hosts plan to feature the song in some of their programs.

"We are committed to create awareness about climate change," Khongmen said. "We are together in the fight to ensure a cleaner and more secure future for our planet."

[Teresa Rehman is a journalist based in Northeast India. Visit www.teresarehman.net ]

Manipur Handloom Weavers Organize Buyer-Seller Meet

Imphal, Apr 15 : Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers & Handicraft Artisan CS Ltd. organized a one day buyer-seller meet cum exhibition housing 33 stalls. The event which was sponsored by the Government of India and Government of Manipur was inaugurated by Additional Chief Secretary, Govt of Manipur, Mr. PC Lawmkunga (IAS).

The stalls at the exhibition showcased variety of handlooms including, Churachandpur Handloom, Kakching Handloom, Wabagai Maibam Leikai Handloom, Khurai Thoudam Leikai & Ahongei Handloom, Uchathon Handloom, Dimdailong Handloom, Wangkhei Konsam Leikai Handloom, Moirang Kangjeibung Handloom and Kumbi Handloom Cluster.

The Government of India organizes a trade fair, every year, aiming to promote handloom products in domestic as well as in international markets. This trade fair, wherein around 45 handloom societies exhibit their products, witnesses’ visits of foreign as well as domestic visitors, informed Mr. Lawmkunga.

Improvement in quality and designs of the products is the key measure to attract the buyers towards the products. Manufacturing products, according to the consumers’ choice and requirement would accelerate the growth of handloom sector, he stated.

This sector is the second most important sector of the state, as weaving is the key source of income of most of the economically weak weavers, informed the Principal Secretary, Commerce & Industries, Mr. Nabakishore Singh.

In addition to this, old designs of handloom fabrics, which are still witnessing huge demand, need preservation. Besides, the measures such as motivation to the weavers and improvement of infrastructure should be taken on priority basis to enable the weavers to attain the product demands on time.

Crucial Meet on Naga Issue Next Week

New Delhi, Apr 14 : A crucial meeting between militant outfit NSCN-IM and the government's interlocutor is likely to be held next week to give fresh impetus to the ongoing Naga peace process.

A delegation of NSCN-IM led by its general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah would hold parleys with new interlocutor R S Pandey to iron out differences on several vexed issues including integration of Naga-inhabited areas, official sources said.

The meeting will review the proposal given by the rebels to bring a lasting solution to the six-decade old Naga insurgency and the counter proposal given by the Central government.

NSCN-IM has proposed a federal relationship with the Indian Union with additional financial and legislative powers to handle while the Central government offered financial package for socio-cultural development of Naga people.

In the last round of talks in March, both sides resolved to their commitment to work out an honorable and negotiated solution to the problem. "There is seriousness on both sides to continue dialogue on sustained basis," a Home Ministry official said.

Among other issues in the charter demand, the NSCN-IM pointed out certain taxation matters and preservation of cultural heritage, the sources said. Muivah, who along with four other Naga leaders, arrived here on February 27 from Amsterdam. After the talks in March, he had gone to Nagaland and met NSCN-IM cadres, civil society members, NGOs and church leaders to discuss the issue. Pandey also undertook a visit to the north eastern states last week and met political leaders and other stake holders to get feedback from them.

A ceasefire was agreed on with NSCN-IM in August 1997. In May 1998, the union government had appointed Swaraj Kaushal as the first negotiator. He continued in his post till July 1999. After him, former Home Secretary K Padmanabhaiah took charge and continued till last year.

Pandey, a former Petroleum secretary and a 1972 batch Nagaland cadre IAS officer was appointed as a new interlocutor on February 11.

Burmese Music: Sound of The Underground

When the junta banned traditional protest songs, its leading exponents chose a life of exile rather than fall silent. Andrew Buncombe meets them in Delhi

Pics by ZIN NAING/ANDREW BUNCOMBE

Ngwe Toe sings in the Thangyat style

First comes the sound of hand drums, followed by a voice that is steady and persistent. As Ngwe Toe leans back and angles his words towards the microphone, his lines are met by a chanting group which takes up his theme and sings back at him, as a call and response.

"The religion in our country," sings Toe, as the group answers for him, "is Theravada Buddhism". The activist continues: "The colour saffron is growing everywhere."

The group responds: "The monks are very graceful, but now their power has been drained. They are hiding in the remote areas."

As the drums continue in a dreamy loop, Toe implores: "Tell me why." The chanters tell him: "The military devil is rising up."

This is a traditional Burmese protest song with a modern twist. For generations, the people of Burma marked their new year by performing Thangyat – songs and skits that gave voice to local grievances.

