Monsanto and "Bija Satyagraha"
Shreeram
A NEW FREEDOM MOVEMENT AGAINST A NEW COLONISATION
New Delhi, 05 March 1999--On 5th March, 1999, the anniversary of "Salt
Satyagraha", more than 1,500 groups nationwide joined to launch the
"Bija Satyagraha".
In North India, the "Bija Satyagraha" was launched at village Patala in
Gaziabad District with a gathering of 500 people from all walks of life.
Dr. Vandana Shiva launched the Bija Satyagraha with the inaugural show
of a street play on "Seeds of Freedom".
The National Call for Bija Satyagraha was made at the sculpture of
Gandhiji and eleven murtis at Sardar Patel Road and Wellington Crescent
Road at 12:45 hrs.
Some of the organisations that have joined Bija Satyagraha gathered to
mark a collective commitment to defend our biodiversity and our food
security. The broad coalition involved the Bija Satyagraha was
represented by Lok Shakti Abhiyan, Bharatiya Kisan Union, Samajvadi
Abhiyan, National Federation of Indian Women, Forces, Sabla Sangh, Azadi
Bachao Andolan, Delhi Pradesh Samajwadi Janata Party Women's Wing,
Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, Students of I.I.T. and JNU.
Carrying placards saying, "No Bollgard No Terminator", "No Patents on
Life", "Right to Food", "TPDS Samapth Karo - Sasthe Anaj ke Vyavastha
Karo", "Naya Patent Kanun ki kilaf asahayog andolan", "Affordable and
Safe Food is a Universal Right", "India will be Monsanto Free Zone", the
satyagrahis sang songs of new freedom from powerful and irresponsible
multinational corporations seeking to colonise Indian food and
agriculture and Indian biodiversity.
Activists from Sabla Sangh raised slogans "Keth Hamara Beej Tumara Ye
Kaisa Anyay Hai, Kaunsi Fasal Ham Boenge, Ye Hamara Adhikar Hai". "Beej
Hamara Patent Tumara Nahi Chalega, Nahi Chalega".
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Amarjit Kaur, General Secretary, NFIW
highlighted the importance of indigenous seeds and our food system and
cultural diversity. She emphasized that new patent laws are deny ing
our community and social rights on our seeds, our medicinal plants and
our traditional knowledge and heritage.
Shri Rabi Ray, former Lok Sabha Speaker and patron, Lok Shakti Abhiyan
gave a call to all the responsible Parliamentarians to oppose the Patent
(Amendment) Ordinance, 1999 which is pending in the Parliament. He said
it is unconstitutional and unethical.
Shri Rishipal Ambawat of Bharatiya Kisan Union expressed the farmers
determination to fight the new patent laws and never accept patenting
and other monopolies on seed.
Ms. Beth Burrows, Director of Edmonds Institute, a leading U.S. activist
against patents on life and genetic engineering who also participated in
the Bija Satyagraha launch, stated that there should be no patents on
life and they are opposing the same in their country.
Dr. Vandana Shiva who joined the Bija Satyagraha launch just in time
having been delayed due to a car breakdown on her way from Patala
village said, "The Bija Satyagraha is an expression of the collective
will of the people of India to defend their biodiversity, their
knowledge and their food security. They will let nothing come in the
way of these fundamental rights.
Just as Gandhiji had made salt at Dandi to announce non-cooperation with
the unjust British Salt Laws, the Bija Satyagraha is an announcement of
people's non-cooperation with the unjust patent laws that make seed
saving by farmers a crime and selling of sterile and hazardous
genetically engineered seeds as rights of corporations.
Through one year of Bija Satyagraha, grassroots actions will make large
areas of Indian agriculture MNC free, chemical free and patent free.
This new freedom movement will not be stopped."
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