<div dir="ltr"><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote"><font face="times new roman, serif"></font><div dir="ltr"><div style="text-align:center"><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) Trust</b></font></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><font face="times new roman, serif"><b><br>
</b></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Documentation Centre</b></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font face="times new roman, serif"><b><br></b></font></div><div style="text-align:center">
<font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Weekly News Alert</b></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font face="times new roman, serif"><b><br></b></font></div><div style="text-align:center"><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>05 May 2014 to 09 May 2014</b></font></div>
<div style="text-align:center"><font face="times new roman, serif"><b><br></b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Dear Subscriber,</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif">Please find below web links of ICSF DC Weekly News Alert with attachment from 05 May 2014 to 09 May 2014.</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div>
<font face="times new roman, serif">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b><br>
</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Subsidy offered for constn, purchase of Deep Sea Fishing Vessels</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://echoofindia.com/port-blair-subsidy-offered-constn-purchase-deep-sea-fishing-vessels-55588" target="_blank">http://echoofindia.com/port-blair-subsidy-offered-constn-purchase-deep-sea-fishing-vessels-55588</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">The Department of Fisheries, A&N Administration has invited applications from Individuals/ Self Help Groups/ Joint Liability Groups/ Co-op. Societies/ Co-op. Federation/ Partnership Firms/ Private Limited Companies from A&N Islands for availing the subsidy for construction/purchase of new Deep Sea Fishing Vessels under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) during 2014-15...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Uttar Pradesh: Thousands of fish found dead</b> </font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Thousands-of-fish-found-dead/articleshow/34815948.cms" target="_blank">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Thousands-of-fish-found-dead/articleshow/34815948.cms</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Thousands of fish were found dead in a pond at Bhademau village of Sandalpur block in Jhinjhak police area in Kanpur Dehat district under suspicious circumstances in the past two days. The district administration, in the year 2011, had leased out the pond to one Mewa Lal of Bhademau village for fish farming for a period of 10 years...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Gujarat: Heat fries Kankaria fish</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Ahmedabad/Heat-fries-Kankaria-fish/articleshow/34795829.cms" target="_blank">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Ahmedabad/Heat-fries-Kankaria-fish/articleshow/34795829.cms</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">The heatwave condition prevailing in the city is not only affecting humans but also taking toll on fish in Kankaria lake. On Wednesday, hundreds of fish were found dead in the lake. Those fish which were in the shallow water and near the bank could not tolerate the heat and died...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"> <b>Gujarat: IFC Won't Support Expansion of Disastrous Tata Mundra Project</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://theenergycollective.com/guayjguay/375951/ifc-wont-support-expansion-disastrous-tata-mundra-project" target="_blank">http://theenergycollective.com/guayjguay/375951/ifc-wont-support-expansion-disastrous-tata-mundra-project</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">The World Bank President Dr. Jim Yong Kim and the bank's International Finance Corporation (IFC) are at a crossroads -- they can either choose to to be on the right side of human rights and the environment, or they can continue ignoring the facts...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Goa: Authorities inspect CRZ Violation GTDC site at Vagator</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Authorities-inspect-GTDC-site-at-Vagator/articleshow/34749573.cms" target="_blank">http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Authorities-inspect-GTDC-site-at-Vagator/articleshow/34749573.cms</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"> The Anjuna sarpanch, panchayat members and tourism department officials on Tuesday inspected the property leased by the Goa tourism development corporation (GTDC) at Vagator and observed coastal regulation zone (CRZ) violations. The panchayat body stated that prima facie CRZ violations have been carried out at the property and the panchayat will prepare its report and send it to the authorities concerned...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Karnataka: Jetty expansion makes Bestha community edgy</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/jetty-expansion-makes-bestha-community-edgy/article5981043.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/jetty-expansion-makes-bestha-community-edgy/article5981043.ece</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">The nomads , who pitched tent on Gurupura banks, make a living by fishing. For the seven families belonging to the nomadic Bestha community, the Rs. 100-crore project to expand the fishing jetty at Bunder is less than exciting news. Its progress could mean their displacement from the banks of the Gurupura where they have pitched tarpaulin tents...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Kerala: Trawl ban norms issued to Collectors</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/trawl-ban-norms-issued-to-collectors/article5990655.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/trawl-ban-norms-issued-to-collectors/article5990655.