In 1988, the year in which the military authorities violently crushed a series of democracy demonstrations with the death of at least 3,000 people, the junta decided it had endured enough protest and banned the tradition, threatening jail for anyone who dared to disobey.

But the generals could not stop Thangyat, merely drive it overseas. Now, communities of exiled Burmese around the world put together their own collections of protest songs, which are sold on CDs and even broadcast back into Burma where residents listen secretly on their radios.

One of the most famous and popular groups, of which Ngwe Toe is a member, is based in the west of Delhi. Ahead of the traditional four-day new year celebrations, or water festival, which begins today, the activists recorded and released a new collection of songs, music and poetry entitled Gaining Victory for Us and Defeat for Them.

"During the festival, it is a tradition that if there is something the people do not like, it will be criticised – be it politics, social affairs or food," said Zin Naing, who escaped to India from Burma after the 1988 uprising and who helped produce the recording.

"Now, inside Burma, Thangyat is not allowed, so ours has become one of the only ones that people can get. We produce it on CD as well as cassettes, which are smuggled into Burma."

There are an estimated 6,000 Burmese exiles in Delhi, most of them from Chin state, on India's north-eastern border. Many of them took part in the 1988 uprisings and came to India, which at the time was critical of the military authorities and welcomed the refugees. Most have never dared to even visit their home country since.

Ngwe Toe, the 40-year-old lead singer, fled when he was just 19, leaving behind all his relatives. His father died in 2003, but he dreams of returning to the country with his wife and young son, and of being able to show his child to his mother.

In the meantime, he takes some measure of comfort from imagining his family furtively listening to the songs of protest that he and his friends have recorded. "It's like a rap," he said. "I say the first line and then the others respond with the second. It's a call and response, and when I am singing, I am shouting these slogans with emotion. I am very focused on the song. I would be happy if my mother hears it, and would then be able to give the message that her son is involved in the politics."

The lyrics for the song performed by Ngwe Toe were written by a Buddhist monk, forced to escape to India after taking part in the so-called Saffron Revolution of September 2007, when tens of thousands of monks and citizens took to the streets of Rangoon and other major cities, demanding democratic reforms.

The monk, U Dhamma, a smiling, round-faced 23-year-old, fled after he and several other monks from his monastery joined the demonstrations in the northern city of Mandalay. "I took part in the marches. I thought there would be a revolution. I believed in democratic rule for Burma," said the monk, who crossed into north-eastern India in January 2008 and now lives in the same dusty Delhi neighbourhood as many other exiles. "After the marches, I stayed at the monastery for some months, but then a minister came to give food. We were very angry and refused to accept this. The minister put pressure on the abbot to expel us, and the next day our names were put in the newspaper, saying that we were to be expelled. We had no chance to stay in Burma."

Those who wrote the collection of protest songs have had no shortage of material to inspire them over the past 12 months. Last year, the junta extended the house arrest of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for 18 months, after she was convicted of breaching the terms of her detention when an uninvited US tourist swam to her lakeside home.

Then, last month, the regime announced new rules governing the controversial election due to be held later this year. The rules effectively bar Ms Suu Kyi from standing and say that her party, the National League for Democracy, (NLD), would have to oust her if it wished to field candidates. The NLD has announced it is boycotting the election.

It is not just the junta that comes in for criticism in the Thangyat. While the songs indeed condemn the regime's alleged nuclear ambitions, the election and the country's poverty, the NLD and even politicians in exile are also subjects of satire.

Such humour has long been a tradition of subtle dissent in Burma. One of the country's best-known comics, Zarganar, spent many years making barbed puns about the regime. Eventually, in 2008, the junta ran out of patience with him and seized on an interview he had given to the BBC criticising the authorities' response of the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis. He was jailed for 59 years, a sentence reduced to 35 on appeal.

Likewise, in Mandalay, members of a famous comic troupe known as the Moustache Brothers have been in and out of jail as a result of their performances making fun of the junta.

The Burmese exiles who put together the protest album remain confident that change can come. The song performed by Ngwe Toe says the monks will lead the transformation.

Its last lines, sung as call-and-response, conclude: "If the monks unite – the military becomes afraid. If the monks unite – the religion will be glowing. If the monks take to the front lines – we will escape from poverty. If the monks speak the truth – they will speak to the whole world."

Meat Prices Spiral in Mizoram

Off the menu

Aizawl, Apr 14 : The Mizos, strictly meat-eaters, are faced with an unpalatable problem these days — spiraling prices of chicken, beef and especially pork.

In the bustling markets of Burrabazar and Khatla in Aizawl, 1kg of pork, the favorite delicacy of tribal Mizos, nowadays costs Rs 170. Last year, pork sold for Rs 80 a kg.

