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4/15/1987 - Linking Up in Penang by Judith H. Mayer

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS JHM Kuching Sarawak Linking Up Penang East Malaysia April Mr Peter Bird Martin Executive Director Institute Current World Affairs West Wheelock Street Hanover NH 03755 USA Dear Peter Sunderlal Bahaguna turns slowly audience demands quiet What forests Narrating history India Chipko Tree Hugging movement answers Soil water which basis In Gandhian homespun tunic headcloth addresses gathering close environmental consumer activists assembled Penang Malaysia countries early April In Asia Pacific region forest conservation mlddle class liberal issue matter basic vival For popular environmental movements spreading Asia forests water natural resources effectively managed maximize commodity production equal partners humanity earth International conferences relatively environmental consumer indigenous peoples activists often labelled extremists their countries This Global Development Environment Crisis multicultural event collection papers presentations Convened Sahabat Alam Malaysia Friends Earth Malaysia Asia Pacific Peoples Environmental Network conference intended reinforce connections between groups working broadly defined environmental issues point links between seemingly isolated conditions global political economic structures I guessed conference would usual collec international experts development issues participants straggled dining Penang RECSAN conference center night oefore lanned activities began Instead usual conference portfo carried finely woven attan backpacks which conference programs distributed They members nomadic Panan people interior Jungles Sarawak I noted proportion women absence Judith Mayer Institute Fellow studying environmental protection conservation sustainable development issues Southeast Asia jackets standard attire Southeast Asian officialdom Tee shirts bearin slogans Perak Anti Nuclear ommittee Save Rainforest mixed flowing kurong traditional Malay women making popular Islam A lively exchange pamphlets buttons under The kitchen vegetarian meals early conference planners underestimated number eaters We prepared discuss topics ranging deforestation watershed destruction India Malaysia nuclear testing South Pacific potential genetic engineering livelihood third world farmers My initial queeziness broad range conference topics largely dispelled emerging consensus bound these issues together Develop redefined Meaningful development depend protecting diverse natural cultural environments under local community control In selective account meeting I deliberately highlighting issues again future ICWA newsletters While about quarter formal presentations addressed politics forest conservation threats biological diversity rights indigenous peoples I expect these topics subjects future newsletters At meeting I fascinated perspective Westerners talking about industrial nations impact Asia Pacific I impressed women groups represented Sahabat Alam Malaysia highly respectable organization Hal imaton Ibrahim kurong opened conference proceedings Bahasa Nalaysia English She introduced Mohammed Idris charismatic President Sahabat Alam coordinator Asia Pacific Peoples Environment Network Idris probed depth world environmental crises Tropical deforestation compared Toxic water pollution Europe North America linked chemical dumping Asia recent Sandoz Rhie accident focus The confusion secrecy excesses Bhopal compared implication similar Datterns worldwide nuclear oower production Idris recited plagues asking price odern technology holocaust world He introduced resentative Datuk Stephen Yong Malaysia Ninister Science Technology Environment Yong himself program unable midst national election campaigns State electiohs native Sarawak Ironic following Idris declaration pessimism environmental legis lation overwhelming commercial interest abuse natural resources Ninister representative contin international environmental He called usual solutions environmental impact statements planning environmental project monitoring education training And global change heart The warning continued elouek_t statement Martin Khor Cnsumers Association Penng Third World Network Echoing North South debates 1970s Khor pointed connection between environmental exploitation social impoverishment extent which third world environmental capital Nicholas Hildyard editor The Ecologist British Environmental journal European sentations He illustrated insidious cycle reckless natural resource exploitation insatiable hunger consumer goods energy international development foreign Acceptance production maximizing capitalist state capitalist develop models inevitably leads forms environmental degrada displacement indigenous peoples Quite package first hours By coffee break conference participants joked through morning shell shocks neocolonial environmental exploiters lurking under refreshment table Eyeing Malaysian press corps turned conspicuously wondered hopeless recitation Inspiration later This group world least exchange clues about trying With beginning surprised optimism positiveness presentations The interesting linked factors breaking cycles environmental degradation economic dependency local control water production militarization I surprised basic agreement among participants definition these terms although standard concept third