The Nano and Turtle Extinction, brought to you by Tata

The video part of the Greenpeace campaign I wrote about a few days ago.
TATA is releasing the world’s cheapest car. It’s also driving turtles to extinction. 

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Really do you guys really care about the turtles or is this another effort for publicity.

My 15 year old nephew is asking me that who are these guys who dont like the Nano.

I dont know what to say all i can come up with is"Kid dont be like them when u grow up”

The mama turtles have come in great numbers to lay the eggs this year.

By the looks of it they are not gonna listen to people and stop coming to dhamra.

I hope some people don’t cry and go to their mama.

I wish all the people start believing in facts than the stories which float around.

The source of the stories everyone knows is greenpeace so it will be better if they next time checked the facts before telling the whole world about the anything.

I am not surprised by the way the Green peace organization is behaving. They have always been criticized by not only the governments, industrial and political lobbyists but also by other environmental groups.

I agree with Sameer. They are either too radical, too alarmist or too mainstream, their methods sometimes borders on eco-terrorism as well.

Before making such tall claims ( driving turtles to extinction), I request the Greenpeace organisation to please re-check on the facts.

The facts have nothing to do with the way this campaign is being handled by Greenpeace. I had gone through some articles would like to share it with everyone and spread the truth.

http://www.aamaraodisha.com/

TATA needs to just ignore these obstructions and go ahead with their planning.

Green peace is concerned about the Olive Ridleys. But along with it why is it not concerned about the people of Orissa. The people of Orissa are also in danger due to natural disasters because of which there livelihoods are affected. They are putting a stop for these poor people to get a decent meal and decent life. Green Peace along with the turtles needs to think of the people aswell and not take human life for granted.

I completely agree with prithvi, I am an Oriya and I want to ask the greenpeace supporters:
YOU tell me who would know better about the progress of our state?
Us, the people who have seen their forefathers and fathers really toil to make ends meet.
Or You, who probably never has set foot in the state, or may be so but as a tourist.

This kind of publicity will get them nowhere and after sometime people will completely lose face and faith in Greenpeace … in a way it’s already started to

The turtle nesting pictures this year.

Im glad they are back to prove some people wrong.

http://www.eco-dhamra.com/photogallery.html

Harinath actually this publicity is helping Greenpeace. Its a cheap gimmick but the increase of posts for and against them seem to have increased. So it is helping them even be it negatively.

Correct for Greenpeace any publicity is good publicity.

Environmental issues are often brushed off as a matter of taste: some people relish a thriving economy, while others prefer protecting obscure little animals on inconsequential wetlands.TATA and the dpcl have assured that the safety of the turtles and their aribadda,i dont know why green peace is making so much fuss about the dhamra port,they should know that human values is as important as turtles , i sincerly support the dhambra project,

I have been following the issue of Olive Ridleys but lately i did not find any update of the issue. Ratan Tata agreed to talk about it and the project has been put on hold then why did the Green Peace people walk away. They just dont seem to know exactly what they want.

The upcoming Dhamra Port will be a gateway to the Orissa Development.

Regarding the Olive Ridley Turtle, I would like to share the news of mass turtles nesting in Gahirmatha Beach inspite of ongoing Dhamra Port Construction…

http://www.orissatv.com/NewsDetail.asp?newsId=NS930

Enjoy this funny video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uCWK9ube1k

According to Greenpeace, Dhamra port project will directly affect the Olive Ridley turtles, their mating, nesting etc. however found this video worth sharing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-10fqlbU5U

Even after huge Greenpeace propaganda, turtles came back for nesting at Gahirmatha beach, which is located near Dhamra port project.

Like to share few more stories:

http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?654147
http://futureberhampur.blogspot.com/2009/05/olive-ridley-turtles-hatchlings-emerge.html

I think Greenpeace problem lies here: “After all, Tata has grown from a national giant into an international player”

Have a look at http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=41645784174&topic=305078

Its says:

“It may be noted that IUCN and the MTSG (Marine Turtle Scientific Group) scientists working with the group have clearly stated that dredging operations for Dhamra does not and will not affect the Olive Ridley Turtles in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and its periphery area. For more details log on to - http://scienceoremotion.blogspot.com”

Check this press release which is worth reading.

