Due to
insufficient information, the mass media of course also being silent concerning
the truth about GM products, people just don't know what they are buying when
they see the tempting and misleading labels on GM food products.
Another crucial problem, economic and ecological
The Monsanto "Terminator seeds' are, according to the Monsanto patent, not to be used for the following year's crop. Farmers are not allowed to replant the seeds from one year's crop for the following year. If they violate this outrageous law, they are sued by Monsanto. Thus the thousands-year-old tradition of saving seeds and protecting biodiversity would be lost were it not for extremely important efforts underway, mainly in India by Dr. Vandana Shiva* and her organization Navdanya. Had it not been for these biodiversity-saving efforts, traditional farming methods might be doomed.
The GMO scandals in India
The
introduction of genetically engineered cotton seeds (Bt cotton) in India has
led to an outbreak of farmer suicides in several states all over India.
Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have been hit the most drastically, but many
other states such as Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Kerala, Gujarat, etc. have seen
suicide rates rising since 1997. According to Vandana Shiva* and other reliable
sources, 200,000 farmers have committed suicide since 1997. (200,000 Indian farmers committed suicide
since 1997: BBC)
The fight in India now concerns the possible introduction of Bt brinjal, (eggplant). On October 14, 2009 an Indian governmental agency, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), gave its approval for the environmental release of Bt brinjal. This agency is part of the Environment Ministry.
Faced with the extraordinary public opposition to Bt brinjal, the Minister of the Environment, Jairam Ramesh, withdrew his support for the introduction of genetically modified brinjal.
"Update: On 9 February 2010, in response to the widespread concern expressed by the public and some scientists, Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests, announced an indefinite moratorium on the release of Bt-brinjal. "
"Groups are lobbying strongly to force the Indian government to reverse its decision permanently. According to G. Nammalvar from Vanagam, a non-profit-making organisation in Tamil Nadu that campaigns in favour of ecological farming, "there is no necessity for the introduction of a Bt brinjal in India, which holds the merit of having huge biodiversity. We have 2,500 traditional brinjal varieties in India. Every community is used to consuming a particular variety, i.e. locally produced. Introduction of Bt brinjal with false claims for its advantages will contaminate the local varieties and erode the biodiversity of the vegetable that is consumed by millions." He says that environmental activists, women's collectives, consumers' movements, farmers' associations and traders' associations would join together to resist the introduction of Bt brinjal in Tamil Nadu.
His voice of protest has been echoed across the country. On 7 November 2009 a conference on genetic engineering, farming and food, held in Mysore, called on the state government to declare Karnataka a GM-free region. "We do not want GM crops which can prove apocalyptic for mankind", declared the conference statement. "Let us say never to Bt brinjal.-- ("Indian farmers organise to stop Bt brinjal')
* Dr. Vandana Shiva is a former nuclear physicist, a philosopher, environmental activist, and eco feminist. She has founded an organization, Navdanya, with organic farms all over India. If there is anybody in the world who might possibly succeed in the now worldwide fight against genetically modified agricultural products, it will no doubt be Vandana Shiva. She has written over twenty books, she lectures, she is interviewed, she travels all over the world to inform people of the deadly dangers of GM cultures and foods. She is a figure of the global solidarity movement known as the alter-globalization movement, or counter-globalization movement, which is critical of the globalization of corporate capitalism.
"Navdanya means "nine seeds" (symbolizing protection of biological and cultural diversity) and also the "new gift" -- for seed as commons, based on the right to save and share seeds. In today's context of biological and ecological destruction, seed savers are the true givers of seed.