world under attack Several presentations highlighted extreme choosing technologies future sectors economies energy production extractive industries Any technology having effect reducing local control people living obvious villain Highest large projects displace population almost inevitably tribal indigenous people little power affect decisions spelling death their communities Geraldine Fiago Cordillera eoples Alliance 2hilippines spoke history opposition Chico River Dam Community organizations initially formed confiscation massive population dislocationto accommodate construction reservoirs moved carry alternative development programs Branded subversive revolutionaries Marcos regime brutally suppresse surviving local organizations crated protect local rights Ph lippines constl ution organize small irrigation forestry projects cooperatives literacy health projects Fiagoy described quino government initial sympathy Cordillera movement recent backing Now however there possibility demanding local rights autonomy without being pushed underground violent opposition Several participants notably Jayanto Bandyopadhya Indias Research Foundation Science Technology Natural Resource Policy pointed ironic diversion resources inher large scale irrigation projects funded international loans Loan repayment schedules often raise projects point where justified increased production crops often export generate currency repayment As irrigated farming replaces dryland techniques waterlogging irrigated often accompanied increased vulnerability drought upland water catchment areas eliminated natural drainage patterns often affected diversions large irrigation first place Such discussions returned mainstrea recent development natural resource management thinking where large scale projects aimed rural development become increasingly suspect Characteristic presenta tions Western participants Patricia Adams Larry Solomons investigations international energy projects notably large hydroelectricity found ecological social equity problems projects North America Europe compounded inter national institutions brought picture Adams Solomons Canada Energy Probe presented somewhat different solutions problem however Adams demanded international institutions vastly accountable public countries where projects being planned donor nations She called specific measures eliminata secrecy institutions project feasibility studies planning environmental impact assessments opening entire process public input debate Solomons answer typically North American profit motive If enargy projects regulated businesses uneconomic projects including nuclear power plants would wayside He provided examples business recent rejection investment nuclear power while gcvernments subject profit considerations continue support While Adams argument largely accepted Solomos greeted coolly Asian participants mumbled Bhopal victims still received compensation Union Carbide could enargy businesses forced assume liability their actions third world governments Even colder market arguments Western European participants largely representing Green political direct action groups A series talks technologies warned danger consumers environment corporate secrecy research development matched naivet bungling corruption government agencies charged regulating promoting technologies Ruben Aspiras University Philippines spoke initial success later failure green revolution techniques country their International Rice R esearch Institute The combination chemical dependent agriculture hybrid seeds introduce resistent varieties every Philippine farmers locked dangerous dependence Aspiras pointed alternate method involving farmers aspects research agricultural improvement efforts renew traditional varieties farming methods dependent commercial chemicals Nicanor Perlas uestion controllg agricultural research development further Perlas figure challenging American genetic engineering industry requests environmental releases genetically altered bacteria compared scientific currently associated genetic engineering research development emergence nuclear power industry 1950s Now however example nuclear power experience teach environmental impacts social costs technology demand proponents socially accountable He asked trust corporations invested heavily genetic engineering protect public interests pointed rapidly developing integration international agricultural chemical companies The biotechnology public control nuclear power inception No matter alert public premature release altered species country unregulated tests carried slsewhere third world activists should onslaught Kitty Tucker Health Energy Institute U S provided similar warnings regard irradiation using nuclear waste ekposure sterilize pests storage shipping She pointed governments countries nuclear power programs conflicts interest regulating practice which currently employed limited basis provides productive nuclear waste She compared irradiation using chain butter slipshod nature testing determine practice countries forbidding unknowingly receive shipments irradiated Third world consumer activists beware The bright irradation however controlled countries effective consumer legislation developed large scale possibility effective distributor consumer boycotts Unique conference often ramblin talks John Bonine snappy minute lesson request information U S government Agency using Freedom Information