Kerala Tourism Watch supports Kerala Houseboat Workers strike for higher wages

Media Release of September 9, 2008

Kerala Tourism Watch, an informal coalition of civil society activists and local communities, declares its moral and political solidarity to the striking workers of the Houseboat Industry in Kerala. Workers have launched an indefinite strike demanding better wages. Kerala's tourism industry which often talks about responsible tourism stands thoroughly exposed in the wake of the strike. The houseboat industry has grown disproportionate to the carrying capacity of Kerala backwaters and it provides direct employment to nearly 2000 workers staffed by over 600 houseboats. The workers are mostly affiliated to Center of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) the workers front of Communist party of India (Marxists) (CPI (M)).

The strike has been called following a refusal of the Boat owners to renew the labour contract after the existing two-year contract expired in August, 2008. The current wages of Houseboat workers is a meager Rs 2500 (USD 56) per month and a daily allowance of Rs 100 (USD 2.25) in an industry that boasts of average daily business of Rs.2.5 million (USD 57000) during the peak season. The employees have asked a salary hike to Rs.4000 and daily allowance to Rs.200.

We note with regret that the government (in which the CPI (M) is the leading partner) and the tourism industry have not taken a sympathetic stand towards the demands of the workers Union. Negotiations prior to the strike have been futile and the workers were unnecessarily forced into the strike due to this general apathy to their causes. Kerala Tourism Watch believes that the indifference and insensitivity to the causes of the workers work to undermine the credibility of the tripartite system of labour negotiations in the Tourism industry.

The ruling CPI (M), has on its own rights, emerged as a Tourism entrepreneur in the State. The Party has allowed its senior cadres to establish Star Hotels and entertainment parks as cooperative ventures with party nominees forming the core of the director board. Kerala Tourism Watch shares the anxiety of the civil society in Kerala that the Party in its new role as Entrepreneur might be antagonistic to the interest of the workers in the tourism industry.

The strike has brought to public attention the pitiable living conditions and low wages of workers in the tourism Industry in Kerala.Tourism organizations in the State have time and again pointed out that Kerala Tourism's rhetoric of responsible tourism does not tally with its repeatedly proven track record of irresponsible practices.

The strike of Houseboat workers has once again vindicated this criticism of Kerala tourism. On the strike front, there is an escalation of tensions. There are media reports regarding instances of workers stopping tourists from boarding Houseboats and the striking employees preventing other workers from operating Houseboats. In a state known for labour militancy, such practices, although undesirable, are widely prevalent in all sectors. We are apprehensive that these instances will be blown up with the help of right wing Media to legitimize repression and/or demoralize the strike compelling workers Union to accept a package that will serve the interests of the Boat Owners.

It is important to note in this context that the Kerala's tourism Industry has completely failed to curb the burgeoning growth of the houseboat operation that endangers the fragile ecosystem of the backwaters in the state causing displacement of and loss of livelihood for traditional fishers. The strike and the economic demands of the houseboat workers clearly indicate that it has also failed miserably to protect the interests of the workers who have found alternative menial employment in the tourism sector.

Kerala Tourism Watch calls for an amicable and just settlement of the wage dispute between workers and houseboat owners. The workers' demands are genuine and fair given the context of inflationary economic conditions and growing food crisis in the state. Meanwhile, we reassert our deep concerns about the State's and Workers Union's continuing indifference to the ethical and environmental problems that the Houseboat industry has engendered. An earnest debate on this issue to create environmentally viable standards of House Boat operation in Kerala's backwaters is long overdue.

For the entire campaign, see: www.keralatourismwatch.org

Statement from the International Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change

 Sir (Madam) Chair

We, the Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change would like to reiterate that this meeting on REDD convened in the city of Accra, Ghana is held at a time when the climate negotiations are at an absolute crossroads in terms of the future of our planet.

We have the opportunity to recognize and respect the rights of Indigenous Peoples and to incorporate these issues into the basic framework of the climate convention so that we all progress down the road of finding workable solutions to the problems presented by climate change as equals. On the other hand, we face the very real danger that the decisions we make here today will be in breach of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and will set back the fight for justice on many fronts.

Likewise the decisions that we make on the future of the REDD discussions must ensure that if this is to progress, it does so in a manner designed to enhance human rights, ensure real reductions in Greenhouse gas emissions at source, and in a manner designed to recognize, protect and preserve the issues of social justice and economic equity.

