At about 4pm yesterday I was finally able to meet with Dr. Shiva to see what she will have me do. She gave me a handfull of publications to read and told me she wanted me to write up a cause of action against the various agribusinesses under both the Indian and International Law systems for the farmers' rights to be free from intellectual property restrictions in use of their seeds.
Today I am meeting with the lawyer who has been working for Navdanya in their current case, which Navdanya is just an intervenor in, and not the original complainant. The Supreme Court is in recess for the next two months so this will be likely my only chance to speak with this particular lawyer, since he is going on vacation. Hopefully he will be able to give me some good guidance on the Indian legal system.
Dr. Shiva also had me enroll in a class in Juneon globalization which is being taught at her school, Bija Vidyapeeth, in Dehradun. There I will take the class, see the organic farm and speak with one of the other lawyers who is actually teaching the class.
The task is a bit daunting with my current knowledge about the actual legal systems but I think I will at least be able to be of some use outlining a broad strategy for the legal case.
Last night after work we went to the lake with some more of Manu and Mukesh's friends from college. They were very nice girls. All of their friends were in the same masters of social work program so it is heartening to see the young people in India engaged in social justice.
We sat on the lawn surrounded by young lovers lounging together, circles of women passing the time, and precocious kids climbing the ruins. Two little boys made a game of jumping in front of every photo I tried to take. The photos don't do justice to their youthful exuberance. As the sun went down the mosquitos came for a feast of my flesh and we decided to return home.
By nine or ten I was again unable to keep my eyes open so ended up going to bed without dinner. It is such an interesting feeling that I so seldom have in the states. Where your body litterally cannot take one more second.
I woke up at six today and joined the throngs of excercisers around the lake. There is no time where you are ever alone in India so the peace gained from an early morning job is marred by the nagging pressure I feel from the dutiful stares that enfold me.
Today I am meeting with the lawyer who has been working for Navdanya in their current case, which Navdanya is just an intervenor in, and not the original complainant. The Supreme Court is in recess for the next two months so this will be likely my only chance to speak with this particular lawyer, since he is going on vacation. Hopefully he will be able to give me some good guidance on the Indian legal system.
Dr. Shiva also had me enroll in a class in Juneon globalization which is being taught at her school, Bija Vidyapeeth, in Dehradun. There I will take the class, see the organic farm and speak with one of the other lawyers who is actually teaching the class.
The task is a bit daunting with my current knowledge about the actual legal systems but I think I will at least be able to be of some use outlining a broad strategy for the legal case.
Last night after work we went to the lake with some more of Manu and Mukesh's friends from college. They were very nice girls. All of their friends were in the same masters of social work program so it is heartening to see the young people in India engaged in social justice.
We sat on the lawn surrounded by young lovers lounging together, circles of women passing the time, and precocious kids climbing the ruins. Two little boys made a game of jumping in front of every photo I tried to take. The photos don't do justice to their youthful exuberance. As the sun went down the mosquitos came for a feast of my flesh and we decided to return home.
By nine or ten I was again unable to keep my eyes open so ended up going to bed without dinner. It is such an interesting feeling that I so seldom have in the states. Where your body litterally cannot take one more second.
I woke up at six today and joined the throngs of excercisers around the lake. There is no time where you are ever alone in India so the peace gained from an early morning job is marred by the nagging pressure I feel from the dutiful stares that enfold me.
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