tagged w/ India
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Cleveland Occupy arrests are the latest in FBI’s pattern of manipulation
Greek media workers go on strike over austerity measures
Protesters swarm Cairo’s Tahrir Square over presidential election results
Leading Bahraini dissident Khawaja ends hunger strikeCleveland Occupy arrests are the latest in FBI’s pattern of manipulation
Greek... more
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CNN...
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A nuclear clash could starve the world
By Jayantha Dhanapala and Ira Helfand, Special to CNN
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updated 7:57 AM EDT, Fri May 11, 2012
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Sunao Tsuboi, who suffered horrific burns in Hiroshima, holds a photo of himself and friends taken hours after the explosion.
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STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Writers: India, Pakistan and North Korea missile tests bring up dangers of nuclear war
Study shows war using half of 1% of global nuke arsenals would set off world famine
U.S. and Russia have huge nuclear arsenals, they say, a lethal holdover from Cold War
It's urgent for talks about reducing arsenals, they write, with a ban on weapons the goal
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Editor's note: Jayantha Dhanapala is a former ambassador to the United States from Sri Lanka, U.N. under-secretary general for disarmament and chairman of the 1995 Non-Proliferation Treaty Review and Extension Conference. Ira Helfand is the past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility and current North American vice president of the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
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(CNN) -- Recent ballistic missile tests by India, Pakistan and North Korea -- which has ominously threatened to "reduce to ashes" the South Korean military "in minutes" -- are once again focusing the world's attention on the dangers of nuclear war.
This concern was dramatically underscored in a new report released at the Nobel Peace Laureates Summit in Chicago. Titled "Nuclear Famine: A Billion People at Risk" (PDF), the study shows that even a limited nuclear war, involving less than half of 1% of the world's nuclear arsenals, would cause climate disruption that could set off a global famine.
The study, prepared by International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and its U.S. affiliate, Physicians for Social Responsibility, used a scenario of 100 Hiroshima-sized bombs exploded in a war between India and Pakistan. If there were such a war, the study estimated that 1 billion people, one-sixth of the human race, could starve over the following decade.
Along with recent events, these findings require a fundamental change in our thinking about nuclear weapons.
The study, in positing a war between India and Pakistan, shows the importance of understanding that smaller nuclear powers, not just the United States and Russia, pose a threat to the whole world.
But the greater lesson concerns the forces of the larger nuclear powers. Each U.S. Trident submarine can destroy 100 cities and produce the global famine described in the study. The United States has 14 of them, a fleet of land-based nuclear missiles, and an arsenal of nuclear weapons that can be delivered by bombers. The Russians possess the same grotesque overkill capacity.
Even the most ambitious arms reductions under discussion would leave the United States and Russia with 300 warheads each, most of them 10 to 30 times larger than a Hiroshima sized bomb. This would be a massive arsenal capable of producing the global famine scenario many, many times over.
These arsenals are an archaic, but lethal, holdover from the Cold War. Their continued existence poses an ongoing threat to all humanity.
Steps can and should be taken immediately to lessen this danger. Substantial numbers of these weapons remain on what The New York Times has described as "hair-trigger alert." They can be fired in 15 minutes or less and destroy cities a continent away 30 minutes later. This alert posture creates the needless danger of an accidental or unintended launch, and the United States and Russia have had many close calls, preparing to launch a nuclear strike at the other under the mistaken belief they were under attack.
The most recent of these near-misses that we know about took place in January 1995, well after the end of the Cold War. The United States and Russia should stand down their nuclear arsenals so that it takes longer to launch their missiles, lessening the danger of an accidental war. U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladamir Putin can take this step on their own without negotiating a formal treaty.
Beyond this, it is time to begin urgent talks aimed at reducing the U.S. and Russian arsenals as the next essential step toward multilateral negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Convention, a binding, verifiable, enforceable treaty that eliminates nuclear weapons altogether.
As former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev observed on reviewing the new "Nuclear Famine" study: "I am convinced that nuclear weapons must be abolished. Their use in a military conflict is unthinkable; using them to achieve political objectives is immoral.
"Over 25 years ago, President Ronald Reagan and I ended our summit meeting in Geneva with a joint statement that 'Nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,' and this new study underscores in stunning and disturbing detail why this is the case."
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The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the writers.
