අලි–මිනිස් සහජීවනය ගොඩනැගීමේ එකමුතුව

📢 අලි–මිනිස් සහජීවනය ගොඩනැගීමේ එකමුතුව – රන්දෙණිගොඩ "අලි මිනිස් ගැටුම මිනිසා විසින් නිර්මාණය කිරීමක් මිස අලියා විසින් නිර්මාණය කිරීමක් නොවේ" අලි–මිනිස් ගැටුම අවම කරමින් සහජීවනයක් ගොඩනගා ගැනීම සඳහා රන්දෙණිගොඩ ග්‍රාමයේදී විශේෂ එකමුතුවක් අද (🗓️) පැවැත්විනි. මෙම සංවාදයට වැල්ලවාය ප්‍රාදේශීය ලේකම් කොට්ඨාසයට අයත් ග්‍රාමසේවක වසම් අටක ග්‍රාමීය නායකයින්, ගොවියන් සහ තරුණ–තරුණියන් 18 දෙනෙක් සහභාගි වූහ. 🟢 සාකච්ඡාවේදී: ප්‍රදේශවල ඉහළ ගොස් තිබෙන අලි–මිනිස් ගැටුම් එමගින් ඇති බලපෑම් ගැටුමට යෝජනා කළ විසඳුම් සවිස්තරයෙන් විමර්ශනය කරමින්, කමිටුවක් ලෙස ක්‍රියාකාරීව දායක වීමට තීරණය කරන ලදි. 💡 තරුණයන් විසින් දැනට ආරම්භ කර ඇති ජිව වැට සකස් කිරීමේ කටයුතු පිළිබඳවද අදහස් ගණනාවක් ඉදිරිපත් විය. මෙය සංවිධානය කිරීම පේමලතා මිය සහ පබසරා මිය යන අය විසින් සිදු කල අතර, ප්‍රජා අභිලාෂ ජාලයේ සම්බන්ධීකාරක මහතා මගපෙන්වීම ලබා දෙන ලදී. 👉 අපේ ගම, අපේ ජීවිත, අපේ අනාගතය රැකගැනීම සඳහා – අලි–මිනිස් සහජීවනයක් ගොඩනගමු! 🌱🐘📢 Building Elephant–Human Coexistence – Randenigoda "Human–Elephant conflict is a creation of humans, not elephants." A special gathering to build coexistence while minimizing the human–elephant conflict was held today (🗓️) in Randenigoda village. This discussion was attended by village leaders, farmers, and 18 youth (male & female) representing eight GN divisions in the Wellawaya Divisional Secretariat area. 🟢 Discussions included: The rising human–elephant conflict in the area The impacts of the conflict Proposed solutions to address the issue After a detailed dialogue, it was decided to actively contribute as a committee. 💡 The youth also shared their views on the bio-fence initiative they have already started. This program was organized by Ms. Premalatha and Ms. Pabasara, with guidance from the Coordinator of the Praja Abhilasha Network. 👉 Let’s build elephant–human coexistence to protect our village, our lives, and our future! 🌱🐘 📢 யானை–மனிதர் இணை வாழ்வு உருவாக்கும் கூட்டம் – ரந்தெனிகொட "யானை–மனிதர் மோதல் என்பது யானைகளால் உருவாக்கப்பட்டதல்ல, அது மனிதனால் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட ஒன்றாகும்." யானை–மனிதர் மோதலைக் குறைத்து இணை வாழ்வை உருவாக்குவதற்கான சிறப்பு கூட்டம் இன்று (🗓️) ரந்தெனிகொட கிராமத்தில் நடைபெற்றது. இந்த கலந்துரையாடலில் வெல்லவாயைப் பிரதேசச் செயலாளர் பிரிவிற்குட்பட்ட எட்டு கிராம நிர்வாக பிரிவுகளின் கிராமத் தலைவர்கள், விவசாயிகள் மற்றும் 18 இளைஞர்கள் (ஆண் & பெண்) கலந்து கொண்டனர். 🟢 கலந்துரையாடலில் விவாதிக்கப்பட்டவை: அதிகரித்து வரும் யானை–மனிதர் மோதல்கள் அவை ஏற்படுத்தும் விளைவுகள் மோதலுக்கான பரிந்துரைக்கப்பட்ட தீர்வுகள் விரிவான விவாதத்திற்குப் பின், குழுவாகச் செயல்பட உறுதி செய்யப்பட்டது. 💡 ஏற்கனவே தொடங்கிய உயிர் வேலி அமைக்கும் முயற்சியைப் பற்றியும் இளைஞர்கள் தங்கள் கருத்துகளை வெளிப்படுத்தினர். இந்த நிகழ்வை திருமதி பிரேமலதா மற்றும் திருமதி பபஸரா ஆகியோர் ஏற்பாடு செய்தனர். மேலும், பிரஜா அபிலாஷா வலையமைப்பின் ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர் வழிகாட்டுதலை வழங்கினார். 👉 எங்கள் கிராமம், எங்கள் வாழ்க்கை, எங்கள் எதிர்காலத்தை பாதுகாக்க – யானை–மனிதர் இணை வாழ்வை உருவாக்குவோம்!