Act Freely admitting America exports pollution environmental hazards pointed American public interest provides anyone In U S abroad fighti He volunteered service Western Natural Resources Law Clinic University Oregon anyone needing inform ation U S agency public interest purposes The Asian Pacific nuclear movement force Penang Trini Leung Hong Kong Asia Monitor Resource Center Nagesh Hedge India Sudha Weekly provided critiques costs nuclear energy East South Asia respectively Safety primary consider ation diversion resources appropriate One poignant presentations however explicit connections between nuclear energy nuclear development terms health effects Rosalie Bertell International Institute Concern Public Health Canada calmly presented statistics showing significant increases fetal infant deaths Wisconsin during 1960s 1970s nuclear power plants region onucleide levels Wisconsin increased The correlation between plant operations subtle health effects Bertell jumped Marshall Islands Micronesia where international attampting assess health effects weapons testing Though stymied official stonewalling research prohibitions U S national security concerns around subtle effects In early 1980s Marshallese women still giving birth babies without differentiated organs known jellyfish babies children school starting sample investigate Downs syndrome Bertell concluded comparing production nuclear power weapons addiction seerecy staggering expense ultimately devastating effects You alcoholic social drinker stated prescr total nuclear power production refusal addict iends providing resources support deadly habit The nuclear independent Pacific presented simple terms Violet Kahukura pointed leadership roles women South Pacific peoples movements Speaking indigenous people Aotearoa New Zealand other Polynesian lands called struggle resistance death culture nuclear second colonialism Maori saying Those perish those stand She ended hauntingly beautiful chant I meant enthusiastic applause crowd Throughout conference workshops popped spontan eously corners dining under strategically placed trees These gatherings often through mealtimes night workshops planned Zhe structured meeting While substance talks exciting participants frustrated arbitrary paper panel format alotted discussion Women especially rarely audacious enough begin speaking before verbose commenters dominated limited discussion periods The night before conference ended I listened friends discussed their plans weeks Haliaton Ibrahim getting ready begin survey workplace hazards women Penang booming electronics industry Sunderlal Bahaguna flying Mexico about Chipko tation Ivan Illich The contingent Perak Anti Nuclear Committee driving Buklt Merah Penang organize march protesting renewal Thorium waste dumping Asian Rare Earth factory About quickly making plans after conference Sahabat Alam Malaysia planned field interior Ssawak We travel would flooded proposed Bakun Dam visit timber upper reaches Bsram River where logging operations being opposed longhouse dwellers Penan tribespeople During before conference Sahabat Aiam received polite letter Malaysian governme either Immigration Forestry Department I stating would permitted Apparently Penan blockade roads rivers leading timber areas virtually logging camps During conference sensational newspaper stories repeated government assertion blockade orchestrated Europeans living illegally Sarawak Bruno elusive European agitator apparently written letter about blockade government local press Sshabat Alam stationery Sahabat Alam staff Penang furious With State elections coming Sarawak timber lasing major issue State officials leafy going sensitive areas especially under auspices Sahabat AIam Malaysia The upper reaches Baram officially closed outsiders At closing session conference Chee Yoke Ling presided hurried debate proposed declarations resolutions It seemed superfluous measure My wandered I pondered really accomplished Crtainly education others environmental quality problems narrow technical terms solutions projects regulation rather fundamental transformation cultural economic political values The political rhetoric ideological orientation formal presentations seemed better suited rally meeting rather plodding conference format Whad inspired speeches where songs The event itself remarkable considering distance participants travel usually tight budgets Sahabat Alam Malaysia other nongovernmental groups represented Conference funds covered transportation costs participants lodging everyone It first participants their countries My attention snapped dclaratlon It brief statement recognizing women leadership actions direoted saving earth human family destruc calling vision mbracing human diversity necessary creation ecologically sound Sveral demanded explicitly feminist statement I dered compensation oversight original subtitle conference Global Development Environ Crisis Has Man Future By third conference subtitle slickly lettered front meeting discreetly changed Have We Future One events meeting officially changing conference somewhat amused formality whole conference process considering casual which groups represented reported operating A possible reason The zadica alarmists believed forma conferences respectability The collection enormously diverse environmental consumer advocates creating common ground coming through conference ritual Sincerely yours Received Hanover