Press Release from North orissa University

It has come to our notice that Greenpeace India have placed in their website a report under the title “Bio-diversity Assessment of Dhamra Port Site and Surroundings Areas, Orissa”. The cover page of the report says that the report has been prepared by the North Orissa University. We would like to clarify that no report under the above mentioned title has been prepared by the North Orissa Unversity.

North Orissa University had prepared a report under the title “Rapid Bo-diversity Assessment of Dhamra Estuary, Orissa-India” and the same was submitted to Greenpeace India who were the funding agency.

A comparison of the report as it appears in the website of Greenpeace India and the authentic report of North Orissa University reveals that the Greenpeace India have doctored the authentic report by way of changing the title and its contents for motives best known to them.

We wish to further clarify that the impact of Dhamra Port on the environment and bio-diversity of Dhamra Estuary was not within the scope of our study.

For the sake of convenience we are enclosing herewith a copy of the authentic report of the University and the report as placed by the Greenpeace India in their website along with a comparison in a tabular form which would clearly indicate the changes/deletions/additions and interpolations made by Greenpeace India.

To conclude we take serious exception to such unethical conduct by Greenpeace India.

Sd/-
Prof. Sudarsan Nanda,
Vice Chancellor,
North Orissa University

Know more about Dhamra Port Project

http://www.slideshare.net/John_SM/ecofriendly-dhamra

The Tata webcare team is persevering :-)

Greenpeace has been variously criticized for being too radical, too alarmist, or too mainstream, for using methods bordering on eco-terrorism, for having itself caused environmental damage in its activities, for taking positions which are not environmentally or economically sound, and for valuing non-human causes over human causes. These criticisms have been made by governments, industrial and political lobbyists and other environmental groups.

Greenpeace Lies About Apple

Greenpeace Lies About Dhamra Port

Is that like Greenpeace always targets big corporate giant to keep them under pressure and earn money from them ultimately?

I wonder why a non-governmental organization for the protection and conservation of the environment do not like to protect the human beings. I have found in few countries innocent & poor people require protections, importance more than animals.

Why they have been kept ignored and leave behind by this type of so called good organizations.

GREENPEACE HAS NO RIGHT TO CREATE OBSTACLES FOR THE ECONOMICAL & INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT OF ANY OTHER COUNTRY.

"It is sad that we first decide a villain and then find the proof to crucify them, when our concern could be about the turtles and people of Orissa and finding out ways so that both prosper.” - Cyber activist blogger’s viewpoint on Greenpeace and the turtles

Dhamra Port Project is not only concern about the Orissa’s economy or the society’s betterment but they are also concern about the environmental protection. A very nice video which you will definitely like to share with others

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXJ9x8_sEQQ

Light and lighting are crucial for any industrial project, both during construction and the operational phase. IUCN lighting experts and DPCL are also taking care of implementing lighting safeguards, which would also be turtle safe lighting and would be low pressure sodium vapor lights which have been proven by research to be the least disorienting to turtle hatchlings.

Source: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=296928&id=168851070709

Expressing anguish over the Green Peace movement’s single point agenda on stopping work on Dhamra Port project in Orissa, Tata Steel Chairman Ratan Tata reiterated that the company would in no way take up any project hazardous to Olive Ridley Turtles

Mr Ratan Tata Chairman of TATA Steel to Greenpeace activists: “I invite you for a discussion and a visit to the port site in Dhamra.”

Tata proved that Tata was always willing to have a best solution for country’s industrial & economical development and they were always ready for solutions.

http://steelguru.com/news/index/2009/08/29/MTA5MDgw/TATA_Steel_invites_Greenpeace_activists_for_talks_on_Dhamra_Port.html

http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/661058/Business/4/20/4

http://www.newkerala.com/nkfullnews-1-100917.html

Greenpeace, the professed global environment campaign organization, in an instance of unmatched brazenness, falsified the report prepared by North Orissa University on Biodiversity Assessment of Dhamra Estuary. As a result, a group of forty MPs wrote to the Ministry Of Environment and Forests to call on the bluff of Greenpeace. The Orissa Govt. therefore initiated action against Greenpeace proposing a ban on all its activities in the state.

However, after the 102nd Annual General Meeting of Tata Steel in Mumbai, Greenpeace unabashedly has started their tricks once again. This time it has managed to rope in Retd Admiral Ramdas and his wife Mrs. Lalita Ramdas on the issue of Dhamra port but as far as scientific reasoning goes, the issues raised are totally unfounded. We can just hope that the visit of the Ramdas’ to the site will help to stop meaningless agitations and clear the situation once and for all.