The 3rd #NyéléniGlobalForum

The 3rd #NyéléniGlobalForum has officially begun! An opening ceremony with a parade and local Sri Lankan dances brought nearly a thousand people to the large auditorium of the National Institute of Cooperative Development this morning, where the Forum's plenary sessions will be held this week.Ministers ,Wasantha Samarashinha ,Samantha Vidiyarathna and some parliamentary members participated the event.As Prajaabhilasha network we also join the ceremony . Sri Lankan movements staged a play in front of them, representing the defeat of the debt devil, embodied by the World Bank, IMF and WTO. 3வது #NyéléniGlobalForum இன்று அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாகத் தொடங்கியுள்ளது! திறப்பு விழாவில் பேரணி மற்றும் இலங்கை பாரம்பரிய நடனங்கள் இடம்பெற்று, தேசிய கூட்டுறவு மேம்பாட்டு நிறுவனம் மண்டபத்தில் சுமார் ஆயிரத்திற்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் கூடியிருந்தனர். இவ்வாரம் முழுவதும் இங்கு மன்றத்தின் பொதுக்கூட்டங்கள் நடைபெறும். அமைச்சர்கள் வாசந்த சமரசிங்க, சமந்த விதியாரத்தினா மற்றும் சில பாராளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்கள் இந்நிகழ்வில் கலந்து கொண்டனர். பிரஜா அபிலாஷா வலையமைப்பாகிய நாங்களும் இவ்விழாவில் கலந்து கொண்டோம். இலங்கை சமூக இயக்கங்கள் அவர்கள்முன் ஒரு நாடகம் நடத்தின. அதில் உலக வங்கி, IMF, WTO ஆகியவற்றால் உருவகப்படுத்தப்பட்ட கடன் பிசாசின் தோல்வி பிரதிபலிக்கப்பட்டது. 3වැනි #NyéléniGlobalForum නිල වශයෙන් අද ආරම්භ විය! විවෘත උත්සවය පාගමනක් සහ ශ්‍රී ලාංකීය නෘත්‍ය කලාංග නාට්‍ය සමග පැවැති අතර, සතිය පුරා මණ්ඩප සභා වාර පැවැත්වීමට නියමිත ජාතික සමූපාකාර සංවර්ධන ආයතනයේ මණ්ඩපයට දහසකට අධික ජනතාව එක්විය. අමාත්‍යවරුන් වන වාසන්ත සමරසිංහ, සමන්ත විද්‍යා රත්න සහ සමහර පාර්ලිමේන්තු මන්ත්‍රීවරුන්ද එම අවස්ථාවට සහභාගී වූහ. ප්‍රජාඅභිලාෂා ජාලය ලෙස අපද උත්සවයට එක්වීය. ශ්‍රී ලාංකීය සමාජ අරගල ක්‍රියාකාරීන් ඔවුන් ඉදිරියේ නාට්‍යයක් ඉදිරිපත් කළ අතර, එහිදී ලෝක බැංකුව, IMF සහ WTO සිදු කරන විවිධාකාර බලපෑම් පිළිබඳව දැනුවත් කරන ලදී.

“In just two years, we have achieved many victories!”

#Nyeleniglobalforum #prajaabhilashanetwork #nofoodnolife #nafsosrilsnka 🌱✨ Self-Sufficiency Achievements | ස්වයංපෝෂිත ජයග්‍රහණ | சுயமரியாதை சாதனைகள் ✨🌱 “අවුරුදු දෙකක් ඇතුළත අප ලබාගත් ජයග්‍රහණ රාශියක් ඇත!” – බරුදැල් පොළ ස්වයංපෝෂිත ඒකකයේ කාන්තා සාමාජිකාවන්ගේ අදහසයි. 2025.08.29 දින, ස්වයංපෝෂිත ඒකක ගොඩනැගීම සහ කුඩා ආහාර නිෂ්පාදනය මගින් ශක්තිමත් කිරීම සඳහා ගොඩනැගී මාර්ගෝපදේශක අත්පොතේ වැදගත් කරුණු සාකච්ඡා කරන ලදී. අපගේ ජයග්‍රහණ 🌿 ✅ ගෙවතු වගාවන් ආරම්භ කිරීම ✅ ඉතිරි කිරීම් ආරම්භ කිරීම ✅ ව්‍යවසායකයින් හත් දෙනෙකු ගොඩනැගීම ✅ තොග භාණ්ඩ බෙදාගැනීම ආරම්භ කිරීම “ආහාර අයිතිය හා ආහාර ස්වෛරීභාවය ගැන කතා කරන මෙවන් අවධියක, ධීවර ප්‍රදේශයක ජීවත් වන අප කාන්තා ලෙස අප ලබාගත් ජයග්‍රහණ පිළිබඳව සතුටු වෙමු!” 💪🌊🌾 “இரண்டு ஆண்டுகளில் நாங்கள் பல வெற்றிகளைப் பெற்றிருக்கிறோம்!” – பருடெல்பொல சுயமரியாதை அலகின் பெண்கள் உறுப்பினர்களின் குரல். 2025.08.29 அன்று, சுயமரியாதை அலகுகளை உருவாக்கி சிறு உணவு உற்பத்தி மூலம் வலுப்படுத்துவதற்கான வழிகாட்டி கையேட்டின் முக்கிய அம்சங்கள் விவாதிக்கப்பட்டது. எங்கள் சாதனைகள் 🌿 ✅ வீட்டு தோட்டங்கள் ஆரம்பித்தல் ✅ சேமிப்பு பழக்கங்களை அறிமுகப்படுத்தல் ✅ ஏழு தொழில்முனைவோர்கள் உருவாக்கம் ✅ மொத்த பொருட்கள் பகிர்வு ஆரம்பித்தல் “உணவுரிமையும் உணவு சுயாட்சியும் பேசப்படும் இத்தருணத்தில், மீனவர்கள் வாழும் சமூகத்தில் வாழும் பெண்களாகிய நாங்கள் எங்கள் வெற்றிகளுக்காக பெருமைப் படுகிறோம்!” 💪🌊🌾 “In just two years, we have achieved many victories!” – Voices of women members of the Barudelpola Self-Sufficiency Unit. On 29.08.2025, a discussion was held on the key guidelines of building self-sufficient units and strengthening small-scale food production. Our Achievements 🌿 ✅ Started home gardens ✅ Introduced savings practices ✅ Built seven entrepreneurs ✅ Began collective bulk purchasing “As women living in a fishing community, we are proud of our achievements at a time when the world is discussing the Right to Food and Food Sovereignty!” 💪🌊🌾 #FoodSovereignty #SelfSufficiency #WomenLeadership #CommunityPower

