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Bangladesh

Yearly Programming and Events to Mesh with Day of Action for Rivers

The Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and the Jatyo Nadi Raksha Andolon (JNRA--National River Saving Movement) used part of their yearly schedule of events as a way to connect with the International Day of Action for Rivers on March 14th.

Contact
Mohd. Abdul Matin
E-mail: memory14 [at] agni [dot] com

Women Rally for Rivers

The Initiative for Right Review (IRV) based in Khulna, Bangladesh held a women's assembly near the Maiur River, a vital resource for the inhabitants of Khulna. As a symbolic gesture, women carried empty water pitchers that they floated in the river to protest the increasing pollution of the water. This effort was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Southwest Water Youth Forum and Committee for Conservation of Coastal Environments.

IRV Informational Leaflet

Contact
Kazi Zaved Khalid Joy
Title: Coordinator (CEO)
E-mail: joykhulna [at] gmail [dot] com
Web: www.irvbd.org

A Light in the Night

The Angikar Bangladesh Foundation and Sunamganj activists lit torches on the evening of March 22nd at 30 different spots on the Surma River to celebrate March 14th.

Contact
Muhammad Hilaluddin
E-mail: hifangbd [at] gmail [dot] com or angikarbd [at] yahoo [dot] com
Web: www.angikarbd.org

Human Chain in Protest

The Sylhet Branch of BAPA created a human chain Sunday, March 14th in Jaflong to protest the pollution of the Piaen River and the construction of the Tipaimukh Dam.

Contact
A. Karim Kim
Title: General Secretary
E-mail: a [dot] karim [dot] kim [at] gmail [dot] com

India

Celebratory Renaming

The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), based in Manipur, gathered at the Tipaimukh Dam site on March 14th in celebration of the Prime Minister of India's decision to shelve the dam. Because of the their hard work to reach these positive results, the group decided to revert the names back to the Barak River and Tipaimukh Village, instead of its given names from the dam's proponents. In this way the community has symbolically reclaimed its river.

View CCDD Press Release

Read local Manipur news coverage

Contact
Ramananda Wangkheirakpam
Title: CCDD Coordinator
E-mail: wramd [at] yahoo [dot] com

Committment to Continued Protest

The Peoples Movement for Subansiri Brahmaputra Valley (PMSBV) in India organized a protest on the bank of the Subansiri River on March 4, 2010 where attendants decided that they will be changing their approach of activism by holding more protests in defense of the river as the officials and authorities in India have not listened to their concerns thus far. 

Contact
Keshoba Krishna Chatradhara
Title: Secretary, PMSBV
E-mail: kkchatradhara [at] gmail [dot] com

Nepal

Festival Celebration

An annual river festival included a tribute to The Day of Action for Rivers.

Contact
Megh Ale
E-mail: meghale [at] yahoo [dot] com

A Wild Rivers Production

Pragati Chakma, a student at Kathmandu University, created a Wild River Dance video as part of the International Rivers campaign for the Day of Action for Rivers. Because of his concern for the indigenous people on the Karnaphuli River in Bangladesh, where he is originally from, he has decided to show his support by participating in this unique video contest. 

Watch Pragati's video

Contact
Pragati Chakma
E-mail: pragati_chakma [at] yahoo [dot] com

Pakistan

Fighting for the Indus River

The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) is working hard for the restoration of the Indus River by demanding decommissioning of its existing dams. They planned a long march beginning March 2nd from Kharo Chaan, an Indus Delta affected area, and ending on March 14th at Almanzar Jamshoro with a gathering of more than 25,000 people. This thirteen day walk covered 350 kilometers, and crossed more than 30 cities where PFF held numerous public gatherings. This was a monumental event in the rehabilitation and restoration of the Indus Delta. In addition, chairperson of PFF, Mr. Mohammad Ali Shah, designed a "new water paradigm" philosophy, which he shared with regional and international media sources.

View the PFF New Water Paradigm

Read PFF's complete report on their 13-day march

Contact
Hussain Jarwar
Title: Program Manager
E-mail: pakistanfisherfolk [at] hotmail [dot] com
Web: www.pff.org.pk

Discussion Hopeful of Sparking Productive Debate

Shehersaaz, a network of NGOs in Pakistan, organized a discussion between youth, professional experts, and community elders residing near the Soan River in Rawalpindi. They generated a healthy debate among the 50 expected participants, with each group sharing their personal experiences with the river.

Read Their Day of Action for Rivers Report

Contact
Almas Saleem
Title: National Coordinator
E-mail: almas [at] shehersaaz [dot] org [dot] pk

From Rivers to Oceans

The Trust for Conservation of Coastal Resources (TCCR) "paid a fresh water tribute to the sea" on March 13th in Clifton Karachi, Pakistan at Sea View beach. Participants carried two dozen clay pots filled with fresh water and poured them into the sea as a token of respect. Prominant members of local political parties, civil society members, and media outlets all attended the event. PNRDP jointly organized a rally where a number of people lit lamps in tribute to the Indus River on March 5th. Both TCCR and PNRDP put together a discussion of the National Resettlement Policy at Hyderabad, India as well.

TCCR's Day of Action for Rivers flyer

Contact
Zubeda Birwani
Title: Executive Director TCCR
E-mail: zbirwani [at] yahoo [dot] com