Workshop for Journalists on Environmental Justice

Venue: National Library Services and Documentation Board Seminar Room, Colombo 7
Date: Tuesday, February 11, 2003

Organized by: Green Party, Sri Lanka with sponsorship from Panos South Asia

Chair: Dr. Wasantha Bandara, Secretary (International Affairs), Green Party, Sri Lanka

Speakers:

• Nalaka Gunawardene, Sri Lankan Board member of Panos South Asia
• Piyal Parakrama, President, Green Party, Sri Lanka
• Sunil R. de Silva, Attorney-at-law, President, Neethi Shakthi Foundation
• Samantha Gunasekera, Superintendent of Customs/ Head, Bio-diversity Unit, Department of Customs, Sri Lanka

The workshop for the journalists on "Environmental Justice", organized by the Green Party, Sri Lanka with sponsorship from the Panos South Asia was held on February 11, 2003 at the National Library Services and Documentation Board Seminar Room, Colombo 7. This workshop, following a successful public seminar on the same topic held in October 21, 2002 is in fact a continuation of the Green Party and Panos's attempts to disseminate the concept of Environmental Justice in Sri Lanka. The success of the public seminar last year was also a factor that prompted the Green Party to organize this workshop. It was suggested by some participants during the interactive session of the seminar that journalists would be a useful target group in disseminating this concept widely and effectively. Thus, a primary objective of the workshop was to sensitise media personnel on the concept of environmental justice and to open up discussions and establish a forum for future work on this issue with them.

Following the registration of participants, Dr. Wasantha Bandara, the Secretary International Affairs of the Green Party, Sri Lanka chaired the proceedings. He welcomed the guests and introduced the speakers and the objectives of the workshop. In his speech Bandara mentioned that the concept of environmental justice is embedded in the Buddhist way of life, although it is not taken in the right context in today's complex socio-economic and political environments.

Thereafter Mr. Liam Farley, a member of the Australian Green Party, who was on a visit to Sri Lanka and attending the workshop as a special guest of the Sri Lankan Green Party, addressed the gathering. Farley spoke about the Franklin River Campaign in Tasmania in the 1970s, which eventually led to the genesis of the Australian Green Party, the first Green Party of the world. He also spoke of the electoral system in Australia and the steady progress the Greens had shown over the years in the politics of that country. As pointed out by Farley, Australian Greens' ability to present themselves as an alternative to the main stream political parties of that country and their humanistic attitude on many issues including that of the migrants were some of the reasons that have paved the way for their increased popularity with the Australian public.

Following Farley, Nalaka Gunawardene, the Sri Lankan Board member of Panos South Asia spoke. While introducing the concept of environmental justice he also spoke of the incident of dumping of PCBs contaminated soil in a low income, predominantly African-American neighborhood in Warren County in North Carolina in US in 1982. This incident, which sparked immense public protests, later led to the genesis of the concept of environmental justice. He also highlighted the fact that the "environment" has to be understood in its totality, which includes its physical, ecological, social, cultural and economic dimensions. He also pointed out the possibility of seeing this concept from both "equity" and "rights" perspectives.

Thereafter, Piyal Parakrama, the President of the Green Party, Sri Lanka spoke of the Sri Lankan experiences with regard to environmental justice. Speaking of the brutal assassination of Mr. C. Kumarasinghe, Game Ranger of the Ruhunu National Park, he identified this as a serious threat to environmental justice in Sri Lanka. He spoke of Kumarasinghe as an honest official, who worked tirelessly to safeguard the Ruhunu National Park from the area's politicians, merchants and poachers who indulged in many illegal activities within its boundaries. While he saw the death of Kumarasinghe as a big loss to the cause of wildlife protection and environmental justice in Sri Lanka, he stressed the importance of seeing an end to organized crime against honest officials who are involved in protecting the country's nature.

He also mentioned many developments (at the governmental policy level) that seriously threaten the environment (and the bio-diversity) of the country. Commenting on the government's decision to remove the requirements of public hearings for Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) relating to development projects, Parakrama mentioned the possibility that a coal power project in Trincomalee could be started without an IEE. He also mentioned the dangers of withdrawing the sanctuary status of the Karagan lagoon. Parakrama also pointed out the possibility of the country's forests being exploited by Multi-National Corporations (MNCs) because of the Sri Lankan government's keenness to adopt the American Rain Forest Act. Commenting on the impending dangers posed to the environment through privatization, he identified national parks and water as two resources that could be seriously affected. Among the other garve environmental concerns of recent origin were the encroachments around Piduruthlagala (the tallest mountain in Sri Lanka), continued operation of the Kosgama diesel power plant in spite of the court's ruling to close down (as it was found to be a public nuisance) and the lethargic attitude of some forest department officials against encroachers, especially because of political influence and interference.

Following Parakrama, Sunil R. De Silva, Attorney-at-law, President, Neethi Shakthi Foundation, spoke about the legal situation with regards to environmental justice in Sri Lanka. While commenting on the importance of incorporating resource management into law, he described law as a tool for satisfying human wants by making proper use of available limited resources. He also pointed out from a Sri Lankan perspective how at different levels, that is at the levels of legislature, law enforcement agencies and the community at large, law has been devised to facilitate piling up of more resources for the personal gains of a few. This has resulted in some evading punishment for misusing public funds and resources, and has also enabled MNCs to exploit the natural resources of the country. He remarked that this could not be rectified effectively unless social mobilization programs are undertaken with the objective of addressing the present state of disillusionment that threaten the law and it's institutions.

The final speaker of the day was Samantha Gunasekera, the Superintendent and the Head of the Bio-diversity Unit of the Department of Customs. Gunasekera, a respected environmentalist and a public servant, was a key figure in establishing the Bio-diversity Unit of the Department of Customs to prevent the pirating of precious faunal and floral resources from the country. In his speech Gunasekera emphasized environmental, social and economic injustices that are caused by legal as well as illegal export of genetic resources. In addition he made a useful slide presentation of various products that were seized by the customs (and police) during attempts to export the items from the country.

In the discussion session that followed the speeches, many useful observations and comments were made by the participants. Journalists spoke of the difficulties that they faced in reporting corruption and injustice, especially with regards to environmental issues as many such incidents take place with the blessings of politically powerful or influential people. At the end of the sessions, a committee, "The Journalists for Environmental Justice," was formed with Sisira and * being selected as joint convenors.

"Justice for All: Promoting Environmental Justice in South Asia", a report published by Panos South Asia along with a set of related literature on the theme, was distributed among the participants.

The day's proceedings ended with lunch.

List of Participants

Name	Affiliation
1. Mr. Indunil Kaushal	Lakhanda Radio
2. Mr. Shantha Dunukevilla	Editor, Justice
3. Ms. Indu Colambage	Freelance
4. Ms. Shyamalee Kasthuriarachchi	Vijaya Publications
5. Mr. Prasanna Adhikari	Lakbima (weekend)
6. Mr. Bhathiya Jayathilake	Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
7. Ms. Rajini Kalugama	Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
8. Ms. Vineetha Gamage	Lankadeepa
9. Mr. Udayajeewa Ekanayake	Hiru FM
10. Mr. Sisira Yapa	Hiru
11. Mr. Thilak Senevirathne	Lakbima (daily)
12. Mr. Athula Vithanage	ABC Radio
13. Mr. Mano Fernando	Freelance
14. Mr. Nuwan Liyanage	Hiru FM
15. Mr. Ravindra Dabare	Freelance
16. Mr. Gamini Gamage	Director Bio-Diversity, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources