Nine reasons to say NO to GM crops

Dear friends,

Busy with our routine lives, we often tend to neglect our existential reasons and meanings of lives. We never really bother to know how the environment gets affected by our actions and decisions. This letter is sent to you out of a deep concern for the well-being of humanity, waiting for you, to join us.

Genetically modified (GM) seeds are awaiting their entry into the soil of India, and if approved by the government, can cause severe damage to man, animals, all other living organisms and the soil. GM plants are toxic, and along with killing the pests, they kill the essential micro-organisms in the body and the soil. Below are a few reasons why they should be banned, with strong references – compiled by myself, Priya and my friend Nirali.

Shri Jairam Ramesh, the Minister of Environment and Forest (MOEF) has held a public meeting on 19^th January 2010, at AMA, Ahmedabad, for people’s opinion. The decisions we make will majorly affect our coming generations and hereby I request you for your presence, on behalf of all the kids, and the coming generations.

Venue : J.B. Auditorium

AMA (Ahmedabad Management Association)

Opposite IIM-A, Ahmedabad

Time : 11:00 a.m.

Date : 19 January 2010

Love from,

priya & nirali

Feel free to forward this email, to spread awareness.

You can contact us on :

Priya Shah : 098242 51935 priyashah012@gmail.com

Nirali Shah : 093271 01155 niralis@gmail.com

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What are Genetically Modified (GM) seeds/crops ?

GM crops are created by unnatural insertion of foreign genes into host DNA of a plant, which leads to numerous unpredictable changes that are potentially dangerous for health.

The government of India has cleared BT-BRINJAL as the first gm vegetable. If approved, there are 22 more crop varieties waiting.

Nine Reasons to Say NO to GM Seeds
(Compiled by Nirali Shah & Priya Shah)

1. GM seeds have many harmful effects on health

GM crops are created by the unnatural insertion of foreign genes which can lead to numerous unpredictable changes that are potentially dangerous for health. Bt Brinjal has been artificially created by insertion of a bacterial gene (Bacillus thuringiensis-BT) to produce a toxin 24X7 inside the plant to target one pest—the Brinjal Fruit & Shoot Borer (it has to be noted that while many pests and diseases attack the crop, this technology is claimed as a solution to one such pest). Just as it attacks the pests and kills it, it also attacks beneficial micro organisms in the human body, thus causing irreversible damage to our immunity.

Describing the health hazards related with BT vegetables, Ramadoss [Union Health Minister of India] warned that people consuming them could experience kidney and liver problems.

• Union Health Minister of India calls BT Crops Toxic in Indian Express Interview
• Bengal Chief Minister questions health hazards in Indian Express
  
• More illnesses linked to BT by Institute of Science in Society
  
• Poison on the Platter [See film 30 mins]
• Bad Seed [See film 6.37 mins]
  

2. "Internationally about 30 tests are prescribed before a country can allow GM seeds. However, India has done only 6-7 tests. Those too have been done by Monsanto itself or samples provided by the company, which is trying to push GM seeds in India," notes Dr. Pushpa Bhargava, who is:

widely regarded as the architect of modern biology and biotechnology in India. He has been felicitated with several prestigious awards including the Padma Bhushan. He is also the Supreme Court Appointed special invitee of the 30-member GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval committee) set up by the Govt. of India. Scientist, writer, thinker, institution builder, administrator. Former and Founder Director of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad and used to be the President of Society of Biological Chemists of India and Indian Academy of Social Sciences He has authored over 125 major scientific publications and over 400 other articles on a variety of subjects in some of the best-known publications around the world. See his interview below:

• Interview in Indian Express
• Interview in Infochange India

3. The so called “Expert Committee (EC2)” set up by the GEAC to conduct tests on BT Brinjal has lost its credibility

as many of the members are associated with GM crop development company (Monsanto). There is a corruption charge on one of them. How come we can rely on such committee whose chairman now says, “We are not sure about the safety of BT brinjal”?
Recently, the Chair of the EC2 admits in a media interview again that several tests on Bt Brinjal were not done and “without them, at this stage, we do not know whether Bt Brinjal is safe or not”. The Chairperson also says that “Genetically Engineered food products will not be equal to the non-genetically engineered food products. That's for sure. Now, how much damage, we do not know at this stage"! This is a very serious admission indeed and the many voices of concerned citizens, scientists and activists stand vindicated with this. These views of the EC2 Chair not getting reflected in the report of this Committee shows yet again that pressure and vested interests were driving the EC2 report.

