SAFE FOOD ALLIANCE

Scientific Fraud: Coalition demands immediate stopping of all public sector transgenic research & action against fraudulent scientists

2011-12-30T03:53:00.000-08:00

source: http://agrariancrisis.in/2011/12/30/scientific-fraud-coalition-demands-immediate-stopping-of-all-public-sector-transgenic-research-action-against-fraudulent-scientists/

INDIA’S “PUBLIC SECTOR INDIGENOUS GM COTTON” A SCIENTIFIC FRAUD:

Coalition for a GM-Free India demands immediate stopping of all public sector transgenic research and an independent enquiry and action against fraudulent scientists.

New Delhi, December 30, 2011: 2011 ends with a big blot to the Indian scientific community, as was the case in 2010 too. The much-hyped public sector Bt cotton lines (Bikaneri Narma Bt variety and NHH-44 Bt hybrid) touted as the “first indigenous public sector-bred GM crop in India” developed by Central Institute for Cotton Research, Nagpur (CICR) and University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad (UAS) along with Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) is actually found to have a Bt gene originally patented by Monsanto. The ICAR had to withdraw the production of these ‘indigenous’ GM cotton seeds, based on this development. In effect the Indian biotechnologists, supported with enormous amounts of taxpayers’ money doing research on developing indigenous “biotechnology products” have misled the nation by passing off the Monsanto technology as their own, the Coalition for a GM-Free India stated. The Coalition demanded that the Government stop all transgenic research in the public sector immediately, setup a high-level independent inquiry into the current case as well as all other research projects. It also demanded that this issue be seen as an act of corruption and fraud and severe deterrent action be taken against all the institutions and scientists involved.

In India, the majority of transgenic products in the R&D pipeline are from public sector institutions. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research’s “network project on transgenics” had a budgetary provision of Rs 100 crores in the XI Plan.

The Bt cotton in question is the Bikaneri Narma (BN) Bt (variety) and the NHH-44 Bt (hybrid) expressing Bt Cry 1Ac protein. The developers CICR & UAS claimed that BN Bt carries the cry1Ac (Truncated and codon-modified) gene which ‘is very similar to the Cry 1Ac toxin expressed by MON 531 event developed by M/s Monsanto as well as event 1 of IIT, Kharagpur’, both of which are already under commercial cultivation. A CICR newsletter (Vol.24, No.2, Apr-June 2008) soon after the GEAC approval for transgenic BN Bt claimed that the development of this Bt cotton was initiated under the World-Bank-funded NATP from 2000 onwards. The Bt cry1AC gene in this instance was supposed to have been developed by the NRCPB of the IARI along with CICR and the transfer into popular cultivars is supposed to be taken up by UAS-Dharwad.

During deliberations in the GEAC about this, the members first gave approval for large-scale field trials (LSTs) during the GEAC meeting on April 2, 2008 and then in the next meeting on 2^nd May 2008 reviewed the decision and gave approval for commercialization of BN Bt without conducting LSTs. The rationale was that since the seeds of BN Bt could be saved by farmers, a large scale field trial is tantamount to commercial release! However one year after its much publicized release BN Bt was withdrawn from the market without any explanation and no reports were made available about its performance till then. The same Bt construct was used to develop hybrid Bt cotton, namely NHH 44. YUVA and Hamara Beej Abhiyan, two constituents of the Coalition for a GM-Free India, brought out a report in 2010, on “Performance of CICR’s Bt Cotton in 2009 – a survey report” (available at http://indiagminfo.org/?page_id=238) which showed that BN Bt had failed to perform in farmers’ fields and the claims were belied. The worse thing was that there was no accountability fixed on anyone for this failure. In this report released in October 2010 itself, the Coalition demanded that ‘CICR come out in the open to state exactly what the problem is which made BN Bt seed supply vanish from the market exactly one season after its entry’ (pp.11).

Now it has come to light through an RTI that there is nothing indigenous about this Bt construct used by CICR & UAS and it has Monsanto’s cry1Ac gene. As per news media stories, the NARS appears to be defending this episode by explaining it away as “contamination”. It is interesting to note that scientists who have rubbished “contamination” concerns expressed by civil society groups and others both for their environmental and IPR implications, are resorting to this phenomenon as their explanation now!

This raises a few pertinent questions:

· How is it that the regulators who “rigorously” evaluated the product could not correctly identify the gene construct used? It puts to question the capabilities of the regulators.

· Here it must also be highlighted that the then Director of CICR, Dr.Khadi was also a member of GEAC, a clear case of conflict of interest.

· If it is indeed a case of contamination and the seed production had to be stopped given that Monsanto has proprietary rights over the genes and technology, what lies in store for all the other GM crops in the pipeline since contamination is inevitable?

· Is it contamination or is it a scientific fraud related to incapability with regard to indigenous technology?

· Who owns BN Bt cotton and NHH 44 Bt cotton now? Have the Indian biotechnologists gratuitously gifted these to Monsanto through this action?

· Is this all the country gets after big ticket investments on GM technology ignoring viable and safer mechanisms to deal with pests, diseases and climate threat?

This episode also highlights that the IPR issues related to transgenic technologies and the assumption by the Indian scientific community that they can use technologies patented by Monsanto and its ilk needs a serious re-think.

The Indian regulators, public sector scientists and NARS institutions are intent on promoting GM technologies to the exclusion of any other options despite serious evidence on the biosafety hazards connected with transgenics. In the light of this fiasco, claims about enormous indigenous capabilities (in this field) sound hollow. Such scientific frauds raise the question about how far the biotechnology scientists and regulators will go to force GM technologies into our agriculture and what motivates them. Why should the public be trusting these scientists who do not hestitate to resort to fraudulent practices?

Unfortunately this is not the first case of scientific fraud that the nation is witnessing. Last year witnessed the six premier Science Academies using plagiarized material to recommend and promote the release of Bt brinjal. Despite the report being dismissed by the then Minister for Environment & Forests as lacking scientific rigour, the Academies merely revised the section on Bt brinjal a little and put it back in the public domain claiming that they stand by their conclusions. There was no enquiry into the incident, no explanation about how it happened and no action taken against any entity. A clear demonstration of the contempt in which the scientific community holds the nation and the public, says the Coalition for a GM-Free India. It is interesting to note that Dr P Ananda Kumar of NRCPB is one of the lead ‘protagonists’ in these two scientific scandals. Further, Dr K C Bansal who coordinated the ICAR network project on transgenics till recently is now heading the National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources (custodian of plant genetic resources of the country!).

“The current UAS-D/CICR/IARI (NRCPB) fiasco proves once again that the Indian scientific community is not averse to scientific frauds and misleading the nation and the people. We do not need this technology force-fed to our farmers and consumers, we have sufficient workable and viable solutions for the agrarian crisis and demand that the government and public sector institutions work on these solutions rather than fraudulently promote GM technology”, said the Coalition.

It should also be remembered by certain political parties advocating public sector GM seeds that an inherently unsafe product does not become safer just because it comes from the public sector. In fact, accountability issues are murkier here, as has been seen in the case of the failure of CICR’s Bt cotton in the field, where large scale field trials have been waived off in favour of public sector GM research!

“All of this is ultimately experimentation happening at the expense of hapless Indian farmers and this is unconscionable. Severe deterrent action at the highest level is called for, in this case. We demand that a white paper be published on the investments made on this front so far by the government. Further, until all questions are answered including the actual technologies being used in the public sector transgenic R&D, IPR issues, future contamination possibilities etc., all funding to public sector transgenic projects should be immediately stopped. These scarce and valuable resources should be utilised for taking proven, safe, farmer-controlled technologies to the farmers”, demanded the Coalition.

For more information, contact:

Dr G V Ramanjaneyulu: 09000699702; ramoo.csa@gmail.com
Kavitha Kuruganti: 09393001550; kavitha.kuruganti@gmail.com

ASHA opposes FDI in Retail

2011-12-30T03:51:00.001-08:00

ASHA opposes FDI in Retail, on the following grounds:

That there is no evidence from elsewhere to show that big foreign retail will benefit local farmers or consumers; or will increase employment opportunities; or keep investments in the country by restricting outflows;

That the Indian situation warrants a good appreciation of the positive aspects of the current retail structure (like agricultural production, retailing also has traditionally been a community affair here) and any inefficiencies in these supply chains, or lack of infrastructure has to be addressed by the government in other ways since the FDI proposals have no mechanisms of ensuring this;

That food inflation too has to be tackled by other means, and FDI in retail cannot be made the destructive false means for this problem;

That such policy initiatives will in fact destroy millions of livelihoods including of farmers and create monopolies (including with agri-input giants and trading giants sharing the profits with big foreign retailers), leaving very few choices for farmers and consumers and very little control in their hands;

That this will lead to unsustainable production and consumption styles which completely negate the availability of alternatives within India. ASHA opposes any such policy moves by the government and its arguments are presented in this position paper.

Report on 10 years of Bt Cotton usage in Tamilnadu released

2011-11-11T01:48:00.001-08:00

A review of the usage of Bt Cotton in Tamilnadu was released during the Press Meet as part of the Roundtable on BRAI at the ICSA Centre in Chennai. The report was compiled by Ms. Kavitha Karugunti, Convenor of Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture (ASHA), a national coalition of organic farmers and organic farming enthusiasts. Other who addressed the media included:
Dr. V. Suresh, National Secreatary, PUCL
Mr. Vellayan, President, Tamilnadu Traders Sangham
Mr. Vettavalam Manigandan, Farmer's Movement leader
Mr. R. Selvam, Convenor of the Organic Farmers federation of Tamilnadu and
Mr. Jayaraman, Federation of Consumers Organizations of Tamilnadu

Earlier as part of the meeting, Mr. Sridhar Radhakrishnan, from Thanal spoke of the field trials in Tamilnadu of GM Crops.

