29/08/2023
Good morning girls & everyone ,
Please raise and put your hands together to save - a small jungle in Jaipur which is habitat to many animals and birds.
Trees release oxygen which is life breath for humans. Trees give so much to humans, yet they cut the tree. If you did not become aware today and did not cooperate in stopping the felling of trees. So the day is not far when the earth will be destroyed.
HERE I REQUEST EVERYONE :-
*To share as much as possible and be a part of this movement
*To read below press note .
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*Press Note*
*Date: August 28, 2023*
*Seventh Day of Picketing: Night Vigil to Begin*
*Once Again a Demand that Ashok Gehlot meet the Campaigners*
It's been about a month since the bulldozers rolled into Dol Ka Badh forest, devastating grasses, shrubs and topsoil, and killing the ecology which is home to a large number of fauna and flora, including 75 types of migratory birds who come regularly to either roost or stop here enroute to the other places because of the large number of insects and other fauna and flora, which is food for them.
The Save Dol ka Badh forest network campaign, in the initial days of the bulldozing, tried to negotiate at all levels, and also met the CM, who assured us that it was not for his government to destroy the forest, and that he would talk to RIICO authorities. But when the bulldozing was unstoppable, the members of the campaign started picketing to stop the devastation.
Today was the seventh day of picketing. Interestingly, the RIICO decided to hold on the bulldozing, but as we observed yesterday, that the bulldozers had returned late evening , after the people left in the evening at about 6:30 pm. The bulldozers worked till late into the night till about 8:30 pm and cleared huge tracks of grasses, herbs and shrubs, and removed the topsoil. Now, a certain section of Dol Ka Badh forest is barren, with huge piles of sandy soil dug out of trenches. These deep trenches are being dug to put huge pipe drainage pipelines.
We have been told that today the work will happen in the night as we, picketers, are obstructors, as they have to finish digging another 100 yards tonight. RIICO has raised three allegations against us-
1. We're land grabbers or a front for land grabbers. Not realising that the large number of people who congregate, have taken climate change and climate justice seriously. Young people are not willing to accept killing of the tree, the grasses, and the shrubs. something that's life and on this in the movement. So for the young people, this devastation is part of the struggle to prevent climate change from worsening and rather choose habitats that allow carbon forsetting than leaving behind carbon footprints to allow for natural greens like this forest, which will generate renewable energy and clean air. So the commitment with which people are coming is something for people of Jaipur to be proud of. The profile of these young people is self evident that they come from all walks of life- students, business, investors, homemakers, and NGOs.
2. The second allegation is that we are anti-employment and anti-development. They are arguing that how we are stopping 20,000 more jobs that fintech park will generate. The campaign Save Dol Ka Badh believes that Dol Ka Badh is showing the way for a non violent and organic economy which can sustain livelihoods longer than that generated by Fintech park, as these technologies like AI are themselves offloading large numbers of people.
3. Lastly, the RIICO is now pitting us against those sub-leases whose units are still functioning of the erstwhile gemstone park. The Save Dol Ka Badh forest campaign is absolutely clear that in the present situation, the 30 odd units are not causing any disturbance, and we have never asked for their eviction. The 8586 sq yards approx workspace promised by RIICO should be complied with.
On day 7 of picketing, today, there will be a night vigil, not only to prevent any further bulldozing, but also to appeal to the CM Ashok Gehlot to meet the young people and listen to our point of view. Over 50 young campaigners have tried to take time from the CM, but have been ignored.
More updates will be shared later.
*On Behalf of Save Dol Ka Badh Team*
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