The prices of chicken and beef have also skyrocketed, available at Rs 190 and Rs 200 a kg.

“We simply cannot afford meat at such high prices. It is difficult now to have meat for both meals,” said Sangliana, a teacher in a secondary school in Aizawl.

The huge gap in demand and supply has led to the problem, sources said. Mizoram needs 6,000kg of pork everyday but suppliers can only provide 2,500kg.

The director of animal husbandry and veterinary, L.B. Sailo, said over phone that at present pigs are being imported from adjacent Myanmar in small numbers.

Sailo said the Mizoram government has asked the Centre for Rs 5 crore to build a slaughterhouse and also a pork processing plant in Aizawl to produce bacon and ham.

Meat prices in Mizoram markets are always inflated and these do not reflect the market conditions.

The Mizoram government, in order to control the prices of animal products and agriculture produce, passed a bill last month, the State Agriculture Produce Marketing (Development And Regulation) Bill, 2010.

“Armed with this new regulation, we will be able to control the soaring meat prices,” said Mizoram’s trade and commerce minister Lalrinliana Sailo.

Mizos generally prefer their pork boiled, usually without oil or spices. The dish, popularly called sihneh buhchiar, is a boiled delicacy with potatoes and beans. Sometimes, garlic is used in some households as are vegetable stems and leafy vegetables. Chillies, red or green, are a strict no-no.

[ via Telegraph India ]

Northeast is No Dumping Ground

By Nending Ommo

The Central Government has time and again asserted that Northeast India is an integral part of India and that government accords highest priority to the development of Northeast. In his latest visit to the state, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed his confidence that the Northeastern states would emerge as one of the best regions of the country. All said and done, why double standard demeanor and step motherly treatment to the region?

The news hitting the national headlines about transferring of tainted Justice P D Dinakaran to Sikkim High Court is a fiery issue amongst the legal fraternity. For who do not know who he is, Justice Paul Diwakar Dinakaran was Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court till last week.

The 59-year-old Dinakaran was among five judges recommended to the government by the Supreme Court collegiums of judges, which is like a politburo, for a promotion to the Supreme Court last year. Allegations of corruption and the illegal acquisition of land by Dinakaran and his family in Tamil Nadu led to the recommendation to be cancelled.

He was accused of “possessing wealth disproportionate to known sources of income, unlawfully securing five housing board plots in the name of his wife and two daughters, entering into benami transactions, and acquiring and possessing agricultural holdings beyond ceiling limit”.

While the inquiry against him was being carried on and though he was not performing judicial functions but administrative works only since last December, the collegiums asked Dinanakran to go on a long vacation so that another judge Madan B Lokur could take over as Acting Chief Justice since an Acting Chief Justice can only assume charge only if the Chief Justice proceeds on leave. But Dinakaran apparently refused to comply.

In helplessness and in haste the collegiums sent to the Centre for approval of the President to transfer him to Sikkim High Court as its Chief Justice. The move was seen as punishment.

In December, the Rajya Sabha admitted a motion backed by members of different political parties to impeach Dinakaran. If he is found guilty, he can be impeached by the Parliament.

Before transferring him to Sikkim HC, there were rumors that Justice Dinakaran was to be transferred to Gauhati High Court. These rumors sparked protests, with Assam’s lawyer body taking to the streets in opposition to his transfer. This is not the first time a transfer to the Gauhati High Court was met with protest. A similar situation arose when three Judges of the Karnataka High Court, Justices V. Gopala Gowda, N.S. Veerabhadraiah and Chandrashekaraiah, in focus during the Mysore sex scandal popularly known as the ‘Roost’ sex scandal were rumored to be transferred to Gauhati High Court.

Ironically, instead of removing the tainted judge, the Centre is showing it’s helplessness in disciplining the judge by transferring him to Sikkim as if it was Sikkim’s fault in his corruption.

The $ 64,000 dollar question is, is the move justifiable? Punish him, why punish Northeast. Is Northeast the modern Kaalaa Paani that tainted judges should be deported here? Is Northeast seen as a punishment posting?

Here I am not singling out Sikkim nor the legal fraternity per se for the reason that if it can happen to Sikkim and legal system, it can happen to any one of the North eastern states and in any department and it can indeed very much happen to and in Arunachal. We are no dumping grounds, let us be sentient and show our logical resistance for common good.

(The contributor is based at Pune and he can be reached through ommondg@gmail.com)

[ via The Arunachal Times ]

Wildlife Team to Visit Before Uranium Drilling in Meghalaya

Shillong, Apr 14 : The standing committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) will send a site inspection team to Balpakram National Park in Meghalaya to ascertain people’s views on the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) proposal to conduct its exploratory mission in the park.

