Asia

The Kansai-Bangladesh Project (KBP) works to create sustainable programmes with local people in Bangladesh. It is run by Sachiko Matsunaga-Jack with the support of David Jack, who has a similar organisation,Fieldwork. The couple have been active in Bangladesh for many years now and have concentrated on indigenous groups support and encouragement, plus environmental affairs.

Letter delivered to the UN, Endorsed by experts in the nuclear field: Hiroaki Koide; Mitsuhei Murata; Akio Matsumura; Robert Alvarez; Masashi Goto (credentials below). Signing organizations: 72 Japanese organizations as of 30 April 2012. Signatories of the letter to the UN – Shut Tomari, Hokkaido and Green Action, Kyoto.

Twenty-four hunger strikers from villages of the Tirunelveli District are on indefinite hunger striker and from 4th May, 2012 onwards, local women have proposed that they too will join the fast – following the scheduled talks with the Tamil Nadu Government 3rd May. They will demand the closure of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) permanently.

The Georgetown protest near the Malaysian island of Penang was a peaceful yet heady affair while the Kuala Lumpur (KL) protests ended with police spraying teargas and chemical-laced watercannon over the protesters. With around 7,000 turnout on the Malaysian west coast the capital KL fermented with at least 100,000 protesters.

The “Mayors for a Nuclear Power Free Japan” network will be officially launched in Tokyo on April 28, 2012.
This network was initiated by mayors and local municipal leaders attending the Global Conference for a
Nuclear Power Free World held in Yokohama in January 2012.
66 mayors from 34 prefectures throughout Japan have declared their participation in this
network.

Quoting similarities between the anti-Posco (South Korea’s Pohang Iron & Steel Co. Ltd) industrialisation causing land loss scheme and the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) struggles, Mr Abaya Sahoo, chairman of Posco Pratirodh Sangrm Samiti Dhinkia (PPSSD), spoke out to a large local crowd expressing especial thanks to the women.

At the press conference of the International Forum at Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University, 10 March, 2012, Dr. Gordon Edwards, President, “Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility”, gave his address. This followed his keynote address aptly titled: “The Labyrinth of Challenges and Choices”.
http://pressenza.com/npermalink/no-nukes-forum-cracking-the-nuclear-labyrinth

Press release from People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE) from Idinthakarai, Tirunelveli District, Tamil Nadu, India that announces an indefinite hunger strike from May 1, 2012 at Idinthakarai. See: India – Government Power vs People Power:
http://pressenza.com/npermalink/india-government-power-vs-people-power

Media has a role to play in this rise in disproportionately emotional coverage of news and should wake up and cease from inflaming a non-existent fire. In reality, there is no conflict between India and China; no need to point weapons at each other. Arms sales current and potential and other’s outside agencies agendas are fueling negative feelings for their own gain.

Provisional results from 16 April 2012 elections gave former armed forces chief 60 per cent of the ballots counted. Thus, Taur Matan Ruak looks set to replace Jose Ramos-Horta as East Timor’s president. Provisional results give runoff election rival Francisco “Lu Olo” Guterres only a slim chance of winning the largely ceremonial post for his Fretilin Party.