Mannar at a crossroads: Protests, Promises and the Fight for Justice

Mannar at a crossroads: Protests, Promises and the Fight for Justice By Ceylon Today - August 23, 2025 2:02am 0 Text and Pix by Shabeer Mohamed For the past 18 days, the people of Mannar have been gathering in continuous protest against large-scale wind power projects and sand mining activities that they say threaten both their land and their livelihoods. What began as small community-level resistance has now grown into a strong, islandwide conversation about development, environmental protection, and the rights of local people. Mannar Island is not new to struggle. Its residents, already burdened by decades of war and displacement, now face fresh challenges from projects that promise “clean energy” and “economic growth” but in reality raise serious concerns about long-term damage to the environment, destruction of fishing grounds, loss of livelihoods, and the violation of community rights. The people’s demand is simple: development that respects the land, sea, and communities of Mannar. Yet, despite repeated appeals, authorities have failed to provide clarity or consultation, leaving citizens with no choice but to stay on the streets in protest. Dr. Nagamuthu Piratheeparajah – Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Jaffna “Mannar’s mineral sands are being celebrated as an economic treasure, but in reality they pose a great disaster for our people,” warns Dr. Nagamuthu Piratheeparajah. He explains that Mannar Island, with its unique geography and cultural significance, is highly vulnerable. The island, often seen as a continuation of the legendary “Rama Bridge” mentioned in the Ramayana, is only 26 km long and 6 km wide, with an average elevation of just 7.8 metres above sea level. In some places, including South Bar, Thottaveli, Erukalampiddy, and Konnaiyan Kudiruppu, the land lies at or even below sea level. This fragile structure is what makes the threat of large-scale sand mining so severe. According to Dr. Piratheeparajah, the island rests on the Cauvery Basin, where valuable mineral deposits such as ilmenite, leucoxene, rutile, zircon, and titanium oxide are concentrated. While these minerals are considered highly profitable, the extraction methods proposed by companies could irreversibly damage the land. He points out that five companies, Kilsythe Exploration, Hammersmith Ceylon, Supreme Solution, Sanur Minerals, and Orion Minerals, were granted permits around 2015 to mine these sands, with several already active. They plan to dig up to 12 metres below sea level to extract minerals, then dump the remaining sand back into the pits. “This is not restoration, but deception,” he stresses. “Even if the sand is replaced, the ground will eventually collapse and form craters. In simple terms, if this excavation goes ahead, Mannar will turn into a giant pit filled with seawater.” Dr. Piratheeparajah warns of four major consequences: 1. The island will sink into 10-foot craters filled with seawater. 2. At least 10,000 palm trees will be destroyed. 3. Underground freshwater sources will be permanently damaged. 4. The entire morphology of Mannar will be altered. For him, this is not just an environmental issue but an existential one: “To those who see Mannar only as a mining site, this is an economic opportunity. But for us, Mannar is our motherland. If we do not wake up now, we will never be able to save it.” The ten major problems raised by Fr. S. Marcus Fr. S. Marcus, President of the Mannar Citizens Committee, presented ten critical issues caused by the Thambapavani wind power and sand mining project. These concerns were highlighted during discussions with the President at the Presidential Secretariat on 15 August 2025, and earlier in Parliament with the Ministers of Energy and Environment. During our field visit, we were able to directly observe the reality of these problems. 1. Illegal seizure of people’s lands Large portions of land near the project sites have been taken from villagers under questionable circumstances. In places like ‘Konnaiyan Kudi’, families accuse powerful intermediaries of using forged documents to grab land that has been in community use for generations. Some allege the involvement of political proxies, leaving villagers helpless against fraudulent cases filed to force them out. 2. Shrinking living spaces As wind power companies expand their hold over coastal areas, residents are being pushed further away from their homes. Families who once lived near the sea now find themselves displaced. Those remaining struggle with the constant noise of wind turbines, making daily life unbearable. 3. Coastal erosion and loss of mangroves With mangroves and trees along the coast cleared for development, soil erosion has worsened. Our field visit revealed beaches near the Mannar Wind Farm to be badly eroded, with heaps of plastic waste worsening the degradation of these fragile coastal zones. 4. Blocked streams and destruction of fisheries Over 16 natural streams and canals have been obstructed, crippling the fishing industry. Mannar, already vulnerable due to its low elevation, now faces stagnant waters where natural flows once carried freshwater to the sea. Villagers fear that if these channels reopen, seawater intrusion will drown inland areas. 5. Environmental reports kept from the public Residents complain that the final Environmental Assessment Report (EAI) was never shared with them. They say no proper consultations were held, leaving them excluded from critical decisions. Fisherfolk in Pesalai believe this secrecy is one reason for declining fish stocks and worsening floods. 