Ajay Kumar at 06:53, 9 August 2023

2023-08-09T06:53:47Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian environmentalist and author}}

----

'''Ameer Shahul''' is an Indian author and environmentalist who is known for his work against [[Unilever]] in [[Kodaikanal mercury poisoning]]. His first non-fiction book titled [[Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal]] was published by [[Pan Macmillan]] in 2023.<ref>{{cite news |title=Heavy Metal | url=https://www.panmacmillan.com/authors/ameer-shahul/heavy-metal/9789390742028/ | work=[[Pan Macmillan]] |date=2023-02-09 | first= Pan | last=Macmillan India | access-date=18 June 2023 }}</ref> He has been involved with green movements in [[India]] since 2002 ranging from [[ship-breaking]] to [[industrial pollution]] and campaigns against [[pesticides]].

== Environmentalist ==
Shahul worked with [[Greenpeace]] since 2002 on a campaign against mercury pollution by [[Unilever]] in [[Kodaikanal]], industrial pollution committed by the [[FMCG]] company in the [[hill station]] of [[Tamil Nadu]], known as [[Kodaikanal mercury poisoning]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lawrence M|first=Salinger|title=Encyclopedia of White-Collar & Corporate Crime, Volume 1|url=https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/encyclopedia-of-white-collar-and-corporate-crime/book237970|publisher=Sage Publications|accessdate=6 February 2014}}</ref> He led the public affairs groups and ex-workers to force the company collect 290 tonnes of mercury waste disposed off in and around the factory site and send back to the [[United States]] for permanent retirement in 2003.<ref>{{cite web |work=The New York Times |title=Hazardous Waste Is Shipped From India to U.S. Recycling Plant |author=Saritha Rai |date=May 7, 2003 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/07/world/hazardous-waste-is-shipped-from-india-to-us-recycling-plant.html |accessdate=2019-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Saritha Rai |date=May 8, 2003 |title=Activists hail 'reverse dumping' as India sends waste to U.S. |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-73787744.html |work=International Herald Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611035628/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-73787744.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 June 2014 |via=High Beam Research}}</ref> This action of sending waste from a developing country to a developed country was widely hailed by the media as ‘reverse dumping'.<ref>{{cite web |title=India sends hazardous waste back to US |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-sends-hazardous-waste-back-to-US/articleshow/43609694.cms |work=Times of India |date=Apr 16, 2003 |access-date=2019-06-06}}</ref> Shahul along with campaigners like Navroz Mody led environmental and local community groups in lobbying for remediation of the site,<ref>{{cite book |last=Fernando |first=A.C. |title=Business Ethics And Corporate Governance |date=2010 |publisher=Pearson Education India |location=New Delhi |page=9.14 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_32bJs_nfNIC&pg=SA9-PA14|isbn=9788131734629 }}</ref> and initiated an investigation by the [[Department of Atomic Energy]] of [[Government of India]], which found that the mercury levels in the atmosphere of Kodaikanal was up to 2640 times more than what is found in normal conditions.<ref name=":00">{{cite journal |author1=D. Karunasagar |author2=M.V. Balarama Krishna |author3=Y. Anjaneyulu |author4=J. Arunachalam |title=Studies of mercury pollution in a lake due to a thermometer factory situated in Kodaikkanal |url=http://kodaimercury.org/backdoor/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Report-Mercury-CCCMB.pdf |journal=Environmental Pollution |volume=143 |issue=1 |date=September 2006 |pages=153–158 |doi=10.1016/j.envpol.2005.10.032 |pmid=16412540 |accessdate=2019-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Closed Unilver factory source of Mercury Pollution |url=http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan172004/n9.asp |work=Deccan Herald |date=January 17, 2004 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222041628/http://archive.deccanherald.com/Deccanherald/jan172004/n9.asp |archive-date=2014-02-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Hindustan Lever Limited Found Guilty again |date=February 4, 2004 |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/india/en/news/the-department-of-atomic-resea/ |publisher=Greenpeace |accessdate=2019-06-06}}</ref> Shahul also led a team of activists and volunteers to spook the annual general body meeting of [[Hindustan Unilever]] in [[Mumbai]] in 2003 and 2004.<ref>{{cite web |title=Greenpeace spooks HLL AGM; Demand Public Apology for Kodaikanal Mercury disaster |date=August 4, 2004 |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/india/en/news/greenpeace-spooks-hll-agm-dem/ |publisher=Greenpeace |accessdate=2019-06-06}}</ref>