The key points of the report are:

Bt cotton expansion in Tamil Nadu did not increase in steady yield increases as claimed and hyped up. Tamil Nadu had high yields in cotton even in the years when it predominantly grew non-Bt varieties (not even hybrids).
Bt cotton cultivation in larger areas did not bring down the per-hectare or per quintal cost of cultivation as projected. The trends on this front have always been fluctuating and this continues.
Bt cotton cultivation and expansion to larger areas did not bring down the insecticide usage in cotton crop in Tamil Nadu. Further, Tamil Nadu had low average cost incurred on pesticides (indicative of lower use in volume too) even prior to Bt cotton introduction and the rationale for its approval is not clear in such a context. Spending on chemical fertilizers appears to be on an upward trend in cotton cultivation now.
There has been a large scale shift away from cotton varieties to sowing of Bt cotton hybrids raising many serious concerns around seed choices, seed prices and seed sovereignty, in addition to increasing chemicalisation of agriculture. This also raises valid questions on why Bt technology is seen as the cause for cotton yield increases, even by scientific institutions like the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University; this is all the more perplexing in a context when pest incidence itself is reported low!
There have been major failures of Bt cotton crop over the years and the unpredictability of performance is apparent from this. However, farmers have not always obtained a redressal from such failures. There are serious questions around the lack of a liability regime which covers both penalties as well as compensation in addition to remediation where necessary.

(the report can be downloaded directly from the SFA site soon)

Leaders concur that BRAI has to go at the BRAI round table organized by SFA: 11/11/11. Chennai

2011-11-11T01:41:00.001-08:00

Leaders from farmer organizations from all over the state, trading unions, lawyers, human rights activists, members of several political groups working in farming sector and concerned citizens have voiced their concern in the roundtable organized by Safe Food Alliance and Coalition for GM Free India in Chennai.

Photos from the Round table and Press Meet.

Press Release

“FARM & FOODACTIVISTS DEMAND SCRAPPING OF BRAI BILL 2011:

Ask State Govt toraise its voice against the Bill and protect farmers’ interests – Seekdisallowing of GM crop field trials in the state”

Chennai, November 11, 2011: Farmers’ leaders from all over TamilNadu, cutting across various affiliations, demanded that the Union Governmentshould scrap the BRAI (Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India) Bill 2011,stating that it was a deeply flawed Bill. They asked the state government ofTamil Nadu to assert its constitutional authority over Agriculture, which thisBill seeks to violate. Farm activists wanted the state government and all TNMembers of Parliament to raise objections against the BRAI Bill’s introductionin the winter session. They also urged the state government to ensure that noopen-air field trials of GM crops are allowed in Tamil Nadu.

“TheBRAI Bill is clearly against the interests of farmers and consumers and seeksto create a single-window fast-track clearance system for profit-hungrycorporations. This is a Bill that is unconstitutional and undemocratic. Itseeks to bypass the Right To Information Act in its intent to uphold thecommercial interests of seed companies. The state government will not beallowed to have any say in the matter and this is clearly a violation of thefederal polity enshrined in the Indian Constitution, wherein Agriculture is aState Subject”, said Sridhar Radhakrishnan of the Coalition for a GM-FreeIndia.

Speakingat the end of a Round Table on BRAI Bill, Vettavalam Manikandan of TamizhagaVyavasayigal Sangam said, “The state government in recent months has taken theprogressive steps of repealing the TNSAC Act and withdrawing a budgetaryprovision to promote Bt cotton in the state. The CM has also reminded in theNational Development Council meeting that Agriculture is after all a Statesubject. In the same spirit, we hope the CM will write to the Centre to stopthis draconian Bill”, he said.

Vellaiyanof Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam said that the BRAI Bill is against the bottomlinefor regulatory regime recommended by a Task Force on Agricultural Biotechnologywhich had mooted the idea of an independent regulator in the first instance!The bottomline was stated to be “thesafety of the environment, the well being of farming families, the ecologicaland economic sustainability of farming systems, the health and nutritionsecurity of consumers, safeguarding of home and external trade and thebiosecurity of the nation. We need a biosafety protection statute and notBRAI”, he asserted.

“Wewould like the government to make the Tamil Nadu Agriculture Universityaccountable to it and the farming communities in the state; very often, theTNAU is seen to be acting in the interests of profiteering corporations in theway they promote GM technology and take up numerous trials, despite enormousscientific evidence proving the dangers of transgenic technology. We know thatin the case of the ABSP II project for the development of Bt brinjal varieties,several legal provisions have been violated and the National BiodiversityAuthority has decided to proceed against the violators; an investigation isneeded into TNAU’s partnerships with various corporations too”, said SheeluFrancis of Tamil Nadu Women’s Collective.

Dr VSuresh, National Secretary of PUCL said that the BRAI Bill is against ourConstitution. It is a part of the twenty first century global effort tocolonise Indian agriculture by making food as a primary weapon and hand overour agriculture and food systems to profiteering corporations, therebyaffecting our food sovereignty and food self sufficiency carefully built oversixty years of independent India.

“TamilNadu’s farmers have pioneered organic farming in the entire country; however,this organic farming movement in the state is being jeopardized now, becausethe state government is yet to take a firm stand against GMOs in general andBRAI Bill in particular, and given that GM technology is diametrically oppositein its approach and results, to organic farming! We urge the state governmentto come up with an organic farming policy for the state and stop the onslaughtof GM on our farmers here, since we have safer and sustainable technologies tooffer. We urge the government to not give any permission for open air fieldtrials in the state, given that the GM technology is a living, imprecise,irreversible and unpredictable technology”, said Selvam Ramaswamy of Tamil NaduOrganic Farmers Federation. He cited the example of several other states thathave said NO to field trials.

Sharingthe findings of a report she compiled on “A Decade of Bt cotton in Tamil Nadu”on the occasion, Kavitha Kuruganti of ASHA (Alliance for Sustainable &Holistic Agriculture” pointed out that official records point out that yieldsof cotton have been fluctuating in the state despite major expansion of Btcotton in the cotton cultivation in Tamil Nadu, that insecticide usage has notcome down as predicted, that cost on pesticides was quite low to begin with,bringing to question the very rationale for the introduction of Bt technologyin the state, that cost of cultivation has no declining trends to exhibit etc.“While this is not based on any primary study, the report is based on officialfigures; this data hopefully will guidethe state government in not being misled by the massive publicity that thebiotech industry generates by spending its resources and hopefully, the ChiefMinister will see the real picture for what it is”, she said.

TheRound Table brought out a declaration rejecting the BRAI Bill 2011 in toto. Further, a Joint Action Forumwas created consisting of eight prominent people’s leaders. Many otherprominent persons like Duraimanickam of CPI-affiliated farmers’ union, Ananthooof Safe Food Alliance, Thooran Nambi, Ramasubramanian of Samanvaya, Jayaramanof FEDCOT, Dr Tirunarayanan from Centre from Traditional Medicine &Research, Padam Narayanan, Sundar of SJM, KM Ramasamy, non-political TamizhagaVyavasayigal Sangam, Eswaran of MDMK, N K Palaniswamy, ex-MLA, Kannaiyan S ofSICCFM etc. joined the Round Table here in Chennai.

Formore information, contact:

Ananthoo,Safe Food Alliance: 09444166779, ananthoo@gmail.com

Selvam,TN Organic Farmers’ Federation: 09443663562, organicerode@gmail.com

Round Table on BRAI, 11th Nov 2011 - Chennai

2011-11-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

The Government of India's Ministry of Science & Technology is proposing to introduce the controversial Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill 2011 in the winter session of the Parliament. In this context, a Round Table of farmers', traders, consumer and other civil society organisations has been organised on November 11th 2011, at ICSA, # 107, Pantheon Road, Egmore by Safe Food Alliance, Tamil Nadu and Coalition for a GM-Free India, a national level network of various farmer groups, activists, civil society members, scientists, doctors etc across India.

Representatives of farmers' unions, traders' associations, consumer groups, organic farming networks from all over Tamil Nadu along with Kavitha Kuruganti - Covenor, Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture (ASHA) and Sridhar Radhakrishnan - Convenor, Coalition for GM Free India, will address the media in this connection at 2.30 pm at the venue (ICSA). A report on "One Decade of Bt Cotton in Tamil Nadu" will be released on the occasion.

Release of "I am No Lab Rat"

2011-09-03T22:46:00.001-07:00

The tamizh version of the short booklet against GM Food, "I am no Lab Rat" was released in Gandhigram in the network meeting on 27th August 2011. The booklet was released by Sri. M. R. Rajagopalan, former Secretary of Gandhigram Trust and received by Sri. Sundarraman, senior organic farmer from Sathyamangalam near Erode. (also in this picture: Paamayan & Ananthu)

Images from the 'Quit India Monsanto' protest in Chennai

2011-08-09T17:24:00.000-07:00

The QUIT INDIA MONSANTO campaign in Chennai was organized by SAGE and Women's Collective on 9th Aug 2011 in front of the Memorial Hall (Opp. Govt. General Hospital). The members of the Collective shouted slogans and a few speakers urged the new State government to put a stop to all GM trials in the State and ensure that Tamilnadu is made a GM free state.

The small gathering attracted much attention and the colourfully attired protesters distributed handouts to the passer by many of whom stood to listen to the speeches in the busy road amidst bustling traffic. The police men on duty too were sympathetic to the cause, and, as one of them in the end observed, "it is sad that we don't get much crowd for such genuine causes, others call for gatherings promising biryani and liquor and large crowds turn up, these are the important issues"! Reports of protests from other parts of Tamilnadu too are coming in, Sirgazhi had a crowd of over 120 people gathered and more than 500 people signed a petition to the Chief Minister, in Tanjavur farmer's held a demonstration as also in Tiruvarur, Puliyangudi and other parts. In Chennai, several city colleges are screening 'World According to Monsanto' and having discussions around the same with members of SFA and other organizations.

9th August Quit India Movement: Quit India Monsanto Campaign

2011-08-03T21:54:00.000-07:00

This 9th August, on the day Gandhiji called 'Quit India' to alien rule in India, SFA joins the ASHA network partners across India on, "Quit India Monsanto" campaign and the Kisan Swaraj Week that follows.

Details of different programmes across the State in this blog shortly...