• Compelling findings by IBN Live
• Watch Video where EC2 Chairman speaks on IBN Live
  

4. There is no shortage or immediate threat to Brinjal production in India.

Brinjal is one of the highest produced and consumed vegetables in India and there is no current shortage. There are various traditional methods of protecting Brinjals against pests that have been practiced since hundreds of years. To learn more see Links below:

• http://takingroots.in/ipm_nske
• http://www.indiagminfo.org/updates/Brinjal%20FSB%20Brochure%20Final.pdf
  

5. Thousands of cattle died in Andhra Pradesh by consuming BT Cotton and caused severe allergies and other illnesses to farm workers . Andra Pradesh government has banned Genetically Modified seeds in the state. In Philippines, villagers living near GM Maize fields have even died.

• Hindustan Times article
• Interview with Jeffrey Smith in Financial Times
• Studies by Institute of Science in Society
• Article about death in Phillipines
  
  

6. India is the center of Origin / Diversity of Brinjal

Delhi-based NBPGR (See Outlook article below) asserts that Brinjal originated in India and there are more than 2000 varieties that have been conserved. It is important to note that no Genetically Modified crop has been introduced in the country of origin till now in the world, because it can contaminate rest of the traditional species. Monsanto says that if we keep a 30 mt distance on all four sides, then cross pollination between GM and traditional varieties will not occur. But they are leaving out the simple fact that bees travel up to three kilometers. Also Indian farmers do not own huge hectares of land unlike their American counterparts. They are often small plot owners and cannot afford to leave large distances.

Also there is a great chance that traditional varieties will get contaminated and also go extinct, which is irreversible. We cannot ever bring back these varieties that nature took thousands of years to create, thereby leaving them extinct forever. One should also realize that any labeling will not help and the consumer has no way to ascertain if the brinjal they are buying is GM or Non-GM. To learn more see links below:

• Statement by Union Health Minister, Ramadoss in Financial Express ["there are more than 2,500 varieties of brinjal in this country, which could be jeopardized irreversibly with the entry of bt brinjal."]
• Article in Outlook Magazine
• Orissa Government bans BT Brinjal to protect local varieties, as per Indian Express

7. Most other countries and several states in India have banned GM due to its health hazards

GM crops were introduced in UK, Germany, Phillipines and some other countries. However after facing dangerous health complains from thousands of citizens, mass civil opposition and after doing further tests they banned GM food in their country. Italy, Ireland, Austria, France, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, South Africa, Switzerland and many other countries have either banned or enforced a moratorium on the cultivation of GM food crops. Moreover, surveys say that more than 90% of Americans, and almost 100% of Europeans are against GM foods. In India, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Kerala, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Orissa have banned GM foods.

• See a list of GM Free Nations

8. Monopoly of a foreign corporate on the food security of India is dangerous

One should note that 62% of Indians are occupied in farming. Food production plays a huge role in our economy. If our farmers become addicted to GM Seeds then a foreign company like Monsanto will hold a monopoly on this multi-billion dollar business of selling seeds in India. There is no technology developed in India to make GM seeds.
According to many reports Monsanto has a bad reputation worldwide of corruption and breaking international laws:

• BBC Article
• BBC News: Indian farmers ransack Monsanto building due to farmer suicides
• Important film on list of crimes committed by Monsanto: World According to Monsanto
  

9. Damage to the soil and the entire ecosystem

Just as the toxins emitted by the GM seeds kills the pest and damages the human body, similarly it kills the microbial population in the soil. It is the micro activity in the soil that makes it 'alive soil' as again the dead soil in a desert. It is possible to grow food more productively only in an alive ecosystem where the micro activity is high. The toxins not only damage the fertility of the soil, but it also harms the entire ecosystem including the bees, animals, birds.

• Article in The Independent [Major new study shows that GM crops cuts productivity]
• GM crops ruin field for 15 years
• Interview in Infochange India