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A nuclear clash could starve the world
By Jayantha Dhanapala and Ira... more
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In the mid 1980s, scientists unlocked the genetic keys to manipulating our world. Suddenly everything seemed possible! There would be no more hunger or malnutrition; diseases would be vanquished and poverty wiped out. But twenty (now 30) years on the situation looks very different. From the loss of biodiversity to health scares about GM food, the effects of genetic technology are prompting more and more debate. Our documentary this week is an intelligent look at both sides of the issue. Made for ARTE.
Across the world, multinationals like Monsanto are meeting with unexpected resistance to their genetically modified products. But are these concerns justified? Or are activists battling the forces of progress? Renowned filmmakers Bertram Verhaag and Gabriele Krober sets out on a global journey to explore the development of genetic technology. Spanning three continents and beautifully filmed, this high quality doc hears from the scientists, farmers and activists at the heart of the debate.
Follow link to watch the full documentary now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2af6-YOUMQ&feature=relatedIn the mid 1980s, scientists unlocked the genetic keys to manipulating our world.... more
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"Shaukeen Mohammed, the father of a fourteen year old girl who had been kidnapped by a criminal in Uttar Pradesh two months ago, had sought the help of S. K Mathur, a deputy inspector of police to recover his daughter.
Instead, DIG Mathur suggested his daughter had in fact eloped and said had it been one of his relatives he would have shot her dead.
“I don’t have magical power to recover your daughter. If your daughter has eloped then you should be ashamed of it. I would have killed my sister if she had eloped or else I would have committed suicide,” Mr Mohammed was told, according to the video footage.
The officer’s comments provoked outraged among women’s rights campaigners but highlighted the wider acceptance of “honour killings” in northern India.
According to campaigners there are more than 1000 honour killings in India every year, where runaway lovers are later captured and killed by their own relatives for bringing "shame" on their families.""Shaukeen Mohammed, the father of a fourteen year old girl who had been kidnapped... more
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Among the most endangered of all species is the wild tiger. Across China, tiger farms are popping up, created solely to supply the growing market for tigers and tiger parts. Adam Yamaguchi goes undercover to investigate the lucrative underworld of the tiger trade from India to China and explores the business of Asian zoos and breeding centers that are little more than exotic animal factories.Among the most endangered of all species is the wild tiger. Across China, tiger farms... more
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The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), the country's biodiversity-preservation watchdog, has finally woken up to its job.
It has decided to prosecute multinational seed company Monsanto for allegedly using Indian brinjal varieties for commercial purposes without permission.
The decision was taken in a vote at a meeting on February 28, 2012. The majority of the members voted in favour of initiating action against Monsanto for violating India's biodiversity law.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, too, is in favour of prosecuting the seed giant.
The vote was essential as some board members of the NBA were against holding Monsanto to task, sources said.
The decision is bound to send a clear cut message that any attempt to fiddle with the country's biological wealth will not go unpunished.
The Indian law says it is essential for anyone desirous of using India-produced biological goods for commercial purposes to seek permission from the NBA. The authority's nod is required even if, as in Monsanto's case, the material has been modified by Indian universities.
The voting will reverse an earlier judgment, taken by the Karnataka state biodiversity board on January 20, 2012, that spared the alleged violators the rod.
The complaint against Monsanto, its Indian subsidiary Mahyco, and University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, was filed by the Environment Support Group in February 2010.
It had alleged that the accused illegally accessed and genetically modified six varieties of Indian brinjal to produce Bt Brinjal.
Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bt-brinjal-row-monsanto-to-pay-for-biodiversity-violation/1/184824.htmlThe National Biodiversity Authority (NBA), the country's... more
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Both Republicans and Democrats jabber a lot about jobs, even when times are relatively good. When times are bad the talk turns into a nasty shite-storm. The mantra for both sides is America can't compete if we don't [fill in the blank]. But here's a dirty little secret: America can't effectively compete regardless of which ideology you prefer.Both Republicans and Democrats jabber a lot about jobs, even when times are relatively... more
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Delhi has a reputation for being the "rape capital" of India, and a recent investigation shows that police are disturbingly apathetic to the problem, claiming that women who drink alcohol or dress provocatively are to blame.