The Hindu : Today's Paper / NATIONAL : Cereal-based diet for tacklinghunger a “flawed prescription”

2011-06-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

SFA in the press...

http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/content/safe-food-alliance-press-release

The Hindu : Today's Paper / NATIONAL : Cereal-based diet for tacklinghunger a “flawed prescription”

Safe Food Alliance / Press Release /14th June 2011

Today’s lecture “Critical Reflections on the History of Nutrition Science and Policy” by Veena Shatrugna

National Adviser on Nutrition to the Supreme Court Commissioner on Food Security traced the history

of malnutrition and widespread hunger in India and their correlation to the nature of scientific advances

in this area and how they informed the Nutrition Policy of the country.

Ms. Shatrugna described how the nutrition policy of the 50s and 60s systematically transformed the

diets of the poor in India to plain cereals as the major source, or perhaps the only source of calories,

devoid of any other nutrient. The consequences of this cereal overload, and nutritional depletion have

been far reaching, and are responsible for a large measure of the profile of ill health, and the epidemic

of chronic diseases in India. Much of the policy was based on the dietary habits of the upper caste ,

unsuitable for consumption by physically active people living in drylands and rainfed areas.

Given this situation of widespread hunger Dr. V Suresh, SC Appointed Adviser for TN to the SC Commr.

on Food Security and a co-organizer of the lecture emphasized the importance of Right to Food as a

cornerstone of all government policies and programmes. He sought attention on citizenship of water

and food in the Republic of Hunger that is India, questioning even the unclear numbers we have about

the number of people below poverty line(BPL).

Ananthoo, of Safe Food Alliance spoke about the importance of Safe Food – free of harmful toxic

pesticides and chemicals, and insufficiently tested Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). He also

demanded that the new State government disallow all opne air GM trials within the state of Taminadu

citing more and more proof about the failure of bio safety of GM foods and crops that are coming from

independent sources each day. He highlighted the connection between the three – Right to Food ,

Nutrition and SFA’s demands of Right to Safe food devoid of hazardous chemicals and pescticides in the

food we consume every day.

Ramsubramanian, Safe Food Alliance (SFA) highlighted the need for

a. A Tamil Nadu state government policy on Organic agriculture. Though the state has one of the

largest and oldest Organic farming movements we still lack sufficient government support and

extension services.

b. Say no to GM in the state apart from declaring against open air trials of Genetically Modified

(GM) seeds in the state: recently-released independent analyses of Bt Brinjal that its toxic

effects have shown up in the biosafety studies undertaken by the crop developer.

c. Assurance of Safe Food for consumers and prevent the danger to the Nations food security by

the introduction of untested GM crops.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Genetically modified foods are neither safe for health nor ensure a secure future.

Lecture: 'Career of Hunger - the role of Caste and Class in influencing Nutrition Policy, Policy makers and Science in India', 14th June Tuesday, 5 p.m.

2011-06-10T20:58:00.000-07:00

Office of the Supreme Court appointed Adviser for Tamil Nadu to the Supreme Court commissioner on Food Security and Safe Food Campaign (SFA), Chennai

Invite you to a lecture by Dr. Veena Shatrugna, National Adviser on Nutrition to the Supreme Court Commissioner on Food Security on ' Career of Hunger - the role of Caste and Class in influencing Nutrition Policy, Policy makers and Science in India'
at Sr. Helen Hall, Stella Maris College, Chennai on Tuesday 14th June, 2011 at 5.00 pm.
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Lecture Abstract:
The nutritional status of the poor in India maybe described as alarming. Most of the indicators of nutrition status such as adult weights, heights BMI, percentage of children who are severely malnourished, mean birth weighs, infant mortality rates, dietary intakes and unacknowledged starvation deaths confirm this fact. Hunger is as widespread as it is invisible to the scientific eye. The question that must be asked is how did India get into this trap of under nutrition with such serious consequences?

Chronic hunger as it exists in India can be largely traced to the rapid scientific advances in the area of food and nutrition analysis, and classification. In addition dietary requirements of populations from the 40s was laid out in terms of calories, with the assumption that foods which are culturally and regionally appropriate such as rice, eggs, milk, fowl, pulses, fish, greens, etc. would be consumed in quantities which would provide calories and all the other nutrients. Nutrition research in the 50s and 60s though brilliantly innovative and deeply committed to the welfare of Indians, simplified the science of food further, with indices and correction factors, using concepts like consumption units, biological value of proteins, RDA based on calories, calorie needs of workers, vegetable sources of proteins etc., which then became subjects for scientific research and fed into nutritional policy Over a short period these concepts were recast and deployed in administrative initiatives that, systematically transformed the diets of the poor in India to plain cereals as the major source, or perhaps the only source of calories, devoid of any other nutrient. The consequences of this cereal overload, and nutritional depletion have been far reaching, and are responsible for a large measure of the profile of ill health, and the epidemic of chronic diseases in India.

This talk attempts to trace the steps in scientific and administrative thinking and policy that led to the nutritional and health impasse the people of this country are in.
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Dr. Veena Shatrugna is a medical doctor, has spent 34 years at the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad, doing research on the nutrition questions as they impact women and children in India. She has also worked in the area of women’s health, and has authored “Savaa laksha Sandhehalu” a self help book for women in Telugu with a women’s collective called Stree Shakti Sangathana.

“Taking charge of our Bodies” is the English book with the same group of women. She is a member of Anveshi a Women’s studies organization based in Hyderabad.

SFA-Tamilnadu Press Release, 27/04/2011

2011-04-27T08:22:00.000-07:00

SFA organizes Organic Food Mela in Chennai - 19th March 2011

2011-03-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

SAFE FOOD ALLIANCE urges consumers to go organic and seek safe healthy
food.
ORGANIC FOOD MELA attracts 1000s to safe healthy consumption.
Chennai 19th March 2011

Colorful Organic mela organized by Safe Food Alliance, at the Semmozhi Poonga
attracted 1000s to the various stalls set to showcase the seed diversity, organic food,
traditional rice and millets varieties, natural dyeing, ills of chemical pesticides and
GMO. There has been repeated proof in recent times that the sustainable and future of
agriculture is in the sphere of small, diverse farms growing food through sustainable
farming techniques using organic farming methods and the capacity of such methods to
feed the world.

‘The organic mela is the first of the several that the SFA group plans to hold across Tamil
Nadu to emphasis the goodness of organic food, the amazing nutritional value and health
through local millets and to emphasis on the need for consumer awareness on safe and
healthy eating habits. This is being organized as a fellow citizen to bring awareness about
our alienation from food and farming’ observed Ananthoo, coordinator of SFA. He also
added that consumers needed to have more understanding of food, farmer and farming to
create a win-win situation for both us consumers and for the farmers’.

‘While organic food leaves less carbon foot print and is kind on the ecology, it is also
more nutritive and free of adulteration. Such practices are not only safe options for
consumers but ecologically and economically sustainable for the farmers too’ said
Radhika who runs a not-for-profit organic store called Restore, along with friends.

The visitors had a chance to interact with organic farmers, women SHGs, experts and
celebrities during the course of the organic mela and also got to taste food made out
of traditional recipes from organic millets. They also had hands on exposure to natural
dyeing in one of the stalls. There were also other stalls on publications, hazards of
chemical pesticides and Genetically Modified food.

Genetically Modified food has been debated only amongst the few informed citizens,
farmers and scientists, though such food being introduced in the market will impact
the health and life of everyone who consumes the same. Safe Food Alliance along with
several organic farming networks across the state has been creating awareness and debate
on the need to reject such unnecessary and greed driven technology in agriculture. IAM
NO LAB RAT was a campaign with several celebrities participating that was launched
with the view of protesting against citizens being treated as a lab rat by corporate
scientists for an environmentally irreversible and safety wise untested GM food.
Dr G Sivaraman of Poovalagin Nanbargal said “The campaign is being currently re-
launched through a national network of sustainable agriculture practitioners and organic
food consumers. While we are not against technology per se, it should be safe beyond
any doubt, eco-friendly and be within reach of common man.” He also added that “we
are heartened by the response of the public in writing to the PM against the use of GM

food and their concerns about using the citizens as lab rats for corporate greed and profit.
There is a danger of the diversity and traditional varieties being lost.”

Earlier this week experts and activists of SFA gave a fitting response to the PM for
promoting GM rice by forwarding an unique gift hamper comprising various local foods
that are rich in Vitamin-A, but cost effective and easily accessible! Then they also urged
all political parties to clearly state their stand on sensitive issues like GM and pesticides
and issue clear support for sustainable (ecological as well as economical) agriculture in
the run up to the elections and incorporate the demands on safe food in their respective
manifestos.

For more information, contact: Dr. Sivaraman, 9444027455 or or Selva Ganapathy 9790951652
or Ananthoo, 9444166779 of Safe Food Alliance, Chennai.

SFA media briefing - press clips

2011-03-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

Following is from Dinamani, one of the largest Tamil Dailies (link)

பிரதமருக்கு முருங்கைக் கீரை-பப்பாளி!