Tata Steel has always maintained a strong focus on environment sustainability and environment management in all its operations. We have seen that in the issues regarding the construction of a deep-sea port at Dhamra in Orissa, the Company has been forthcoming in sharing the concerns of activists and ever willing to implement practical means of mitigating any adverse impact of port construction on the marine eco-system in that area. The Company has held at least eight to nine sessions of meetings with Greenpeace and other environmental organizations in the matter of Dhamra Port. Tata Steel has made it abundantly clear that it is willing to have further discussions in order to alleviate any unnecessary doubts that the dissenters may yet nurture against the project.

Here is an outline of events as they happened till date.

The JV agreement with L&T;to build a port at Dhamra was signed by Tata Steel in 2004. At the very onset, discussions were initiated with WWF- India, BNHS, Mr Kartik Shankar, Mr Bittu Sehagal and others.

The company was duly concerned with the objections raised by different environmental organizations and agreed not to begin construction work till a detailed study was complete. Responding wholeheartedly to the demands of activists, Tata Steel agreed for a proposal for a further study of the impact of the port on turtles and on the marine and island eco-system.

In 2005, BNHS and WWF-India, with an unprecedented suddenness, reversed their stand and refused to conduct the assessment study as they had promised. However, the organisations did not provide any reasons for their turncoat attitude.

In March 06, in an address to ED, Greenpeace India, the Chairman of TATA Sons made it clear that commitments were meant to be honoured at both ends. The Company had fulfilled their promise by withholding construction work for the proposed study, which never actually took off. The MD of Tata Steel also met Greenpeace officials in their Bangalore office.

In January 2008 a meeting was subsequently conducted between Greenpeace and Tata Steel and a list of concerns was presented by Greenpeace with regard to Dhamra Port. DPCL on 8th March 2008, gave a detailed and comprehensive explanation to all the points raised by Greenpeace. Subsequent objections were allayed on 3rd May 2008.

Further on 23rd October 2008, MD, Tata Steel along with senior executives of Tata Steel, L&T;and DPCL met Greenpeace, BNHS, WPSI, Wild Society of Orissa, Sanctuary Asia and other environmental organizations to discuss the concerns and the way forward on the subject with regard to Dhamra Port.

A team of Company Executives and environment experts visited Bhitarakanika National Park, Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary and the Dhamra Port site on February 2009, supervising the ongoing dredging operations.

On fourth meeting on 20th Feb 2009 in Kolkata, Tata Steel, L&T;and DPCL agreed to conduct the additional biological impact assessment in close collaboration with NGOs’ of environmental organizations team led by a mutually agreed upon Scientists team. However the NGOs’ in a further instance of unreasonableness, insisted upon complete cessation of on-going dredging operation of Dhamra Port even before the commencement of study. However DPCL, Tata Steel and L&T;team showed it preparedness to adjust the schedule of works including dredging to facilitate the study after due recommendation by the Scientists team.

The 102nd AGM of Tata Steel had been attended by a number of Greenpeace activists who happen to be shareholders of the Company as well. The AGM highlighted Tata Steel’s interests in further conference with Greenpeace in the matter of the port in addition to an invitation to activists to visit the port site yet again.

From the sequence of events, it is absolutely clear that the only thing that Greenpeace wants is to prolong the situation of deadlock in the matter of Dhamra Port. Perhaps, due to a lack of other valid issues on their agenda, Greenpeace is carrying on with a stance of stiffness, lest they have to give in to valid scientific reasoning. The only deduction that may be drawn from Greenpeace’s lack of willingness in discussion is that they have lost their own conviction long before and fear that they will have to admit it as such in an open forum.  It is indeed a very sorry state of affairs in which progress is kept at stake and the environment is being used as a pawn by people who profess themselves to be friends of the environment.

Some shareholders of Tata Steel brought up the concerns raised by Greenpeace about the impact of the Dhamra Port on the nesting habitat of Olive Ridley Turtles at Tata Steel’s 102nd AGM in Mumbai on the 27th August’09 and requested the Chairman of Tata Steel, Mr Ratan Tata, to discuss the Dhamra Port issue with them.

Mr Tata responded immediately to their concerns and said that my invitation is “ to you Admiral Ramdas” and anybody else who would be interested and Mr Muthuraman would make the arrangements for you all to take the time to satisfy yourselves in terms of what we are doing.
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