The DAE has asked the Ministry of Environment and Forests to de-notify an area of eight sq km on the Rongcheng plateau along the environs of Balpakram National Park in Meghalaya South Garo Hills for exploration of uranium ore.

“Survey in the recent years has identified possibility of economical uranium mineralization in the Rongcheng plateau,” a DAE official said.

He said the DAE wanted to start the exploration exercise to mainly confirm the uranium deposits to meet the country’s nuclear energy requirement which will be to the tune of 20,000 MW by 2020.

On Tuesday, the board standing committee meeting, chaired by Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh in New Delhi, decided to depute a site inspection team to Balpakram.

“We will be visiting Balpakram later this month to seek the views of the people on the DAE’s proposed exploratory drilling of uranium, and submit a report to the standing committee,” NBWL member Bibhab Talukdar said.

The 220 square km Balpakram National Park, apart from being an ecological hotspot, is also a sacred place for the indigenous Garo community in Meghalaya hills. The park is also called land of the eternal death in Garo mythology, as it is believed that the spirits of the dead reside here.

It is also believed by Hindus that Hanuman, while looking for the herb ’sanjeevani’ with which to cure Laxman, who was injured in the battle against Ravana, found it in Balpakram.

The area is home to rare and endangered species of wild life which include the Holock gibbons, Slow Loris, tigers and elephants.

State Chief Wildlife Warden Sunil Kumar said that the proposed exploration drilling exercise will have no biotic interference in the park.

“Since the drilling exercise is of temporary nature, which will be carried out as a day time activity I don’t think it will disturb the landscape or ecology of the area,” Kumar told IANS.

“Once the exercise is completed. The drilling areas will be restored to ensure that there is biotic interference in Balpakram,” he said.

However, several NGOs, including the powerful Garo Students’ Union (GSU) has opposed the DAE’s proposal to conduct its drilling exercise inside the national park.

“We oppose DAE’s move to explore uranium deposits inside the park and we have also decided to ban outsiders and government officials from entering Balpakram,” GSU president Alex Sangma said.

The drilling exercise, he said would surely affect the fragile biodiversity of Balpakram and would be tantamount to encroaching on the tribal rights.

Meanwhile, the GSU will send a letter to Chief Minister D.D. Lapang to oppose any move to de-notify eight sq km the Rongcheng Plateau to facilitate exploration of uranium.

Earlier, the DAE has discovered about 9.22 million tones of uranium ore deposits in Meghalaya.

The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) plans to produce 375,000 tones of uranium ore a year and process 1,500 tones of the mineral a day.

It has also proposed to set up a Rs.1,046-crore open-cast uranium mining and processing plant in Meghalaya’s West Khasi Hills district, which has an estimated 9.22 million tones of uranium ore deposits.

Cyclone Kills 68 in Northeast India

New Update: 120 dead in storm in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam

KISHANGUNJ/RAIGUNJ/GUWAHATI: A severe nor'wester packed with a wind speed of 125 kmph left 120 people dead, hundreds injured and a swathe of destruction in seven districts of Bihar, West Bengal and Assam.

Bihar accounted for the highest number of 77 deaths in five districts, followed by West Bengal with 39 in one district and Assam where four persons perished in one district in the storm that struck at midnight last night.

The fatalities in Bihar occurred in Purnia (33), Araria (33), Katihar (7), Supaul (2) and Kishenganj (2) districts.

In West Bengal, all 39 deaths were reported from in North Dinajpur district while in Assam four died in Dhubri district.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1.50 lakh to next of kin of each of the deceased, besides ordering construction of pucca houses under the Indira Awas Yojana and foodgrains.

West Bengal government said Rs 2 lakh would be paid to next of kin of each of those who were killed in North Dinajpur.

Kolkata, Apr 14 :  A cyclone demolished thousands of mud huts and uprooted trees in several villages in eastern India, killing at least 31 people, an official said Wednesday.
Srikumar Mukherjee, the civil defense minister, said the cyclone struck Tuesday night in North Dinajpur district of West Bengal state, snapping telephone and electricity lines in the area.
Mukherjee also said hundreds of people suffered injuries in the region, nearly 315 miles (500 kilometers) northeast of Calcutta, the capital of West Bengal state.
The worst-hit villages were Hematabad, Raiganj and Kiran Dighi, where police and rescue have recovered 31 bodies, Mukherjee told The Associated Press.
The cyclone demolished nearly 50,000 mud huts, he said.