He also campaigned against the practices of [[ship breaking]] in Indian shores for hazardous waste disposal,<ref>{{Cite news |last=TNN|first=Times of India |date=2003-11-24 |title=Asbestos to be cleaned up before UK ship is broken|language=en-IN |work=Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/asbestos-to-be-cleaned-up-before-uk-ship-is-broken/articleshow/301669.cms|access-date=2023-03-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-11-24 |title=Ban Kannur ship-breaking yard: Greenpeace|url=https://www.rediff.com/money/2003/oct/16kannur.htm|access-date=2023-03-11 |website=www.rediff.com}}</ref> and against ground water exploitation and waste dumping by [[Coca-Cola]] in [[Kerala]] known as [[Plachimada Coca-Cola struggle]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Venugopal |first=P |date= Aug 7, 2003 | title=Tests Confirm Toxicity In Sludge From Coke Plant |work=The Hindu |location=Kochi |url=https://countercurrents.org/glo-venugopal070803.htm }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |work=Domain.b |title=Red wrath for Coke in green Kerala|url=https://www.domain-b.com/companies/companies_c/coca-cola_india/20030806_kerala.htm|accessdate=2019-03-11}}</ref> He also brought to notice the worst incident of a state owned company continuing to manufacturing the globally banned [[DDT]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Iype |first=George |date=Oct 10, 2003 | title=Eloor is one of the world's most toxic spots |work=Rediff.com |location=Kochi |url=https://www.rediff.com/money/2003/oct/10toxic.htm }}</ref>

== Author ==
In 2023, Pan Macmillan published his book titled, [[Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Mercury poisoning can affect generations to come, says Eric Solhiem |url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/mercury-poisoning-can-affect-generations-to-come-says-eric-solheim/articleshow/99002911.cms |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=2023-03-26 | first=of India | last=Times | access-date=24 June 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=‘Mercury may be present in Kodaikanal forest soil for centuries’ | url= https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/mercury-may-be-present-in-kodaikanal-forest-soil-for-centuries/article66661779.ece | newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=2023-03-26 | first= The | last=Hindu | access-date=24 June 2023}} </ref>
[[Deccan Herald]] described the book as 'a blunt and bold account of a tragedy',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/ameershahul/status/1627143466172968964|title=With Lichen and Moss as Allies |last=Shahul|first=Ameer|website=Deccanherald.com|language=en-US|access-date=2023-03-10}}</ref> while [[Malayala Manorama]] termed it as the gripping take on an industrial tragedy, and of green resistance. <ref>{{Cite news |date= February 23, 2023 | title= Heavy Metal: A gripping take on an industrial tragedy, and of green resistance |publisher=Malayala Manorama |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/lifestyle/news/2023/02/23/heavy-metal-gripping-take-industrial-tragedy-green-resistance.html|access-date=2023-03-12 }}</ref> [[Business Line]] described the book as 'a good pointer to be on our guard and save the environment.'<ref>{{cite web |date= May 19, 2023 | title= Book review: Heavy Metal: How a Global Corporation Poisoned Kodaikanal | url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/books/reviews/review-heavy-metal-how-a-global-corporation-poisoned-kodaikanal/article66868917.ece |accessdate=2023-07-21}}</ref> [[The Financial Express (India)]] called it a case study on corporate and regulatory failures,<ref>{{cite web |date= June 18, 2023 |work=The Financial Express |title=Kodaikanal’s tragedy: From the lens of one incident, a case study on corporate and regulatory failures|url=https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/kodaikanals-tragedy-from-the-lens-of-one-incident-a-case-study-on-corporate-and-regulatory-failures/3130317/|accessdate=2023-07-21}}</ref> while [[The New Indian Express]] described it as a crisp cinematic account of corporate greed and the struggle for justice in India.<ref>{{cite web |work=The New Indian Express |title=Heavy Metal is a crisp cinematic account of corporate greed and the struggle for justice in India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/heavy-metal-corporate-greed-justice-struggle-india-book-review-8554799/|accessdate=2023-07-21}}</ref> [[The Indian Express]] described the book as a ‘crisp cinematic account of corporate greed and the struggle for justice in India.’<ref> {{Cite web |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/heavy-metal-corporate-greed-justice-struggle-india-book-review-8554799/ |title=Heavy Metal is a crisp cinematic account of corporate greed and the struggle for justice in India |last=Neelakantan |first=Murali |date=2017-06-18 |newspaper=The Indian Express |access-date=2023-06-18}} </ref> Describing the book as an ‘essential read', [[Open (Indian magazine)]] said ‘that it took Unilever more than 15 years to compensate affected workers is a reminder of the humongous costs of such mistakes’.<ref> {{Cite web |url=https://openthemagazine.com/lounge/books/toxic-truths/ |title=Toxic Truths: An investigation into the mercury poisoning of Kodaikanal |last=NP |first=Ullekh |date=2017-06-18 |newspaper= Open Magazine |access-date=2023-06-18}} </ref>

In his interview with [[The Hindu]] ''Sunday Magazine'' Ameer Shahul is quoted as saying 'industrial corporations, such as Unilever, can be held truly accountable only with the help of science and data.'<ref> {{Cite web |url= https://www.thehindu.com/books/books-authors/kodaikanal-mercury-hotspot-thermometer-company/article66634674.ece/ |title=Kodaikanal one of Asia’s mercury hotspots: Ameer Shahul |last=Gandhi |first=Divya |date=2023-03-26 |newspaper=The Hindu |access-date=2023-06-24}} </ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shahul, Ameer}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Rights of nature]]
[[Category:Indian environmentalists]]
[[Category:Indian development specialists]]
[[Category:Sustainability advocates]]
[[Category:Indian non-fiction environmental writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian male writers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Environmental writers]]
[[Category:Indian climate activists]]
[[Category:Indian male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:Writers about activism and social change]]
[[Category:Writers about globalization]]

Ameer Shahul - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 06:53, 9 August 2023