Full Coverage: Activism

31.12.2007 Thousands of Ranchis held a mass rally at Port Blair to demand their tribal identity and rights. Currently 13% of the Andaman and Nicobar population, these tribes were first brought to the islands as labourers to clear jungles for settlements.

31.12.2007 Hundreds of villagers stopped a recent public hearing on a proposed methane mining project in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, backed by a report by the Centre for Science and Environment that says the venture will adversely impact hydrology, agriculture and biodiversity. Australia-based Arrow Energy, the Swedish Energy Infrastructure Group, and GAIL India plan to mine methane in the Raigarh and Korba districts of the state.

27.12.2007 The United Nations Global Initiative to Fight Human Trafficking invites UN agencies, international organisations and other stakeholders to create an active online community to exchange and share knowledge on ways to combat this global crime. UN.GIFT encourages participants to engage in e-discussions, showcase positive projects, practices, and stories of courage, and draw on its various resources.

20.12.2007 The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in South Asia has teamed up with Indian film producers to sensitize movie-goers to the crime of human trafficking. A two-minute spot ‘One Life, No Price’ will be shown ahead of ‘Welcome’, a comedy expected to hit the theatres on December 21.

19.12.2007 In 2004, Bhopal gas tragedy victims, Rasheeda Bee and Champa Devi had received the Goldman Environmental Prize for their struggle for justice. Using the prize money, they set up a trust to recognise similar efforts of people. Mukta Jhodia from eastern Indian state of Orissa is the first woman to win the Chingari Award for Women Against Corporate Crime.

17.12.2007 At a recent rally calling for an end to the violence in Darfur, genocide survivors, religious leaders, Olympic medal winners, and others participated in a symbolic Olympic torch relay ending at the Chinese embassy in Washington, DC, highlighting China's role as the main economic and political supporter of the Khartoum regime.

13.12.2007 As the year 2007 comes to a close, OneWorld is once again looking to honor one person that has inspired and improved the lives of others over the past year.

11.12.2007 Global initiatives to reduce carbon emissions are bound to fail if the interests of indigenous communities are not taken into account, leaders of the world's 370 million indigenous peoples are warning.

10.12.2007 The United Nations today launched a worldwide campaign to stop human rights abuses and violations by governments, private businesses and others.

03.12.2007 Calls for substantial change in White House policies toward HIV are on the rise as Congress gets ready to consider the Bush administration's new financial proposal to fight the epidemic at home and abroad.

03.12.2007 Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, founder of Sarvodaya Shramadana Movement, received Sri Lankaabhimanya (Pride of Sri Lanka), countryÂ’s highest honour. He has been recognised for his five decades of service for the empowerment of the oppressed and his unflinching commitment to nonviolence.