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Ban to be enforced from June 15 to July 31. The State government has commenced its preparations for the over-month-long annual trawl ban and issued guidelines to District Collectors of coastal districts to seek the help of the Navy and Coast Guard to effectively implement the embargo and conduct sea rescue operations...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Tamil Nadu: Exclusive ‘mariculture zones’ in Gulf of Mannar mooted</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/exclusive-mariculture-zones-in-gulf-of-mannar-mooted/article5991528.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/exclusive-mariculture-zones-in-gulf-of-mannar-mooted/article5991528.ece</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Scientist in-charge of Mandapam Regional Centre of the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) G. Gopakumar has suggested that Gulf of Mannar National Park should demarcate exclusive ‘mariculture zones’ in the Gulf of Mannar region for sea cage fish farming...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Tamil Nadu: Fishing, a costly affair for country boat fishermen</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/fishing-a-costly-affair-for-country-boat-fishermen/article5977281.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/fishing-a-costly-affair-for-country-boat-fishermen/article5977281.ece</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Sometimes a catch will be just enough to meet expenditure. Thirty eight-year-old S.A. Nathan had set out for fishing with his colleagues in a Vallam (country boat) on Tuesday morning and returned after four days of fishing on the high seas to earn a meagre Rs.1,300...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Andhra Pradesh: Fishermen say no to inducements, durai</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/fishermen-say-no-to-inducements-durai/article5981095.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-andhrapradesh/fishermen-say-no-to-inducements-durai/article5981095.ece</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">The residents of the fishermen villages of Kaikalur Assembly constituency have said a strict no to the money and other freebies offered by the candidates this election, apart from thedurai (diktat) system which was quite in use to influence voters. They vow to vote for the candidate who will develop the lake-bed villages...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Odisha: Odisha Emerges Fish Surplus State</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Odisha-Emerges-Fish-Surplus-State/2014/05/03/article2203440.ece" target="_blank">http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Odisha-Emerges-Fish-Surplus-State/2014/05/03/article2203440.ece</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">With fresh water resources of 6.75 lakh hectares and brackish water resources of 4.18 lakh hectares, Odisha has emerged as fish surplus State by exporting about 1.6 lakh tonnes of fish per annum. The overall fishery potential is 5.14 lakh tonnes against which the total fish production during 2012-13 was 4.10 lakh tonnes...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>West Bengal: Tiger kills fisherwoman</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/tiger-kills-woman-114050601404_1.html" target="_blank">http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/tiger-kills-woman-114050601404_1.html</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">when she went for fishing in the Kardaha canal at Tirkhali jungle of Sajnekhali of South 24 Parganas district today, forest department officials said. Kalpana Mondal (45), a resident of Rajat Jubilee village, was attacked by a tiger when she along with two others went for fishing in the Kardaha canal this morning, they said...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>India: JIC to Step up Vigil in Territorial Waters</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/JIC-to-Step-Up-Vigil-in-Territorial-Waters/2014/05/07/article2210393.ece" target="_blank">http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/JIC-to-Step-Up-Vigil-in-Territorial-Waters/2014/05/07/article2210393.ece</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">In a major effort to step up the vigil on territorial waters, the state government has constituted a Joint Interrogation Committee (JIC) at district-level to submit findings and recommendations to the state Home Department about foreign fishing vessels and crews entering the territorial waters without necessary documents...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>India: UN chief discusses Marines issue during visit to Italy</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.firstpost.com/india/un-chief-discusses-marines-issue-during-visit-to-italy-1514303.html" target="_blank">http://www.firstpost.com/india/un-chief-discusses-marines-issue-during-visit-to-italy-1514303.html</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">The issue of the two Italian marines currently awaiting trial in India over the killing of two Indian fishermen came up during Ban Ki-Moon's meetings with Italian officials in Rome, a spokesperson for the UN Chief said here. "The issue (of the Italian marines) came up during the Secretary-General's meetings with Italian officials," in Rome yesterday, Vannina Maestracci, the Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, told PTI...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>India: Fishermen from India and Sri Lanka to dialogue</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2658811&Itemid=1" target="_blank">http://www.plenglish.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2658811&Itemid=1</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Representatives of associations of fishermen in Sri Lanka and India will meet next Monday in this capital to try to settle an old conflict of interest due to maritime boundaries in the area where they work. The Director General of Fisheries of Sri Lanka, Nimal Hettiarachchi, today confirmed that India will take 26 representatives, while Sri Lanka will have 20 delegates, in both cases accompanied by officials of the respective governments as observers...