Wild Politics: Feminism, Globalisation and Bio/diversity: Lecture by Susan Hawthorne, 30th Nov at 5pm in Bangalore

Sangama and Aneka invite you

to hear Susan Hawthorne in a lecture entitled (as her book is)

Wild Politics: Feminism, Globalisation and Bio/diversity

on

30th Nov. 2009 at Ashirwad 5 p.m

 

“Being a feminist requires optimism because the basis of feminism is a belief that things can change, that we are not entirely caught in a deterministic trap …“

Susan Hawthorne: Author, academic, activist, publisher, poet and performer.

will set out her new feminist cultural, ecological, and economic theory.

She draws on over three decades of feminist activism and theorising and looks at the tensions between globalisation and community, between disconnection and relationship and argues that the impact of globalisation on women has been disastrous

She unpacks structures of power and knowledge, law and international trade rules as well probes issues that intimately affect our daily lives

and suggests what we need is a new politics, one which puts biodiversity at the centre

In solidarity

Shubha and Manohar

NO ENTRY FOR POOR AND COMMON PEOPLE TO CUBBON PARK AND LALBAGH (BANGALORE) – Join the Protest on 30th November at 4 PM

NO ENTRY FOR POOR AND COMMON PEOPLE TO CUBBON PARK AND LALBAGH

(ENTRY RESTRICTED TO ID CARD HOLDING ELITES ONLY)

 

The Government of Karnataka plans to make ID cards mandatory to enter Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, and that at a cost of Rs 200/person. This is the beginning of the state’s encroachment of people’s right to freely access public spaces and a stage is being set to privatise public commons. All sorts of devious reasons are being flung at the public, including security concerns, morality and misuse of parks by “unnecessary elements”. The manner in which the policy is formulated encourages the particular exclusion of access rights of the urban poor (especially from minorities), street and working children, elderly people, transgenders , migrant workers, labourers, street vendors, drivers of autorickshaws and taxis, differently abled, families with children, etc. The idea of having to carry an ID merely to access these two parks, fundamentally distances them from their unfettered and constitutionally protected Right to Use Public Spaces. This policy also promotes discriminatory access to public spaces as it privileges ‘regular walkers’ and thus negates the very concept of parks as public commons. Simply stated this draconian policy encroaches our very fundamental Right to Live a Healthy Life based on dignified and unfettered access to public spaces. Join the Protest against this fundamental encroachment of Our Right to Access all Public Commons

 

COME JOIN THIS JUST PROTEST WITH FAMILIES, COLLEAGUES, FRIENDS, NEIGHBOURS

 

Queen’s Statue, Cubbon park, Monday, 30th November, 4.00 pm – 6.00 pm

 

Protest initiated by Environment Support Group, Slum Jagatthu, CIEDS, Vimochana, Dalit Sangharsh Samiti- Samyojaka (Bangalore Dist.), Sanmathi, Alternative Law Forum, Sangama, Stree Jagruthi Samithi, CIVIC Bangalore, Hasiru Usiru and Open Space.

 

For more details contact: Environment Support Group,1572, Outer Ring Road, Banshankari 2nd stage, Bangalore-560070 Tel:-91-80-26713559-60 Email:esg@esgindia.org, bhargavi@esgindia.org Website: www.esgindia.org

Kobad Ghandy: The gentle revolutionary http://digg.com/u1D8Qu

Vacancies in Samara (Bangalore), a sexual minority organization adrressing HIV-AIDS and human rights issues

Samara, a community organization of sexual minorities and sexworkers in Karnataka is recruiting people at senior level. It is a good opportunity for people committed to sexual minority and sexworker human rights issues. Here is Samara’s AD:

———————

Vacancies in a HIV Prevention Project  (Bangalore City)

Samara, a community organisation of sexual minorities and sexworkers, is implementing a focused HIV-AIDS prevention project among sexual minorities in Bangalore City. The main goal of the project is to build an effective, result based and sustainable model for HIV prevention with men who have sex with men and transgenders.

