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dam-l Earthlife Africa Press Release/LS

The following has two resolutions supporting anti-dam campaigns: the Epupa
Dam in Namibia, and Narmada dams in India.
----------------
Earthlife Africa Durban
P.O. Box 18722
Dalbridge
4014

voicelink: 0881252740
cell: 0826521533
tel/fax: +27-31-2052178

e-mail: bryan@cis.co.za
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE

Earthlife Africa Congress ‘99 Campaigns and Resolutions

Earthlife Africa passed the following resolutions at their annual Congress
over the weekend 15 October to 17 October 1999 at Treasure Beach in Durban
where six branches were represented. The Congress Focus was on "Energy in
The Next Millenium" and the campaigns for the year ahead.

The campaigns identified as priorities were Energy with a strong focus on
campaigning against Nuclear Power, Large Dams in Southern Africa in
particular the proposed Epupa Dam in Namibia and Genetically Modified
Organisms.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Congress adopted the following Resolutions:


Nuclear Power

We, the participants in the 1999 Annual Congress of Earthlife Africa, hereby:

Reject Eskom’s speculative nuclear energy expansion programme and call for
all investment in this programme to be redirected toward development
projects of appropriate and clean electricity generating mechanism.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Campaign Against Epupa Dam on Cunene River, Namibia/Angola

We, the participants in the 1999 Annual Congress of Earthlife Africa,
hereby pledge our support for the Ovahimba People of Namibia in their fight
for survival against the proposed Epupa Dam, and our support for the
activities of Earthlife Namibia and aligned organisations, in the campaign
to stop the dam. We further believe that the Ovahimba Nation should have
the right to consent, and the right to veto, over the decision which
affects their survival in the short, medium and long term.

This proposed Hydro-electric dam will:

- flood 380 square kilometers of the prime grazing lands of this nomadic
desert tribe;

- force 1000 people off the land, which represents 20% of the Ovahimba nation;

- drown 6000 palm trees, essential for their survival in harsh desert
conditions;

- flood ancestral burial sites and sacred land;

- cause the influx of 4000 construction workers with the associated
problems of aids, alcohol and prostitution.

Environmentally, the proposed dam will:

- permanently destroy the habitat of three critically endangered fish species

- drown the famous Epupa waterfall

- cause the annual evaporation of water equivalent to 40 times Windhoek’s
annual water requirements.

We therefore:

- support the 26 Ovahimba chiefs in their signed Declaration in Opposition
to the Epupa Dam;

- call on International Development Agencies and Financial Institutions not
to fund, or be involved with this project which is in direct violation of
Human Rights.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EARTHLIFE AFRICA CONGRESS 1999 MEDIA RELEASE : 17 October 1999

At their annual congress held at Treasure Beach, countrywide
representatives of Earthlife Africa today endorsed resolutions made by
residents of nearby Wentworth, Merebank and Bluff to oppose relocation of
their communities and location of more dirty industry in the area.

The congress delegates planted an indigenous tree at the site of a 1995
meeting between residents and President Mandela. Congress planning
committee member Bryan Ashe said:"This tree will take root here just as the
communities have their roots here." The meeting with President Mandela was
a turning point in the communities’ struggle to get industries to reduce
pollution which has had severe impacts on health in adjacent residential
areas.

Recent public meetings in Wentworth, Merebank and the Bluff called on
Durban Metro to give residents more say in development plans and mandated
local

organisations to represent their interests, as well as rejecting any
development requiring relocation of residents. The Metro’s recent Strategic
Environmental Assessment (SEA) identified possibilities such as the
creation of a second container terminal and a chemical industry cluster,
which would require relocations.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Support for the People of the Narmada Valley, and the Campaign of the
Narmada Bachao Andolan, India

We, the participants in the 1999 Annual Congress of Earthlife Africa,
hereby pledge our support and solidarity with the communities of the
Narmada Valley in their struggle to safeguard their land and livelihoods.
And we salute their courage in resolving to drown in the flood waters of
the Narmada River due to the raising of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, rather than
to be moved off the lands of their ancestors.