Being a Woman in India, By Shreyasi Singh:
My favorite thing to do on holidays abroad is to take long walks in the evenings in the new city I find myself in – most recently, that was Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. However much you love India, and I find myself missing the buzz of Delhi within a week of being abroad, there’s one thing as an urban working woman that I wish I could import into India (yes, even more than some great infrastructure) – the liberating safety one feels even when walking alone.
Unfortunately, many Indian cities – and certainly Delhi – don’t allow us that freedom. Yes, you can drive, and be safe in your cars. But it’s exceedingly rare to see a young woman walking down the street beyond 8 or 9 pm here. In fact, that Delhi is the country’s “rape capital” is a shameful tag we all live with. Our newspapers often carry scary tales of crimes against women – like the recent rape of a young woman who worked in a pub in Gurgaon, or a student gang-raped in a moving car in Noida, both popular suburbs of Delhi.
Despite the hue and cry made in the media over such incidents, little has changed. Depressingly, even less can be expected to if the investigation carried out by news organizations NDTV and Tehelka are to be believed. A joint investigation carried out by these two media brands caught nearly 30 policemen on tape, and exposed the shocking views they held on rape victims. Without exception, the 30 senior cops “caught on camera” have various takes along the old lines of “she asked for it,” “she dressed too provocatively,” “it was about money and when that didn’t work out, she cried foul” or “women who drink alcohol and stay out late at night are just asking for it.”
Police apathy towards rape victims is one of the reasons why the conviction rate for rape crimes is so low in Delhi (According to the National Crime Records Bureau, the conviction rate in rape cases in the capital is a dismal 34.6 percent, according to NDTV). That this apathy comes from such deep-seated insensitivity and gender stereotyping is a reminder that it’s unlikely we’re going to be safe anytime soon.
http://the-diplomat.com/indian-decade/2012/04/08/being-a-woman-in-india/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+the-diplomat+%28The+Diplomat+RSS%29&utm_content=Google+ReaderDelhi has a reputation for being the "rape capital" of India, and a recent... more
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The Washington Post...
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Official: Avalanche buries 130 Pakistani soldiers on Himalayan glacier bordering India
By Associated Press, Updated: Friday, April 6, 11:18 PM
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ISLAMABAD — An avalanche smashed into a Pakistani army base on a Himalayan glacier close to India on Saturday, burying around 130 soldiers, a security official said.
Rescue efforts are under way on the remote and frigid Siachen Glacier, where thousands of Pakistani and Indian troops are based, the security official said. He spoke anonymously because the military had yet to release a formal statement.
Personal Post from someone at The Washington Post...
He said the snow hit a battalion headquarters in the glacier’s Gayari sector at 5:45 a.m.
Siachen is on the northern tip of the divided Kashmir region claimed by both India and Pakistan.
The two neighboring countries have deployed troops at elevations of up to 6,700 meters (22,000 feet) there. There have been intermittent skirmishes since 1984, and the region is known as the world’s highest battlefield.
More soldiers have died from the harsh weather there than combat.
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The Washington Post...
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Official: Avalanche buries 130 Pakistani soldiers... more
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A Conversation With: Nikki Haley
By SHIVANI VORA
Nikki Haley is used to attracting more attention than your typical United States governor. At 40, the governor of South Carolina is the youngest in the country, and the first female and minority for South Carolina. The Sikh-born converted Christian is releasing her memoir, “Can’t Is Not an Option” this week.
The book traces her life from when she was Nimrata Nikki Randhawa, a young girl in the rural town of Bamberg, S.C., with her three siblings and parents who are immigrants from Amritsar, India. In the book she chronicles her ascent into politics, starting with her election to the state legislature, and her successful run for governor in 2010, when she was just 38.
There is drama along the way: the discrimination her family dealt with, her religious conversion to her husband Michael Haley’s faith, ex-Gov. Mark Sanford’s unexpected departure to Argentina, and the ugliness surrounding her race for governor. Ms. Haley won in the end, thanks in part to powerful backers including the Tea Party, Sarah Palin and Mitt Romney, whom she went on to endorse for his presidential run.
A year and change into office, Haley is seen as a rising star in the Republican Party, despite wavering support from some members in the Tea Party and criticism over proposed tax breaks for online retailing behemoth Amazon.com.
She lives in the governor’s mansion with her husband, an officer with the South Carolina Army National Guard and their two children Rena, 13, and Nalin, 10, but was in New York City this week to promote the memoir. Over breakfast, she spoke about changing her religion, her future in politics and the problem with Washington today.