"Navdanya has helped set up 54 community seed banks across the country, trained over 500,000 farmers in seed sovereignty, food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture over the past two decades, and helped setup the largest direct marketing, fair trade organic network in the country." (Navdanya)
Further background on this issue: "Monsanto accused of "biopiracy" by India' by Julien Bouissou (Le Monde) - translation by Siv O'Neall
and also: "The Great Seed Robbery' by Vandana Shiva
[1] Largely between 1997 and 1999, genetically modified (GM) food ingredients suddenly appeared in 2/3rds of all US processed foods. This food alteration was fueled by a single Supreme Court ruling. It allowed, for the first time, the patenting of life forms for commercialization. ( RAW-WISDOM )
Another crucial problem, economic and ecological
The Monsanto "Terminator seeds' are, according to the Monsanto patent, not to be used for the following year's crop. Farmers are not allowed to replant the seeds from one year's crop for the following year. If they violate this outrageous law, they are sued by Monsanto. Thus the thousands-year-old tradition of saving seeds and protecting biodiversity would be lost were it not for extremely important efforts underway, mainly in India by Dr. Vandana Shiva* and her organization Navdanya. Had it not been for these biodiversity-saving efforts, traditional farming methods might be doomed.
The GMO scandals in India
The fight in India now concerns the possible introduction of Bt brinjal, (eggplant). On October 14, 2009 an Indian governmental agency, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), gave its approval for the environmental release of Bt brinjal. This agency is part of the Environment Ministry.
Faced with the extraordinary public opposition to Bt brinjal, the Minister of the Environment, Jairam Ramesh, withdrew his support for the introduction of genetically modified brinjal.
"Update: On 9 February 2010, in response to the widespread concern expressed by the public and some scientists, Jairam Ramesh, Minister of Environment and Forests, announced an indefinite moratorium on the release of Bt-brinjal. "
"Groups are lobbying strongly to force the Indian government to reverse its decision permanently. According to G. Nammalvar from Vanagam, a non-profit-making organisation in Tamil Nadu that campaigns in favour of ecological farming, "there is no necessity for the introduction of a Bt brinjal in India, which holds the merit of having huge biodiversity. We have 2,500 traditional brinjal varieties in India. Every community is used to consuming a particular variety, i.e. locally produced. Introduction of Bt brinjal with false claims for its advantages will contaminate the local varieties and erode the biodiversity of the vegetable that is consumed by millions." He says that environmental activists, women's collectives, consumers' movements, farmers' associations and traders' associations would join together to resist the introduction of Bt brinjal in Tamil Nadu.
His voice of protest has been echoed across the country. On 7 November 2009 a conference on genetic engineering, farming and food, held in Mysore, called on the state government to declare Karnataka a GM-free region. "We do not want GM crops which can prove apocalyptic for mankind", declared the conference statement. "Let us say never to Bt brinjal.-- ("Indian farmers organise to stop Bt brinjal')
* Dr. Vandana Shiva is a former nuclear physicist, a philosopher, environmental activist, and eco feminist. She has founded an organization, Navdanya, with organic farms all over India. If there is anybody in the world who might possibly succeed in the now worldwide fight against genetically modified agricultural products, it will no doubt be Vandana Shiva. She has written over twenty books, she lectures, she is interviewed, she travels all over the world to inform people of the deadly dangers of GM cultures and foods. She is a figure of the global solidarity movement known as the alter-globalization movement, or counter-globalization movement, which is critical of the globalization of corporate capitalism.
"Navdanya means "nine seeds" (symbolizing protection of biological and cultural diversity) and also the "new gift" -- for seed as commons, based on the right to save and share seeds. In today's context of biological and ecological destruction, seed savers are the true givers of seed.
"Navdanya has helped set up 54 community seed banks across the country, trained over 500,000 farmers in seed sovereignty, food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture over the past two decades, and helped setup the largest direct marketing, fair trade organic network in the country." (Navdanya)
Further background on this issue: "Monsanto accused of "biopiracy" by India' by Julien Bouissou (Le Monde) - translation by Siv O'Neall
and also: "The Great Seed Robbery' by Vandana Shiva
[1] Largely between 1997 and 1999, genetically modified (GM) food ingredients suddenly appeared in 2/3rds of all US processed foods. This food alteration was fueled by a single Supreme Court ruling. It allowed, for the first time, the patenting of life forms for commercialization. ( RAW-WISDOM )
[2] FIFTY HARMFUL EFFECTS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) FOODS 1. Recorded Deaths from GM; 2. Near-deaths and Food Allergy Reactions; 3. Direct Cancer and Degenerative Disease Links ( RAW-WISDOM )
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