Educational Programs
Community Outreach
Farmers Workshop on Jaivika Vaividye and Bija Rakshane
1st April 2010
On 1st April 2010, a workshop was held by ESG and Action Aid to help farmers appreciate the nuances of the debates that resulted in India's Environment and Forests Minister Shri Jairam Ramesh enforcing a moratorium on the commercial release of Bt Brinjal. Read more.
Reducing Risk and Managing Urban Disasters
19th December 2009
On 19th Dec ESG hosted a workshop on "Fundamentals of Reducing Risk and Managing Urban Disasters," exploring how to minimize the impact of urban environmental disasters by identifying risks, building local action networks and working with the authorities. Read more.
Changing Ideas of Rights, Wrongs and Public Interest
27th November 2009
On 27 Nov Usha Ramanathan spoke on "Changing Ideas of Rights, Wrongs and Public Interest (Enquiries into Changing Role of State vis a vis sovereignty, eminent domain, impoverishment and the return of the Contract)." Read more.
Making Our Homes Environmentally Just
7th November 2009
On 7th Nov, ESG held a workshop on "Making Our Homes Environmentally Just" which covered rain water harvesting, solar energy use and composting. Read articles on the workshop in The Hindu and DNA. Read more.
ESG has advanced the environmental and social justice concerns of local communities, especially project affected communities, by organizing public interest workshops. Some of the workshops have been on specific issues and have included elected representatives, government agencies, judiciary, corporate organisations, the mass media, and civil society organisations. Some of the areas where we have been effective are:
ESG, along with the local groups in Chamalapura, conducted a one day workshop for local community members in Chamalapura on the environmental and health impacts of coal fired thermal power plants. The workshop addressed important issues of the functioning and operation of coal fired thermal power plant, the impacts of fly ash and the possible health and environmental impacts on the land, water and livelihoods of communities living close to such power plants. The workshop was well attended by local affected communities and also represented by some of the Panchayat members of the affected villages.
In Mangalore ESG has been working with communities since the early 90s. Recently it has increased its efforts to empower the local communities through helping them understand the Environment Impact Assessment Notification 2006 in the context of the proposed Special Economic Zone. ESG has helped people articulate their concerns and participating at public hearings.
ESG has also helped raise awareness on the impacts of Climate change on local fishing communities of Kerala. ESG conducted a workshop for the Kerala fish Workers Forum at Thrissur.
ESG is constantly working with affected communities across Bangalore on the issue of Road widening and the Metro. ESG has conducted several workshops across Bangalore in capacity building of communities to understand the implications of these projects on lives and livelihoods of people. More details of the Road Widening project can be found here.
ESG is an independent not-for-profit organisation that promotes the cause of environmental and social justice through research, documentation, advocacy, training and campaign support. We aim to support the rights of local communities and voiceless ecosystems in a responsible, progressive manner that keeps contextual complexities in mind.