Indian, Australian Youth Groups Launch Global Week of Action Targeting Adani.

More than 25 youth groups have launched a global call for a week of action targeting Adani from 27 January 2021 to 2 February 2021.

YAStA is a call to action by youth groups from around the world to Stop Adani from subverting democracies, suppressing community voices, harassing its critics, taking over lands belonging to and used by Aboriginal, Indigenous, farming and fishing communities, degrading the environment, aggravating the climate crisis, endangering our future, eroding livelihoods, and obliterating cultures and identities.

Inspired by global efforts to #StopAdani, YAStA is calling for a Global Week of Action from 27 January 2021 to 2 February 2021 (World Wetlands Day). The farmers' protest outside Delhi highlights the extent to which the corporate sector controls the Indian government. Adani, which added $19 billion to its wealth during the COVID-19 lockdown, is considered one of the big beneficiaries of the Farm Laws.

In every location where local communities are fighting Adani's ventures, the campaign is also to reclaim their own governments to work for the electorate rather than for Adani.

Adani's businesses and proposals have dangerous ramifications for the environment. By taking over farmlands, commons, wetlands, seascapes and lands sacred to Aboriginal and Indigenous communities for mega ports, coal mines and carbon-intensive industries, Adani’s proposals end up impoverishing communities and aggravating the climate crisis.

Adani's response to community campaigns has been vicious, according to spokespeople for the campaign. By branding dissenting communities as anti-development and anti-national, it goads democratically-elected governments to turn against their own citizens. It must be said that Adani is not the only corporation to behave in this manner. However, as the experience of communities from India and Australia suggests, Adani symbolises the dangers of untrammelled corporate power.

As youth from across the world, we are very concerned for our future. We are convinced that a world under corporations will only enrich shareholders by robbing the environment, communities and generations to come. We extend our solidarity to the farmers protesting outside Delhi for fair prices for their produce and for more control over their own destinies.