From: bcsabha.kal...@gmail.com To:
From: Avaaz.org <av...@avaaz.org> Dear friends across India, In less than 24 hours, we have a meeting at the Environment Ministry to discuss saving the Western Ghats! Let's act now so that all our voices can be heard loud and clear inside that meeting. The Ghats are home to beautiful bulbuls, bears, tigers and other unique species that live in it’s forests and ancient hills. Different state governments are pushing the Ministry to dilute protection plans but the Centre has final say -- and they’ve invited us to hear our views. Let’s tell them now that we won’t allow the Ghats to be destroyed by mining and construction lobbies. Our pressure already got UNESCO writing to the government about protected World Heritage sites in the Ghats. Now let’s tell the Environment Ministry directly! Tomorrow we’ll deliver your signatures straight to Ministry officials in charge of saving our Western Ghats along with a letter signed by leading environmentalists. Sign now: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/environment_ministry_wants_to_hear_from_us/?tta Relentless large-scale commercial activities in the Western Ghats are threatening not only the livelihoods of millions of people, but also causing widespread ecological devastation. An expert committee reviewed the status of the Ghats and presented a strong plan to restrict such exploitation to less than 35% of the Ghats. But state governments are unhappy and want to rip open the Ghats even further, ignoring warnings on global warming. Attacking the Ghats has direct consequences to us citizens with increasing water scarcity. The new government says it is concerned about climate change, but it is yet to show this in practice. It has allowed irrigation projects without the requisite clearances, eroded democracy by taking away power from the National Board of Wildlife and from tribal councils to oppose big corporations, and acted to allow even more industry in critically polluted areas, among other measures. The ancient Western Ghats are one of eight global "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity and home to hundreds of threatened species. Only the strongest possible plan can work to protect the Ghats against destruction. Sign now to ensure that the Ministry hears our voices calling for the protection of our gorgeous Ghats. https://secure.avaaz.org/en/environment_ministry_wants_to_hear_from_us/?tta The global Avaaz community recently participated in the biggest climate march of all time. We are mobilising to protect our planet and its resources and governments around the world are starting to listen. By saving the Western Ghats, not only are we securing nature and wildlife, but also the lives and livelihoods of millions of our fellow citizens. Let’s act today, before it’s too late. In hope, Alaphia, Shreya, Alex and the rest of the Avaaz team More Information New draft policy to save Western Ghats (Deccan Herald) http://www.deccanherald.com/content/446960/draft-policy-save-western-ghats.html Western Ghats: Green Tribunal asks Ministry to clarify on fresh survey (The Hindu) http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/western-ghats-green-tribunal-asks-ministry-to-clarify-on-fresh... Western Ghats, India (WWF) http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/western_ghats/ Paradise in danger (The Hindu) http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/paradise-in-danger/article3812408.ece Recommendations to save India’s Western Ghats creates political stir (Mongabay) http://news.mongabay.com/2012/0820-hance-western-ghats-report.html 90% of coal-bearing forests could be mined, says Forest Survey of India (Economic Times) http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-10-06/news/54691398_1_coal-mining-coal-block-hasde... Modi government has launched a silent war on the environment (Scroll) http://scroll.in/article/678380/Modi-government-has-launched-a-silent-war-on-the-environment World Heritage List (UNESCO) http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1342 Climate change in Western Ghats to hit water supply (DNA) http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-climate-change-in-western-ghats-to-hit-water-supply-1665817 Avaaz.org is a 40-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 18 countries on 6 continents and operates in 17 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You are getting this message because you signed "Save the Western Ghats!" on 2014-12-16 11:06:36 using the email address bcsabha.kal...@gmail.com. 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