-
-
related tags:
- satyagraha
- Bija
- farmer suicides
- transgenic contamination
- Monsanto
- Food Sovereignty
- Environmental Democracy
- Save Our Seeds
- Biopiracy
- GMOs
- Say NO to GMOs
- Monsanto is evil
- profits over people
- Media blackout
- Toxic
- Biodiversity
- monoculture
- Patents
- India
- Bacteria
- Biotech
- Activism
- USDA
- Pesticides
- Environment
- Health
- Nature
- Current Radio News
- Food
- Climate Change
- World News
- Earth and Science
- Green
- News and Politics
- News
tagged w/ BT brinjal
-
Monsanto to be prosecuted for biopiracy
1.National Biodiversity Authority to prosecute Mahyco/Monsanto and collaborators
2.'Development of Bt brinjal a case of bio-piracy'
---
---
1.National Biodiversity Authority to prosecute Mahyco/Monsanto and collaborators for promoting Bt Brinjal in violation of Biodiversity Protection Law
ESG India, 11 August 2011
http://www.esgindia.org
In an unprecedented, though much delayed, decision, the National Biodiversity Authority of India (NBA) has decided to initiate legal action against M/s Mahyco/Monsanto and their collaborators for accessing and using local brinjal varieties in developing Bt Brinjal without prior approval of the competent authorities. The official resolution giving effect to this decision was taken in the NBA's meeting of 20th June 2011, the minutes of which were released only on 11 August 2011.
http://www.nbaindia.org/meetings/meeting.htm
The decision of the NBA reads as follows:
"A background note besides legal opinion on Bt brinjal on the alleged violation by the M/s. Mahyco/M/s Monsanto, and their collaborators for accessing and using the local brinjal varieties for development of Bt brinjal with out prior approval of the competent authorities was discussed and it was decided that the NBA may proceed legally against M/s. Mahyco/ M/s Monsanto, and all others concerned to take the issue to its logical conclusion." (Emphasis supplied)
(Official copy of these minutes may be accessed here: http://www.nbaindia.org/meetings/meeting.htm )
The "alleged violation" referred to by NBA is based on a complaint filed by Environment Support Group before the Karnataka Biodiversity Board on 15 February 2011 (copy attached). Subsequently, the Board thoroughly and systematically investigated the matter and submitted in its 28 May 2011 letter to NBA that “six local varieties for development of Bt Brinjal” have been accessed in Karnataka by M/s Mahyco/Monsanto and their collaborators “without prior approval from State Biodiversity Board/National Biodiversity Authority”. Furnishing a variety of documents in support of its contention, the Board has sought “further action” by the Authority on the basis of ESG's complaint. (Emphasis supplied).
NBA subsequently sought "legal opinion” and decided to "proceed legally” against all involved in this case of biopiracy and "take the issue to its logical conclusion”. This should involve, as per law the Biological Diversity Act, initiation of criminal prosecution of key representatives of M/s Mahyco/Monsanto, University of Agricultural Sciences-Dharwar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University-Coimbatore, Sathguru Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd. (representing the consortium involving United States Agency for International Development and Cornell University-USA) and others for fundamentally violating Sec. 4 and related provisions of the Biological Diverstiy Act.
ESG's complaint specifically charges these agencies for criminally accessing at least 10 varieties of brinjal in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu without in any manner seeking prior and informed consent from the National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards and applicable Local Biodiversity Management Committees as required. Such a rigorous process of appraisal is mandatory to protect loss of biodiversity due to misuse or overuse, theft of biodiversity and to secure biodiversity from contamination when transgencis are involved. In addition, the law mandates that when biodiversity is to be accessed in any manner for commercial, research and other uses, local communities who have protected local varieties and cultivars for generations must be consulted and if they consent benefits must accrue to them per the internationally applicable Access and Benefit Sharing Protocol.
Clearly aware of these laws that were fully in operation when Monsanto and its collaborators initiated research in developing Bt Brinjal in 2005, they deliberately chose to sidestep conformance with this critical legislation. When tackled by the Board during the investigation, Mahyco in its letter dated 25 June 2010 to the Board has categorically stated that it is "not in violation of any of the provisions of the Act" and claimed that the Bt Brinjal was developed by University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad. On its part the University has claimed in its letter dated 17 May 2011 that it has secured all permissions from various government departments, but does not produce any evidence of clearance under the Biodiversity Act. The extent to which Monsanto is dismissive of India's biodiversity protection laws is evident from a press release made by Dr. Usha Barwale Zehr, Joint Director, Research of Mahyco who claimed that “The Genetic Engineering Action Committee (GEAC), which is going to meet a 19 member Expert Panel on April 27, 2011, may accept the proposal for introduction of Bt Brinjal in the country.”1 Thus completely belittling biodiversity protection laws of India in which offences are cognisable and non-bailable. (A copy of the Act may be accessed here.)
more at the link.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_EKM-1o0J3yk/S-7UrJ7QW3I/AAAAAAAAAj8/VLJHUadLSYw/s1600/Picture+6.png1.National Biodiversity Authority to prosecute Mahyco/Monsanto and collaborators... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 6 months ago
- |
- 22 comments
-
-
August 9th is "Monsanto Quit India!" Day
"New Delhi, August 8th 2011: Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) announced a nation-wide day of action against corporate takeover of our food and farming systems on August 9th, Quit India Day. The day is being marked in scores of locations in fifteen states around the country as “Monsanto, Quit India!” Day, filled with various events where citizens are going to take part to express their resistance against corporate control on our productive resources. This is to save our Food, Farmers and Freedom, announced ASHA in a press release.
