Vandana Shiva on the Defense of Nature and the Arrest of Dr. Binayak Sen

DemocracyNow.org -
The renowned Indian physician and human rights activist Dr. Binayak Sen was recently released on bail after being sentenced to life in prison in December on charges of sedition and conspiracy. Democracy Now! interviewed prominent Indian activist Vandana Shiva about his case. Described as India's most famous political prisoner, Dr. Sen is known as the "physician of the poor." He spent many years working as a doctor in the rural, tribal areas of Chhattisgarh in central India. While there he reported on the unlawful killings of indigenous people by the police and private militias in various conflicts over autonomy and natural resources. The region is the site of intensifying conflict between India's central government and the Maoist Naxalites.

"Now, the commodification and globalization of the resource grab has meant that this area where he [Dr. Sen] worked, which is now called Chhattisgahr, a new state—it's a very mineral-rich area—that's where the corporations are going for iron ore. That's where they're going for coal mining. And that means they're violating the rights of the tribals that are institutionalized now in our constitution," Shiva says. "Binayak, who is a medical hero of India, he's a civil liberties hero of India, he is as good as you can live a life for the people, in service of the people, thrown into prison for life imprisonment. And that's why his case is so significant."

This is just an excerpt of an extended interview with Vandana Shiva and environmentalist Maude Barlow. Click here to watch the entire interview: http://www.democracynow.org/2011/4/22/earth_day_special_vandana_shiva_and

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• amy goodman
• democracy now
• juan gonzalez
• vandana shiva
• binayak sen
• india
• tribals
• naxalites
• sedition
• environment
• earth day

[Mousewmn]

This is my hero!!

[Hysenbelliu91]

@norbu2006 thats the Sign that Indians make dunno why :D

[tubetib]

This woman talks about unity which is always the path to peace and liberty while division is always the path to fascism. She is so right and at the same time it is so easy to understand. We need more people like that.

[PapaLuvTLC]

This Woman knows what she is talkin' about - and she is talkin' sense.

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DOWN with the MilitaryIndustrialCorporatistB­anksterPolitical SCUM that are Lying, Cheating, Stealing & KILLING their way to global RUIN!!!

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V4Victory ~ TLC

[xPEACHxEATERx]

@norbu2006 You're a fukn moron. lol :)

[norbu2006]

I want to push that big red button on your forehead