Interview at the link...A Conversation With: Nikki Haley
By SHIVANI VORA
Nikki Haley is used to attracting... more
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Dow Chemical is engaged in constant misinformation and misdirection on the issue of Bhopal – they are desperate to whitewash their image and refuse any responsibility for the ongoing suffering of the people of Bhopal. Here is an excerpt from a recent interview with Dow’s CEO – we will interrupt that broadcast to fill in the gaps that Andrew Liveris is trying to gloss over.
The interview text is from here: http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3464938.htm
MARK COLVIN: Now before you go I have to ask you; it’s an Olympic year, the Olympics are only a few months away. The Indians are threatening to boycott because Dow is a major sponsor. What are you saying to them?
ANDREW LIVERIS: Well I mean the issue that they’re all inflamed about is not the Dow issue, it’s an Indian government issue and that’s basically what we’re saying to them.
MARK COLVIN: Why? I mean you bought Union Carbide, which caused the Bhopal disaster.
ANDREW LIVERIS: The Indian government settled with Union Carbide in 1989. Settled and reaffirmed by their Supreme Court three times. So it’s got nothing to do with Dow and that’s in the legal agreements and all the bright lines. They’re trying to drag us in because we have deep pockets and that’s clearly what they want to do.
I would also note by the way the IOC supports us fully. There are lots of other corporate brands that support the Olympics that have had issues over time and boycotts don’t tend to work; they hurt a nation, they don’t hurt the Olympics.
ANDREW LIVERIS: But do you think that the settlement with Union Carbide was fair; there are an awful lot of people still suffering aren’t there?
ANDREW LIVERIS: Well you don’t have to ask me what I think; I think you have to go to the Indian Supreme Court and ask them what they think; they ratified it three times.
MYTHBUSTING #1 – UNION CARBIDE
Union Carbide (UCC) is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow Chemical. As UCC explains, their business activities “comprise components of Dow’s global operations rather than standalone operations” (UCC’s 2010 Securities and Exchange Commission filing).
‘Successor liability’ means that when one company merges into another, it gains BOTH its assets AND its liabilities. So, in gaining UCC’s wealth, Dow also gained UCC’s responsibility for the ongoing tragedy in Bhopal.
MYTHBUSTING #2 – THE SETTLEMENT
The settlement reached in 1989 – $470m –was 15% of the original claim for $3bn. $470m is roughly equal to £600 per survivor, none of whom were consulted. This money is not even enough to pay for the ongoing treatment that many survivors need.
The Indian government has recognised the settlement deal as an “irremediable injustice” and is now challenging its legitimacy in the Supreme Court.
The case for compensation is far from closed.
MARK COLVIN: So you bought it on a purely legalistic basis, knowing that you would have nothing more to pay?
ANDREW LIVERIS: There are companies being bought and sold all over the world all the time. Legacy issues and liabilities are a rule of law; rule of law speaks to bright lines and so that’s the topic here.
MYTHBUSTING #3 – LIABILITIES
The ‘polluter pays’ is a rule of law – it is a legal principle adopted by India and the US: if a company creates pollution, they must pay for it. Any damage the pollution causes is the company’s responsibility. Cases in both Indian and US courts are trying to make the polluter – UCC – pay to clean up and decontaminate the site of the disaster, and deal with the water contamination.
When UCC merged into Dow in 2001, Dow became responsible for UCC’s ‘polluter pays’ liabilities. Dow even recognised this by accepting UCC’s asbestos-related liabilities in the US which date back to before the Bhopal gas disaster. Dow set aside $2.2 billion to resolve these claims in the US, yet they refuse to accept liability in Bhopal.
The message from Dow and LOCOG is that ‘it is now the Indian government’s responsibility to clean up the site’ in Bhopal. But the government did not pollute the site, UCC polluted the site. Moreover, if the Indian government was to clean up the site, the money would come from Indian taxpayers, some of whom live in Bhopal.
Dow is asking the victims of the gas disaster and water contamination to pay up.
The polluter should pay, not the victims.
MARK COLVIN: Do you think the Indian team will boycott?
ANDREW LIVERIS: I don’t know what the Indian team will do. I think it’ll be a tragedy for India but that’s their decision.
MARK COLVIN: Is it damaging your company?