“We have chosen the most potent and obvious symbol of corporate takeover of our food and farming – Monsanto, the largest seed company in the world and one of the top five agri-chemical corporations, with an annual turnover equivalent to five years of India’s outlay for National Agricultural Development Programme! Our governments should be aware of its long history of crimes against humanity, by its production and marketing of many toxic chemicals and other hazardous products. On its way to becoming the world's largest seed company, Monsanto used several strategies including preventing farmers from re-using their seed, denying farmers and researchers free and open access to seed, and aggressive, monopolistic market maneuvers that suppressed competition. Monsanto did not shy away from resorting to bribery for getting regulatory approvals. Monsanto had at one point reportedly even stated its goal thus: ‘No food shall be grown that we do not own’, reflecting its profiteering ambitions. This company has sued and jailed farmers for the ‘crime’ of saving and re-using seed from their crops and even when they were victims of accidental genetic contamination! Monsanto and its associates have also not hesitated to sue governments in this country in pursuit of their profits and markets. How is the government hoping that farmers would benefit from the expansion of this company, its products and markets and on what basis and understanding are they partnering with the company?”, said ASHA in its press statement.
“The citizens of this country would like to know what has happened to all the investments that went into the public sector research all these years, given that today an overwhelming chunk of cotton and maize seed markets are controlled by this one company and given that many PPPs are being signed to promote this corporation’s seeds at the expense of this country’s seed sovereignty. Further, various public sector agri-universities are facilitating bio-piracy in the name of collaborative research projects", said the organizers. They pointed out that it is short-sighted on the part of various governments to promote proprietary seed rather than strengthen farmer-level solutions for Seed in agriculture, given that this will only foster mono-cropping, dependence and overly-priced seed which will affect sustainable farm livelihoods. Sustainable alternatives are consistently being ignored on the farm front, the organisers said.
In 15 states across the country, led by farmers’ unions and civic groups, various events have been organized to create awareness amongst ordinary Indians about the true nature of corporations like Monsanto and to put pressure on governments to scrap any deals and partnerships with Monsanto and other such entities. The variety of events include bicycle rallies, Beej Rath, Kisan Jagran Sabhas, public protests and candlelight vigils, film screenings and awareness programs, Kheti Khurak Azaadi Jatha in Punjab and so on.
“We are forced to remind everyone on Quit India Day that we are living in times when our freedom is being jeopardized yet again in insidious ways – if we as a nation want to protect our food sovereignty and if we want to retain control on what we grow and what we eat, we need to resist this corporate takeover. We need to put into place lasting and affordable solutions that are farmer-controlled in our agriculture. Urban consumers should realize that it is not just our farmers who are getting trapped and exploited; consumers should understand that access to safe, diverse and nutritious food for all is also at risk”, said ASHA in its press release.
Details of various events across the country are available at: http://www.kisanswaraj.in/2011/08/07/state-wise-listing-of-events-for-monsanto-quit-india-and-kisan-swaraj-week/
ASHA is an informal network of more than 400 organisations all over India, which through grassroots work, trainings, campaigns and policy advocacy seeks to promote practices and policies that make Indian agriculture ecologically sustainable, ensure dignified livelihoods with income security to its farmers especially the smallholders, preserve their control over agricultural resources like seed, land and water, and ensure adequate, safe, nutritious and diverse food for all Indians."
More at the link"New Delhi, August 8th 2011: Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 6 months ago
- |
- 5 comments
-
-
Bt brinjal confirmed to be toxic - Independent scientific report
NOTE: Plans for India's first GM crop for human consumption, Bt brinjal (eggplant/aubergine) have triggered a safety report that reveals signs of food toxicity. According to this study prepared independently from industry by Lou Gallagher, environmental epidemiologist and risk assessment expert, there are indications that the consumption of this genetically engineered eggplant (also called brinjal in India) can cause inflammation, reproductive disorders and liver damage.
The report shows why we can't rely on industry tests that purport to show the safety of GMOs and other risky substances.
EXCERPTS from the report by Lou Gallagher:
Were the contract laboratory INTOX PVT LTD and the funder Mahyco uncomfortable with results showing evident toxicity among rats fed Bt brinjal at 1000 mg/kg‐day? Did the researchers write the conclusions for the 14‐day and 90‐day studies themselves or did others write conclusions for them? These questions are of interest since the text does not match the data, the researchers did not sign their reports, and the cover page of the 90‐day report details a completely new report number (R/2183/SOR-90) from that which may be the original, 05.0002.