First Published : 16 Mar 2011 04:56:38 AM IST

சென்னை, மார்ச் 15: வைட்டமின் ஏ சத்து நிறைந்த முருங்கைக் கீரை, பப்பாளி, தண்டுக் கீரை, கேரட், தினை அரிசி ஆகியவற்றை பிரதமர் மன்மோகன் சிங்கிடம், ""பாதுகாப்பான உணவிற்கான கூட்டமைப்பை''ச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள் அளிக்க உள்ளனர்.
பாதுகாப்பான உணவிற்கான கூட்டமைப்பைச் சேர்ந்த டாக்டர் சுல்தான் இஸ்மாயில், டாக்டர் ஜி.சிவராமன், அனந்து, செல்வகணபதி ஆகியோர் உலக நுகர்வோர் உரிமை தினத்தை (மார்ச் 15) முன்னிட்டு செய்தியாளர்களிடம் செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை கூறியதாவது:
""தில்லியில் சர்வதேச வேளாண் கருத்தரங்கை பிரதமர் மன்மோகன் சிங் அண்மையில் தொடங்கி வைத்துப் பேசும்போது, மரபணு தொழில்நுட்பத்தில் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட வைட்டமின் ஏ சத்து செறிவூட்டப்பட்ட கோல்டன் அரிசி தேவை என்றார்.
இந்தியாவுக்கு இத்தகைய அரிசி தேவை இல்லை. இந்திய மருத்துவ ஆய்வியல் நிறுவனத்தின் தினசரி உணவுப் பரிந்துரைப் பட்டியலின்படி, "கோல்டன் அரிசியிலிருந்து' வைட்டமின் ஏ சத்தைப்பெற அதை 9 கிலோ அளவுக்குச் சாப்பிட்டாக வேண்டும்.
முருங்கைக் கீரை-கறிவேப்பிலையில் வைட்டமின் ஏ சத்து நிறைந்துள்ளது. கேரட்டைக் காட்டிலும் முருங்கைக் கீரையில் பீட்டா கரோட்டின் சத்து அதிகம். எனவே உடல் நலத்துக்கு பாதுகாப்பானதா என்று அறியப்படாத "கோல்டன் அரிசி' போன்ற மரபணுப் பயிர்களை அவசர அவசரமாக சந்தைப்படுத்த முயற்சி செய்வது வேதனை அளிக்கிறது.
உலகெங்கும் நடந்த பல்வேறு ஆய்வுகளின் அடிப்படையில், உடல் எடை அதிகரிப்பதைத் தடுத்தல், நோய் எதிர்ப்பாற்றலை வளர விடாது செய்தல் போன்ற கேள்விகளை "கோல்டன் அரிசி' எழுப்பியுள்ள சூழலில், நமது அடிப்படை வாழ்வாதாரமான அரிசியில் இது போன்ற உத்திகளுக்கு இடம் அளிப்பது தவறு.
இதைத் தொடர்ந்து தில்லியில் உள்ள எங்களது கூட்டமைப்பைச் சேர்ந்தவர்கள் மூலம் பிரதமரிடம் மேலே குறிப்பிட்ட வைட்டமின் ஏ சத்து நிறைந்த முருங்கைக் கீரை, பப்பாளி உள்ளிட்டவற்றைப் பரிசாக அளிக்க முடிவு செய்துள்ளோம்.
இதுபோன்ற பாதுகாப்பற்ற உணவுப் பொருள்களை எதிர்க்கும் வகையில் "நான் சோதனை எலி அல்ல' என்று பொருள்படும் "ஐ ஆம் நோ லேப் ரேட்' இயக்கம் தமிழகத்தில் இந்த கூட்டமைப்பு மூலம் விரைவில் தொடங்கப்படும். சென்னை பெசன்ட் நகர் கடற்கரையில் வரும் 19-ம் தேதி சிறு தானியங்கள் மற்றும் இயற்கை உணவு விழிப்புணர்வு விழா நடத்தப்பட உள்ளது. கடந்த ஆண்டு பி.டி. கத்தரியைத் தமிழகத்திலும், பின் இந்தியாவிலும் நிறுத்தி வைக்க இந்தக் கூட்டமைப்பு போராடியது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது' என்று அவர்கள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

World Consumer Day - Press briefing & release- 15th March 2011

2011-03-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

Press Release

CITIZENS SEND VIT-A RICH LOCAL FOODS TO THE PM, URGING HIM NOT TO SUPPORT GM FOODS LIKE GOLDEN RICE

“SAFE FOOD ALLIANCE TO ORGANISE AN ORGANIC MELA ON 19/3/11”

Chennai, March 15th 2011: Citizens associated with the Safe Food Alliance in Tamil Nadu, to commemorate the Consumer Rights Day on March 15th decided
to do a unique thing – send a gift hamper of various local foods that are rich in Vitamin-A, to educate the Prime Minister about the rich diversity of sources that the poor have to access Vitamin A and other such nutrients, without having to resort to hazardous ‘solutions’ like Golden Rice. They were reacting to the Prime Minister’s endorsement to this controversial technology during a recent international conference in
Delhi called ‘Leveraging Agriculture for Improving Nutrition and Health’, wherein he is quoted as saying ‘Golden Rice containing beta-carotene provides the calories as well as nutritional supplements that take care of several diseases associated with Vitamin A deficiency’. Activists now gifted him with several local, affordable and safe options and wanted to know why the government is not promoting such options with the poor in the country, if it were not for providing business opportunities in the name of GM foods for
big agri-corporations.

“There are so many nutritious foods that the poor can access if there is large scale pro- active education and campaigning that the government takes up everywhere; these are foods that are affordable and safe. On the one hand, there is large scale promotion of unhealthy foods that is happening in various ways, weaning people away from time- tested healthy foods. On the other hand, the process of Genetic Engineering with which
this Golden Rice has been created is laden with imprecision and unpredictability and studies indicate various adverse health impacts including organ damage, stunted growth and metabolism, impaired immunity etc. How can the government subject its poor people to such hazardous food as though no real solutions exist and treat Indians as lab rats in an irresponsible and irreversible experiment? We urge concerned citizens to send Vit-A rich local foods like drumstick leaves and curry leaves to the Prime Minister in envelopes so that he is educated on the subject”, said Dr G Sivaraman of Poovalagin Nanbargal.

The Alliance announced that very soon, a consumer awareness campaign against GM foods called I AM NO LAB RAT will be re-launched in the state. As the first event in the campaign, an Organic Food Mela is being organized on March 19th, a Saturday, to mark Consumer Rights Day. The mela, to be held in the Marina Beach on March 19th afternoon, would have stalls which will display local seed and food diversity, organic
foods, information on chemical pesticides and GM foods, the need to shift to organic foods etc . The event will have the endorsement of many prominent citizens including celebrities of tamil cinema world.

They also objected to the state government allowing Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) to take up GM Maize trials in the state on behalf of Monsanto.

“The Tamil Nadu government seems to have forgotten the large scale opposition to GM foods that was witnessed in this state and all over the country during the Bt Brinjal debate last year. Field trials of a transgenic crop like GM Maize seem to be conducted by TNAU. GM maize poses health and environmental risks both because the agri-chemical use in the form of herbicide increases in the crop and also because of the GE technology used. While a GM crop like Bt cotton has been brought into the country on claims of
decreasing pesticide use, GM maize will actually increase use of pesticides like glyphosate! There is an emerging body of evidence against this chemical and its harmful impacts from around the world. Moreover, Monsanto is infamous for its anti-farmer profiteering operations everywhere – why should a public sector institution like TNAU be furthering the profit-mongering of this corporation? Are they on the side of ordinary
citizens in the state or on the side of Monsanto – given the nature of this largest seed corporation, TNAU cannot claim to be on the side of both citizens and Monsanto. It is also a shame that the Vice Chancellor is reported to be claiming that Bt brinjal’s academic reports find that there is no biosafety risk – can he show what were the experiments conducted, the parameters analysed and which studies or reports show this?
On the other hand, recent analyses of the biosafety data of Bt brinjal clearly shows that there are indeed health risks to consumers; it was also shown that the crop developers masked data and the regulators ignored this. We demand that the Tamil Nadu government, to whom the TNAU is accountable, should instruct the University not to
take up any GM crop trials. Instead, the University should promote its findings on successful IPM on brinjal with methods like pheromones traps etc.”, said Professor Dr. Sultan Ismail.

The activists also wanted all political parties in Tamil Nadu to clearly state their stand on issues like GM and pesticides and issue clear support for sustainable (ecological as well
as economical) agriculture in the run up to the elections and incorporate the demands on safe food in their respective manifestos.

For more information, contact: Dr. Sivaraman, 9444027455 or or Prof. Sultan Ismail, 9384898358
or Selvaganapathy, 9790951652 of Safe Food Alliance, Chennai.

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SFA Charter of Demands:

Say NO to GM food. Lack of transparent tests or analysis means its not Safe. Let
us not test it on poor citizens. Studies show harmful effects and Toxic residues.
Worldwide many Scientists disapprove of it and have lots of concerns over
insufficient research, hence pronouncing it unsafe for human consumption. Bio
Safety is a predominant factor.
Stop all Field Trials. The Corporates like Monsanto use the public funded
universities to conduct field trials which are a great concern. Like The Bihar
Government has done now- banning all GM trials within the state, approved by
the MOEF, Tamil Nadu government also should stop field trials. Open air field
trials pose great risks of contamination and biosafety violations as has been seen
in numerous instances in the past
Integrate all Agriculture related departments and emphasize ecologically
sustainable practices.
Create a high level committee at the state level and nominate balanced, well
informed, open scientists and experts to promote ecologically sustainable farming.
Work towards Economic sustainability and Income security of Agricultural
families. Impoverished farmers affect the whole society at large. Frame policies
that are inclusive of all involved in Food production- large agrarian community
including small and marginal farmers, tenant farmers and agri labourers.
Thrust for Ecological sustainability is of utmost importance. With severe
decline of soil fertility and soil health, Water contamination due to over use
of pesticides and chemicals, air pollution etc the impact on ecology has been
drastic. Measures to revive them need strong sustainable agriculture methods.
Government to form bodies and policies to promote this.
Subsidy and incentives for ecological farming. Also come out with a per acre
compensation for organic farmers recognizing the ecological saving it brings
forth. Protect the Bio diversity and hence biological pest control, naturally.
Ensure access and control over productive resources. All resources like
seed, water, land and jungle to be treated as primary resources of agriculture
and hence control over them should be given to farming community and not
coprorates.
Ensure non-toxic, nutritive, healthy food for all consumers including the
producers i.e. farmers.
Seed conservation. Adopt policies that promote seed self-reliance amongst
farming communities. Encourage community seed conservation and save seed
sovereignty. Protect from onslaught of corporate/multinational monopolies.
Create and encourage Model Organic farms at each Block level
Promote Traditional practices, old techniques that far outweigh the newer ones
in cost and ecological impacts.
Create Special market for Natural and Organic produce with fair Price. Thrust on
decentralised infrastructure for storage/processing/value addition at farmers' level
Consolidated and just approach that result in a better pricing structure adhering to
fair price for the producer than other compulsions pushing the whole farming in
to crisis. Thus avoiding the looming agrarian crisis.
Encourage renewable energy at farms. Introduce schemes to support such
ventures.
Strong rules to stop industrial pollution in to agricultural lands, neighborhoods
and water ways.

