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1 2 1 Message from the President 8 The Case Against Coal 2 Executive Director’s Letter 9 Powered By The Sun Freedom of Speech in India Nuclear Energy “You can’t sink a rainbow! 3 10 You can’t muzzle dissent Why We Need Civil Society Clean My Chai in a democracy.” 4 11 5 Voices of Reason 12 Toxic Air 6 How Greenpeace Uses Its Funds 13 Mobilisation Mobile Engagement- Fundraising CONTENTS 7 14 Radio Sangharsh +Mobiles 3 4 Statement by Members of the Greenpeace India Executive Committee We speak in the context of the steadily worsening ecological and climate change situation in India in which civil society bears the crucial responsibility and role of bringing to light what is happening, and suggesting corrective policies and measures. Greenpeace India has had the most serious threat yet to its continued existence in India. This year we have withstood repeated assaults on our right to campaign on environmental and social justice issues in India. On the 6th of November, Greenpeace India Society received notice from the Registrar of So- cieties (RoS), summarily announcing cancellation of its registration as a society. The Executive Board of Greenpeace India Society was “directed to pass a special resolution and dissolve itself” within one month of the order. We believe this order is completely unjustified, especially, as we have complied with the law to the full- est. After a detailed review, we are convinced that the order contains several inaccurate and baseless allegations. For instance, we have been accused of not submitting a detailed response to their earlier notice (the show cause notice dated 16th of June), when we actually have copies of receipts stamped in acknowledgement of our response dated October 5th. Most seriously, we found that it had failed to comply with the order from the Madras High Court dated August 4th. For over a year now, the courts have upheld Greenpeace India’s right to exist despite attempts by a variety of government authorities seeking to silence our voice. In all the cases where we have ap- proached the courts so far, we have had favourable verdicts upholding our freedom of speech and right to dissent. We have therefore agreed unanimously to direct the organisation to take all necessary steps to appeal this order. In the current climate, where a singular and flawed vision of development is being pushed through at all costs, Greenpeace has not only an urgent need to continue its campaigning, but a moral imperative to do so as well, as do other civil society organisations. If the Government has concerns it should call for discussion and not act in this manner. Speaking as we do in defence of this country’s environment, our campaigns have raised important questions about the costs of development projects being pushed ahead. These include large-scale environmental damage, displacement of people, and grabbing of land, forests and water from farmers and adivasis. We believe strongly that asking such questions is a necessary part of a healthy democratic debate around what kind of development India wants to pursue, and at what cost. Towards this end Greenpeace India is happy to have also contributed viable alternative solutions, especially those benefitting the poor, such the solar micro grid powering Dharnai, a village in Bihar. We are proud of the many achievements of Greenpeace India in defense of this country’s ecological and environmental wealth, and the rights of communities dependent on natural resources. We are deter- mined to continue our campaigns: for clean air, safe food and clean energy. These repeated attempts to muzzle Greenpeace only show the government’s unwillingness to engage in a healthy democratic dialogue. We remain committed to upholding our right to dissent. Greenpeace cannot – and will not – be silenced in this way. Message In conclusion, we’d just like to say that as the Board, we have performed due diligence and are confi- dent that Greenpeace India has acted as per the laws of this land, in letter and spirit, and will continue to work to protect the interests of India’s future. Signed by Members of the Board Ashish Kothari - Chair of the Board and member of Kalpavriksh, Pune, Author From the Amala Akkineni - Actor and founder of Blue Cross of Hyderabad G. Gautama - Director of Palar Centre for Learning (KFI) Dr. Biswajit Mohanty - Chartered Accountant and former member of National Board for Wildlife Tara Murali - Architect and Trustee, Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group, Chennai Paranjoy Guha Thakurta - Senior Journalist, Author Board Dr. Harish Hande - Chairman, SELCO India 5 Executive Director’s Letter After a year long legal marathon, campaign victories and much support pouring in, Greenpeace India has only thing to say: we will survive, stay and continue to campaign. Thanks to all of you! In June 2014, we were ambushed by an Intelligence Bureau report which was leaked to the media. Our funds were blocked, our activists were assaulted and ridiculous accusations were slapped on us. And yet, today we stand strong with an iconic victory in Mahan where we have saved over a thousand hectares of forest and the livelihoods of thousands. We continue to run campaigns on air pollution, solar street lights and sustainable agriculture. In the last year, Greenpeace India faced severe hardship externally and internally. But the good news is that the staff now feel stronger than ever before and the focus is to get back to active campaigning on the issues that matter to us and to our supporters. We have demonstrated that our financial independence and transparency is inconvertible. We have shown courage in taking on our detractors. We have nothing to hide and are not afraid to talk truth to power. Today, we stand strong with six court rulings in our favour. We have faith in our judiciary, in the role of a strong civil society, and in the strength we derive from our valuable supporters. We will continue to fight for our democratic right to share our view of development and to dissent. I am an optimist. The setbacks we suffered this last year have only helped us realise that there is no bigger force than the power of people’s movement. That is something the government can’t take away from us. With your support, we will do what it takes to make sure that we strive for a safer future for all. 8 Greenpeace India is a campaigning with ideas, people and finances. In India we organisation, not a think tank or a research are legally registered to receive such financial institution – although we do both. We support under the FCRA. investigate, document, expose, take action As the media spin, and the smear attacks and lobby for change. We might not be a escalated, the Ministry of Home Affairs large organisation but our ability to do these attacked - targeting Greenpeace India’s things comes from the support of lakhs of funding, intercepting bank transfers and ordinary Indians like you who choose to use arbitrarily suspending our FCRA status. This your democratic rights to agree or disagree hit the organisation hard, and we had to make with government policies and corporations. some near impossible choices about which You have the right to take action online and staff to keep, and which campaigns to keep offline, to campaign for clean air, safe food, on running. There were a lot of tears. Six clean energy and to save India’s forests. months later the Delhi high court ruled the People working together can and will create MHAs actions to be arbitrary, illegal and a green and peaceful future for everyone. unconstitutional. The court found that there #PeoplePower created our country and our is ‘no material against Greenpeace and that freedom of speech is as important today as no material has been put on record by the in 1947. We will campaign to protect those MHA’. They directed that the frozen amount rights. will be credited to the FCRA account and So what happens when governments try to Greenpeace will have access to it. take your rights away, when the democratic space for disagreeing with powerful people Offloading Priya Pillai– after the attacks and institutions starts to shrink? What do you on our funds, we’d had a hint that the MHA do? would start targeting staff when they stopped a UK national and Greenpeace employee with Lies and mistruths – in June 2014 at the a valid visa from visiting Greenpeace India for height of the campaign to save the forests of a meeting. Mahan the media reported that a government Greenpeace India has (or had) around 350 agency had leaked an alleged secret report. India staff, an Indian senior management The report accused civil society groups team that reports to a board of notable Indian and non-governmental organisations like citizens. We are part of a global organisation Greenpeace India of being responsible for so there are occasionally 1-2 foreign national almost everything imaginable. Most of these working with the organisation, with valid visas allegations were simply lies, many were crazy or permits, usually in a short term advisory and some were completely distorted versions position. Decisions are made by Indian of reality. As the saying goes ‘throw enough nationals in India about how we campaign mud, some will stick’ and because the – but we coordinate with other offices to alleged report was secret it’s impossible to develop a global vision and programme. In challenge. contrast with many global organisations and Greenpeace India is a legally registered businesses operating in India, we believe that India society with 75,000+ India donors.

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