Outlook and its contribution to virulent nationalism, communalism, and male-supremacism, with an emphasis on nuclearisation's onerous economic and social costs and harmful impact on health, food security, employment and education.
The mainstream media's role in promoting chauvinistic nationalism and in legitimising nuclearism through unbalanced news and comment came in for widespread criticismitself validated by the appallingly poor media coverage the Convention received.
Surprisingly, the issue of link between nuclear power and nuclear weapons, and of the viability and desirability of nuclear power generation, which was widely expected to generate heated debate, produced a remarkably sober discussion, with even the staunchest proponents of nuclear power conceding that in their existing designs and operational practices, most nuclear installations are far from safe or economical.
They did not contest AKN Reddy's computation of the high cost of nuclear electricity, or his support for cheaper alternatives. There was a dispute over the inevitability of the power-weapons nexus. But there was unanimity that there must be no compromise on health, safety standards or transparency.
Physicist M.V. Ramana made a significant presentation on the effects of nuclear explosions and accidents, building upon his earlier work, Bombing Bombay.
November 12 opened with a Plenary and heard a series of presentations on the activities and concerns of delegates representing different regions, sectors and constituencies which discussed the movement's progress in different parts of India, in South Asia and the world. Of particular importance were reports from the states, the semi-urban areas of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, besides campaigns in major cities like Calcutta and Bangalore.
This Plenary was the main forum at which the international delegates spoke about their activities in national movements international coalitions like Abolition-2000 (a network over 2000 peace groups), New Agenda Coalition (comprised O1 Egypt, Mexico, Ireland, New Zealand, South (Jharkhand), "The Jadúguda", which depicts the havoc wreaked upon the health of uranium miners and their families by patently unsafe practices and avoidable exposure to radioactivity and other The fourth (and final) session Working Groups was devoted to the nittygritty of developing "Networking, methods, forms - campaign experience: and in gies and campaign materials for different constituencies".
T Brazil, Under pressure to listen to a wide anti-nuclear movement: Indian premier Vajpayee Buddha Weeps at based on the principles of the Committee. This methodoloof whom will be from Delhi. Forty members hese sessions focused on educational material and cultural proddiscussions on and ResourceSharing and Advocacy. Another of November 12 from the Working Groups, mation and campaign material, on advocacy and lobbying, besides implementing the specific campaigns outlined in programme.
The Plenary established a Coalition for Nuclear disarmament and Peace (CNDP)
contained in the Draft Charter and Plan of Action. Finally, the Plenary voted for a 50-member Coordination Committee will have a Secretariat of 12 members, no more than five proposed by the Nominations Committee (formed in the first Wet House, Plenary, which had received over 90 names). It selected the 40 on the basis of their contribution to the movement, as well as regional, gender and sectoral balance. The other 10 members will be co-opted later. The Closing Plenary ended with a vote of thanks to the participants, chairs and speakers, the numerous institutions which helped, the artistes and musicians who performed, and not least, the 50-plus volunteers who looked after the practical arrangements.
The final item on the Convention agenda was the five hour-long Public Event at Mandi which different ensembles/troupes performed.