6. Manipulated signatures Villagers allege that signatures in the EAI were collected deceptively. During floods, when families were displaced and receiving relief packages, their signatures were obtained under false pretences. Later, these were presented as proof of community consent for the project, leaving villagers feeling betrayed. 7. Unprecedented flooding For decades, Mannar rarely experienced major floods. But since the installation of wind farms, floods during the rainy season have become an annual crisis. Villagers point to an underground wall 12 feet deep and 12 kilometres long, built to connect the turbines, which blocks natural groundwater flow to the sea. This has led to stagnant water, polluted wells, and repeated displacement. 8. Destruction of palms and coconuts Hundreds of palm and coconut trees vital to the local economy have been cut without permits. For many families, these trees provided livelihoods through handicrafts and household use. Their sudden loss has left traditional livelihoods in crisis, especially for women engaged in weaving and craft-making. 9. Loss of clean drinking water For generations, villagers depended on wells for safe water. Today, many of these wells have dried up or turned brackish due to flooding and groundwater stagnation. Even in ‘Konnaiyan Kudi’, once known for its clean water, families are now forced to purchase drinking water at Rs 2 per litre, an expense they cannot afford. 10. Decline in migratory birds Mannar is a world-renowned sanctuary for migratory birds. But locals report fewer flocks arriving in recent years, with altered migration patterns and longer return periods. Despite the Energy Minister dismissing these concerns, birdwatchers and environmentalists warn that the turbines disrupt bird habitats and threaten one of Sri Lanka’s most important ecological treasures. Lessons from Eppawala for Mannar The struggle unfolding in Mannar today is not without precedent. Twenty-five years ago, in the landmark Eppawala Phosphate Case, the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka was called upon to decide whether a massive foreign-backed mining project could proceed in the agriculturally rich Eppawala region of Anuradhapura. Farmers and villagers argued that the project would destroy their land, irrigation systems, and way of life. The Court, in a historic judgment, recognised that natural resources are part of the public trust, to be safeguarded not only for present communities but also for future generations. It struck down the agreement, affirming that “development” cannot come at the expense of people’s rights, culture, and environment. The echoes of Eppawala are unmistakable in Mannar. Here too, projects justified in the name of national economic growth wind farms and mineral sand mining, have been imposed without meaningful consultation or safeguards. As in Eppawala, local communities warn of displacement, destruction of traditional livelihoods, and irreversible ecological damage. Mannar, like Eppawala, is not merely a site of mineral deposits or wind potential; it is a living homeland where generations have survived through fishing, farming, and deep cultural ties to the land. What the Eppawala judgment established in law that the State is a trustee of natural resources bound by duties of sustainability, transparency, and equity remains just as relevant today. The case of Mannar shows us the true cost of development when it is pursued without planning, transparency, or respect for local communities. What is being presented as “clean energy” and “economic growth” has, in practice, brought land grabs, forced displacement, floods, water contamination, loss of fisheries, and destruction of ecological balance. The ten problems highlighted by the Mannar Citizens Committee are not abstract concerns. They are daily realities for an island already vulnerable due to its geography and history. Mannar’s people are not rejecting renewable energy or economic development. They are demanding what the Court demanded in Eppawala: development that protects the environment, sustains communities, and respects the rights of future generations. The fact that both Parliament and the President have been forced to acknowledge their grievances shows that these voices can no longer be ignored. The future of renewable energy and resource use in Sri Lanka must be built not on exploitation, but on genuine consultation, scientific accountability, and social justice. If Mannar becomes a lesson, let it be this: progress cannot be measured only in megawatts and minerals. Real progress is when the land, water, and people are safeguarded for generations to come.

What it is C 188?

Women and fishermen from Ammathottam Women's Organization and Fishermen's Organization and Malpura Women's Organization, and Fishermen's Organization participated in the ILO action meeting organized by NAFSO and supported by BFTW, today 21st August, 2025. The contents and importance about ILO C- 188 Convention was discussed in the program in detail. In this, the questions raised by the people were clarified by the resource person Priyankara Costa the resource person who facilitated the day's sessions. 21/08/2025 NAFSO Sri Lanka සහ BFTW විසින් සංවිධානය කරන ලද ILO ක්‍රියාකාරී රැස්වීමට අම්මාතොට කාන්තා සංවිධානය, ධීවර සංවිධානය සහ මල්පුර කාන්තා සංවිධානය, ධීවර සංවිධානය ආදී ආයතනවල කාන්තාවන් සහ ධීවරයින් සහභාගී වූහ. ILO C-188 පනත පිළිබඳ මෙහි පැහැදිලි කරන ලදී. මෙහි දී, ජනතාව විසින් මතු කරන ලද ප්‍රශ්න සම්පත්දායක ප්‍රියංකර විසින් පැහැදිලි කරන ලදී.