...current results from these rat feeding studies indicate that rats eating Bt brinjal experienced organ and system damage: ovaries at half their normal weight, enlarged spleens with white blood cell counts at 35 to 40 percent higher than normal with elevated eosinophils, indicating immune function changes; toxic effects to the liver: as demonstrated by elevated bilirubin and elevated plasma acetylcholinesterase.
Study by Dr. Gallagher: http://www.testbiotech.de/node/444
GMWatch note: We've slightly edited the media releases below for our readers.
---
---
1. BT BRINJAL EVENT EE1 IS CONFIRMED TO BE TOXIC
Aruna Rodrigues, Sunray Harvesters
MEDIA RELEASE
Mhow, 15 January 2011
"A further in-depth analyses of the raw data of Mahyco-Monsanto's Dossier of Bt brinjal, its rat feeding studies, shows Bt brinjal is toxic. India faces an overwhelming crisis of fraud. The studies are seriously flawed, and wrongly appraised and reported both by Monsanto in its 'dossier' submitted to Government and worse, by our Regulators. The MoE&F [minister of environment and forests] must firmly hold the line on the moratorium and implement his promise of independent testing in internationally certified labs. The Dossier must now be formally rejected by the Indian Government". Aruna Rodrigues
Lou Gallagher, environmental epidemiologist and risk assessment expert, supported by Test Biotech of Munich, analysed the raw data of the 14- and 90-day studies of the Bt brinjal dossier. She confirms in her report:
"current results from these rat feeding studies indicate that rats eating Bt brinjal experienced organ and system damage: ovaries at half their normal weight, enlarged spleens with white blood cell counts at 35 to 40 percent higher than normal with elevated eosinophils, indicating immune function changes; toxic effects to the liver: as demonstrated by elevated bilirubin and elevated plasma acetylcholinesterase."
She states: "Major health problems among test animals were ignored in these reports. The single test dose used was lower than recommended by the Indian protocols. Release of Bt brinjal for human consumption cannot be recommended given the current evidence of toxicity to rats in just 90 days and the studies' serious departures from normal scientific standards".
The study was requested by Aruna Rodrigues to inform Government and the Supreme Court. Gallagher's detailed examination of the raw data of the 'Dossier' follows and confirms the earlier analyses by Seralini, the French expert from Criigen, who similarly reported statistically significant toxic effects in Bt brinjal as compared to the 'controls'. Given the further negative findings from an examination of the dossier by Jack Heinemann (Genomics), Judy Carman (study design and statistical rigour etc) and the authoritative environmental risk assessment by Andow (published), which confirms that the ERA (Environmental Risk Assessment) for Bt brinjal has essentially not been done, then this raises serious questions which must be answered: no official report has addressed concerns raised by these scientists. Not one Indian scientist within the Regulators or our Agri-Institutions has examined the raw data of the dossier. The revised joint report of the 6 Academies of Sciences has similarly defaulted.
cont.NOTE: Plans for India's first GM crop for human consumption, Bt brinjal... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 1 year ago
- |
- 2 comments
-
-
Farmers protest BT eggplant testing in the Philippines
BAGUIO CITY - Farmers groups have protested the field testing of genetically modified (GM) eggplants in the Philippines.
Known as the Philippine Fruit and Shoot Borer (FSB) resistant eggplants (Bt brinjal) or Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant, the Department of Agriculture has started multi-location field testing prior to commercialization. This is an eggplant that was embedded with Bacillus thuringiensis to make it resistant to the fruit and shoot borers.
The people of India where the Bt brinjal originated were successful in pressuring their government to issue a moratorium for the commercialization of Bt-eggplant. A French scientific study slammed the commercialization of Bt brinjal, heating up the controversy over the biotech crop’s safety. Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Ltd (Mahyco) developed the genetically modified eggplant. Mahyco is the Indian partner of US biotech giant Monsanto.
A study team led by Caen University professor Gilles-Eric Seralini of the Committee for Independent Research and Information on Genetic Engineering has not only branded Bt brinjal “unsafe for human consumption” but also raised serious doubts on safety data presented by developers Mahyco to the government.
Last February 9, Jairam Ramesh, India’s Minister of Environment and Forests, has imposed a moratorium on the release of Bt brinjal due to food safety, food security, and loss of biodiversity considerations. Minister Ramesh said: “It is my duty to adopt a cautious, precautionary principle-based approach and impose a moratorium on the release of Bt brinjal, till such time independent scientific studies establish, to the satisfaction of both the public and professionals, the safety of the product from the point of view of its long-term impact on human health and environment, including the rich genetic wealth existing in brinjal in our country.”
Here in the Philippines a petition letter is being circulated on the internet and among advocates where farmers, environmentalists and concerned individuals can sign to protest the field testing and intent to commercialize the Bt brinjal. Farmers reason we have enough experience with Bt-corn and RR-Corn to fear the entry of Bt brinjal.
