angoc logo greenANGOC Gotong Royong
    E-Newsletter of the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform & Rural Development
Volume 3, Number 2
March 25, 2009
What does "Gotong Royong" mean?

"Gotong Royong" is a concept familiar to many parts of Indonesia and Malaysia. Translated into English, it evokes the concepts of "reciprocity" and "mutual aid".

We use the term "Gotong Royong" to refer to the idea of doing things together and helping each other in the spirit of goodwill.
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Dear Maricel,

Welcome to ANGOC Gotong Royong, the e-newsletter of the Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC).

We devote this issue to honoring the memory of Smitu Kothari--scholar, activist, philosopher, and beloved friend.
ANGOC mourns the passing of lifelong activist and dear friend, Smitu Kothari
 
Smitu KothariSmitu Kothari, one of India's leading social and environmental activists, died of  cardiac arrest early Monday, March 23, in Delhi. He was 59 years old.

Smitu was editor of the Lokayan Bulletin, published by the Lokayan group which promotes dialogue between NGOs and the rest of the world. He also co-edited Ecologist Asia with other environmentalists, including Vandana Shiva, Claude Alvares and Bittu Sahgal and has been a visiting professor at Cornell and Princeton universities.

Smitu was an important voice in the movement against large dams, particularly among the Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save the Narmada Movement). Moreover, he had the unique ability to bridge the local-global dimensions of social justice movements.

ANGOC Boardmember Antonio Quizon recalls working alongside Smitu in protesting against the Narmada Dam Project.  "Smitu was a heavyweight thinker and development philosopher, uncompromising as an activist, and one who lived his life 'outside the box'," says Quizon.

Smitu worked tirelessly against elite-driven development models and was a prominent critic of the policies and practices of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. His former colleagues at the Bank Information Center (BIC), of which he was a Board member since 1986, remember him for his kindness and forthright perspectives. Above all, they consider Smitu as a dear friend and a source of boundless inspiration.

Feel free to send in your comments.

Email us at: angoc@angoc.ngo.ph. Indicate in the subject line: Attention: Teresa Debuque (Editor)

Or you may write us at:

Asian NGO Coalition for Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ANGOC)
6A Malumanay St. U.P. Village, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Tel. (+63-2)4337653-54/ Fax: (+63-2)9217498/ Email: angoc@angoc.ngo.ph

Till next issue.

Sincerely,

Nathaniel Don E. Marquez, ANGOC Executive Director
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Asian NGO Coalition | 6A Malumanay St. U.P. Village | Diliman | Quezon City | 1101 | Philippines