Save Mannar

Continues struggle is going on at Mannar town against the Wind power projects and propose Sand mining project.We joined the protest,visited the project locations,Met the people,Discuss with CSOs,Youth,Religious leaders,Fisher leaders and Mannar Citizen comity leaders on 18 to 20 of August.Banadic Croos,Priyantha and Youth team arranged the programs

Demand -Food Sovereignty

Nyéléni & the Global Food Sovereignty Movement 1. Origins of Food Sovereignty • Food sovereignty emerged in 1996 when La Via Campesina, a global movement of peasant and small-scale farmer organizations, introduced the concept at the World Food Summit. It offered a bold alternative to corporate-driven, globalized food systems—shifting focus to local economies, community rights, and democratic control over food systems Nyéléni Global Forum+1. • Its roots also trace back to global mobilizations against corporate trade agreements like the WTO’s Agreement on Agriculture around the same time, as small-scale producers sought to protect their livelihoods Nyéléni Global Forum. ________________________________________ 2. The First Nyéléni Global Forum (2007) • The first Nyéléni Forum was held in February 2007 in Sélingué, Mali, where over 500 delegates from around 80 countries gathered to build a global movement for food sovereignty. The forum cultivated shared vision and strategies for equitable, people-led food systems Nyéléni Global Forumfoei.orgviacampesina.org. • The name “Nyéléni” honors a legendary Malian peasant woman who resisted patriarchy, prioritized farming, and became a symbol of resilience, sovereignty, and grassroots agricultural traditions Wikipediafoei.org. ________________________________________ 3. Building Momentum & Regional Forums • Following the 2007 gathering, the movement expanded through regional forums. For instance, Nyéléni Europe met in 2011 (Austria) and again in 2016 (Romania), drawing hundreds of participants from dozens of countries to build regional solidarity and strategies for food sovereignty nyeleni-eca.net+1. • In 2015, a special International Forum on Agroecology reaffirmed that agroecological farming—and peasant, indigenous, and family farm systems—must be central to addressing climate and biodiversity crises nyéléni+1. ________________________________________ 4. The Nyéléni Process & Systemic Transformation • The Nyéléni Process represents an ongoing, multi-year global effort led by grassroots movements and the International Planning Committee for Food Sovereignty (IPC). This process fosters regional consultations and builds a cohesive political agenda rooted in food sovereignty, climate justice, gender equity, anti-racism, anti-colonialism, peace, and democracy nyéléni+1foodsovereignty.org. • It is framed by the urgent rallying cry: “Systemic Transformation Is Now or Never!” Reflecting the need to confront intersecting global crises—economic, social, environmental, and political—through collective, transformative action foodsovereignty.orgnyéléni. ________________________________________ 5. The 3rd Nyéléni Global Forum — Sri Lanka, September 2025 Overview • Scheduled for September 2025 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, the forum will convene over 500 grassroots activists and leaders from more than 80 countries and 50+ social movements, making it one of the most inclusive assemblies of food sovereignty and allied social justice movements World March of Women+1Nyéléni Global Forum+1. Why Sri Lanka? • Sri Lanka represents both crisis and resilience. The country has endured crippling debt crises, neoliberal austerity imposed by structural adjustments, and erosion of public services—yet also demonstrated powerful resistance, notably through the Aragalaya uprising of 2022, where working-class movements ousted corruption and sparked renewed hope for systemic justice phmovement.org+1World March of Women. Who Will Participate? • A broad coalition: peasant farmers, Indigenous Peoples, fishers, pastoralists, agricultural workers, artisans, feminist and climate justice organizations, health workers, migrant laborers, trade unions, social and solidarity economy activists, students, artists, researchers, and more—all committed to building democratic, equitable, and resilient systems Nyéléni Global Forumviacampesina.orgphmovement.org. Objectives & Themes • Develop shared analyses of global interlinked crises. • Build alliances and joint strategies, celebrate cultural diversity, exchange knowledge and experiences. • Advance common vision for: o People’s economies and democracy o Food sovereignty & agroecology o Land, territory, health for all o Climate justice & energy sovereignty o Solidarity and international cooperation • Rejecting capitalism, colonialism, patriarchy, racism, fascism—pushing toward systemic transformation for a just future Nyéléni Global Forum+2Nyéléni Global Forum+2nyéléniWorld March of Women+1phmovement.org. Organizing Process • Coordinated through six regional processes and guided by a Global Steering Committee of social movements and grassroots networks, supported by NGOs in solidarity with technical expertise Nyéléni Global ForumWorld March of Women. ________________________________________ 6. Summary Table: Key Milestones of Nyéléni Year / Era Milestone 1996–2001 Launch of food sovereignty concept by La Via Campesina at World Food Summit; elaborated in Havana, Cuba (2001) Nyéléni Global Forum+1. 