ANDREW LIVERIS: Absolutely not.
MARK COLVIN: How come?
ANDREW LIVERIS: Our company is a company that wins awards on sustainability. We’re named one of America’s most sustainably enriched company in terms of ethics….
(see Dow’s ‘sustainable’ and ‘ethical’ record here: www.athletesagainstdowchemical.wordpress.com)
MARK COLVIN: But in India I mean. There is clearly a depth of feeling about it.
ANDREW LIVERIS: It doesn’t hurt us in India. We have a great reputation in India. Look activist groups exist not just in India, they exist all around the world and people will have their views. It’s a free economy in India and they’ll have their views.
MYTHBUSTING #4 – DOW’S REPUTATION
There is widespread, international outrage at Dow’s involvement in the London Olympics.
Expressing that they are “dismayed” at Dow’s sponsorship of the Olympics, Indian officials refuse to endorse Dow Chemical and will boycott the opening and closing ceremonies in protest:
Meredith Alexander resigned from her position in the ethics committee for the London Olympics in protest.
Hindu groups from all over the UK met to rally their opposition to Dow’s involvement.....
More at the linkDow Chemical is engaged in constant misinformation and misdirection on the issue of... more
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SoFake label, which has been recently launched, bridges the gap between the two sexes. It emphasizes on classic cuts, strong structured shapes with the use of basic colors like black and white. SoFake by Sapna Bhavnani and Sukriti Grover introduced theSoFake label, which has been recently launched, bridges the gap between the two sexes.... more
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Manoj Kumar and Vinod Bhardwaj was inspired by The Banyan Tree. Their label “Antariksh” (means limitless) unveiled a line of convertible garments. The duo presented their lineup made from low priced raw fabrics, and each garment offered two options, on how toManoj Kumar and Vinod Bhardwaj was inspired by The Banyan Tree. Their label... more
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Indian officials will not take part in 2012 London Olympics to protest DOW Chemical sponsorship. Athletes will take part in opening and closing ceremonies. For now.Indian officials will not take part in 2012 London Olympics to protest DOW Chemical... more
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Visual Poetry: A Mythological Introduction to Varanasi, India
http://youtu.be/bYloaeI-U-UVisual Poetry: A Mythological Introduction to Varanasi, India... more
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The Mumbai-based Abdul Halder started his fashion career with a major break, while he designed attire for Michael Jackson in 2002. After that, Abdul Halder kept on moving forward in the fashion world by endlessly carrying the passion in his heart. Targeting the majorThe Mumbai-based Abdul Halder started his fashion career with a major break, while he... more
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JJ Valaya found his inspiration in the Ottoman Empire. He used several key elements, such as fabric, craft, miniatures, leather and ceramics in his latest show. The cohesiveness of the collection was outstanding and carried the brand's distinct signature. The designsJJ Valaya found his inspiration in the Ottoman Empire. He used several key elements,... more
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EXTRACTS: ...reacting to the confirmed reports of Monsanto's illegal planting of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) maize in its GM maize trial, the Coalition for a GM-Free India demanded that Monsanto be blacklisted immediately.
Monsanto has also been caught violating several biosafety norms in its GM maize cultivation plot in Bijapur in early 2011... The Bijapur episode... had been brought to the notice of the regulators and [again] no investigation has been completed so far into this complaint. Egregious violations were also found during various other field trials from 2005 onwards.
"This clearly demonstrates that the regulators are unconcerned about biosafety violations or contamination and are protecting and supporting offenders like Monsanto." - Kavitha Kuruganti
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BLACKLIST MONSANTO IMMEDIATELY: MNC CAUGHT VIOLATING BIOSAFETY NORMS YET AGAIN IN GM MAIZE TRIAL
New Delhi/Bengaluru, February 6th 2012: Ahead of a regulators' meeting on February 8th 2012, and reacting to the confirmed reports of Monsanto's illegal planting of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) maize in its GM maize trial, the Coalition for a GM-Free India demanded that Monsanto be blacklisted immediately. The violation was revealed in a response of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee to an RTI [Right To Information] application.
"This agri-business corporation has been caught violating the law and norms repeatedly. The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) has also been caught failing in its duties. GEAC, in spite of violations brought to its notice earlier, also has never taken up any deterrent and penal action against this MNC", said the Coalition in a press statement issued in Delhi and a Press Conference held in Bengaluru.