Now the transnational corporation proponents of Bt-eggplants are doing the groundwork aimed at generating public acceptance to this genetically modified crop.
The Bt brinjal of Mahyco are being tested in 1) Sta. Maria, Pangasinan; 2) UPLB, Bay, Laguna; 3) CSSAC, Pili, Camarines Sur; 4) Sta. Barbara, Iloilo; 5) VSU, Baybay, Leyte; 6) UP Mindanao Davao City; and 7) University of Southern Mindanao, Kabacan, North Cotabato .
Bt eggplant seeds' commercial release in 2011 will follow after another set of multilocational field trials for the dry season which starts in October this year. Seed production deals will be entered with the Department of Agriculture with other State Universities and Colleges. Field tests in the seven (7) sites are pushed by Dr. Desiree Hautea, project leader of the FSBR project and it is funded by the USAID.
The farmers are appealing to the Department of Agriculture to stop the field trials and eventual commercialization on the following basis:
One, there is little or no information about the Bt eggplant. The calls for the release of information about the Bt eggplant were met with silence by agencies under the DA. The Bureau of Plant Industry, Dr. Hautea, the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines of which the DA is a member, have the obligation to release information on Bt eggplant because its study and eventual release will affect Filipino farmers and consumers.
Two, the is no genuine public consultation. There was very little transparency in the assessment and approval process done by DA. The farmers will need to know the risks in planting Bt eggplant and must not be treated as a mere market for Bt eggplant seeds. Moreover, the public has the right to know what food they consume, from where, and how they are produced.
Three, regulatory mechanisms of GMOs in the country were not followed, are lacking, or inadequate or compromised. There should be specific requisites for biosafety decisions such as risk assessments and studies to ensure food safety and other concerns. The country does not have a GMO labeling law, as well as a law that addresses liability and redress issues resulting from GMO release.
Four, contamination and loss of biodiversity is not a figment of the imagination. Although the approval is for Food, Feed and Processing (FFP), there is a growing trend that approved GM commodities for FFP are eventually approved for propagation.
This is very alarming and it is a real threat and one only has to look back at what happened in Mexico where their local maize varieties got contaminated with Monsanto’s GE corn. It has seriously destroyed not only their local germplasm, but the culture and traditions of the Mexican people that are so embedded with it.
The same happened in Hawaii and Thailand with GM papaya, which seriously compromised the livelihoods of many Hawaiian and Thai farmers, and jeopardized the countries’ agricultural trade. To let this happen in the Philippines – and compromise the biodiversity and the livelihood of Filipino vegetable farmers – would be plainly careless and irresponsible.
cont.BAGUIO CITY - Farmers groups have protested the field testing of genetically modified... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 1 year ago
- |
- 4 comments
-
-
Sustainable Agriculture Group's Monsanto RoundUp: satyagraha edition
The Monsanto RoundUp has been a feature of the Sustainable Agriculture Group where I bring you reports regarding news in the world of GMOs and Monsanto. I haven't done one in a while so I thought I would do this to bring people on Current up to speed on the most important events in the past month. It would take too long to bring you all of the news in the world of GMOs within the past five months, but suffice it to say it has been a busy world with both ups and downs.
Hopefully, through our actions and by dessiminating this information to as many people as we can we can bring about the tipping point that will bring back and give food sovereignty to people worldwide who are seeing it stolen and jeopardized by a stealth attack on their seeds, their biodiversity, their culture, their land, and their very livelihoods.
Check below for postings as reference to all mentioned in this video, and thank you for supporting this endeavor of the Sustainable Agriculture Group.
http://current.com/groups/sustainable-agriculture/
Knowledge is power. Satyagraha!
JanThe Monsanto RoundUp has been a feature of the Sustainable Agriculture Group where I... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 1 year ago
- |
- 17 comments
-
-
New GMO bill in India threatens critics with prison
EXTRACTS: The latest version of the Biotech Regulator Bill in India seems to have draconian clauses to stifle anti-GM voices in the country and is designed to be a Clearing House for GMO applications rather than to protect the health and environment in the country... Rather than penalize those who intend to release GMOs without conclusive safety..., clauses like this are being inserted to harass concerned voices.
---
---
NEW BIOTECH REGULATOR BILL TO STIFLE ANTI-GM VOICES
"INDIA NEEDS A NATIONAL BIOSAFETY PROTECTION AUTHORITY"
New Delhi, February 16, 2010: Terming the proposed Biotech Regulator Bill (Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India Bill) as the wrong bill by the wrong people for the wrong reasons, concerned activists across the country called for the setting up of a National Biosafety Protection Authority.