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Bangladesh: Fishermen defy ban on shrimp fry catch in Chittagong</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.thedailystar.net/business/fishermen-defy-ban-on-shrimp-fry-catch-in-ctg-22723" target="_blank">http://www.thedailystar.net/business/fishermen-defy-ban-on-shrimp-fry-catch-in-ctg-22723</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Defying a government ban, hundwreds of fishermen catch wild shrimp fries in the coastal areas of Chittagong in a mindless act that kills fries of other fish species as well. The Department of Fisheries in a survey found that 75 to 100 fries of other species get killed in attempts to catch every shrimp fry, said Kamal Uddin Chowdhury, Chittagong district fisheries officer...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Bangladesh: Fishermen suffer as rivers run dry</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/may/03/fishermen-suffer-rivers-run-dry" target="_blank">http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2014/may/03/fishermen-suffer-rivers-run-dry</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Fishermen have mostly become unemployed. Thousands of fishermen and Irri-Boro farmers are struggling as all 20 small and big-sized rivers flowing through the district which they heavily rely on, have dried up...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Maldives: Sainsbury’s launches sustainable sandwich</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.worldfishing.net/news101/industry-news/sainsburys-launches-sustainable-sandwich" target="_blank">http://www.worldfishing.net/news101/industry-news/sainsburys-launches-sustainable-sandwich</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Sainsbury’s is the UK’s first retailer to launch a Marine Stewardship Council certified sustainable tuna sandwich. With a range of MSC certified pole and line caught sandwiches and salads launching this month, it follows the retailer’s introduction of MSC certified canned skipjack tuna sourced from the Maldives in 2013...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Pakistan: No constitutional cover to protect wildlife species in EEZ Pakistan</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><a href="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/sindh/04-May-2014/no-constitutional-cover-to-protect-wildlife-species-in-eez-pakistan" target="_blank">http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/sindh/04-May-2014/no-constitutional-cover-to-protect-wildlife-species-in-eez-pakistan</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">In the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Pakistan there is no constitutional cover to protect the wildlife species. Talking to Daily Times Muhammad Moazzam Khan Technical adviser (Marine Fisheries) of World Wildlife Fund (WWF-Pakistan) pointed out protection of EEZ and protection of marine life was federal subject. EEZ starts from 12 nautical miles from the seashore and it stretches to 200 nautical miles...</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><b>Fr. Thomas Kocherry passed away</b></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Source: NFF</font></div><div>
<font face="times new roman, serif"><br>
</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Our Beloved Leader NFF Former chairperson, KSMTF Leader, WFF founder convener, Special Invitee of WFFP, Fr. THOMAS Kocherry passed away today this morning around 8 AM at his place of stay, at Holy Cross Church, Trivandrum. Thomas Kocherry was born in Changanasserry, Kerala, the south-west part of India on 10th May 1940. He is 74 yrs old. He is fifth in a family of 11 children-7 boys and 4 girls.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><img src="cid:ii_huz67q8y0_145dfe9e6f691f59" style="margin-right:0px" height="199" width="182"><br><br></font></div><div>
<font face="times new roman, serif"> Father Thomas Kocherry after his ordination as a priest in 1971, he went to work among the Bangladesh refugees in Raigunj, a border area of Bangaladesh in 1971.</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"> Father Thomas Kochery is a social activist, priest, and lawyer who helped found the Kerala Swantra Matsyathozhillali Federation.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif">For the past few years he lived in Redemptorists House at Manavalakurichi of Kanniakumari District in Tamilnadu.</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"> Because of sickness for the past one year he lived in the convent of Holy Cross Church, at Muttada, near M.G. College, TRIVANDRAUM.</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Burial will be held on Monday 5th May at 3.00 PM at Holy Cross Church, Near M.G.College, TRIVANDRAUM.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Fr. Thomas Kocherry, Catholic Priest, Trade union leader, environmentalist, lawyer, social activist is the former chairperson of the National Fish Workers Forum. He is the Co-ordinator of the world Forum of fish-harvester and Fishworkers (WFF) and Indian National Alliance of Peoples’ Movements (NAMP).</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"> He is also the Rector of the Periyavillai Redemptorist Community of Tamilnadu. One of the organizers of the famous Kanyakumari march of 1989 that sought to protect India’s coastal ecology, he and his colleagues have mobilized the fishing community to fight the foreign industrial fishing fleets that had been invited to India by shortsighted politicians. A crusader against coastal pollution, he spearheaded protests against the Koodankulam Nuclear Plant in Tamil Nadu and is currently a member of the Coastal Zone Management Authority of India.