World Environment Day 2012 observed in the middle of Loktak Lake
Date :: 05th June 2012

ALL MANIPUR LOKTAK LAKE AREA FISHERMEN'S UNION MANIPUR
Thanga,
Bishnupur District,
Manipur

The World Environment Day 2012 was marked today by the All Loktak Lake Area Fishermen’s Union Manipur on the theme “Green Economy: Does it include you?” by organising a first ever unique gathering of over 140 Meitei fisher-folk families on 121 indigenous canoes at Langon Sabi in the middle of the Loktak Lake.

The families displaced from their livelihoods in a violent eviction drive by the Loktak Development Authority (LDA) last year launched a campaign “Occupy Loktak: Reclaiming our Heritage and Rights”.

The event was marked by a public meeting held on phumdis and canoes against the backdrop of massive bamboo barricades across the Loktak Lake set up by the LDA.

The indigenous Meitei fisher-folk community of the Loktak Lake area asserted their role as responsible custodians of Mother Loktak with an offering and prayers to Ima Loktak Lairembi. Members and elders of the Union spoke on maintaining the ecological balance and contributing substantially to the economy of Manipur while sustaining human security and livelihoods, while conserving the environment. They denied any notion that they are the enemies of the state or any government, while asserting their democratic right to life and participation.

Supporting the observation, civil society organisations of Manipur, such as, Centre for Organisation Research & Education (CORE), Human Rights Alert (HRA), Reachout and Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Trauma and Torture Victims (H2H) also participated in the meeting.

Invitees and speakers in the meeting also reiterated that the observation this year was particularly significant because the Rio+20 Earth Summit Conference is commencing from 20 - 22 June 2012 at Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil.

At the Rio+20 Conference, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, will come together to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet to get to the future we want.

The need to document indigenous traditional knowledge and science held by the indigenous peoples of the Loktak Lake in sustaining our natural environment and ecology of the wetlands was emphasized, as the vital foundation of sustainable development for all future generations.

The observation ended with a peaceful demonstration on canoes by the family members of the Union.



Oinam Rajen
Secretary