Project Manager (1 post)

Key Roles and Responsibilities

· Managing the implementation of all project activities

· Supporting and handholding the staff

· Monitoring the project outputs and reporting on results, including sending regular reports to the funding agency

· Responsible for staff recruitment, induction and capacity building

· Assist Project Direction Team in conducting regular review and planning meetings with staff

· Establish linkages with other organizations for various purposes

Qualifications and Skills Specification

· Minimum 3 years of experience, preferably in HIV-AIDS Prevention Projects

· Ability to manage high calibre/high performing teams

· Fluency in Kannada and English

Organizational Development Coordinator (1 post)

Key Roles and Responsibilities

· Provide day today hand holding support to the organization

· Facilitate and organise capacity building workshops

· Give inputs for proper governance of the organisation

· Support and ensure proper project implementation

· Provide strategies for effective community mobilisation and collectivisation.

· Build and maintain alliances with other organisations and individuals

· Liaison with the funding agencies for effective program implementation

Qualifications and Skills Specification

• Minimum 4-5 years of experience, with the ability to provide strategic leadership oversight to the organizational design, management and implementation
• Ability to manage high calibre/high performing teams
• Excellent relationship management skills; with the ability to network
• Fluency in Kannada and English
• Excellent computer skills

Interested candidates can send in their CV along with three references to samaraban@gmail.com before 30^th September 2009. Samara can be contacted by phone at (080) 22113795.

Samara is an equal-opportunity employer and encourages PLHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS), sexuality minorities, women, disabled people, dalits, adivasis, religious minorities, and people from other marginalized populations to apply for the above mentioned vacancies.

Regards

Yogesh

Programme Coordinator- Services

———–

Jet Airways – Stop Union bashing, NTUI Press Statement

See below the press statement by New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI) on the anti-worker actions of Jet Airways and Indian Government:

MEDIA RELEASE: 9 September 2009, New Delhi
Jet Airways – Stop Union bashing!
Support the workers fight for right to association and trade union rights!

The New Trade Union Initiative condemns the illegal dismissal of two Jet Airways pilots, Captains Balaraman and Sam Thomas on 31 July 2009, exactly 7 days after the pilots registered their union, the National Aviators Guild (NAG), on 24 July 2009. Captains Balaraman and Sam Thomas, the General Secretary and Joint Secretary respectively of NAG, had been at the forefront of union formation and the union has the support of 85% of the 760 pilots employed by Jet Airways. Jet Airways management refused to recognise the union and went on to summarily dismiss two of its office  bearers. Management has dismissed an additional 5 pilots earlier today for supporting the struggle for their democratic rights.

The right to association is a recognised right of workers, enshrined in this country’s constitution and protected by national statute and requires no justification. In fact, the pilots were forced to register a union because the Jet Airways management stopped consulting with the ten year-old pilots’ welfare body, the Society for Welfare of Indian Pilots (SWIP), on the grounds that this body did not have any legal standing to negotiate with management. Jet Airways management has also refused to recognise the National Aviators Guild which is a duly registered union with the Registrar of Trade Unions, Maharashtra. Hence, the Jet Airways management believes it is above Indian law.

Both SWIP and NAG gave the Jet Airways management ample time to reinstate the illegally dismissed pilots before NAG finally issued a 2-week notice for a strike on 24 August, three weeks after the dismissal of the two pilots. The matter was referred to the Regional Labour Commissioner (RLC) for conciliation the next day. The RLC advised that under provision of law, the Jet Airways management cannot terminate the services of any pilot and the pilots cannot go on a strike as long as the matter was under conciliation.

The Jet Airways management went to the Bombay High Court despite the matter being under conciliation. Since there is no strike, the strike notice was withdrawn, and no court of competent jurisdiction has declared it illegal, the Bombay High Court ought not to have interfered at this stage, particularly as the Union was not present and may not have been served notice. However, by terminating the services of the additional pilots today, the management has acted in contravention of the conciliation proceedings under the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act. Furthermore provisions concerning public utilities can not be invoked against a single service provider when other service providers are available to travelers.

The Government of India has also allowed itself to act in concert with the Jet Airways management with the Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai writing to the Chief Secretaries of all states advising them to invoke ESMA against the sick leave of Jet Airways pilots. Earlier this afternoon the Union Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge was virtually egging on the Ministry of Civil Aviation to invoke ESMA.

The actions of Jet Airways management against a duly registered trade union with publicly displayed support of those it represents, engaging in legally sanctioned actions to have its grievances addressed, stands in stark contrast to the same management’s actions earlier in August 2009 when it got together with other private airlines and attempted to arm-twist Government by threatening to suspend all airline operations if the
Government did not bail them out of a financial crisis of their own making.

The NTUI demands that the Jet Airways management:
· Stop violating the Indian constitution and recognise the National Aviators Guild
· Reinstate all the dismissed pilots immediately
· Stop victimisation of workers
· Stop engaging in unfair labour practice

The NTUI calls upon the Ministry of Labour to defend the right to association and ensure that Jet Airways management follows the due process of law and engages in negotiation with the registered trade union, the National Aviators Guild.

Gautam Mody
Secretary
New Trade Union Initiative

B-137 Dayanand Colony, First Floor,
Lajpatnagar Part IV,
New Delhi 110024
Tel: 91-11-26214538 /26486931
Fax: 91-11- 26486931

E-Mail: secretariat@ntui.org.in

Report Release: ‘Trade Union Protections for Sex Workers’, Bangalore, 9 SEP 2009

Dear Friend(s)

Karnataka Sex Workers Union invites you to the

Releasing of the report

Trade Union Protections for Sex Workers

By Com. Ashim Roy (General Secretary, New Trade Union Initiative)

On 9^th September 2009, Wednesday, at 4PM

At Ashirwad, 30 St. Marks Road, Opposite State Bank of India, Bangalore

Trade Union Leaders, Human Rights Activists and Sexworker Leaders will address the meeting after the report release.

This report, Trade Union Protections for Sex Workers, shares insights from a meeting held from January 30 to February 1, 2009, in Belém, Brazil, in conjunction with the World Social Forum. The meeting brought together trade unions, sex workers, and other activists who believe that workers in the sex sector deserve basic labour rights, including the right to organize and bargain collectively, to be free of discrimination and to be free from forced labor. The participants came from Bolivia, Brazil, Germany, India, Mexico, Nigeria, South Africa, the United States. Critical issues addressed during the meeting included:

- The links between trafficking, migration and sex work.

- How a trade union analysis of sex work might help address problems such as poor working conditions, or sex worker health and safety concerns – issues that most states and NGOs do not typically care about, since they treat sex workers as either victims or criminals.

- How to shape a common agenda with trade unions, when many do not automatically come from the understanding that “sex work is work.”

- Strategies for organizing within mainstream labour movements, and the ways in which alliances with a union movement could help sex workers combat stigma and police violence, and lobby for legal change.

Karnataka Sex Workers Union (KSWU) is a trade union of sexworkers (women, men and transgender) in Karnataka. KSWU strives to get sexwork recognised as dignified labour, demands labour rights that are guaranteed to all other workers and campaigns for the decriminalisation of sexwork. KSWU defends the rights of sexworkers and resists violence, oppression and exploitation by the police, goondas, government agencies and others. KSWU advocate for fair working conditions and social entitlements and full social security.

For more information, contact: 97310 18694, 99455 25411

In Solidarity

Geetha

General Secretary

Karnataka Sex Workers Union

On ‘Religion, Inclusiveness and Sexual Minorities’ Discussion, Bangalore, 24th AUG 09

Many people (including myself) spoke at the discussion organized by Sangama and Aneka with religious leaders on “Religion, Inclusiveness and Sexual Minorities” in NGO hall, Bangalore on 24^th August 2009 including:

Swami Agnivesh (Bandhua Mukti Morcha and Arya Samaj)

Dr. Asgar Ali Engineer (Islamic Scholar, Centre for Study of Society and Secularism)

Rev. K. C Abraham (Theologian, Church of South India)

Mr. Christopher Rajkumar (Commission on Justice, Peace, Creation – National Council of Churches in India)

Mr. Dinesh Ghodke (World Alliance for Youth Empowerment, Art of Living)

Guruji Vinay Vinekar (Institute of Universal Consciousness)

Dr. Saleem Kidwai, medieval historian, translator, writer and editor of Same-sex love in India

Ms. Mansi Meera Baindur (Ecofeminist and Philosopher, National Institute of Advanced Studies)

Ms. Revathi, writer and sexual minority activist

Ms. Abhinaya, Film Actress

I represented Sangama and Aneka as their co-director and spoke about the situation of sexual minorities in the society and how they also get rejected by different religious spaces, institutions and leaders. This program was focused on how religions could be more inclusive.