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">He became a priest, He worked with the refugees from Bangladesh in Raigunj. The stories of despair and destitution that He heard changed him forever. His decision to spend his life defending the oppressed was further consolidated when He began to work in a small fishing village called Poothura near Thiruvananthapuram. Middlemen led by one politically well-connected family were using muscle-power to keep fisherfolk permanently on the edge of starvation even though they worked harder than any community He decided to arm them with knowledge by teaching them to read and write.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"> The 74-year-old legend of social movement politics in India shows no signs of slowing down, Redemptorist priest, union leader, anti-nuclear activist and people’s movement educator – Tom Kocherry is a senior sage of India’s environmental and social justice movements. Despite scars from many battles, he remains an inveterate optimist – ‘Every fight, every movement, every reform is an optimism,’ he says.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">You just can’t stop Thomas Kocherry. After four heart attacks, innumerable fasts and 16 stints in jail, he shows no sign of slowing down. His current target is the controversial Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu. The campaign has mobilized local villagers and activists from across the country who fear that, like Fukushima in Japan, the plant may be vulnerable to a tsunami. The movement has fought tooth and nail since construction started in 1989. ‘You cannot talk about social justice without talking about the environment,’ says Kocherry. ‘There can be no shortcuts, no depleting of natural capital.’ This in part explains his anti-nuclear stance. When not campaigning, he travels South India putting on seminars for young activists.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"> The fifth of eleven children, Kocherry grew up in the Backwaters region of Kerala, where poor fisher folk used small boats to eke a living from the fresh waters that parallel the Indian Ocean. The two influences on his early adult life were the church (particularly the social gospel of the Redemptorist Fathers) and the radical Left movement that contested Keralan politics (led by the Communist Party of India) from the first days of independence. It was natural enough for Kocherry to make common cause with the poor inshore fisher folk and their struggles. He and three other Redemptorists made their living as part of the Shore Seine fishery, and helped organize health clinics and nurseries amongst the hard-working but desperately poor fishers systematically exploited by a series of wholesalers and merchants.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif">In the late 1970s, Kerala fishers started to organize and assert their rights on a whole range of issues. They set up an organization called the Kerala Independent Fishworkers Federation... In 1981 Kocherry and fellow leader Joyachan Antony went on an 11-day fast in favour of a Monsoon Trawl Ban (the breeding season for many varieties of fish) in Kerala. Kocherry was arrested on trumped-up charges; in the course of defending himself he managed to fit in a law degree at Kerala University.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">By 1982 the fishworkers’ struggle had gone national, with Kocherry elected president of the National Fishworkers Forum. In the mid-1990s he led a nationwide campaign to stop the Indian government from opening up the country’s fishing industry to a growing fleet of 2,600 large foreign trawlers. With 10 million Indians dependent on a sustainable fishery for their survival, the stakes were high. A militant campaign included marches, fasts and blocking of major fish ports around the country. The Indian government was forced to withdraw the legislation – one of the first and most significant victories against corporate globalization. Kocherry, who went on to help form the World Forum of Fisher People, understands the tensions of fighting for the rights of the fishing community in an era of declining global fish stocks. ‘You simply cut from the top. The biggest, most destructive, trawlers go first and you work your way down until you reach a sustainable fishery.’</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Kocherry has thought a lot about people’s movements – how they succeed and fail. These days, he is highly critical both of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the established Christian church. ‘They become institutionalized, create dogmas and rituals and statues of their gods, they become powermongering or give in to the power of money.’ For Kocherry, the strength of a people’s movement lies elsewhere. ‘It must be from the bottom up. The challenge is to create an evolving revolutionary structure that never becomes institutionalized or ossified by power.’ It is a vision that would strike a chord with today’s Occupy Movements and their search for new organizational forms.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">With the demise of Fr. Thomas Kocherry, India lost one of his greatest sons of this country. We have lost a legend of social movement politics in India. We have lost an anti-nuclear activist and people movement educator. As the chairperson I am shocked by my beloved leaders’ demise. It was sudden and unexpected. I met him only three days back at Manavalakurichi, Tamilnadu, on 30 the April I was with him for about 3 hours and enjoyed his hospitality. He shared his experience with me.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"> NFF conveys its deep condolence to the entire fishing community in India and all over the world and his family members.</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">I convey my heartfelt condolences to one and all.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">M.Ilango Ex. M.L.A. </font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Chairperson , National Fishworkers' Forum</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">DMF's Tribute to Father Thomas Kochery</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Source: DMF West Bengal</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Father Thomass Kochery is no more. Ex-Chairperson of National Fish Workers' Forum, Founder of World Forum of Fisher Peoples, Founder of National Alliance of People's Movements, an indefatigable fighter against oppression, exploitation and tyranny - Thomas Kochery has been the living spirit of peoples' struggles.