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ANNUAL REPORT 2012 BLACK GOLD VS. GREEN COVER India’s forests destroyed for coal mining! NO LOOKING BACK ON RENEWABLE ENERGY CAMPAIGN Bihar is witnessing a solar revolution + RETHINKING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE Is your food safe? Greenpeace is a global organisation that uses non-violent direct action to tackle the most crucial threats to our planet’s biodiversity and environment. Greenpeace is a non-profit organisation present in 40 countries across Europe, The Americas, Asia and the Pacific. It speaks for 2.8 million supporters worldwide, and inspires many millions more to take action everyday. To maintain its independence, Greenpeace does not accept donations from governments or corporations but relies on contributions from individual supporters and foundation grants. Edited, printed and published by Samit Aich for Greenpeace India Society which has its office at: #60, Wellington Street Richmond Town Bengaluru 560 025, India T +91 80 42821010 F +91 80 41154862 Toll Free No. 1800 425 0374 E [email protected] www.greenpeace.org/india Design & Illustrations Namrata Kumar Photo Editing Sudhanshu Malhotra Printed on 100% recycled paper Greenpeace activists during an action carried out on the day the Parliament is debating the CAG (Comptroller and Auditor General activists during an action carried out on the day Parliament is debating CAG (Comptroller Greenpeace by the CAG audit. demands the cancellation of all coal block allocations made in period covered Greenpeace of India) report. clearances for coal mining, until a transparent is also calling for a moratorium on any further allocation and forest Greenpeace is held ©Sudhanshu Malhotra / Greenpeace public consultation process Contents MESSAGE FROM MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS 6 THE EXECUTIVE 2 THE PRESIDENT 4 DIRECTOR NO LOOKING BACK ON RENEWABLE ENERGY CAMPAIGN 44 Bihar is witnessing a solar revolution DIGITAL MEDIA FUNDRAISING COVER STORY: COAL RETHINKING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 54 A year of engagement 62 Engaging society and fundraising 8 Black gold vs. green cover 18 Is your food safe? NEW DELHI PATNA KOLKATA NAVI MUMBAI WAIDHAN MUMBAI HYDERABAD PUNE CHENNAI KOCHI PHOTO FEATURE BENGALURU PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT 70 Licensed to Loot OUR OFFICES 32 Telling a story to create impact Defending our Oceans 88 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT ear Colleagues, I am happy to present the we have the increasingly Greenpeace India Society Annual Report for 2012, important challenge of not Dwhich as you can see is full of interesting stories and images. This past year only providing solid critiques has witnessed a number of significant achievements and results, both for the internal organisation and for its external of what is going wrong but impact. This includes the following: • Several tangible campaign also providing more of the outcomes, such as strong mobilisation of villagers affected by the proposed answers, the alternatives that coal mining in Mahan and visibility to water and wildlife impacts of coal mining in Vidarbha, a policy (and actions) for can deliver basic needs to renewable energy in Bihar, continued delay of Jaitapur nuclear power plant people without compromising by keeping the liability legislation alive, a definite push towards converting the environment. telecom towers to solar, stalling of the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill by some vigorous campaigning, and incorporation of good presence of society members at the last AGM, better GMOs. And we have the increasingly ecological fertilisation in the 12th Five- mechanisms like internal audit reporting at every meeting of important challenge of not only providing Year Plan. It should be noted that these the EC’s Financial} Subcommittee, and almost full compliance solid critiques of what is going wrong were carried out with other organisations of the Deloitte report that had made several suggestions to but also providing more of the} answers, in a clear push towards greater improve internal procedures and structures. the alternatives that can deliver basic collaborative work. needs to people without compromising • A significant rise in the supporter We are, however, very conscious that there remain challenges, the environment. In this sense, the base, from 1,80,000 to about 2,20,000 both internal and external. On the former front, the Senior work in Bihar, as an example, is financial donors, and 7,30,000 to Management Team turnover remained a challenge for extremely important. 