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 19th 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:
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.
4. There is no shortage or immediate threat to Brinjal production in India.
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
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
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
- Article in The Independent [Major new study shows that GM crops cuts productivity]
- GM crops ruin field for 15 years
- Interview in Infochange India