We therefore call upon the Indian Government to stop the illegal
submergence in the Narmada Valley, and support the Narmada Bachao Andolan.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Resolutions supported by the following branches of Earthlife Africa:

Earthlife Africa: Cape Town

Earthlife Africa: Durban

Earthlife Africa: East London

Earthlife Africa: Johannesburg

Earthlife Africa: Pietermaritzburg

Earthlife Africa: University of Cape Town.

/ends


For Further information contact:

Congress:
Bryan Ashe ELA Durban: 031 – 2052178
Cell:0826521533

Nuclear Power:
Richard Worthington ELA Johannesburg

011- 837 0343
Liz McDaid ELA Cape Town 021- 835182

DAMS

Bryan Ashe ELA Durban 031 – 2052178
Cell: 0826521533

Liz McDaid - ELA Cape Town: 021- 6835182

Ulli Eins ELA Namibia: 09264-61-261211





















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<DIV><FONT face=CosmicTwo size=7>
<P align=center>&nbsp;</P>
<P align=center>Earthlife Africa Durban</P></FONT><FONT face="Bodoni BT" size=4>
<P align=right>P.O. Box 18722</P>
<P align=right>Dalbridge</P>
<P align=right>4014</P>
<P align=right>voicelink: 0881252740</P>
<P align=right>cell: 0826521533</P>
<P align=right>tel/fax: +27-31-2052178</P>
<P align=right>e-mail<FONT face=Arial size=3>: </FONT></FONT><FONT face=Arial
size=3><A href="mailto:bryan@cis.co.za">bryan@cis.co.za</A></FONT></P>
<P align=right></P><B>
<P align=center>
<HR>
</P><FONT size=5>
<P align=center><FONT face="Times New Roman">PRESS RELEASE</FONT></P>
<P align=center></P></FONT><FONT face=Arial size=5>
<P align=center>Earthlife Africa Congress ‘99 Campaigns and
Resolutions</P></FONT><FONT face=Arial>
<P><FONT size=3>Earthlife Africa passed the following resolutions at their
annual Congress over the weekend 15 October to 17 October 1999 at Treasure
Beach
in Durban where six branches were represented. The Congress Focus was on
"Energy
in The Next Millenium" and the campaigns for the year ahead.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>The campaigns identified as priorities were Energy with a
strong
focus on campaigning against Nuclear Power, Large Dams in Southern Africa in
particular the proposed Epupa Dam in Namibia and Genetically Modified
Organisms.</FONT></P>
<P align=center>
<HR>
</P>
<P align=center><FONT size=3>Congress adopted the following
Resolutions:</FONT></P>
<P align=center></P>
<P align=center><FONT size=3>Nuclear Power</FONT></P>
<P align=center></P></B>
<P><FONT size=3>We, the participants in the 1999 Annual Congress of Earthlife
Africa, hereby:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Reject Eskom’s speculative nuclear energy expansion programme
and call for all investment in this programme to be redirected toward
development projects of appropriate and clean electricity generating
mechanism.</FONT></P>
<P>&nbsp;</P><B>
<P align=center>
<HR>
</P>
<P align=center><FONT size=3>Campaign Against Epupa Dam on Cunene River,
Namibia/Angola</FONT></P></B>
<P><FONT size=3>We, the participants in the 1999 Annual Congress of Earthlife
Africa, hereby pledge our support for the Ovahimba People of Namibia in their
fight for survival against the proposed Epupa Dam, and our support for the
activities of Earthlife Namibia and aligned organisations, in the campaign to
stop the dam<FONT size=3>. We further believe that the Ovahimba Nation should
have the right to consent, and the right to veto, over the decision which
affects their survival in the short, medium and long term.</FONT></P></FONT>
<P><FONT size=3>This proposed Hydro-electric dam will:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>- flood 380 square kilometers of the prime grazing lands of
this
nomadic desert tribe;</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>- force 1000 people off the land, which represents 20% of the
Ovahimba nation;</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>- drown 6000 palm trees, essential for their survival in harsh
desert conditions;</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>- flood ancestral burial sites and sacred land;</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>- cause the influx of 4000 construction workers with the
associated problems of aids, alcohol and prostitution.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Environmentally, the proposed dam will:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>- permanently destroy the habitat of three critically
endangered
fish species</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>- drown the famous Epupa waterfall</FONT></P>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<P><FONT size=3>- cause the annual evaporation of water equivalent to 40 times
Windhoek’s annual water requirements.</FONT></P></DIR></DIR>
<P><FONT size=3>We therefore:</FONT></P>
<DIR>
<DIR>
<P><FONT size=3>- support the 26 Ovahimba chiefs in their signed Declaration in