The Supreme Court observer in Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), Dr Pushpa Bhargava objected to the fact that the proposed Authority is to be housed under the Department of Biotechnology/Ministry of Science & Technology and said that this in itself is objectionable conflict of interest. "The latest version of the Biotech Regulator Bill in India seems to have draconian clauses to stifle anti-GM voices in the country and is designed to be a Clearing House for GMO applications rather than to protect the health and environment in the country. Further, modern biotechnology is a vast field comprising of more than thirty distinct areas including immuno-technology, stem cell technologies, nano-biotechnology etc., whereas this proposed Biotech Regulator appears to look at just Genetic Engineering. To call it a regulator for modern biotechnology is misleading and only shows the ignorance of the people who drafted this Bill", pointed out Dr Bhargava, Founder-Director of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology.
There was serious objection to the inclusion of a Section in the proposed Bill which says "whoever, without any evidence or scientific record misleads the public about safety of GMOs and products thereof shall be punished" with imprisonment and fine! "This is meant to harass civil society groups and scientists who are voicing their concern on this technology. And who is to decide on "misleading", on what basis?", asked Dr Bhargava. Rather than penalize those who intend to release GMOs without conclusive safety proven, clauses like this are being inserted to harass concerned voices, he said.
"This Biotech Regulator Bill is being pushed by the Department of Biotechnology, a department with the mandate to promote GM crops. It is trying to take advantage of the current debate in the country around Bt Brinjal (a first-of-its-kind Genetically Modified vegetable with a bacterial gene in it) and push its own agenda in the form of this Bill. The nation-wide debate that Bt Brinjal initiated had actually shown the dire need for a regulator who Indians can trust to protect their health and environment – we need a National Biosafety Protection Authority and not another 'facilitator' for the industry. The wide-ranging people's voices all over the country now show that any attempt to allow backdoor entry of Bt Brinjal or other GMOs through BRAI or some such institution will be resisted. The proposed statute also tries to stifle the legitimate authority of state governments over Agriculture and vests decision-making in the hands of just a few technical people whereas the issue of GMOs in our food and farming systems has many facets beyond the purely technical", said Kavitha Kuruganti of Kheti Virasat Mission.EXTRACTS: The latest version of the Biotech Regulator Bill in India seems to have... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 1 year ago
- |
- 4 comments
-
-
The battle against Monsanto: a victory for science and democracy
A first hand report from the GMO battlefront, India.
For over six months now I have been deeply involved, as an ordinary citizen of India in waging a war against the attempts of seed companies like Monsanto to control our food. Add Bill Gates and you have got a powerful mix of people and companies who will stop at nothing. With that kind of money and political power it's next to impossible to stop.
First the facts: Patented gene technologies will not help small farmers survive climate change, but they will concentrate corporate power, drive up costs, inhibit public sector research and further undermine the rights of farmers to save and exchange seeds.
http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/10558-the-worlds-top-ten-seed-companies-who-owns-nature
Background: Bt Cotton
Armed with the growing power and a 26% share in Mahyco, it's Indian counterpart, Monsanto unleashed Bt Cotton in India. PR, News and other media bought off, people started hearing how Bt cotton has been successful and made for amazing yields.
Till farmers started committing suicide. Today the numbers are placed at more than 200,000. The magical Bt Cotton was neither magical nor so Bt'ed with common sense. Predictably, the secondary pests developed a resistance and started creating havoc.
But the company had paid off the top politicians and greenwashed, blackwashed, bloodwashed the case of Bt Cotton.
Find out more about the humanitarian, ecological, environmental disaster of Bt Cotton here:
http://www.i-sis.org.uk/farmersSuicidesBtCottonIndia.php
Bt Brinjal
So in 2009, the GEAC (Genetic Enginnering Approval Committe) gave the go ahead to the world's first genetically modified food that was to be directly consumed by humans - the Bt Brinjal. Also known as eggplant and aubergine.
Dr. Pushpa Bhargava was a member of the GEAC. A renowned microbiologist, Dr. Bhargava expressed shock at the approval.
Greenpeace launched a campaign protesting the decision.
Millions of educated Indians got into the act.
And within 72 hours, our environment minister, Mr. Jairam Ramesh's offices were flooded with over 70,000 faxes and thousands of emails, saying Bt Brinjal must not be approved.
Never before was such a spontaneous environmental protest seen in this country's history. Jairam Ramesh put off the decision till February. He said he would travel around the country and hold a series of public consultations. He would take the opinion of people, scientists and farmers.
Monsanto-Mahyco had politicians by their side. The science and technology minister of India, the agricultural minister of India came in defense of Bt Brinjal. Said it was harmless.
With all the power in their hands, Monsanto thought it had the game in their hands.
Except they made a little mistake. They hadn't realized that bigger than money, bigger than politics, bigger than anything else is something called the country.
It was India's food security at stake and people came out in millions and took a stand against this blatant attempt at a new kind of colonialism.
