A call for support for a global hunger strike was made to coincide with those 500 or so who have started their indefinite fast in Idinthikarai against issues to do with the safety and legality of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant. By day 5 of the global petition started April 28, more than 260 signatures have been collected. These were sent directly to key decision-makers, the Tamil Nadu State Chief Minister Jalayalithaa and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

People from all continents have responded including South Asia, South East Asia, East Asia, Australasia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas. These also include people who are Indian and/or Tamil that live overseas, who like others, want India to develop but on sustainable, equitable, affordable and safe grounds.
The call was to show solidarity for the people arrested, for those falsely charged and those under threat by living next to nuclear reactors in a tsunami, volcanic and earthquake zone where there is also a water shortage for both the neighbourhood and the reactors. People have demonstrated their support in a variety of ways including contacting their media and social networks, organising talks, going on a one day hunger strike in support and/or signing the petition which is available HERE.

The worldwide support does not represent a movement under a ‘foreign hand’ but an organic growth of people holding hands in solidarity for those suffering in south India. The prospect of radiation contamination and waste cannot be vetted by national border controls. It is a global and human matter as Chernobyl and Fukushima have so dreadfully shown.
Now that about 500 women have joined the other 24 on hunger strike since May 1st, there is an urgent need to step up the pressure and increase the awareness campaign. Please sign the petition and if there is a website problem, please contact the PM pmindia@pmindia.nic.in, manmohan@sansad.nic.in and the CM cs@tn.gov.in, cmcell@tn.gov.in with the letter pasted below.
People showing support from countries represented so far include in alphabetical order:

Australia 23
Austria 1
Belgium 2
Cameroon 1
Canada 31
Chile 1
Czech Republic 3
Denmark 1
France 1
Germany 3
Greece 1
India 42
Italy 3
Japan 2
Kuwait 1
Malaysia 2
Malta 1
Mexico 3
Netherlands 1
New Caledonia 2
New Zealand 3
Norway 3
Oman 1
Poland 2
Singapore 2
South Africa 1
Spain 2
Sweden 3
Switzerland 2
United Arab Emirates 1
United Kingdom 72
United States 57
Petition letter

Drop charges against activists, institute independent and transparent committee on hydrology, geology, seismology and oceanography of the region for nuclear reactors at Koodankulam

Honorable sir/madam,
On May 1st, 24 people have started an indefinite hunger strike in south India. They have been joined by about 500 women from May 4th. Despite official promises, their demands about the legality and safety of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant have not been met. This is a peaceful struggle to the death.

The Indian government has announced that the first reactor at Koodankulam will go critical in May/June. More than 55,000 people have been falsely charged including for sedition. This makes a travesty of democracy.

This is an urgent appeal for justice and the following of proper and transparent procedures regarding the safety and review of environmental aspects of the nuclear power plant by a fully independent committee. This petition is not from any movement under a ‘foreign hand’ but from ordinary people holding hands in solidarity across the world. As Chernobyl and Fukushima have shown, nuclear dangers are a global and human concern, not simply a national one.

We earnestly support the development of India but there are alternate models of developments – affordable, equitable, safe and sustainable – that India can profitably pursue.

We demand:
[1] The ongoing work at the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) must be halted and the following steps must be taken immediately.

[2] As the Central Information Commission (CIC) has instructed the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL), the Safety Analysis Report and the Site Evaluation Report must be released to the public immediately. And the full and final post-Fukushima safety audit report must also be released to the press and the public.

[3] A new and comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report must be commissioned as the one that the DAE has released after 23 years of struggle is incomplete, erroneous and outdated. The Tamil and Malayalam translations of the new EIA must be shared with the local people and the Press in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

[4] The opinions and preferences of the project-affected people must be heard by a competent authority in an open, transparent and democratic manner to understand the fears and concerns of the people.

[5] An independent national committee must be constituted to study the issues of geology, hydrology, oceanography and seismology involved in the Koodankulam nuclear power plant.

[6] Disaster management training and evacuation exercises must be conducted in the 30-km radius of the Koodankulam plants and beyond in the wake of the recent earthquake all over Tamil Nadu and India.

[7] A Tamil Nadu State Assembly Resolution must be passed that the Pechipparai dam water from Kanyakumari District and the Tamirabharani river water from Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi Districts will not be taken for the KKNPP reactors.

[8] A copy of the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on liability secretly signed between the governments of India and Russia must be made available to the project-affected public.

[9] Complete and truthful information must be given to the local people and the citizens of India about nuclear waste that would be produced at the Koodankulam plants and its management.

[10] All the false cases against the members of the struggle committee and the common people must be withdrawn immediately and unconditionally. People who were peacefully protesting against the Koodankulam nuclear power plant are still languishing in prison and must be released immediately.

[11] The local people’s right to protest peacefully and non-violently against the KKNPP and other related issues must be respected and honored. And no more false cases and other intimidatory exercises should be used against the struggling people.

Wind power is already providing double the amount of electricity than from nuclear reactors and at a fraction of the cost, including even to the Koodankulam nuclear township. We urge you to invest in the viability of alternative power, and not unwisely resort to expensive, dangerous and relatively short-term fixes such as nuclear power.

Thank you

Sincerely,
[Your name]