Opposition to the Epupa Dam;</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>- call on International Development Agencies and Financial
Institutions not to fund, or be involved with this project which is in direct
violation of Human Rights.</FONT></P></DIR></DIR>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>
<HR>
</P>
<P><FONT size=3>EARTHLIFE AFRICA CONGRESS 1999 MEDIA RELEASE : 17 October
1999</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>At their annual congress held at Treasure Beach, countrywide
representatives of Earthlife Africa today endorsed resolutions made by
residents
of nearby Wentworth, Merebank and Bluff to oppose relocation of their
communities and location of more dirty industry in the area.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>The congress delegates planted an indigenous tree at the
site of
a 1995 meeting between residents and President Mandela. Congress planning
committee member Bryan Ashe said:"This tree will take root here just as the
communities have their roots here." The meeting with President Mandela was a
turning point in the communities’ struggle to get industries to reduce
pollution
which has had severe impacts on health in adjacent residential
areas.</FONT><B></P></B>
<P><FONT size=3>Recent public meetings in Wentworth, Merebank and the Bluff
called on Durban Metro to give residents more say in development plans and
mandated local </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>organisations to represent their interests, as well as
rejecting
any development requiring relocation of residents. The Metro’s recent Strategic
Environmental Assessment (SEA) identified possibilities such as the creation of
a second container terminal and a chemical industry cluster, which would
require
relocations.</FONT></P>
<P>
<HR>
</P><B>
<P align=center><FONT size=3>Support for the People of the Narmada Valley, and
the </FONT></P>
<P align=center><FONT size=3>Campaign of the Narmada Bachao Andolan, India
</FONT></P></B>
<P><FONT size=3>We, the participants in the 1999 Annual Congress of Earthlife
Africa, hereby pledge our support and solidarity with the communities of the
Narmada Valley in their struggle to safeguard their land and livelihoods.
And we
salute their courage in resolving to drown in the flood waters of the Narmada
River due to the raising of the Sardar Sarovar Dam, rather than to be moved off
the lands of their ancestors. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>We therefore call upon the Indian Government to stop the
illegal
submergence in the Narmada Valley, and support the Narmada Bachao
Andolan.</FONT></P>
<P>
<HR>
</P>
<P align=center></P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P><FONT size=3>Resolutions supported by the following branches of Earthlife
Africa:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Earthlife Africa: Cape Town</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Earthlife Africa: Durban</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Earthlife Africa: East London</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Earthlife Africa: Johannesburg</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Earthlife Africa: Pietermaritzburg</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Earthlife Africa: University of Cape Town.</FONT></P>
<P align=right><FONT size=3>/ends</FONT></P>
<P align=right></P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P><FONT size=3>For Further information contact:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Congress: </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Bryan Ashe ELA Durban: 031 – 2052178</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Cell:0826521533 </FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Nuclear Power:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Richard Worthington ELA Johannesburg</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>011- 837 0343</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Liz McDaid ELA Cape Town 021- 835182</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>DAMS</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Bryan Ashe ELA Durban 031 – 2052178</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Cell: 0826521533</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Liz McDaid - ELA Cape Town: 021- 6835182</FONT></P>
<P><FONT size=3>Ulli Eins ELA Namibia: 09264-61-261211</FONT></P>
<P></P>
<P></P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P>
<P>&nbsp;</P></FONT></DIV><FONT size=3>&nbsp; </FONT></BODY></HTML>

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      Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
        and Editor, World Rivers Review
           International Rivers Network
              1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
                  Tel. (510) 848 1155   Fax (510) 848 1008
                        http://www.irn.org
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