And the Indians fought a pitched battle against Monsanto and their allies. Watch videos and see reports here:
http://greenpeace.in/safefood/
Blogs like this were continuously giving out information which the mainstream media and newspapers refused to cover.
http://greatindiansale.blogspot.com/search?q=bt+brinjalA first hand report from the GMO battlefront, India. For over six months now I have... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 1 year ago
- |
- 13 comments
-
-
Victory! India bans planting of first GMO food crop ( Bt brinjal)
This is big news! Should this have been approved, Monsanto would have gotten its foot in the door to push other GM crops on India to the detriment of its biodiversity and the livelihood of farmers. Due to the resistance of farmers, consumers, environmentalists and the protests against it there is at least a tentative victory on this being stopped.
Thank you India!This is big news! Should this have been approved, Monsanto would have gotten its foot... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 2 years ago
- |
- 32 comments
-
-
GMOs contaminate the world- and no one here cares
Ever felt that the approval of GM crops and foods by GM 'regulators' across the world has lacked transparency, due democratic process, and scientific rigour?
Then take a look at India for a lesson in how we can begin to take back the power we've given away to corporations and their bought-and-owned politicians and scientists.
Over the past week we've put onto our website (http://www.gmwatch.org/ - Latest News) a stack of documents from independent scientists and other experts submitted to the Indian government, commenting on its Expert Committee's (EC II) recent approval for commercialisation of GM Bt brinjal (aubergine/eggplant).
The approval process appeared to be based on junk science generated by the GM company Mahyco (a subsidiary of Monsanto), who created the GM Bt brinjal in question. Their data was not made fully public or independently evaluated.
When the approval announcement met with public outcry, the Minister for the Environment and Forests, Jairam Ramesh, intervened and launched a public consultation and review process.
In response, a group of citizens, independent scientists, and other experts stepped into the knowledge gap to shine a light on the questions and problems around Bt brinjal that Mahyco and its friends in the Indian government didn't want the public to know about.
For example, Aruna Rodrigues (lead petitioner in the GM Public Interest Lawsuit in the Supreme Court), with members of civil society, has set up an Independent Scientific Peer Review Panel in an extra-governmental process to do the job that the 'regulator' failed to do.
We'll continue to put more documents up as they come in.Ever felt that the approval of GM crops and foods by GM 'regulators' across... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 2 years ago
- |
- 24 comments
-
-
More than 100,000 indians fast agaisnt BT brinjal
MORE THAN A LAKH INDIANS OBSERVE A ONE-DAY FAST ON MARTYRS' DAY TO STOP BT BRINJAL AND TO PROTECT INDIA'S FOOD SOVEREIGNTY
NOTE: Lakh is an Indian unit of measurement for 100,000.
EXTRACT: "Remember the Mahatma, Stop Bt Brinjal and Protect India's Seed & Food Sovereignty" was their message.
New Delhi, 30th January, 2010: On Martyrs' day today, more than one lakh Indians observed a one-day fast to emphasise that the hard-won independence led by Mahatma Gandhi cannot be lost now to agri-business MNCs, with their technologies like GM seeds. Thousands who observed the one-day fast throughout the country sought to remember the Mahatma's dream of Hind Swaraj and to uphold the food sovereignty of the country from the onslaught of technologies like GM seeds. "Remember the Mahatma, Stop Bt Brinjal and Protect India's Seed & Food Sovereignty" was their message.
In Kerala, more than one lakh [100,000] people fasted around the state and the Kerala Agriculture Minister joined them in this effort. The fast was undertaken by thousands of Indians in the states of Bihar, Karnataka, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Orissa, Uttarkhand and West Bengal. More than 700 people in Lucknow, 600 in Fatehpur, 100 in Siddharthnagar, 100 in Jalone, 50 in Gorakhpur, 200 in Bangalore, 150 in Chandigarh, 400 in Patna, 400 in Gujarat, 150 in Muzaffarpur and 100 in Hyderabad joined this nation-wide fast to mark Martyrs' Day. A rally was taken out in Ahmedabad on the occasion.
In Delhi, around one hundred people joined a candle-light vigil at Jantar Mantar and later, walked to Raj Ghat to pay their homage to the Mahatma. In Orissa, more than eight thousand people in twelve districts observed the National Day of Fast in districts like Baripada, Sundargarh, Malkangiri, Phulbani, Koraput etc.MORE THAN A LAKH INDIANS OBSERVE A ONE-DAY FAST ON MARTYRS' DAY TO STOP BT... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 2 years ago
- |
- 6 comments
-
-
Heated protests take place over BT brinjal in India
Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh faced angry protests at the consultations on Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) brinjal at the Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture here on Sunday.
The demonstration by activists of farmers’ and non-governmental organisations, opposing introduction of genetically modified crops began with the Minister’s entry at the institute.
The protesters, led by Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham president K. Ramakrishna, blocked his entry to the auditorium.
Others, including activists of the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, raised slogans such as ‘Bt brinjal go back’ and ‘Monsanto agents go back.’ The exercise did not commence for one hour.
Mr. Ramesh lost his cool several times and prompted the police to “push out” the protesters after they did not heed his requests to stop shouting. He asked the protesters not to “bring disrepute to Hyderabad,” as nowhere else were such uncalled-for interruptions marred the public consultations.