2007 1st Nyéléni Forum in Mali, 500+ delegates from ~80 countries; named after Malian heroine Nyéléni Nyéléni Global Forumfoei.orgWikipedia. 2011 & 2016 Regional Nyéléni Forums in Europe & Central Asia, consolidating movement at continental level nyeleni-eca.net+1. 2015 International Forum on Agroecology emphasizes agroecology’s role in confronting environmental crises nyéléni+1. 2020s Launch of multi-region Nyéléni Process by IPC—focused on systemic transformation and intersectional justice nyéléni+1foodsovereignty.org. Sept 2025 3rd Global Forum in Sri Lanka: landmark convergence of global movements to drive transformative agendas Nyéléni Global Forum+1phmovement.orgWorld March of Women+2World March of Women+2. ________________________________________ 7. Why This Matters • The Nyéléni forums and process embody a people-centered alternative to neoliberal, extractivist food systems, aiming to build a resilient, democratic, and just global food system. • The Sri Lanka forum marks a significant expansion—bringing in broader social movements to address not just food systems, but integral issues like health, energy, climate, gender, and economic justice. • It models collective, intersectional mobilization, where frontline voices co-create solutions, challenge systemic oppression, and envision systemic transformation in a fractured world. නියෙලෙනි කථාව 1996 දී ලෝක ආහාර සමුළුවේදී La Via Campesina ගොවීන්ගේ ජාත්යන්තර ආණ්ඩුවේ නොවන ජාලය විසින් “ආහාර සාරවත්භාවය” (Food Sovereignty) යන නාමය එකතු කළේය. මෙය මහා ව්යාපාර හා ගෝලීයකරණය වෙනුවට ජනතා අයිතිකම් සහ ප්රාදේශීය ආර්ථිකයන් රැක ගැනීමේ අදහසයි. 2007 දී මාලි රටේ Selingué නගරයේ ප්රථම “නියෙලෙනි” ගෝලීය මණ්ඩපය පැවැත්විණි. රටවල් 80කට අධිකව සහභාගිවූ නියෝජිතයින් විසින් ගොවීන්, මසුන්පිලිස්, අන්දිජන ජාතීන්, කම්කරුවන් සහ ජනතා සංවිධාන එකට ගෙන ආහාර පද්ධති පවත්වා ගැනීමේ එකම දැක්මක් ගොඩනගා ගත්හ. “නියෙලෙනි” නම මාලි රටේ ගොවී කාන්තාවක් වූ නායකියෙක්ගෙන් ගත් එකකි. ඇය ගොවීන්ගේ අයිතිවාසිකම් සහ කාන්තා සමානත්වය සඳහා සටන් කලේය. 2025 සැප්තැම්බර් – ලංකාව [Srilanka ] මෙවර 3 වන ගෝලීය මණ්ඩපය ශ්රී ලංකාවේ Kandy නගරයේ පැවැත්වේ. රටවල් 80කට අධිකව සිටි 600ට වැඩි නියෝජිතයින් සහ කම්කරුවන්, ගොවියන් ,ධීවරයන්, ආන්තික ජන කොටස්,ස්වදේසිකයින්, කාන්තා හා පරිසර අයිතිවාසිකම් සඳහා සටන් කරන සංවිධාන සහභාගී වේ. ප්රධාන මූලික අවධානයන් • ජනතා ආහාර අයිතිවාසිකම් සහ කෘෂි පද්ධති (Food Sovereignty & Agro ecology) • භූමි, ජලය, සෞඛ්යය සහ පරිසරය රැක ගැනීම • ලෝක උණුසුම්වීම හා අලුත් බලශක්ති සඳහා සටන • ජාත්යන්තර සහයෝගීතාව සහ සාමය • නූතන නව-ආර්ථික පීඩනය, වාණිජවාදය, පෞරුෂ පාලනය, වර්ණවාදය, නව-නේවාසිකත්වය ප්රතික්ෂේප කිරීම. මෙය ආහාර පද්ධති පමණක් නොව, සමූහ සහභාගීත්වය මත පදනම් වූ සාමය සහ සාධාරණය ගොඩනගන විශාල ජාත්යන්තර උත්සවයකි. ந்யேலேனி வரலாறு 1996-ல் உலக உணவு உச்சி மாநாட்டில் La Via Campesina எனும் சர்வதேச விவசாயிகள் இயக்கம் “உணவு இறையாண்மை” (Food Sovereignty) என்ற கருத்தை அறிமுகப்படுத்தியது. இது பெருநிறுவனங்கள் மற்றும் உலகமயமாக்கலுக்குப் பதிலாக மக்களின் உரிமைகள் மற்றும் உள்ளூர் பொருளாதாரங்களை பாதுகாப்பது என்ற நோக்கத்துடன் வந்தது. 2007-ல் மாலி நாட்டின் Selingué நகரில் முதல் ந்யேலேனி உலக மாநாடு நடந்தது. 80-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட நாடுகளில் இருந்து வந்த விவசாயிகள், மீனவர்கள், பழங்குடிகள், தொழிலாளர்கள் மற்றும் சமூக அமைப்புகள் ஒன்றிணைந்து உணவு அமைப்புகளை மக்களின் கட்டுப்பாட்டில் வைக்கும் நோக்குடன் ஒருங்கிணைந்த கண்ணோட்டம் உருவாக்கினர். “ந்யேலேனி” என்ற பெயர் மாலி நாட்டின் ஒரு புரட்சிகரமான பெண் விவசாயியிடமிருந்து எடுத்தது. அவர் விவசாயிகள் உரிமைகள் மற்றும் பெண்கள் சமத்துவத்திற்காக போராடினார். 2025 செப்டம்பர் – இலங்கை மூன்றாவது உலக மாநாடு இலங்கையின் கண்டி நகரில் நடைபெற உள்ளது. 80-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட நாடுகளில் இருந்து 500-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பிரதிநிதிகள் – விவசாயிகள், மீனவர்கள், பெண்கள், சூழல் உரிமை ஆர்வலர்கள், தொழிலாளர் சங்கங்கள் – பங்கேற்கிறார்கள். முக்கிய கவனப்பகுதிகள் • மக்களின் உணவு உரிமை & இயற்கை வேளாண்மை (Food Sovereignty & Agroecology) • நிலம், நீர், சுகாதாரம், சுற்றுச்சூழல் பாதுகாப்பு • காலநிலை நீதி மற்றும் புதுமையான ஆற்றல் • சர்வதேச ஒற்றுமை மற்றும் அமைதி • முதலாளித்தனம், குடியேற்ற ஆதிக்கம், வன்முறை ஆட்சி, இனவெறி ஆகியவற்றை நிராகரித்தல் இது உணவு அமைப்பை மட்டுமல்லாமல், மக்களின் பங்களிப்பில் அமைந்த நீதி, அமைதி மற்றும் ஒற்றுமையை உருவாக்கும் ஒரு பெரிய சர்வதேச கூடுகையாகும்.

