Orissa tribe to Avatar director: now you watch our film
February 8th, 2010 - 7:22 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Feb 8 (IANS) Members of a tribe in Orissa who have been battling against a multinational mining company now want the director of the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Avatar’ to join their high-profile campaign.
An advertisement placed Monday in Variety, the Hollywood entertainment magazine, informs director James Cameron about the tribe’s fight against the mining company Vedanta Resources - likening it to the story of ‘Avatar.’
The ad says: “Appeal to James Cameron: Avatar is fantasy… and real.
“The Dongria Kondh tribe in India are struggling to defend their land against a mining company hell-bent on destroying their sacred mountain.
“Please help the Dongria. We’ve watched your film - now watch ours,” it said referring to a 10-minute documentary film, ‘Mine: Story of a Sacred Mountain,’ made by the British film actress Joanna Lumley.
The advertisement was placed by the international NGO Survival, which said the story of the Dongria Kondh “is uncannily similar to that of the Na’vi in Avatar.”
The Dongria, who live in the Niyamgiri Hills of Orissa state, have been opposing plans by the British FTSE-100 mining company Vedanta Resources to extract bauxite from the hill which they consider sacred.
Survival director Stephen Corry said: “The fundamental story of Avatar - if you take away the multi-coloured lemurs, the long-trunked horses and warring androids - is being played out today in the hills of Niyamgiri.
“I do hope that James Cameron will join the Dongria’s struggle to save their sacred mountain and secure their future.”
- Indo - Americans Applauds India - Aug 25, 2010
- Vedanta won't give fight over Orissa hill tribe's sacred mountain - Feb 01, 2011
- Indo-Americans laud India for disallowing mining of "sacred" mountain in Orissa - Aug 25, 2010
- Troubled Vedanta loses appeal for controversial Orissa refinery - Oct 22, 2010
- Vedanta's controversial mine gets backing of India's PM - Jun 30, 2010
- Third blow for Vedanta in a month as mine faces new probe - Jul 15, 2010
- Protest in London to stop mining project in Orissa - Jul 25, 2010
- UK Government blasts Vedanta for mistreatment of Oriya tribals - Oct 12, 2009
- Survival International appeals to UN to stop bauxite mine in Orissa - Jul 15, 2009
- Media exposure rocked mining boat in Niyamgiri: Filmmaker - Nov 26, 2010
- Vedanta Resources' head abandons talk after Survival announces protest - May 12, 2010
- British government slams Vedanta Resources - Oct 12, 2009
- Vedanta mine project rejection, a major win for Dongria tribe: Survival Intl. - Aug 24, 2010
- Church of England sells Vedanta shares over Orissa human rights - Feb 06, 2010
- Pressure on church as actress joins Orissa tribals' campaign - Jul 29, 2009
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