UnDemocratic Science, Food Providers and Indian Agriculture
Nagarjuna
Bt Brinjal could be back because Science and Technology minister
Prithviraj Chavan is trying to change the rules of the game.
Mr. Chavan pushed for Bt Brinjal in a letter he copied word for word
from a study funded by biotech seed companies, including Monsanto.
He's furious over the widespread public rejection of Monsanto's Bt
Brinjal.
So now he will be introducing an undemocratic GM bill to ease the
legalisation of Bt Brinjal, rice, and more – without any public
input.
Mr. Chavan is supposed to serve the people of India. Instead, he's
betraying the public trust by serving the interests of biotech
corporations.
Can you sign this petition asking the Prime Minister to stop Minister
Chavan from poisoning our food?
http://greenpeace.in/safefood/chavan-petition/
The petition says: "Minister Chavan has betrayed the public trust by
doing the dirty work of biotech giants. The Prime Minister should
throw out Chavan's corrupt GM bill."
Your petition signature will be delivered to the Prime Minister.
In a letter to the former health minister, Mr. Chavan shamelessly
lifted paragraphs from reports funded by Monsanto to argue for GM
crops in India. This letter representing commercial interests is now a
part of the official documents being referred to by the Prime
Minister's office.
Chavan's bill would create a Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of
India (BRAI), a small body of technocrats whose decisions cannot be
questioned. If passed, this bill will deny the State governments'
rights to say no and BRAI will escape the purview of the Right To
Information Act – both of which helped stop Bt Brinjal. The citizens
of this country will never be able to stop genetic contamination of
rice or any of the other food crops in the pipeline. [3]
It's time to act again. Sign the petition and save our food from
genetic contamination:
http://greenpeace.in/safefood/chavan-petition/
Thanks a billion!
Jai Krishna
Jai Krishna
Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner
Greenpeace India
Sources:
1. Prithvi used GM lobby data to push Bt brinjal, India Today,
February 18, 2010
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/84529/India/Prithvi+used+GM+lobby+data+to+push+Bt+brinjal.html
2. New GM bill threatens critics with prison, GMwatch.org, February
17, 2010
http://www.gmwatch.org/latest-listing/1-news-items/11946-new-gm-bill-threatens-critics-with-prison
3. Prithvi used GM lobby data to push Bt brinjal, India Today,
February 18, 2010
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/84529/India/Prithvi+used+GM+lobby+data+to+push+Bt+brinjal.html