Breaking the Silence – Let Us Unite Again

On August 8, 2025, the leaders of Ponnaweli area gathered for a special discussion. The meeting was organized to review the latest situation regarding the proposed Tokyo Cement Factory project in the area and to discuss possible steps forward. Although the project has been temporarily halted, the continued presence of workers and equipment at the site where construction was to begin has led residents to believe there is still a possibility of work resuming at any moment. During the discussion, the leaders prepared a detailed plan focusing on: The current situation The importance of uniting the people once again, leaving behind political divisions Actions that can be implemented in the future Key points included in the action plan: 1. Informing the relevant authorities 2. Implementing pressure campaigns 3. Sending written requests and notifications to the authorities, urging the government to fulfill its promises 4. Obtaining support from civil society organizations for these efforts The leaders believe this initiative is an important step toward protecting the environment and livelihoods of the area, while rebuilding community unity. அமைதியை முறியடித்து – நாம் மீண்டும் ஒன்றுபடுவோம் 2025 ஆகஸ்ட் 8ஆம் தேதி, பொன்னாவேலி பகுதி தலைவர்கள் ஒரு சிறப்பு கலந்துரையாடலுக்காக ஒன்றிணைந்தனர். அந்தக் கூட்டம், அந்தப் பகுதியில் திட்டமிடப்பட்டிருந்த டோக்கியோ சிமெண்டு ஆலையினைச் சார்ந்த சமீபத்திய நிலைமையை மதிப்பாய்வு செய்வதற்கும், எதிர்கால நடவடிக்கைகளை விவாதிப்பதற்கும் ஏற்பாடு செய்யப்பட்டது. திட்டம் தற்காலிகமாக நிறுத்தப்பட்டிருந்தாலும், ஆலையைத் தொடங்க திட்டமிடப்பட்ட இடத்தில் இன்னும் தொழிலாளர்கள் மற்றும் உபகரணங்கள் இருப்பது, எந்த நேரத்திலும் வேலை மீண்டும் தொடங்கும் வாய்ப்பு உள்ளதாக மக்களை நம்ப வைக்கிறது. கலந்துரையாடலின் போது, தலைவர்கள் விரிவான திட்டத்தைத் தயாரித்தனர், அதில் கவனம் செலுத்தப்பட்டவை: தற்போதைய நிலைமை அரசியல் பிளவுகளை மறந்து மக்களை மீண்டும் ஒன்றுபடுத்துவதின் அவசியம் எதிர்காலத்தில் மேற்கொள்ளக்கூடிய நடவடிக்கைகள் நடவடிக்கை திட்டத்தில் அடங்கிய முக்கிய அம்சங்கள்: 1. சம்பந்தப்பட்ட அதிகாரிகளுக்கு தகவல் வழங்குதல் 2. அழுத்த முகாம்களை நடைமுறைப்படுத்துதல் 3. அரசாங்கம் அளித்த வாக்குறுதிகளை நிறைவேற்றுமாறு கோரி, அதிகாரிகளுக்கு எழுத்துப்பூர்வமான கோரிக்கைகள் மற்றும் அறிவிப்புகள் அனுப்புதல் 4. இச்செயற்பாட்டிற்கு குடிமக்கள் அமைப்புகளின் ஆதரவைப் பெறுதல் இந்த முயற்சி, அந்தப் பகுதியின் சுற்றுச்சூழல் மற்றும் வாழ்வாதாரத்தை பாதுகாப்பதற்கும், சமூக ஒருமைப்பாட்டை மீண்டும் உருவாக்குவதற்கும் முக்கியமான படியாகும் என தலைவர்கள் நம்புகின்றனர். නිහඬ බව බිඳගෙන – නැවතත් අපි එකතු වෙමු 2025 අගෝස්තු 8 වනදා, පොන්නාවේලි ප්‍රදේශයේ නායකයින් එකරාශී වී විශේෂ සාකච්ඡාවක් පවත්වා තිබිණි. මෙය, ප්‍රදේශයේ ඉදිකිරීමට යෝජිතව තිබූ ටෝකියෝ සිමෙන්ති කර්මාන්ත ශාලා ව්‍යාපෘතියට අදාල නවතම තත්ත්වය පිළිබඳව සහ ඉදිරියට ගත හැකි පියවර පිළිබඳව සාකච්ඡා කිරීමේ අරමුණින් සංවිධානය කරන ලද සාකච්ඡාවකි. මෙම ව්‍යාපෘතිය තාවකාලිකව නවතා තිබුණද, කර්මාන්ත ශාලා ආරම්භ කිරීමට නියමිත බිම තුළ තවමත් කම්කරුවන් හා උපකරණ රැඳී සිටීම, ඕනෑම මොහොතක වැඩ නැවත පටන් ගන්නා හැකියාවක් පවතින බවට ප්‍රදේශවාසීන් විශ්වාස කරති. සාකච්ඡාවේදී නායකයන්, දැනට පවතින තත්ත්වය පිළිබඳව ජනතාව නැවතත් දේශපාලනික බෙදීම් අතහැර එක්වීමේ අත්‍යවශ්‍යතාවය පිළිබඳව ඉදිරියේදී ක්‍රියාත්මක කළ හැකි පියවර පිළිබඳව සවිස්තර සැලැස්මක් සකස් කර ගත්තේය. ඉදිරි සැලැස්ම තුළ ඇතුළත් කරුණු: 1. බලධාරීන්ට දැනුම්දීම 2. බලපෑම් වැඩසටහන් ක්‍රියාත්මක කිරීම 3. රජය ලබාදුන් පොරොන්දු ඉටුකරන ලෙස ලිඛිත ඉල්ලීම් හා දැනුම්දීම් යැවීම 4. මෙම ක්‍රියාවලියට සිවිල් සංවිධානවල සහාය ලබා ගැනීම මෙම උත්සාහය, ප්‍රදේශයේ පාරිසරික හා ජීවනෝපාය ආරක්ෂා කර ගැනීම සඳහා සහ ජනතා එකමුතුව නැවත ගොඩනගා ගැනීම සඳහා වැදගත් පියවරක් ලෙස නායකයින් විසින් විශ්වාස කරනු ලැබීය.