After hearing a large number of farmers, social activists, scientists, doctors, representatives of NGOs and farmers and consumer organisations for more than two-and-a-half hours (a majority of them arguing against Bt brinjal and GM crops), Mr. Ramesh said he would announce his decision on the first GM food crop in the country on February 10.
“My decision won’t be influenced by any quarter, including scientists, NGOs, agriculture universities or Monsanto. Neither is there any pressure from the PMO nor the Prime Minister. My decision will be fair and judicious, and will be based purely on the outcome of consultations,” he said.
Mr. Ramesh described as unfortunate the polarisation of the debate from the beginning. It was not correct to dub those supporting Bt brinjal as ‘agents of Monsanto’ and the opponents as ‘anti-technology.’
He appealed to the scientists to educate the people on the facts, and not to add fuel to the fire.Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh faced angry protests... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 2 years ago
- |
- 6 comments
-
-
Fast in India to protest against BT brinjal
The Kerala Agriculture-Environmental Collective has called for a State-wide Fast on Martyrs Day January 30th 2010, with the message of Remembering the Mahatma, Stopping Bt brinjal and Protecting Food and National Sovereignty.
The Call for the Fast was given today at a Press Conference by the Minister for Agriculture, Sri Mullakara Rathnakaran, Smt Sugathakumari, Poet and Environmentalist and Dr V S Vijayan, Chairman, Kerala State Biodiversity Board. Members of the Collective also attended the meeting. A notice of the fast and a poster was also distributed to the media persons.
The Minister asked "people from all walks of life to join the fast. The main venue will be the Martyrs Square in trivandrum, and there will be venues in other districts as well. But those who cannot make it to the venue should take this call and undertake the fast, wherever they are". He also added that "kerala and many other states, following kerala's position have not decided not to allow Bt Brinjal. This vindicates Kerala's stand.". Welcoming the move by the Agriculture Ministry to join the fast Smt Sugathakumari said "that it is time to re-think on all these technologies that for years have enslaved and poisoned us, now they want to capture all our rights over the food, and keep us poisoned for ever. How can we allow these MNCs to decide the future of our food". Dr V S Vijayan explained in detail how the MNCs are trying to mislead the Governments and the common public by their propaganda. "If Bt Cotton was such a success, then why did farmers in Bt Cotton areas suicide ?" he asked. He also talked about the total genetic diversity loss that can happen when GM crops are introduced.
Sugathakumari, who had earlier talked to Prof M S Swaminathan, before attending the press conference, shared what the Father of Green revolution wanted her to share with the media. He had said that Bt Brinjal should not be introduced for three reasons - that an independent government owned testing facility has not done the tests, and it was based on only privately generated data ( he reminded Sugathakumari of his own recommendations in 2004 of setting up an internationally qualified lab for this purpose), secondly he said that consumption of thoroughly untested Bt Brinjal is like the case of tobacco - a chronic dosage issue, and thirdly, he said this should not be introduced in any agro-biodiversity hotspots, as it will destroy the indigenous varieties. He also shared that he has spoken about this to the Minister of Environment and Forests , Sri Jairam Ramesh on this matter.
Sri Mullakara Rathnakaran finally asked the support of the media to reach out the message to all, so as to ensure wide participation and success. Members of the Collective, S Usha and Sridhar R were also present in the press conference.The Kerala Agriculture-Environmental Collective has called for a State-wide Fast on... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 2 years ago
- |
- 5 comments
-
-
India's GMO scandal: BT brinjal approval rigged
Monsanto and USAID interfering in India's agricultural policy. Anyone surprised?-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 2 years ago
- |
- 1 comment
-
-
BT brinjal biosafety assessment a disaster for India
"I have never seen less professionalism in the presentation and quality assurance of molecular data than in this study" - Prof Jack Heinemann of the University of Canterbury, who assessed Monsanto-Mahyco's molecular transformation methods
---
---
"Set aside Bt brinjal recommendation"
The Hindu (National edition), October 14 2009
http://www.thehindu.com/2009/10/16/stories/2009101657611300.htm
*No studies for toxicity conducted: Expert
*"Bt brinjal will impact food security, health"
*No gene-flow studies were done
NEW DELHI: It may well go down as the blackest day in Indian history, unless the government reverses the decision of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) to recommend commercial release of Mahyco's Bt brinjal.
Bt brinjal will impact the country's food security, health, farming and environment in perpetuity, says a food safety analyst.
"We who know the details of the appraisal of the Mahyco-Monsanto safety dossier by four world renowned scientists [Seralini, Carman, Heinemann and Gurian-Sherman] cannot imagine the extent of the disaster that will unfold in India," Aruna Rodrigues said from Mhow in Madhya Pradesh.
Quoting Seralini of France, Ms. Rodrigues said no long-term feeding studies for chronic toxicity had been conducted for Bt brinjal. These feeding studies only would help reveal tumours/cancers as they grow slowly. "The inescapable conclusion of these feeding studies is that they have been 'engineered' or designed to throw up 'no significant differences'," she said.
