Friends of Sindhu Organize for International River Action Day

[Gul Agha <gul.agha@gmail.com>]

On March 14, tens of thousands of Sindhis will gather at various
places along the banks of Sindhu to fast and recite holy scriptures --
The Quran, Bhagawad Gita, Bible and Shah jo Risalo -- and pray for the
long life and well-being of Sindhu.
   
Protest marches are also planned in London and  Washington and a
meeting will be held in Los Angeles (see details below).

You can  listen to an interview of Saaiin Ishaq Tunio, Chicago based
activist and organizer of Friends of the Indus River on the Voice of
America Urdu Service.   He talks about Kalabagh Dam and Thal Canal
with reference to Sindhi activities on the International Day of Action
for Rivers (March 14) and against dams worldwide.

<http://www1.voanews.com/Urdu/article.cfm?objectID=D085C23A-045F-461E-BA987E37A29
A932A&title=Kalabagh%20Dam&catOID=6F58FA9F-EE67-4494-B1EFC36D5B61F131&categoryna
me=Special%20Features>

Various activities around the globe are listed at http://irn.org

Washington, DC: Worldwide Campaign Against Kalabagh Dam
DATE & TIME:    Monday, March 14, 2005 from 12 Noon to 1 PM (EST)
LOCATION:  FROM WASHINGTON POST TO BBC VIA EMBASSY ROW
                  MEET AT THE CORNER OF 15TH AND L STREETS IN WASHINGTON DC
DOWNTOWN (NEAREST METRO STATION: McPHERSON SQUARE)

World Sindhi Institute joins Friends of the River Indus from Pakistan
to unite for a day of prayer, protest and awareness campaign in
response to the ceaseless dam and canal projects along the Indus River
in Pakistan. The proposed construction of the Kalabagh Dam and
completion of the Thal Canal are the latest threats to the Indus River
and to the Sindhi peoples.

Contact:
The World Sindhi Institute (WSI)
Washington, DC USA
Phone: 202–637–3244–3245
E–mail: wsihq@worldsindhi.org
Web: www.worldsindhi.org
 
Los Angeles: Seminar on "Indus River Water Mismanagement Crisis"
DATE & TIME:    Monday, March 14, 2005 from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM  (Pacific)
LOCATION:  AL-WATAN RESTAURANT
                  13611 Inglewood Ave.,
                  Hawthorne, CA 90250, Tel: 310-644-6395

The World Sindhi Congress and Friends of the River Indus will hold a
seminar and dinner titled "Indus River Water Mismanagement Crisis."
The event will highlight awareness to Pakistan's ceaseless
anti–humanitarian dam and canal projects along the River Indus in
Pakistan.

Contact:
Siraj Makhdoom
E–mail: siraj_makhdoom@yahoo.com
Saghir Shaikh
E–mail: saghir.shaikh@att.net
Web: www.worldsindhicongress.org

London: Worldwide Campaign Against Kalabagh Dam
DATE & TIME:    Monday, March 14, 2005 from 12 Noon to 3 PM (London Time) 
LOCATION:  IN FRONT OF BRITISH PARLIAMENT, THE HOUSE OF COMMONS IN
CENTRAL LONDON

Contact:
Ms. Suraiya Makhdoom
London
E–mail: smakhdoom3@yahoo.co.uk
Web: www.kalabaghdam.org

Hunger Strike (Fast) & Blessing Ceremony

Friends of The River Indus (FOTRIs) will hold actions against the
Kalabagh Dam, other Mega Dams on the River Indus, and the Greater Thal
Canal. The events include a march to the River Indus near Hyderabad
and Sukkur; hunger strikes and blessing ceremonies for the long life
of the Indus River; conferences at Hyderabad, Karachi and Sukkur; and
protests, photo exhibits and media outreach in the USA and UK. FOTRIs
will also submit petition signatures to the responsible funding
agencies.

Contact:
Ishaq Tunio
Friends of The River Indus
E–mail:
fotri_org@yahoo.com or
itunio@hotmail.com
Web: www.saveindus.org

Save the Mighty Indus River

Forum for Conflict resolution (FCR) and the Dialogue for Democracy &
Development (DDD) will focus on large dam construction on the Indus
River. The groups will release publications highlighting the
multi–dimensional disasters of large dams on the lives of indigenous
communities living down stream, politicization of decision–making,
socio-economic impact, environmental disaster, rights and
vulnerability of the local communities, displacement and migration of
the indigenous people, agriculture and other living species.

Contact:
Zulfiqar Halepoto
Forum for Conflict Resolution (FCR)
Hyderabad, Sindhu, Pakistan
E–mail: zhalepoto@yahoo.com
Tel:
++ 92 221 867545
++ 92 300 8377241
 
Protest Against Injustice

The Pakistan Network for Rivers Dams and People (PNRDP) will hold an
event in Islamabad on March 14 to observe a day of action against
large dams. Sindh PNRDP is also organizing other events in the
province to protest against the injustice of state and its
departments:

    *Manchar Communities Speak Out
      Manchar Bachayo Itehad representing affectees of Manchar Lake
will organize protest demonstration on Manchar bund. The demonstration
will highlight environmental and livelihood issues of Manchar
communities.

    *Protest at Kotri Barrage
      Sindh Taraqi Pasand Mallah Tanzim is arranging a protest against
low flow of water below Kotri Barrage. Male and Female of the
organization will protest against construction of Kalabagh dam and
Thal canal.

     *Displaced People at Sanghar Hold Protest
      Cohtiari Coordination Council representing affectees of Chotiari
Reservoir will arrange a protest demonstration against forced
displacement of poor communities at Sanghar.
    
     *Seminar on Sindh Coastal Issues
      Morero Mirbehar Tahreek in collaboration with Karachi Harbour
Committee of PNRDP Sindh will arrange a seminar on Sindh Coastal
Issues at Khada Market Lara Jamat Hall.

     *Protest at Sukkur Barrage
      Sindh Taraqi Pasand Mallah Tanzim (district Sukkur) is arranging
a protest against construction of Kalabagh dam and Thal canal at
Sukkur Barrage.

Contact:
Zubeida Birwani
PNRDP Sindh Secretariat
E–mail: zbirwani@yahoo.com