Save Mannar

#savemannar #prajaabhilashanetwork 🛑 Save Mannar Island – Stop Sand Mining Now! 🛑 Join our two‑day (06 and 07 of August ),peaceful protest and sign our postcards to demand justice! 🌊 Environmental Impacts Mannar Island is ecologically fragile: home to migratory birds on the Central Asian Flyway, mangroves that support fisheries, and coastal ecosystems vital for local livelihoods . Heavy limonite and mineral sand mining by Titanium Sands Ltd. and its affiliates threatens groundwater systems—drilling up to 12 m deep has already compromised fresh water and risked increased salinity, potentially submerging over 60% of the island . Loss of biodiversity, erosion of soil fertility, and irreversible damage to coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar are serious risks . 👥 Social & Livelihood Impacts Over 70,000 residents—particularly women‑headed households, fisherfolk, salt producers, coconut and palmyrah workers—depend on land and sea for sustenance; mining threatens their existence . Displacement has been occurring: thousands have been temporarily uprooted, and locals fear permanent loss of ancestral lands . Communities allege land grabs facilitated by company-linked brokers, often bypassing legal approvals or land rights . 🏛️ Political, Governance & Cultural Concerns The project is backed by powerful bodies including the Geological Survey, Board of Investment, and Central Environmental Authority—often sidelining community approval and transparency . Just recently, police obtained a court restraining order against ten Tamil leaders (lawyers, priests) organizing protests—reflecting suppression of civic dissent . Locals view this as a continuation of militarisation and systemic marginalisation in the North‑East, with unfulfilled promises on land return and demilitarisation post‑war . 📣 What You Can Do 1. Attend the two‑day protest marches to show solidarity. 2. Sign a protest postcard demanding: Immediate halt to all sand‑mining and exploration Protection of freshwater sources and coastal ecosystems Respect for land ownership and return of disputed land Full environmental impact assessment with public disclosure Legal accountability and reinstatement of protest rights 3. Share this post widely to raise national and global awareness. 4. Use the hashtag #SaveMannarIsland #StopSandMining #ProtectOurFuture > “Sand‑mining in Mannar is an existential threat to our island—but we refuse to let our home be stolen. Freshwater wells are salinising, our fishers and farmers are losing livelihoods, and wildlife is vanishing. We demand transparency, justice, and respect for our rights. Join our peaceful protest and sign the postcard. The future of Mannar belongs to its people.”