Swami Agnivesh stated that he was one of the first people who signed the petition against section 377 of the Indian penal Code. He said god could be realized in all human beings and sexual minorities too are human. He said that when he welcomed the Delhi high court judgment some other religious leaders attacked his house and he said if him supporting sexual minorities received this response what could be the situation of sexual minorities.

Film actress Abhinaya stated that she supports the cause of sexual minorities.

Rev K.C. Abraham said that society and religions should be open to all people without discrimination. He appealed to sexual minorities to take forward their struggle for justice.

Ms. Revathi from Sangama spoke about how in Hijra culture includes many aspects of Hinduism and Islam.

Swami Dinesh said that IPC section 377 was like a fossil and was extremely discriminatory. He conveyed the message of love and support from his Guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar.

Swami Vinay Vinekar said that religion is not a religion if it teaches hate. All religions will accept people without discrimination.

Dr. Christopher Rajkumar said that he was impressed by reading the book of an Aravani Vidya and also said that if religions preach discrimination they are not religions at all. He said that there is a need for a campaign to become human and to remain human.

Ms. Mansi Meera Baindur said even religions have been changing and patriarchy has taken over the religion too, which has led into problems.

The session was chaired by Mr. David Selva Raj from Visthar.

Here are the links for some media coverage:

DNA: Agnivesh backs sexual minorities

HINDU: Centre urged not to fight Section 377 ruling

MID-DAY: ‘Be more human’

Discussion: Religion, inclusiveness and Sexual Minorities, Bangalore, 24 Aug 09

Sangama and Aneka

invite you to a discussion on

“Religion, inclusiveness and Sexual Minorities”

on 24^th August 2009, Monday from 2 PM to 6 PM

at the NGO Hall, Cubbon Park, Opposite Vikasa Soudha, Bangalore – 560001. Phone: 080 22354784

Speakers include:

Swami Agnivesh

Guruji Vinaykar

Dr. Asgar Ali Engineer

Dr. Saleem Kidwai

Mr. Christopher Rajkumar

Fr. K. C. Abraham

Mr. David Selvaraj and

Ms. Manasi  Baindur

Issues of sexuality and gender are hotly contested in both religious communities and national cultures around the world. Further when the question relates to homosexuality and  transgenderism they invoke sharper responses, from ideas that this these are sinful, shameful, perversion and deserving of the highest punishment and wrath of god; to ambiguity and limited tolerance and even acceptance.

In the wake of the judgement on IPC section 377 by the Delhi High Court, that decriminalises homosexuality many religious bodies have condemned the judgement arguing that it was against religion, immoral and even against Indian culture. These people have been quoted repeatedly by the media and have also been invited to speak at various fora on these issues. This emphasises the notion that religious traditions are inherently conservative or even reactionary in their  commitments to powerful patriarchal and pronatalist (encouraging child bearing) sexual norms and gender categories.

However there have also been voices that spoke differently and adopted a more nuanced stand. These however have got scant attention. It is these voices that Sangama and Aneka is seeking to bring together to illustrate the diverse, complex and at times even contradictory traditions and practices that come under the broad rubric of “religion”. There are also sexual minorities who are people of faith; embracing both religion and their sexuality with joy  who are again invisible in the discourse. The basic tenets of all religions that are love and compassion; and recognizing the divine in all beings. This then makes the attitude of hate and violence inadmissible.

Religions have also been influenced by strong movements for rights and have changed their position on for example issues related to women. The texts and practices are constantly being reinterpreted by people coming from other perspectives and they have transformed religion. The time is now ripe for such an engagement between religion and issues of sexual minorities. We invite all of you to come and be part of this discussion.