Download the Press Kit with the Photos here

The Hindu : News / National : Banned pesticides being used in India, admits Pawar

2011-03-15T04:10:00.000-07:00

The Hindu : News / National : Banned pesticides being used in India, admits Pawar

Its a shame that the Agriculture Minister admits in the floor of the Parliament that the nation uses chemical pesticides banned elsewhere in the world without acknowledging why they are used and doesn't even talk of alternatives when queried as to why he is using it. He cites 4 'scientific' studies to justify his case a few months after the supposedly 'scientific' study on the GM was found to be of very poor scientific quality by his colleague and the rest of the nation.

Shame!

Press Meet on the World Consumer Day, Chennai

2011-03-14T17:35:00.001-07:00

Invitation to a Media Briefing by Experts & Activists on the issue of GM Foods, on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day 15^th March 2011

Experts and activists of Safe Food Alliance* - Prof Sultan Ismail, Dr G Sivaraman and Ananthoo would be briefing the media about the latest developments related to Genetically Modified (GM) foods like Bt Brinjal and GM Maize in India, on March 15th 2011, World Consumer Rights Day. As you know, the entry of GM foods would violate the citizen's right to safe food, right to know and right to informed choices with regard to something as basic as Food AND THEREFORE, AN URGENT AND APT ISSUE IN THE CONTEXT OF CONSUMER RIGHTS.

Members of the Safe Food Alliance would be releasing their Charter of Demands to the Government of Tamil Nadu and to all political parties on this occasion and would also send a "novel, fitting response" to the Prime Minister's recent endorsement of GM foods like Golden Rice.

We request you to kindly send a senior representative from your esteemed media house and also send a photo-journalist to cover the event. Thank you.

When?: 15th March 2011, at 4.00 pm

Where?: Main hall ,Press Club, Chepauk, Govt estate, Chennai -02.

What?: Media Briefing on GM Foods on the occasion of World Consumer Rights Day and release of charter of demands and a novel response to the PM on this issue
Sincerely,

Ananthoo

Coordinator
Safe Food Alliance (Selva- 9790951652 ; Ananthoo- 9444166779 )

Reject Bt Brinjal Dossier, Halt GM Trials, Enact Bio-Safety Laws in for TN State

2011-01-22T20:33:00.000-08:00

Press Release: Safe Food Alliance, Chennai

REJECT BT BRINJAL DOSSIER FULLY & HALT GM TRIALS, DEMAND FOOD SAFETY ACTIVISTS;

“STATE GOVTS SHOULD ENACT THEIR OWN BIOSAFETY LAWS”

Chennai, January 23, 2011: Pointing to the latest scientific evidence on Bt Brinjal that shows that this unnatural, novel food cannot be recommended for human consumption given the toxic results on rats fed with Bt Brinjal, food safety activists of Coalition for a GM-Free India wanted the Central Government to reject the Bt Brinjal dossier of the crop developer once and for all. “This latest analysis once again shows how undependable the Indian regulators are in the discharge of their responsibility – that of protecting India’s health and environment and Mr Jairam Ramesh was right in ensuring that Bt Brinjal was not allowed for commercial cultivation. Other analyses that emerged after the moratorium was placed by Mr Ramesh clearly show the inadequacy of safety assessment in the country, also reflecting upon how the regulators are not to be trusted. It is time that the entire Bt Brinjal dossier is rejected once and for all”, they said.

Ananthu, who travelled across India recently as part the Kisan Swaraj Yatra and a prominent member of Safe Food Alliance said that, “The need for the state government to reserve the right on GM crop decision-making including open air trials becomes clear once again with the latest analysis on Bt Brinjal. While it was good that on Bt Brinjal the state government was able to communicate its stand to the Centre, the push for Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) at the Centre clearly shows that state governments will not be allowed their constitutional right in the future with the enactment of such bills as BRAI and Seeds Bill. We urge the Tamilnadu government to enact a bio-safety legislation at the state level so that its constitutional right as well as responsibility in the matter is upheld. We will press for such a policy enactment being part of the manifesto of all parties during the coming Assembly elections and urge them to ban all GM trials in the State”.

The latest analysis on the bio-safety of Bt Brinjal was done by Dr Lou Gallagher, a toxicology and epidemiology expert from New Zealand on the behest of Aruna Rodrigues, the main petitioner of the Supreme Court PIL on GMOs. The main findings of Dr Gallagher’s report released recently show that the food safety studies for Bt Brinjal were not conducted in accordance with published standards, did not accurately summarize results and worse, ignored toxic endpoints for rats fed Bt Brinjal. In the studies conducted by Mahyco on rats with Bt Brinjal, the rats experienced organ and system damage (incl. of ovaries, spleen, white blood cells etc.) and toxic effects to the liver. Major health problems among test animals were ignored in these reports, points out Dr Gallagher. Dr Gallagher in her report says that “release of Bt Brinjal for human consumption cannot be recommended given the current evidence of toxicity to rats in just 90 days and the studies’ serious departures from normal scientific standards”.

“It is clear that regulators as well as scientists who are in a position to take decisions on behalf of all Indians are being unscientific and non-rigorous in their approach; they also have no long term vision for sustainable development. This is also demonstrated by the way the so-called “updated” inter-academy report on GM crops of six science academies in India was biased, inconsistent and did not choose to be scientific. This kind of regulatory and scientific establishment in India is bringing shame to this country. While farmers in this country are reeling under great distress in a scenario of rising costs due to intensive agriculture models and environmental resources are constantly getting degraded, it is immoral that no sound plans are being made to take Indian agriculture into the right direction which will secure income for Indian farmers, conserve their resources and produce adequate and safe food for all Indians”, said Kavitha Kuruganti of Coalition for a GM-Free India.

For more information, contact: Dr. Sivaraman, 9444027455 or Selvaganapathy, 9790951652 of Safe Food Alliance, Chennai and Kavitha Kuruganti of Coalition for a GM-Free India at 093-930-01550

Meeting on 9th Jan 2011, KSY follow-up in Tamilnadu

2011-01-03T20:31:00.000-08:00

Ananthoo of ReStore Chennai has been part of the Kisan Swaraj Yatra, travelling from Sabarmathi on the 2nd October, 2010 to Rajghat in December 2010. He has traversed through several states and met many organic farmers, sustainable agriculture initiatives and institutions.

Safe Food Alliance, Chennai is organizing a meeting on the 9th, January, 2011 to felicitate Ananthoo, to listen to him share his experiences and also to make plans for promoting sustainable agriculture and safe food in the State for the year ahead.

The meeting will be between 3-5 p.m. The venue for the meeting will be Ma Foi Centre, (2nd floor waiting hall), 309, Poonamallee High Road, Chennai. Directions to the venue: The building is close to Pachayappas College, on top of the Maruti car show room.

Kisan Swaraj Yatra in Chennai

2010-10-22T01:37:00.000-07:00

The Kisan Swaraj Yatra is a nation-wide mobilization drawing fresh attention to the continuing agricultural crisis in India, and calling for a comprehensive new path for Indian agriculture – that will provide livelihood and food security for small farmers, keep our soils alive, and our food and water poison-free. The bus-Yatra started at the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram on Oct 2nd, and pass through 20 states to reach Rajghat, New Delhi on Dec 11^th (http://kisanswaraj.in) As a part of the yatra, the yatri’s are arriving at Chennai on 25^th of October an will travel through the state for the next 4 days from their arrival. Agriculture , the back bone of India, today has been threatened by GM foods, land acquisition through SEZ and many more. To emphasize the threat of all these and to make people aware on safe food and consumption, Safe Food Alliance, Chennai invites you all to Welcome the yatri’s coming to Tamil Nadu.

VENUE: C D Nayagam School, Venkatanarayana Road T Nagar.

TIME & DATE: 4 to 6 PM, Monday October 25th 2010.

Program Schedule

3.30 – 4.15 – Press conference

4.30 – 6.30 – Welcome Ceremony Chief Guest

Dr. V. Duraimanickam, Gen.Secy. Tamil Nadu Farmers Association

Special Speech

Dr. G. Nammalvar, Organic Farming Expert

Problems and Chellenges in Agriculture - Yatri’s from the bus tour

Talk on the issue

Dr. Vasanthi Devi, Former Vice Chancellor

Dr. C. N. Deivanayagam, President, Health India Association

Prof. Sultan Ismail, Soil Biologist.

Mrs. Revathi, Actress & Social Activist

Organizers: Safe Food Alliance - Tamil Nadu coalition for anti GM crops - Poovulagin Nanbargal, reStore, Tamil Nadu Women’s collective, Tamil Nadu Natural Farmer’s Association and Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture.

Contact person: R. Selva Ganapathy - 9790951652

Members of Safe Food Alliance thank the Chief Minister in person

2010-02-16T21:00:00.000-08:00

Dr. Sivaraman, Thiru. Selvam and Smt. Sheelu Francis met and personally thanked the Chief Minister yesterday for responding to the civil society voice and placing a ban on the Bt Brinjal.

Pledege and Street Theatre near Gandhi Statue

2010-01-30T07:12:00.000-08:00

Photos from the Hunger Fast and Awareness Walk

2010-01-30T07:04:00.000-08:00

Soroptimist Interational of Chennai resolution against Bt Brinjal

2010-01-27T22:58:00.000-08:00

SFA meeting with the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu

2010-01-25T00:37:00.001-08:00

Meeting of SFA members with the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu

25^th January 2010, 9.30 a.m. - 10.20 a.m.

The following members met the Chief Minister as part of the Safe Food Alliance

1. Ms. Rohini, Film Actor

2. R. Selvam, Organic Farmer, Erode

3. Dr. Sivaraman, Siddha Physician

4. Dr. Jeevanandam, Physician

5. Ms. Sheelu Francis, Tamilnadu Women’s Collective

6. Ms. Sangeetha Sriram, ReStore

7. Mr. Ramasbramanian, Samanvaya

The Chief Minister patiently heard the concerns of the group

on the ill effects of Genetically Modified Crops and the

impact they could leave on the farmers, soil health and that of the

consumers for almost an hour.

