Public consultations on Bt Brinjal ends with a strong No to GM food crops

Bangalore, 6th Feb: The last and final public consultations by the Minister for Environment and forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh, saw some dramatic developments today the most important being the former Monsanto India Managing Director Mr. T.V. Jagdishan saying no to Bt Brinjal. Scientists in huge majority asking for a Ban on Bt Brinjal and The minister announced that a final decision on Bt Brinjal will be made by him on the 10th of February at 12.30 pm.

The consultation held in Bangalore, known as a centre of Biotechnology saw the agricultural scientists, molecular biologists, Ecologists, Medical practitioners etc from premiere institutions in the city pointing out the dangers with the genetic Engineering as a technology in general and Bt Brinjal in particular. The scientists severely criticised the lack of scientificity in the manner the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee approved Bt Brinjal. 21 out of 30 scientists spoke against Bt Brinjal.

The most interesting development of the day was the former Monsanto India Managing Director Mr. T.V. Jagdishan saying no to Bt Brinjal. While pointing out that private companies only have profit in their mind when introducing new technologies he questioned the lack of seriousness with which the government regulatory authorities are treating something as dangerous as genetically modified crops.

The day started with the first speaker from the farmers side Kodihalli Chandrashekhar asking the minister about the need for this haste in approving Bt Brinjal he categorically stated that farmers in this country has not asked for genetically modified crops but it was the seed companies in collusion with the Agricultural universities who have been thrusting such GM crops down the farmers throat. This was followed by farmers who even challenged the proponents of Bt Brinjal to do comparative studies with most effective pest management technologies like Non Pesticide management being practiced by farmers in lakhs of acres.

The minister while concluding the consultation announced that a final decision on Bt Brinjal will be made by him on the 10th of February at 12.30 pm. He also promised the gathering that all the letters that have been written to him on this matter by all stakeholders and the reasons for his decision would be put up on the Ministry’s website.

“The seven public consultations saw a majority of the farmers, scientists, consumers and other sections of the society showing deep concerns on Bt Brinjal. This is nothing but the tip of the iceberg,” said Rajesh Krishnan, Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner Greenpeace. He also stated that “We hope that the minister and the government would take the public and scientific concerns seriously. Any decision that overlooks would undemocratic and detrimental for the whole world.”

Greenpeace demands a complete ban on the environmental release of any Genetically Modified organisms .

Notes to editor
Updates and photographs on all the public consultations so far are available at www.safefoodnow.org

For More Information contact
Rajesh Krishnan, campaign Manager, Sustainable Agriculture Campaign, Greenpeace -
mob: 91-9845650032, email: rajesh.krishnan@greenpeace.org

Dr. Seema Javed-Sr.Media Officer Greenpeace -91-9910059765

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The consultation was filled with people against Bt Brinjal

Farmers, scientists, researchers, students, consumers, mothers, individuals, doctors and NGO groups flocked the Jnana Jyoti Auditorium and queued up to register. Banners, posters and big brinjals were already set up all around the entrance.

The consultation finally started at 9:30am. Jairam Ramesh was clear about the order in which he wanted to listen to the opinions. He requested all to give each other a chance. The farmers were the first to speak. Mr. Kodihalli Chandrashekhar, representing the farmers, asked the minister about the haste in approving Bt Brinjal. He was followed by farmers who challenged the proponents of Bt Brinjal to do comparative studies with most effective pest management technologies like non pesticide management being practiced by farmers in lakhs of acres.

16 famers spoke against Bt Brinjal and an equal number of farmers were pro BT

The doctors and scientists spoke next. Mr. (Dr.) Jagadeesh, Ex MD, Monsanto made his stand very clear. ‘Do we really need Bt Brinjal in this country?’ – He asked Jairam Ramesh. Having worked for Monsanto for the past 18 years he said he knew how things worked and understood the US agenda well. He requested Jairam Ramesh not let Bt Brinjal enter the country without enough testing.

An ayurveda practitioner also caught Jairam Ramesh’s attention with his arguments. He was asked to give all of it in writing. Out of 30 scientists 21 spoke against Bt Brinjal.

Lastly the NGO’s and civil bodies were given the opportunity to speak. Here Shridhar from Thanal (Kerala) spoke about the large scale acceptance of cultivation of Bt Cotton, which resulted in 26% rise in sale of pesticides due to rise in secondary pests attack. This point was also noted by Jairam as a matter of concern and something that needs further probing.

Concerned consumers, MDMK party (Coimbatore), research students from IISC all submitted letters to the minister. They professed their deep concern and a clear stand against Bt Brinjal.

Jairam Ramesh mentioned at the end of the consultation that he had chosen all the cities very strategically. Karnataka being the state where most of the science institutes reside and the hub for NGO’s gave him enough reason to make sure that Bangalore was one of the cities for the consultations.

Outside the consultation about 500 people were shouting slogans. Students from across the city, some dressed in Brinjal costumes, others with painted faces and placards saying ‘Stop Bt Cultivation’, Monsanto GO Back, NO GMO’s and among others.

The consultations have come to an end. But the battle is not over yet. Jairam Ramesh will be announcing his decision on 10th February. After which the Prime Minster will take the final call on this issue. Our hopes are pinned on Jairam Ramesh’s verdict. Hopefully he will echo the NO which he has heard at all the consultations.

Signing off

Team Bangalore

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Bangalore youth dress as brinjals to make people aware of Bt Brinjal

Bt Brinjal created by inserting a Toxic gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis( Bt) into Brinjal helps kill the insects like Shoot and Fruit Borer. Upon ingestion of the Bt toxin by these insects, it disrupts their digestive processes, resulting in death. Tests done by various independent scientists globally have shown that bt brinjal is potentially dangerous to human health and that of the environment.

“We will not be treated as lab rats.” There are enough variety and quantity of brinjals for consumption. Weighing the ill effect Bt brinjal has on consumers health, the environment and forcing farmers into slavery of buying Bt Brinjal seed, it’s not worth the trouble. Why should we be at the mercy of the government and financial interests of multinational companies? It’s great that Jairam Ramesh has organized these public consultations to record the choice of consumers, farmers and scientists. We should actively participate and express our choice” said Smithen and Snehal, St Joseph Arts & Science College and Bangalore Institute of Legal Studies.

Bt Brinjal has faced stiff resistance from farmers, scientists and consumers in Kolkata, Bhubaneswar and Ahmadabad where the consultations were completed. Since the beginning of the debate on commercialization of Bt Brinjal last year, atleast 8 state governments have openly declared that they do not want Bt Brinjal to be approved. The latest was Karnataka which joined states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. The past week also saw some intriguing political twists with the Union Minister for Science and technology, Mr Pritviraj Chavan and Union Minister for Agriculture Sharad Pawar coming out in open to promote Bt Brinjal resulting in a rebuttal from the Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh who is holding public consultations in 7 cities across the country.

The Bangalore consultations which was earlier scheduled on 25th January has now been postponed to 6th of February.

Bangalore youth dress as brinjals to make people aware of Bt Brinjal

Notes to the editor
Information, photos and videos of the previous consultations in Kolkota, bhubaneshwar and Ahmedabad are available in www.safefoodnow.org

For further information contact
Bhakti Nefertiti, Campaigner, Greenpeace India, 9663655664, bhakti.nefertiti@greenpeace.org
Syed Mehaboob, Media Officer, Greenpeace India, 9731301983, syed.mehaboob@greenpeace.org

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