wolf böwig | do or die

Thomas Kocherry on an old portuguese jetty in Kerala, near his home.

Kerala, India

“Mud!“ Kocherry exclaims. That’s what the Europeans brought to India 500 years ago, when they sailed round the Cape of Good Hope. They used mud for ballast to get a better trim on their empty vessels. And they took away our wonderful silk, the fines teas and the most exciting spices. Mud – that was all Europe had to offer. “What a sorry culture!” But mud was the best thing that ever came from the West: “At least, it didn’t harm us.” Unlike today. For what comes to India from the West today? Kocherry opens his eyes wide, as he screams out his question: “And what do we get today, 500 years later?” Enjoing the suspense, Kocherry carefully times his answer. He circles like a falcon, then folds his wings and descends, swift as an arrow, focused on his prey: “Globalization! The free flow of capital, profit for a few at the cost of many.” He wants to hammer these words into the minds of his audience. And who are the many? “Us.” And who are the few? “The others.” And what are the consequences of globalization? “Look at yourselves. We are finished – unless we fight back.”

…for almost thirty years Thomas Kocherry has been one of India’s most unrelenting fighters against the industrial exploitation of the oceans, and hence against globalization. He is highly successful, both as an individual activist concerned with local problems and as the founder of “National Fishworkers Forum”, the fishermen’s union. His greatest success came in 1995, when he forced the Indian government to promise not to enter into any joint ventures with foreign industrial fishing companies. Now he is planning for an even bigger event – the greatest action by fishermen the country ever saw. It is likely to be the last protest organized by Father Kocherry. He wants to get rid of all the floating factories, for good. On July 25, 2002, in the fourteen provincial capitals people are going to rise up simultaneously and go on strike. Father Kocherry will address the crowds. Public life will come to a standstill, nothing is going to move any more. People will be sitting in the streets, chanting, cooking, sleeping. According to the posters, the uprising is to last “forever”. The government must be forced to realize that while globalization may mean short-range benefits for India it spells long-range misery. Kocherry wants to see the cabinet members crawl.

Clearing the nets ... fishermen along the coast of Gujarat.

Tamil Nadu, India

Early morning near Bombay ... women select and pack fish after the catch came in.

Bombay, India

Fisherwomen argue about the prize of the catch which they resell later on local markets.

Gujarat, India

Local market at Porbandar.

Gujarat, India

Fishermen loading of icecubes to conserve the catch.

Gujarat, India

„Just one demand“ ... Thomas Kocherry in his office in Trivandrum. Unknown persons have sent him a coffin just before he left for Delhi to start the „do or die“ campaign.

Kerala, India

Thomas Kocherry explaining the „CHARTER OF DEMANDS“ ... 10 million fishermen will march for their rights down the streets of India.

Calcutta, India

Interview in Hotel Lucia/Trivandrum.

Kerala, India

The campaign „flopped“ ... out of the expected millions of fishermen and -women only a couple of thousands showed up in the capitals of the coastal areas and the national capital, New Delhi. All of them were committed down to the bone but not enough to get their voice into the Indian Parlament.

Delhi, India

On the afternoon before the beginning of the campain fishers argue about priorities of the „CHARTER OF DEMANDS“.

Delhi, India

Nothing in local and national newspapers ... they were not interested to cover the campaign.

Gujarat, India

fisherwoman reading the „Charter of demands“ during one of the meetings for the „do or die“ campaign

Cochin, India

Fisherman from Madras at the last night of the campaign which lasted only three days.

Delhi, India

The campaign is over ... disappointed fisherwomen waiting for a train back home at the New Delhi Railway Station.

Delhi, India