Wednesday, May 11, 2011

PRESS RELEASE: “STOP ALL FIELD TRIALS OF GMOs IMMEDIATELY”: CIVIL SOCIETY"


New Delhi, May 11, 2011: Representatives of five organizations and networks made a strong presentation to the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) in its 109th meeting here today demanding that all field trials of GMOs in the country be suspended immediately, given the intrinsic uncontrollable nature of GM technology in addition to the amply-demonstrated incapability of our regulatory system to address issues of biosafety and beyond when it comes to GMOs.
 
Sridhar Radhakrishnan, Convenor, Coalition for a GM-Free India; Dr Ramanjaneyulu, Executive Director of Centre for Sustainable Agriculture; Aruna Rodrigues, SC PIL lead petitioner; Rajesh Krishnan, Manager, Sustainable Agriculture Campaign, Greenpeace India and Kavitha Kuruganti, Convenor, Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) made presentations on various issues pertaining to regulation of GMOs in India. They touched upon Bt cotton experience in the country over the past ten years, Bt brinjal risk assessment and issues therewith, open air deliberate releases of GMOs in the form of field trials and concerns therewith and countering industry’s lobbying effort around “delays in product development and commercialization”.
 
GEAC assured the civil society representatives that the issues raised would be discussed in detail in one of the subsequent meetings and that these would be addressed as appropriate.
 
Civil society was prompted to make these presentations to the GEAC in response to some latest developments on the Bt brinjal front and some proposals made by the industry associations in January 2011.
 
In today’s GEAC meeting, groups showcased repeated regulatory failures, incapability, apathy and lack of independence of the regulators as reflected in the case of GM cotton, Bt brinjal and field trials of nearly 14 crops in India and made the following immediate demands:
 
  1. Industry proposals for faster-track approvals of GMOs in our food and farming to be rejected in toto; GEAC not to entertain such proposals since it is not a clearing house for GMOs but has been created to protect our environment, Nature and health.
  2. A comprehensive, participatory review of GM cotton experience in this country to be taken up before proceeding any further with GMO approvals in this country, to glean lessons collectively as a nation and to revamp the regulatory regime.
  3. In the case of Bt brinjal, given the evidence from independent analyses of the problems with various tests that have been done as part of the biosafety dossier, it is time to reject the Bt brinjal dossier; any further assessment on the subject should begin with a need assessment and like mentioned above, should be governed by policy directives in place. Any further assessments should be independent without drawing in the same set of people representing conflicting interests time and again.
  4. Given the fact that field trials are right now riddled with numerous problems which are amply demonstrated by regular violations and malpractices, all field trials to be immediately suspended until all fundamental issues with regard to GMOs and such open air field trials are resolved.
 
For more information, contact:
  1. Sridhar Radhakrishnan: 09995358205
  2. Dr Ramanjaneyulu: 09000699602
  3. Kavitha Kuruganti: 09393001550
  4. Aruna Rodrigues: 09826396033
  5. Rajesh Krishnan: 09845650032

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Red Rice Mela


Saturday and Sunday, 14th -15th May 2011,10 am- 6 pm
Gandhi Bhavan, Near Shivananda Circle,Bangalore 

Ever heard of Diabetic Rice? Not happy eating polished rice? Here is a solution to all your problems. Consume only traditional land races and keep your family healthy and hearty. So are you interested?
Many in the present generation are not aware of diversity of rice that we have. India had two lakh varieties of rice before Green Revolution. Now only 30,000 varieties are there in our gene banks.
Karnataka is also blessed with a rich culinary heritage that each variety of rice is characterised by its distinct textures, flavours, and tastes. It has a diversity of rice cuisines based on regional specialties and traditional dishes of each rice variety. Besides rice having nutritional and medicinal benefits, the by-products of rice are equally important and beneficial.

Despite its importance as a staple food, interest in its health benefits has only recently attracted attention. Laboratory studies have shown that rice products have anti-cancer properties and the potential to treat other conditions such as diabetes, kidney stones and heart disease. Karibatha is used for curing herpes andKarikalave is a special variety among the medicinal diversity and is usually served to feeding mothers, as it is high in calcium content.Navara, a variety of Kerala, has anti-carcinogenic property, especially against breast cancer.
 ‘Sahaja Samrudha’ in collaboration with NABARD,Save Our Rice campaign and Pristine organics has organised 'Red Rice Mela' on 14-15th May 2011 at Gandhi Bhavan,Bangalore.
‘Red Rice Mela’ is celebration of  rice diversity that is grown with care for your health and environment by our Farmers, who preserve diversity by conserving different varieties of rice. The astounding varieties of Red Rice, from different regions of the state would be exhibited.
 Hope to see you all on 14th May at Gandhi Bhavan,Bangalore!

Contact for more details :
                             Manjunatha,  - 9986453324
                            Shantha Kuamr - 9731275656
                            Seema  -             9900851163
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Sahaja Samrudha
'Nandana', No-7, 2nd Cross, 7th Main, Sulthanpalya, Bangalore-560 037
Phone: 080-23655302 / 9880862058  www.sahajasamrudha.org