He read through the letter especially sent to him

by eminent Scientist, Dr. Annadurai who has lead the Chandrayan Mission.

He listened to different facets of the issue expressed to him

and patiently read through the documents that were presented to him.

He was particularly interested to know the role played by the

Multinational Corporation and their control over the seeds market.

He was appraised of the various scientific journals and scientific

opinions that have challenged the claims of the corporate

This morning news in Dinamani on Grama Sabhai

2010-01-24T23:18:00.000-08:00

This morning's Dinamani centre page carries an article on the possibility of several panchayats passing a resolution against the GM Food in their Grama Sabhai meeting tomorrow 26th Jan 2010.

Street Play against Bt Brinjal

2010-01-23T09:19:00.000-08:00

The Mylapore festival this evening saw street theatre with several skits on environmental themes enacted by the students of Madras School of Social Work.

The thrust of the evening was on getting across the message of Conservation to the audience and in particular create awareness on the dangers of GM Food, Bt Brinjal in particular.

The two enclosed pictures show the artists perform in front of a few hundred audience. The audience appreciated the message and all of them signed the petition requesting the CM of Tamilnadu to ban Bt Brinjal in this state also.

தமிழக கத்திரிக்காய் வகைகள்

2010-01-22T10:53:00.000-08:00

பிடி கத்திரிக்காய் பற்றிய விழிப்புணர்வுடன் நமது பாரம்பரிய வகைகளையும் தெரிந்துகொள்வது மிகவும் அவசியமாகிறது. திரு ஜெயச்சந்திரம் அவர்கள் சில விதமான பாரம்பரிய கதிரிக்கைகளை இங்கே குறிப்பிடுகிறார், உங்களுக்கு தெரிந்த வகைகளை குறித்து நீங்களும் எழுதியும், பேசியும், புகைப்படம் மூலமாகவும் இங்குதெரிவிக்கலாம்.

'Pass Resolutions on Bt Brinjal in your Grama Sabhai meetings on 26th Jan'

2010-01-22T10:43:00.000-08:00

Thiru. Jeyachandran is one of the most respected, organic farmer and former Panchayat Leader in Tamilnadu. He hails from the Maduranthagam region. He has called for the comprehensive rejection of the Bt Brinjal by all villages in Tamilnadu and use the power of the Panchayats to express the same. In the following video,he calls for the farmers and villagers to reject the GM crop and pass resolutions requesting the Chief Minister to reject it for the entire state when the Grama Sabhai congregates on the 26th of January.

Editorial in Popular Tamil Daily against Bt Brinjal

2010-01-22T04:00:00.000-08:00

The following is a quick rough translation of the Editorial in the major Tamil Daily, Dinamani appearing on 22^nd January 2010 regarding the Ministerial spat over Bt Brinjal and covers the entire issue rather well.

Naamdaan Kidaithooma (are we the only guinea pigs available?)

The issue of the Bt Brinjal has blown wide open and for everyone to see now. While the Agricultural Minister Sharad Pawar claimed that the Expert Committee recommendation on Bt Brinjal is final, the statement by Environmental Minister Jairam Ramesh the very next day has rebutting this and stating that the final decision should rest with the government has given us much hope.

Sharad Pawar is the single leader of one of the coalition partners of the Congress Government in the Centre, the NCP. His recent decisions have been detrimental to the cause of the common man, particular farmers and has met with severe criticism as it seem to be largely favouring sugar mill owners, large traders, importers of food grains. While has shown no interest in increasing the procurement cost for paddy, wheat or sugarcane, his enthusiasm in procuring imported wheat at a higher price has caused heart burn among wheat farmers in particular.

The reason to recollect all this is to provide the backdrop for the current discussion on Bt Brinjal. Sharad Pawar’s statement that the Expert Committee recommendation is final could have created a catastrophy to this country. Thankfully Jairam Ramesh has reined in Sharad Pawar with his statement.

Bt Brinjal seeds are marketed by Mahyco, a name for an American Multinational company to sell seeds in India with a window dressing of few Indian names in it. The wonder is that this genetically modified brinjal has neither been planted large scale nor tested directly in any part of the world.

The Bt Brinjal, unlike Bt Cotton is a food product that is directly consumed by our people. The consequences of its toxic contamination and its consequences need no overstating. Also, while thousands of hectares of cultivable land is available in Developed Countries such as America, the lands of a gullible nation like ours is used for such experimentation is a clever tactic that certainly has not escaped our notice. How this strategy has escaped a strategist and clever politician such as Sharad Pawar is a big question.

Several thousand farmers have committed suicide after their Bt Cotton crop failed. The same Multinational does not seem to have given them any compensation. The labourers handling this variety of cotton in mills too have registered rashes and other ailments. We should not forget the fact that it took us quite a long time to shed the pride of Green Revolution and understand its long term (disastrous) consequences.

The Bt Brinjal has been introduced in India only by a Multinational Corporate. Their intentions are not that Indians should have more revenue from their Brinjal crops or that they should use less chemical pesticides or that their yield should go up by 3 or 5 fold. Though such claims are made for the purpose of advertising, their actual intention is to ensure that our traditional varieties of Brinjal are no longer cultivated. Once that happens, if we want to buy any Brinjal, we will have to rely on one Multinational or another, the price we pay for that will be heavy.

If we leave the commercial aspect aside for a moment, how can we estimate the damage due to the Bt Brinjal to the soil and environment? Let us remain the conservative suspicious fools, but, let us for a moment ask this question as to who will save us tomorrow if these seeds cause some damage to us? Where is the Multinational Union Carbide that caused deaths of thousands of people in Bhopal? Where is its Chairman Anderson, a prime accused in the case? What are the efforts that the Manmohan Singh government undertaken to bring Anderson to book? What is the status of those victim of Bhopal who still haven’t got adequate compensation and continue to suffer its consequences?

If such a fate befalls the users (or consumers) of Bt Brinjal tomorrow, who will help them? Should we forsake our traditional varieties of Brinjal and the future health of our soil to these ‘patriots’ who are negotiating to get a very low compensation even if there is a disaster due to a Nuclear plant with Multinationals setting up such plants.

TO uproot the British Empire, Gandhiji lifted a handful of salt at Dandi. We need to decide whether we use any salt in our food (to be provoked by the current situation). Alas, when the public vote is negotiated for a 500 and 1000 rupee note, what difference does it make if the negotiator is our own Sharad Pawar or the American Anderson?

Sudden postponement of the consultations in Hyderabad and Bangaluru, who benefits?

2010-01-22T00:40:00.000-08:00

Several farmer friends from Tamilnadu had booked their travel tickets in advance and some through TatKal for attending the consultation in Bangaluru. Several had already reached Hyderabad. Now, CEE calls everyone in the last moment and informs well beyond the working hours of any organization, that the Minister has a meeting to attend and has to hence postpone the meetings.

This raises several questions in the 'Democratic Process' as the Minister himself terms the consultations as to his Cabinet Colleague.

1) If the consultation is a democratic process, why was the criteria and choice of the venue for the consultations so arbitrarily declared. (In Ahmedabad, he had explained the criteria for each of the venues as Scientists filled towns for Hyderabad and Bangalore, Brinjal major cities of Bhubaneshwar and Kolkatta, Bt Cotton experienced cities for Ahmedabad and Nagpur and Major North Indian Agriculture City, for Chandigarh. Such criteria defies intelligence).

2) Except for CEE and those who know how to reach them and register as participant, there is no information in neighbouring states as to how we can participate in these consultations in advance. CEE officials in Hyderabad yesterday informed me that they are carrying the postponement information in the local media, what about those from Chennai and other parts of Tamilnadu who would have already reached the venue. How can a minister remember another appointment so late in the end of a working day and communicate it to the organizers. The public, particularly farmers, who spend their hard earned money to buy tickets need to be either compensated for the time, energy and cancellation charges or at least given adequate advance notice.

Maharaja's can perhaps call for or dismiss darbars based on their moods and bouts of amnesia, Democratically elected Ministers cannot, where is their responsibility towards the masses.

3) Is the Prime Minister aware that such consultations are being organized and has he endorsed this process? It is important that this be answered by the Minister because he has stated to his Senior Colleague in the Cabinet that he will submit his findings from the consultation to the PM by Feb 20th. What if the PM also says he didn't agree with this consultative process and will go by what the Expert Committee has recommended just as the Agricultural Minister has stated? What would be the weight of the consultative process? Several thousand people across the country have take precious time from their vocations to participate as they feel this is a democratic process and think it is their responsibility to express their views, but, does the Cabinet think so?

If there is already awareness in the Cabinet, then how come the Agricultural Minister can undermine such a democratic process by giving his opinion? How can the S&T minister express his opinion in a public meeting? Can't such statements be construed as contempt of the Democratic process?

4) The Minister has stated that apart from these consultations, he has also written to 50 top scientists in this country and abroad. On what basis has he chosen these scientists? He needs to come clean as to what would be the weightage of the scientist opinion vis-a-vis the opinion of the consultation. How would be reconcile the output of a political process with that of a technical opinion of whatever competence?

Statement on Bt Brinjal in the MDMK website

2010-01-21T22:57:00.000-08:00

MDMK website carried a statement by Thiru. Vaiko on the issue. The MDMK Leader has demanded that the State Government should demand a consultation be held on this important issue in the State of Tamilnadu also and has also condemned the silence of the State and Central Government on this issue.

Vehicle Stickers aginst Bt Brinjal

2010-01-21T04:04:00.000-08:00

Krishnan has designed the two stickers that can be printed in sticker sheets and stuck in four wheelers and two wheelers. Do download and use these images freely. Send us photos of where you stick them if you want to help, it will inspire others too to do the same.

Eminent Ayurvedic Vaidya against GM Food

2010-01-21T01:21:00.000-08:00

Eminent Ayurvedic Vaidya in Chennai, Dr. P.L.T. Girija has come out against the introduction of Genetically Modified Food in the country. In a meeting at her clinic in Chennai today, she strongly criticized such move and said there was no reason for us go for GMOs in this country. Her handwritten letter with further endorsement of few more Ayurvedic Physicians below.