Ms. Rodrigues said Doug Gurian-Sherman of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a former scientist of the Environment Protection Agency, speaking about contamination from gene flow from Bt brinjal to wild brinjal relatives and domesticated varieties, reported that no gene-flow studies were done. "The possibility of harm from gene flow has been widely recognised by many scientists. In the United States, this recognition has been a major factor in regulatory action restricting the commercialisation of GE crops (including cotton) with wild relatives. India is a centre of domestication and diversity for brinjal, and this adds additional concern."
She said Jack Heinemann of the University of Canterbury, who assessed Mahyco's molecular transformation methods, asserted that the company had failed at the elementary step of the safety study, analysing the insertion. "I have never seen less professionalism in the presentation and quality assurance of molecular data than in this study," he was quoted as saying.
Ms. Rodrigues said the fact that the government accepted the principle that the seed-developing company itself should do safety testing of its own product and "trusted" it to do so invalidated the safety dossier."I have never seen less professionalism in the presentation and quality assurance... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 2 years ago
- |
- 3 comments
-
-
Farmers protest: "Stop GM trials; Monsanto, quit India"
Let the seed satyagraha begin. We need farmers everywhere, particulary here in America to do this. To stand up for biodiversity, the environment, and the health of all of us.Let the seed satyagraha begin. We need farmers everywhere, particulary here in America... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 2 years ago
- |
- 6 comments
-
-
India: doctors and scientists call for GM ban
Field trials for BT brinjal are set to begin, however, tests have not been adequate in regards to assuring its safety. Sounds familiar doesn't it?Field trials for BT brinjal are set to begin, however, tests have not been adequate in... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 3 years ago
- |
- 22 comments
-
-
Poison in your stomach: genetically modified eggplants
After experimenting with rats, goats, sheep and cows, it is now the turn of Indian people. In a few months from now, if the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of India has its way, the first genetically modified food crop Bt Brinjal will be on your table.
Whether it is the laboratory rats or higher mammals, the animal kingdom has been more discerning possibly owing to a sixth instinct which human beings sadly lack. There is otherwise no explanation for why laboratory rats, for instance, should always be spurning GM foods. And when force fed, rats have invariably developed tumours and deformed body organs, including kidneys and livers, as well as serious diseases and ailments.
We have heard repeatedly of the death of sheep and goats when left to graze in the Bt cotton fields of India. First it was reported from Andhra Pradesh, and now newspaper reports point to the south-Indian state of Orissa. However, not much is public about how the cattle react. Several farmers in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana have told me that cows avoid the Bt cotton fields when left to openly graze.
The Bt gene that has been infused in Bt cotton (or Bt corn on which most of the laboratory rat studies have been conducted) is no different from the same gene drawn from a soil bacterium scientifically called Bt that is now being incorporated in Brinjal. This gene releases a toxin within the plant that kills fruit-and-shoot borer insects. The Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco), which is spearheading research on Bt Brinjal, claims that the genetically-modified Brinjal is safe for human consumption.
I have never been placated by the safety claims made by these companies. For several decades now we were told that cigarette smoking wasn't harmful to human health, that chemical pesticides were completely safe, and that white sugar poses no danger to the human body. These are not the only products that received the safety certificate - the list is endless. And yet decades later, after inflicting a heavy human cost the world over, most of these products are being banned or phased out. Long since sugar-based food products hit the market and were vouched safe, diabetes has suddenly assumed epidemic proportions.
Diabetes is a case in point: notwithstanding that the disease is growing at an alarming scale, the disappearance of the traditionally-cultivated Brinjal from the market will surely take away one of the simple home remedies and widely-practiced dietary solutions to combating the Type-2 diabetes. I too suffer from Type-2 diabetes, and therefore find it appalling that no scientific organisation, including the GEAC, is coming clean on what the genetically modified Brinjal will mean for people like me.
snip
If you don't believe me, let us listen to Prof Dave Schubert of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in California: The Bt toxin is 1000 times more concentrated than in Bt sprays, which do not themselves have a history of safe use. In other words, what Dr Schubert says is that genetically modified Bt plants, and that includes Bt Brinjal, carry a toxin that is a thousand times more potent than what is used to kill insects. Strains of Bt have been used as sprays to control harmful insets. Spine chilling, isn't it?
The problem is that once Bt Brinjal enters the market, there is no way you can distinguish it from the normal ones. Your vegetable vendor will never be able to sell you the normal Brinjal that you are so used to buying. Moreover, once the genie is out, there is no way to call it back.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
India is once again to be the guinea pig to make biotech companies profits. As the article states, there is no shortage of eggplants (brinjal) in India. There is no other reason for this but profit at the expense of health. And once again without disclosure. It is despicable.After experimenting with rats, goats, sheep and cows, it is now the turn of Indian... more-
- JanforGore
- added this
- 3 years ago
- |
- 21 comments
-
