Vedanta AGM The Lincoln Centre, 18 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London, WC2A 3ED Monday 27th July from 3.00
pm
Campaigner Bianca Jagger and musician Nitin Sawhney will stand alongside tribal activist Sitaram Kulisika of India's Khondh people at British mining company Vedanta's AGM to
protest against a proposal to open a massive bauxite mine on their spiritual homeland. The bauxite will be processed into aluminium for use in items such as drinks cans and foil for chocolate
bars.ActionAid has bought a single share for Sitaram so that he can attend the AGM, make his voice heard and speak on behalf of his people. The Kondh’s future and a pristine
eco-system are threatened with extinction by Vedanta’s plans for the open-pit mine. It will destroy a large part of Niyamgiri Mountain in the eastern Indian state of Orissa, the Kondh’s
ancestral homeland. The 8,000-strong Kondh tribe is totally dependent on the mountain for their crops, water and livelihoods. They are strongly opposed to the mine - scheduled to open in
September - fearing it will destroy their way of life forever. The Kondh regard Niyamgiri Mountain and its surrounding forest as sacred and home to their god, Niyam Raja. Sitaram said:
"It is not too late to stop the extinction of my people’s way of life. "Last year Vedanta directors promised not to mine without our consent. I am here to request all
shareholders to honour that promise and save our livelihood and our god."We have been living in harmony with this mountain, these forests, these animals for generations. Vedanta has
been here for less than 10 years. They cannot tell us what is best for our future."ActionAid, which is asking shareholders to oppose the mining, pointed out that the destruction of an
equivalent iconic cultural site such as Stonehenge would not be tolerated in the UK.Meredith Alexander, ActionAid’s head of Trade and Corporates said: "The destruction of the
Kondh’s homeland is imminent. Today, shareholders have a final chance to refuse to allow their money to be used in this way. "Shareholders include the Church of England and
numerous county councils. They are investing in a mine that will destroy a community’s way of life."ActionAid has produced a mock up of the demolition of Stonehenge to help the British public understand what is at stake. Meredith Alexander
concluded: "Just as the public would be horrified to see Stonehenge demolished to make way for mining, ActionAid believes they should be even more troubled by Vedanta's plans to flatten the
heart of the Kondh's culture, the land they also rely on for their future."Download high-res stonehenge
image Notes for EditorsFor further information or to arrange interviews contact Asha Tharoor on 020 7561 7614 or 07813 688680Timeline of UK and India
protests:• Niyamgiri protest 5,000 people approx at Lanjigarh, foot of Niyamgiri mountain, Orissa, India, Friday 24 July • Vedanta AGM,
London, Monday 27 July from 3pm BST• Candlelight vigil at Delli Haat, Delhi, Monday 27 July from 6pm local time
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
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