தலைகுனியுமா தமிழகம்?

2010-01-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

தலைகுனியுமா தமிழகம்?

தென் இந்திய மாநிலங்களில் இயற்கையை பாதுகாப்பது முதல் விவசாயியின் உரிமையை காப்பது வரை 'நாங்கள் தான் முதலிடம்' என்று பெருமைப்பட்டு கொண்டிருக்கும் தமிழன் மரபீனி மாற்ற விதை களை தடை செய்வதில் மட்டும் ஏன் பின்தங்கி விட்டான்?

உழுதுண்டு வாழ்வாரே வாழ்வார் மற்றெல்லாம் தொழுதுண்டு பின்செல்பவர் என்று கூறிய வள்ளுவனை அனுதினமும் நினைவூட்டி ஒவ்வொரு பேருந்து மற்றும் புத்தகத்திலும் அவன் குரளை எழுதவைத்த கலைஞர், தமிழ் உழவன் மாற்றானிடம் யாசித்து, விதை வாங்கி,பயிர் செய்ய ஒப்புதல் அழிப்பது வள்ளுவனை அவமதிப்பதாகாதா?

அண்டை மாநிலமான கேரளம் முதலில் தடை செய்தது, 'எங்கள் இயற்கை பாதிக்கப்படும்' என்று, சில நாட்களுக்கு முன்னால் ஆந்திரம் தடை செய்தது, 'எங்கள் விவசாயிகள் உரிமை போய்விடும்' என்று, இன்று கர்நாடகம் தடை செய்ய முடிவெடுத்துள்ளது, 'இது எங்களுக்கு பயன் தராது' என்று. இயற்க்கைக்கு ஒப்பவில்லை, விவசாயிக்கு எதிரானது, நுகர்வோருக்கு பயன் தராது என்றால் தமிழ் தலைவர்கள் ஏன் இன்னும் முடிவெடுக்க யோசிதுகொண்டிருக்கிரார்கள்??

Anne of Rotary Club of Madras West resolution on Bt Brinjal

2010-01-19T23:56:00.000-08:00

SFA Campaign Movie launch on 19th Jan 2010 in the Media

2010-01-19T23:21:00.000-08:00

News on the release of Campaign Short Film on Bt Brinjal by SFA

2010-01-19T19:31:00.001-08:00

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/chennai/actors-musicians-protest-bt-brinjal-174

http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?673145

http://www.thehindu.com/2010/01/20/stories/2010012057790200.htm

NEW SFA MOVIE ON BT BRINJAL - to released on 19th Jan 2010

2010-01-17T12:41:00.001-08:00

Diverse traditional varieties of Brinjal in the Chennai Sangamam stall

2010-01-15T02:32:00.000-08:00

தமிழகத்திலுள்ள பல்வேறு விதமான பாரம்பரிய கத்திரிக்காய், சென்னை சங்கமம் பொருட்காட்சியில் பார்க்கலாம்.
மக்களுக்கு பிடி கத்திரிக்காயை குறித்து விளக்குவதை படத்தில் காணலாம்.

Article in Junior Vikadan on Bt Brinjal

2010-01-11T23:46:00.001-08:00

Join the 'Save our Food!' Campaign

2010-01-06T22:32:00.000-08:00

Our food is in for irreversible contamination, and our wealth of seeds in for irreversible loss because of a policy that our Government is planning to enforce in a month's time!

By learning what, why, how and ACTING NOW, we could all actually stop it from happening by exercising our rights for safe food!!

You may already know that Bt Brinjal, a genetically modified brinjal variety produced by a multinational company called Monsanto, is awaiting approval to be introduced in India. Bt is a soil bacterium called Bacillus Thuringiensis with pesticidal properties, whose gene is introduced into brinjal, which they claim will reduce pesticide use. But our experience with Bt Cotton introduced in India in 2003 has shown us that it is a false claim. Bt Cotton has
* caused large-scale crop failure and has increased pesticide use, pushing lakhs of farmers to commit suicide. (See attachment)
* killed thousands of cattle which grazed on the fields.
* caused severe allergies and other illness for farm workers.
GM foods introduced elsewhere in the world have caused massive crop failures and severe health problems. Jeffrey Smith has documented about 65 diseases and disorders in his book 'Genetic Roulette'. In Philippines, villagers living near GM Maize fields have even died! And for all these reasons, Italy, Ireland, Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania, South Africa and Switzerland have either banned or enforced a moratorium on the cultivation of GM food crops. Moreover, surveys say that more than 90% of Americans, and almost 100% of Europeans are against GM foods. In India, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Kerala, West Bengal, Uttaranchal and Orissa have banned GM foods.

Please come with your colleagues, students, friends and family to learn more and find out how you can help stop the approval of Bt Brinjal, and thereby GM foods in India to
SPACES, 1, Elliots Beach Road, Besant Nagar, Chennai 600090
on Sunday, Jan 10th, 2010
from 2.30 to 6.30 pm

Please write to safefoodalliance@gmail.com to register if you are participating in the event. For more information, contact Rupesh at 98849-58194

Let's come together to save our food before it is too late!

Volunteers,
Safe Food Alliance
www.safefoodalliance.blogspot.com

Congratulations on your Victory: TN Agriculture Council bill withdrawn

2009-09-16T23:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Thanks for your mails.

The CM had announced that he is holding the bill. That means he is not sending the bill to the Governor for his approval.

Till then the bill is, in fact hangs on. The bill could be withdrawn through another resolution in the assembly. We all should send mails, faxes and letters to the CM to withdraw it completely. Don't forget to thank him.

I am hopeful that the CM will do it. Yet we cannot be complacent.

This success is in fact a great victory for collective actions and the support of Press. This is not the work of my self (R.Selvam) alone. I share your congrats to every one.

We should bring every section of the society in the GM issue also. If all work collectively we could win. We have the strength. Let us chanelise our strength.

Thank you friends,

on behalf of

R. SELVAM

organicerode@gmail.com

Companies should follow MTR's lead

2009-09-16T01:26:00.000-07:00

Greenpeace volunteers dressed up as “traditional messengers”, unfurled a massive 6x4 feet scroll, which read, “Well Done MTR”, while handing over a Kannada copy of Safe Food Guide to their representative.

MTR is the only food company in India to have a comprehensive policy on GMOs. In an official response to Greenpeace, MTR Foods Ltd. stated, “We have a policy to use 100% natural ingredients and hence GM items are unacceptable.”

Various studies by independent scientists across the world have shown evidence suggesting that GM foods could be harmful to health, especially in the long run, and in ways that are yet unknown. Lab rats fed with GM food showed increased levels of liver and kidney toxicity, increased vulnerability to food allergies and low levels of immunity.

Greenpeace India launched the Safe Food Guide, earlier this week, which categorises 17 food companies operating in India into a ‘red list’ and a ‘green list’ based on their responses to Greenpeace regarding their policy on the use of GM ingredients in their food products.

PepsiCo, Dabur, Haldirams, ITC Foods and Ruchi Soya stated that that their products do not contain genetically modified ingredients in their foods as of today. Hence these companies made it to the ‘green’ list.Of all the companies, Nestlé (along with HUL and others)are on the other end of the spectrum in the ‘red list’.

“Responsible companies across the world are taking proactive steps and adopting a GM-free policy. Indian consumers should not be treated as lab rats for GM food to be experimented upon. Nestle has gone GM free in Europe, Russia and Brazil. Therefore, it is time that Nestlé stops violating its own policy in India and declares itself GM free,” demanded Shah.

Since the release of the guide, over 7,000 consumers have already started demanding that Nestlé India goes GM free and have sent emails to Mr. Antonio Wazcyk who will take over as Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India from October 2009.

TNSAC bill on Hold-Let us rejoice victory with a thanks to the CM

2009-09-10T23:47:00.000-07:00

It is really a pleasant surprise to many as there was not demos, no agitations, no slogan raisings, etc. Yet the CM announced that the bill will be on hold at present.

It looked like there was no great uproar here.

But a kind of pressure was built on the government through editorials, articles, press releases, post card campaign and more over the collective voice of all main stream farmers organisations, the press meets of Vandana Shiva, Claude, Satheesh the meeting of Devinder, etc. The support and actions of NGOs like LESIA, WOMEN COLLECTIVE,WOMEN FORUM, TN Environment Council, CREATE, FEDCOT and many others had played a very decisive role.

At the latter part the political parties slowly realised the facts and started to react. Dr.Ramadass of PMK, Com. Mahendran of CPI, Com.K.Balakrishnan, all had expressed solidarity with the farmers association and has started to carry out independent and collective actions.

Junior Vikatan and Pasumai Vikatan - magazines from the respected press group Vikatan did interviews from farmer leaders and articles, Down to Earth carried an article, Dinamani ( of The Indian Express Group) carried an editorial and two editorial page articles, the Kumudam Reporter's columnist and senior journo wrote about the act and GM crops in two issues, farmer leaders sent memoranda through District Collector all had made greater impact on the govt.

IT IS A GREAT VOCTORY FOR OUR COLLECTIVE EFFORT.
THIS COLLECTIVITY FORCED THE GOVT. TO RETHINK ABOUT THE BILL.
LET US REJOICE IT WITH A THANKS FAX OR A MAIL TO THE CM.

(In fact it is a half victory only. The govt. had announced that it will put the bill on hold. It should pass another resolution in the assembly to withdraw it. We all should be vigilant at the time of next assembly session to press the withdrawal.)

AND AFTER SOME TIME WE ALL WILL ASK HIM TO STOP THE GM TRIAL IN TNAU

The Chief Minister's office fax and mail: Fax 91-44-25671441

E-Mail cmsec@tn.gov.in, mcell@tn.gov.in

on behalf of

R. SELVAM

organicerode@gmail.com

Greenpeace raises GM alert on top Indian foods

2009-09-08T01:12:00.000-07:00

Food products of Nestlé, Cadbury, Kellogg, Britannia, and Safal are among a ‘red list’ in a guide on GM-free food released by Greenpeace in New Delhi on September 8, 2009.

The ‘Safe Food Guide’ is a first of its kind in India, and ranks 16 well-known food brands.