To that end, in order to ensure that any agreement on forests is based on the full implementation of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples, we again call on the Parties to the Framework
Convention on Climate Change gathered here in Accra to:

1) Establish a formal recognition of the Indigenous Forum on Climate Change.
2) Establish a voluntary fund to facilitate the full and effective
participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities with all levels
of the convention.
3) Insist that whatever mechanism goes forward from this meeting on REDD includes the necessity of the free, prior and informed consent of
Indigenous Peoples (including complete and timely access to information).
4) The clear recognition of Indigenous Peoples as guardians and protectors of the forests which form an integral part of their traditional lands and territories, and which form the basis for a large part of their
traditional knowledge.
5) The rights of Indigenous Peoples to expect a secure and permanent land tenure system which recognizes and entrenches traditional lands and territories in the hands of the traditional owners of these lands.
6) Given that in the REDD talks we are addressing approximately 18% of
total GHG, the REDD discussions must not be seen as a way of annex one nations abrogating their responsibilities in terms of real and permanent reductions in their domestic emissions.

Sir/ Madam, we recognize that Indigenous rights are but a part of the
necessary mechanisms that we must all undertake to fight climate change and we wish to signal that we, as Indigenous Peoples are prepared to play our part in that fight but that this must be done as equals. To this end, we invite the signatures of our friends and colleagues from NGOs and the rest of civil society to endorse this historic statement which we sincerely hope heralds a new era in the climate discussions. One in which we come together as a united planet to fight a common enemy, one in which, at least temporarily, we are prepared to put aside our sometimes considerable differences in order the common good might prevail. We would also like to welcome the signatures of those nations who see this as an opportunity for real change.
Thank you.

Signatories

Indigenous Peoples Forum on Climate Change
Friends of the Earth International
Global Forest Coalition
PIPEC (Pacific Indigenous Peoples Environment Coalition.)
Friends of the Siberian Forests
Indian Treaty Council
Global Justice Ecology Project
Ecumenical Coalition on Tourism

On the eve of World Indigenous Peoples’ Day MRG launches new online “Trouble in Paradise” Campaign calling for the tourism industry to respect indigenous rights in Kenya

Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is a non-governmental organisation working to secure the rights of ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and indigenous peoples worldwide.

On the eve of World Indigenous Peoples’ Day on 9 August, Minority Rights Group International (MRG) is re-launching the online Trouble in Paradise campaign, in support of the Endorois, an indigenous community from Kenya, evicted from their ancestral lands to make way for a game reserve in the 1970s.

The online campaign <http://www.minorityrights.org/troubleinparadise> aims to collect 5,000 signatures for a petition urging the Kenyan government and tour operators to guarantee and protect the Endorois’ traditional way of life.

The petition states that the Endorois have clear rights to live on their lands, insists that they should fully benefit from the lucrative tourism conducted there and be compensated adequately for the eviction from their one-time home.

Wilson Kipkazi, Secretary of the Endorois Welfare Council, says, “The launch of the Trouble in Paradise online campaign is a milestone for the Endorois community’s struggle to be recognized as a people who have a right to the natural resources on their land.”

“The world is a global village, and to address these issues online will expose human rights violations against indigenous peoples which have been committed with impunity,” he adds.

The Endorois are a community of approximately 60, 000 indigenous semi-nomadic pastoralists, who have lived on the shores of Lake Bogoria and in the Monchongoi forest in the Rift Valley for centuries. They were once able to migrate between these two traditional sites with the seasons, but are now forced to live permanently on a strip of semi-arid land, unable to sustain their cattle-rearing livelihood.

In 2007 tourism accounted for 10 percent of Kenya’s GDP. The largest number of tourists visiting Kenya hail from the UK, followed by Germany, Italy and France.

MRG believes that we all have a responsibility to practice not just eco-tourism, but ethical tourism - so that minorities and indigenous people are not evicted to make way for holidaymakers on game reserves or pristine beaches.

“Tourists often travel content in the knowledge that their holidays protect endangered species, and their tourism helps to boost the local economy. They rarely wonder who lived on the land before they arrived there, where the original custodians of the land have disappeared to, or at what cost,” says Cynthia Morel, MRG’s Senior Legal Officer.

Today, the vast majority of the Endorois live in severe poverty and struggle to pay for school fees - few children are educated above primary level. They have little or no electricity, are consistently dependent on relief food and must often walk long distances to fetch water.

With support from MRG’s lawyers, the Endorois have taken their case to the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. The Commission is a legal body which monitors the implementation of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, ratified by Kenya in 1992. A ruling is expected in late 2008.

For more information, contact Emma Eastwood,
T: +44 (0) 207 4224205, M: +44 (0) 7989699984

E: emma.eastwood@mrgmail.org <mailto:emma.eastwood@mrgmail.org>