Monsanto's illegal planting was known to the regulators (as the information was obtained through an RTI response from GEAC), but they chose not to look into the matter pro-actively and the regulators were in effect protecting Monsanto, alleged the Coalition.
The approval for the biosafety research level II trial (BRL-II - the penultimate stage before consideration for commercial cultivation) for Monsanto's herbicide tolerant, insect resistant GM maize with stacked traits (two Bt genes and one herbicide tolerance gene) was granted during the GEAC meetings held on 15th November 2010 and 8th December 2010.
This is also the first GM product of Monsanto in India in its own name and not in the name of associate companies like Mahyco. Monsanto and the biotech industry have been claiming that the herbicide tolerant, insect resistant GM maize with stacked traits would be approved soon.
"Monsanto's GM maize trials have been going on for several seasons now in various locations around the country. It took a rare scientist in one monitoring team to point out the fact that planting of the herbicide-tolerant GM maize took place without permission from competent authorities! What is more damning is that there is no evidence of any discussion or action by the regulators on this finding. This clearly demonstrates that the regulators are unconcerned about biosafety violations or contamination and are protecting and supporting offenders like Monsanto", said Kavitha Kuruganti, Member, Coalition for a GM-Free India.
The RTI response revealed that a team led by Dr Pradyumn Kumar of the Directorate of Maize Research (DMR is supposed to be supervising all the GM maize BRL II field trials), noted the following in its visit report (5th May 2011): "Before planting NK603 event treatment in future, the permission from competent authority may be obtained". This clearly demonstrates that this field trial consisted of an unapproved, illegal GM herbicide tolerant maize while the trial is supposed to be for the hybrid of Bt genes' line (MON89034) and herbicide tolerant line (NK603) (HT/Bt maize). A point to be noted is that trial protocols were prescribed by DMR along with GEAC and it was a DMR scientist who recorded the illegal planting of the HT maize line.
"This appears to be a repetition of an earlier episode of herbicide tolerant cotton (Roundup Ready Flex – RRF cotton) planted by Monsanto's affiliate, Mahyco, without permission. The GEAC, in that instance, found the clarifications submitted by Mahyco highly unsatisfactory and warned that any non-compliance in future would attract punitive actions under EPA 1986, sought a resolution adopted by the Mahyco Board of Directors expressing regret and reaffirmation that such lapses would not be repeated, and that the data generated during the BRL II trials using the unapproved GMO shall not be considered for regulatory purpose. All of these were decisions recorded in the July 2011 meeting of the GEAC", reminded the Coalition.
What is ironic in the case of the GM maize trials of Monsanto is that further field trials have been approved after this visit of the monitoring team on 5th May 2011 recorded the illegal planting!
Monsanto has also been caught violating several biosafety norms in its GM maize cultivation plot in Bijapur in early 2011, around the same time as this Monitoring Team's finding of illegal planting inside the University in Dharwad. The Bijapur episode, documented by Greenpeace and a Kannada TV Channel had been brought to the notice of the regulators and no investigation has been completed so far into this complaint. Egregious violations were also found during various other field trials from 2005 onwards.
"In the face of such impunity from these seed corporations and irresponsible inaction by the regulators, it is ironic that when civil society groups try to prevent contamination from these untested GMOs by objecting to such trials like in the case of the Bayer GM rice trial in Patancheru or DuPont GM rice trial in Doddaballapur, they are being treated as criminals! The history of GM crop regulation in India is replete with violations and illegal plantings and repeated failure on the part of the regulators in checking these or even taking serious action post facto. Therefore citizens are forced to step in to uphold biosafety.
"The Coalition demands that the Minister for Environment & Forests fix accountability on Monsanto and its Indian associates for violating Indian law. It also demands that MoEF take action against the regulators who repeatedly fail to check the violations of the corporations, and call on state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to drop all charges against activists involved in biosafety protection", added the Coalition.EXTRACTS: ...reacting to the confirmed reports of Monsanto's illegal planting of... more
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Virtues label is based in Ahmedabad, with a team of over 50 artisans exclusively involved in their establishment. Weaving has always been their passion, and they have a set of weavers in Varanasi, exclusively weaving on hand-looms and power-looms forVirtues label is based in Ahmedabad, with a team of over 50 artisans exclusively... more
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