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif">He led the coastal fishing communities of India to achieve recognition to their occupational dignity.</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Dakshinbanga Matsyajibi Forum and its members solemnly remember his immense contributions to the struggles against fishers' eviction from Jambudwip and nuclear power plant at Haripur.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif">We vow to carry out his behest.</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">A tribute to Thomas Kocherry</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif">Source: Naseegh Jaffer , WFFP</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">It is with the greatest sadness that we hear about the passing of Thomas Kocherry.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif">It was just yesterday that he joined the coordinating committee of the World Forum of Fisher Peoples (WFFP) in a lively telephonic conference discussion on issues that faces small scale fishers across the world. Today he is no more and all of us in the WFFP are shocked and mourn the loss of a pioneer of our organization. His passing is an intimate loss for fisher-folk across the world.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Thomas was a hardened soldier in the fight for the rights of fishers and poor people. His very existence echoed the plight of the poor. He was never a person to indulge in luxury. Whenever the WFFP met internationally he was always in the front line of not wasting. All his international work reflected the life of the poor. We in the WFFP can attest to this and we value this personal attribute that he instilled in our organization.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif">As tough as a person he was, he also stood tall in the fight against the exploitation of marginalized people. Even though he will be modest about it – we know that he has made an indelible impact in the fight for a better life for fishers in Asia, Africa, Latin America, Canada and all over the world. </font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">For us, in the WFFP, the legacy of Thomas Kocherry will continue to stand tall. While we mourn his passing – we also celebrate the great contribution that he made in the struggle for human rights the world over. His absence will surely be missed.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Naseegh Jaffer & Sherry Pictou</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">Co-Chairpersons of WFFP.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif">2nd May 2014</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i>Pakistani fishermen mourn the death of world fishermen leader Father Tom</i><br>
</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i>Source: Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF)</i></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i><a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-247928-Pakistani-fishermen-mourn-Father-Toms-death" target="_blank">http://www.thenews.com.pk/Todays-News-4-247928-Pakistani-fishermen-mourn-Father-Toms-death</a></i></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i>Thomas Kocherry dead</i></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/thomas-kocherry-%20dead/article5974995.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/thomas-kocherry-%20dead/article5974995.ece</a></i></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i><br></i></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i>What Is The Main Issue Of Modi, BJP And NDA During The 2014 Lok Sabha Election- Development or Majority Communalism? By Thomas Kocherry</i></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i><a href="http://www.countercurrents.org/kocherry030514.htm" target="_blank">http://www.countercurrents.org/kocherry030514.htm</a></i></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i><br>
</i></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i>A crusader who shored up battle for fishworkers’ rights</i></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><i><a href="http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/a-crusader-who-shored-up-battle-for-fishworkers-rights/article5977566.ece" target="_blank">http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/a-crusader-who-shored-up-battle-for-fishworkers-rights/article5977566.ece</a></i></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif">-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif" size="1"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif" size="1">Disclaimer</font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif" size="1"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif" size="1">The materials comprising the DC News Alerts are provided by the Documentation Centre of International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF) Trust, as a service to its readers and users of its website on an "as-is, as-available" basis for informational purposes only.. ICSF assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions in these Alerts or in the materials they contain. The opinions and positions expressed in these stories are those of the authors/sources concerned and do not necessarily represent the official views of ICSF. This message has been received through email from ICSF DC.</font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif" size="1"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif" size="1">To subscribe to this ICSF DC Weekly News Alert please write to <a href="mailto:icsfdcnews@gmail.com" target="_blank">icsfdcnews@gmail.com</a></font></div>
<div><font face="times new roman, serif" size="1"><br></font></div><div><font face="times new roman, serif" size="1">To unsubscribe please email <a href="mailto:icsfdcnews@gmail.com" target="_blank">icsfdcnews@gmail.com</a></font></div>
<div>
<font face="times new roman, serif"><br></font></div></div>
</div><br></div>
</div><br></div>