The Right that Dares to Speak its Name: A Primer on the Naz Foundation Judgment

http://lawandotherthings.blogspot.com/2009/08/right-that-dares-to-speak-its-name.html

The Right that Dares to Speak its Name: A Primer on the Naz Foundation Judgment

Dear All

Given the importance of the Naz Foundation decision, and despite the fact that it is an excellently written judgment, we recognize that a 105 pages can be a challenge for many people. We were therefore prompted to bring out an analytical primer which could serve as a guide through the intricacies of the judgment.

We are happy to announce the publication of a new primer on the judgment. “The Right that Dares to speak its Name” has been put together by Arvind Narrain and Marcus Eldridge. The Primer contains a schematic guide highlighting the key aspects of the judgment with a commentary. It then examines the background and finally contains a few commentaries that came out after the judgment. The Primer is 140 pages and is priced at Rs. 50. Copies are available at ALF

For more details and to download a copy please visit this site.

Table Of Contents:

Introduction

Schematic Guide: Naz Foundation v. Union of India

* The Law
* The Parties
* The Bench
* The Rationale
* Conclusion
* Basis of Ruling
* Territorial Applicability of the judgment

Background: The Naz Judgment

Outline of Arguments on behalf of Voices against 377

Edited Transcripts of the final arguments before the Delhi High Court

Commentaries

* On Freedom’s avenue, Gautam Bhan
* Reforming Macaulay, Kajal Bharadwaj
* India: From ‘perversion’ to right to life with dignity, Kalpana Kannabiran
* Who’s afraid of Homosexuality, Ram Jethmalani
* Striving for magic in the city of words, Lawrence Liang and Siddarth Narrain
* Its about all of us , Prathap Bhanu Mehta
* Good for all minorities, Tarunabh Khaitan
* Navigating the Noteworthy and the Nebulous in Naz Foundation, Vikram Raghavan
* Keeping Religion out of the Gay debate, Siddharth Bhatia

Seminar on “Perspective of mental sciences on sexual minorities”, 17th August, Bangalore

Karnataka Sexual Minorities Forum and Sangama

invite you to the seminar on

Perspective of mental sciences on sexual minorities

on 17^th August, 2009, Monday

from 2 PM to 6 PM

at the Indian Medical Association Hall, IMA Building, Alur Venkar Rao Road, Chamarajpet, Bangalore – 560018, Phone: 26703255 (Near Tippu Sultan palace, Between Bangalore Medical College and Minto Hospital)

Speakers include: Dr. Shekhar Sheshadri (NIMHANS), Dr. Ali Khwaja(Banjara Academy), BN Sharada (Parivarthan), Arvind Narrain(Alternative Law Forum) and Vinay Chandran (Swabhava Trust)

Despite professional bodies such as the American Psychiatric Association, the American Psychological Association and the World Health Organisation removing homosexuality from the list of mental illnesses almost thirty years ago; the myth that it is “abnormal”, a disease that needs to be cured or the product of maladjustment prevails.

These myths have fuelled a climate of injustice and many sexual minorities have been subjected to brutal violation of their human rights. In the name of “curing” them of something that is seen as unnatural, abnormal or perverse; they are subjected to different therapies, treatment, penances and magical healing processes. These experiences are traumatic, violent and a serious infringement of the fundamental rights of the person.

In the wake of the recent Delhi High Court judgement on Section 377 of the IPC, which decriminalises consensual sex between adults, many doctors, quacks, yoga teachers and faith-healers and others are claiming to “cure” people of their homosexuality. Some of them are part of the attempt to challenge the Delhi High Court judgement at the Supreme Court. Given this context it is of urgent importance to examine the basis of these claims and debunk the myths and challenge the misconceptions about issues of homosexuality and bring about a change in public opinion to prevent further human rights violations under the guise of changing the sexuality of a person.

This seminar aims to do this through a meeting with lay audience to dispel the misconceptions with  the help of mental health professionals, and counsellors who will deal with the ethical, medical, scientific and  human rights aspects of  dealing with issues of homosexuality.