8,80,000 online supporters. some time, settling down in the latter part of the year. The • With this, the financial base has also significantly higher responsibilities and work due to the global Do look inside for more exciting updates. been strengthened from Rs. 14.7 crore powershift and our own ambitious targets need constant And like always, comments and feedback to Rs. 17.6 crore. attention to avoid overstraining the staff and/or leading to less- are most welcome! than-optimum results. Externally, there is the constant bogey of We have also had a serious focus the ‘foreign hand’, now ratcheted up as the government feels on governance, with reasonably the heat on a number of issues, especially where its own actual good participation of EC members, foreign hand is threatened, as in the case of nuclear power and Ashish Kothari 2 3 OUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS Ashish Kothari Kalpavriksh [email protected] T +91 20 2567 5450 G. Gautama Director, The Chennai Education Centre, Krishnamurti Foundation [email protected] T +91 44 2491 5845 Achin Vanaik Retd, Professor of International Relations and Global Politics, Delhi University [email protected] T +91 11 2601 2133 Biswajit Mohanty Secretary of the Wildlife Society of Orissa [email protected] T +91 94370 24265 Harish Hande Mangaing Director, SELCO India [email protected] T +91 98454 48488 Vrinda Grover Lawyer & Researcher [email protected] T +91 98108 06181 Amala Akkineni Founder, Blue Cross of Hyderabad [email protected] T +91 99899 44106 From left to right (standing): Biswajit Mohanty, Vrinda Grover, Harish Hande, G. Gautama, Amala Akkineni From left to right (sitting): Achin Vanaik, Ashish Kothari 4 5 MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ear friends, Don’t you love that feeling It brings about a sense of hope you get when you witness a change that you were Dinstrumental in bringing about? It brings to know that there are people hope – the key ingredient that fuels our passion to pursue. This year has started out there who believe in us and off with pleasant news that acts as a reminder of the good things to come. are willing to do what it takes That being said, there’s still a minefield to be crossed. The greed for coal is to save our planet. rapidly exceeding the predicted path and venturing into the red line. A sizeable renewable energy. Our campaign is about tapping one of the to start and run a campaign by providing amount of our efforts are being directed most } abundant natural resources our country has to offer – the the platform and reach under the } to bring awareness and curb the greed Sun. This answer, which has been shining on us for eternity, Greenpeace umbrella. The notches in for coal before it’s too late. As a part of will solve a vast portion of the energy problems we currently the belt are increasing as people are our Junglistan campaign, a Greenpeace face. To start with, we’ve managed to get Bharti Airtel to “see becoming more proactive. activist occupied a tree on the border of the light”, so to speak, and commit to reduce emissions and a coal mine in Chandrapur for a month. increase the use of renewables by 2020. Our efforts are paying The leaders of tomorrow are the children This brought with it the recognition we off as our support increases. of today. Green Warrior is another needed to help fuel our campaign with initiative by us to engage directly with support and solidarity from all across So what’s the defining factor in a Greenpeace campaign? With children. We communicate to them the nation. an activism pedigree, our core driving force and strength has on a personal level in order to sensitise always been our dynamic actions. Over 40 years of experience them of the issues we face and how The battle against the infamous has taught us that to win, you have to often do the unthinkable. they, in their small way, can help bring genetically modified crops continues. Be it hunting down whaling fleets or hugging a tree, we’ll do about change. The biggest obstacle, the BRAI whatever it takes to preserve our planet. Not too long ago, (Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of our activists blocked the main gate to the Ministry of Coal with The road is long and is littered with India) Bill, remains in our crosshairs as life-sized tigers. All this was to grab the attention of the media obstacles. Now, we’re no longer a we lobby with various political parties in and the people so that we would be given a stage to expose weak voice. With a population of over order to get them on board. Our efforts the problems. 1.2 billion, we have the potential to span various levels and are visible move mountains. The near future looks through the vast mobilisation efforts It’s nothing short of a miracle that the foundation of our very promising already. I now present to you, and public opposition. The debate is organisation is our loyal individual supporters. It brings about the Annual Report for the year 2012. emerging in the mainstream media and a sense of hope to know that there are people out there people are waking up to the reality of who believe in us and are willing to do what it takes to save what’s at stake.

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