The guide comes at a time when the Indian Government is on the verge of approving genetically modified Bt Brinjal.

Following-Bt Brinjal, there are close to 40 other food crops, like rice, tomato, mustard, and potato, which the Indian Government may approve.

“The safety of GM crops as a foodstuff for animals and humans is unknown and the testing regimes are inadequate. Studies on lab rats show potential health risks including allergies, abnormal growth of liver and kidney and many unpredictable effects. Therefore, this guide plays an important role in informing consumers,” Jai Krishna, GM Markets Campaigner, Greenpeace India, said while releasing the guide.

The guide also comes in a pocket-sized version and lists companies based on their responses to Greenpeace India.

Companies like MTR, Dabur, Haldiram’s, ITC Foods, PepsiCo India, and Ruchi Soya are in the ‘green list’ based on their stand that their products are GM-free as of today.

In the ‘red list’ are Nestlé, Hindustan Unilever, Kellogg, Cadbury, Agro Tech Foods Ltd, FieldFresh Foods Pvt Ltd (a unit of Bharti Enterprises), Bambino Agro Industries Ltd, Britannia Industries Ltd, Godrej Hershey Foods, Parle, and Safal.

Bejon Misra, Managing Trustee, Healthy You Foundation, received the first copy of the guide.

“It is an excellent tool for the consumers to become aware about GMOs. This initiative by Greenpeace has brought these positions of food brands in the open. This would empower consumers to make an informed choice,” Misra said.

Greenpeace demands that: i) food businesses adopt a no-GM policy, because of the risks to health and environment, and ii) take proactive steps to inform consumers about the presence or absence of GM ingredients in their products.

Notes to the editor:

1. Download the Safe Food Guide: A consumer's guide to GM free food

2. Download the Safe Food Pocket Guide

Traders 26th annual conference, Vellore

2009-05-08T03:43:00.000-07:00

26th annual conference of the Anaithu Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai’s conference at Vellore, Tamil Nadu

On May 5th at Vellore, the historic town of Tamil Nadu where the first freedom struggle- the Shepoy Mutiny in 1806 broke out in front of the British Fort, the powerful trader organisation leader Mr.Vellaiyan, declared that the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai (Tamil Nadu Traders Association Federation) will fight against GM crops and will extend the support to all those who fight against the entry of MNCs in retail trade and farming.

The Peravai will continue to fight against the GM crops as this would put farmers to buy the company seeds every time." More than 60,000 traders and their family members from various part of the state had took part in this annual event of Vanigar Day Celebration and Annual Conference.

Having leaders of Trader Organisations from various part of the Country and the All India Traders Federation President in the dias Mr.Vellaiyan said that "all should put up a united fight against MNCs entry in farming and retail trade. The government is trying to impose on us the untested Bt Brinjal, Corn, Rice, Tomato, etc... ", The farmers will be forced to buy the seeds from the company and will be made dependable every time they go for sowing while practicing farming with GM seeds. This situation will lead to destroy the farming and farmers life. That's why we launched the agitation in front of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU, Coimbatore) and got arrested. “If farming is lost then retail trade in the small towns will also end, putting thousands and thousands of small traders in soup" he added. The influence of America is increasing in farming. Our governments simply follow their wish to loose our independency on farming.

Peravai released the election charter with demands. Some of them are

Encourage Organic farming through the state.
Ban GM crops and its research.
No SEZ in farm lands.
School uniforms should be in hand loom cloths.
Recognisation to Tamil Eelam.

At the end the conference peravai honored the traders who got arrested at coimbate on 2^nd April 2009 for protesting in front of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) against Monsanto’s GM corn field trail. Also honored those acted as volunteers during the inauguration of Safe Food Alliance at Chennai, Marina Beach on 31st mid night.

A poster on hazards of GM food was released during the conference, aiming that the poster will be placed in every shop through out the state.

Conference resolutions

2009-04-04T03:51:00.000-07:00

Conference of Tamil Nadu Farmers Associations against genetic engineering in Agriculture.

The Conference was the final event of the series of Anti GM activities carried in Coimbatore since early February. Street plays in Colleges and in the villages, signature campaign demanding ban on GM crops and food, a large protest rally (March 16th) have been happening since later February.

Conference of All Farmers Association Leaders of Tamil nadu was convened by SFA on 3rd of April in which almost all the prominent farmers association’s leaders were presented and took active role in the discussions. Before the intense discussion Jai Krishna of Greenpeace, Selvam of Organic Farmers Federation, Jacob Nellithanam of Richarria Campaign had briefed the various aspects of GM research, present scenario of international, national level agitations, farmer’s plight, IPR and Indo-US Knowledge Initiative Agreement.

Shri. Md.Idris, Consumer Association of Penang, Ms.Kavitha of GM free India had sent their messages and wished the conference and the leaders. Navdanya, Delhi had sent Bt.Brinjal hand outs for farmer leader’s benefit.

The conference expressed its solidarity and its concern on the health of Edita and Danuta who are in a hunger strike demanding a ban on GM crops in Poland braving the chilling weather of 1° C and the supporters Jadwiga , Anna Bednarek, farmer and engineer who had jumped in the strike as support.

Excerpts from the addresses of representatives of various Farmer associations
Dr.Sivasamy, President of Thamizhaga Vivasayeegal Sangam (Tamil nadu Farmers association), in his inaugural address said that the origin of man from micro organisms is the product of evolution and synergy of various natural orders. Genetic Engineering is disturbing and destroying this synergy. Earlier we all farmed with good seeds but in the name of Green Revolution all of them were destroyed. Now GM seeds are coming to destroy completely.

Delay by every minute in destroying the GM crops means we are inviting more and more irreparable damage to our world. Like any poison the toxins from GM crops too damage the alimentary system, circulatory system, Spleen, Liver, lungs, etc.

The scientists who have advocated and promoted Green Revolution are now advocating Organic ways of farming. They should be put behind bars for this kind of double talking and backtracking.

The world’s worst institution is the government of America. The more we get closer to the American policies, the more we are making ourselves slaves. We should get free from this trap.
Getting a Ban on GM crops and food should be our first priority among the various issues that we have. Governments, MNCs and scientists all have joined together in forcing the GM crops on us.

It is not easy to fight against the companies like Monsanto individually. We all should be united to fight GM crops. Though we have many differences among ourselves we must put up a united fight against GM crops.

Dr.Markandan, Former Vice Chancellor of Gandhi Gram University, in his felicitation address said that the Government too is against the people. The universities should help the farmers in producing their own seeds instead of supporting the companies to produce sterile seeds.

GM means economic slavery, will put farmers permanently under the domination of Corporates. Who will be responsible and accountable if the GM technology and crops went wrong and play havoc?, he questioned.

Mr.Vellaiyan, President of Tamil Nadu Vanighar Sangangalin Peravai in his address narrated how he answered the fellow trader’s association leaders questioning him why traders should take part in farmer’s issues. “I convinced them and made to realise that 70% of the people in India are dependent of farming. With the entry of MNCs in farming means that the farmers will be thrown out of farming. If farming is affected then the economic loss of this will reach traders in no time. And the direct impact of this economic loss will be on small traders.”

The imperialistic forces are trying to enter in the retail trade to capture and destroy the small traders by monopolizing the retail trade. GM is also in the line to monopolies the farming and food, to destroy the seeds rule over the farmers and sovereignty of the nation. He appealed the farmer’s association leaders that the farmers should join their hands in fighting the entry of multi national giants in the retail trade.

Any government that comes to the power in May should come out of WTO. WTO had done nothing to us. Our growth is not due to WTO. The development of Indian science and technology is not due WTO but due to the isolation and blockade imposed by the same forces on us. Let us not forget that we had sent satellite to moon not because of WTO. The WTO is to ruin our S&T only.

During this election we all should be united to win over our demands and should extract promises from the political parties.

Mr.A.M.Raja, President of CIFA, Tamil Nadu State Wing in his address said that the problems of GM is not just with one crop or yield but goes much beyond that. It had crossed every boundary of various civil societies’ circles. The scientists are not telling the truth. They have become the mouth piece of the companies.
Last year the Vice Chancellor of TNAU said, “I personally had tasted Bt.Brinjal and it was so tastier than other varieties.” When questioned in a different forum, he admitted that he had not tasted it. All are lying to us. Now at this present election every one of our votes should prove who we are. 2011 is not too far. (Here he is referring the State Assembly election in 2011).

Let us strengthen our vote bank. Let us prepare the farmers to show their feelings and strength in a united manner.

The government and the universities are working for the welfare of the companies and not for the people. They are no more for the welfare of the people.

In this election time we should get commitment from every political party on this issue.

Mr.N.S.Palanisamy, President of Tamil Nadu farmers association (non political) during his speech said that the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University should work for the farmers benefits and work farmers’ need based research. Unfortunately the TNAU is going in the other direction.

The University should priority for traditional, chemical free farming ways. If it failed the government should direct the university to do so.

Mr.Sakthivel, Vazhuukku Parai Balu, Mr.Nallasamy, Thiru Navukkarasu, Thulasimani, Ila. Ka. Sadagopan, Mr.Kannaian have also shared their view and echoed similar sentiments.

RESOLUTIONS

1). The government of Tamil Nadu should declare Tamil Nadu as a state free of GM crops or food to protect the farming, farmers, people, and the fertile soil. All Field trials of the GM crops be stopped and banned. No GM research should be permitted by state agricultural universities in collaboration with Private Companies.

2). To protect the sovereignty of the nation, to provide Safe Food for all priorities be given to development plans and research on Traditional farming methods, Saving the traditional seeds of the Nation. Tamil Nadu should stop doing researches benefiting the corporates including the Monsanto. Instead it should direct the research for the need and benefit of farmers.

3). The Farmers Associations will launch a massive protest in front of the Tamil nadu agricultural University and stop the research that are not in tune with the traditional farming (this includes Organic and Natural farming).

4).The TNAU in its press release saying that 80% of the Corn yield is lost due to the pest and weeds problems and also said that GM crops are absolutely safe. These statements are farcical. The conference severely condemns the TNAU for this kind of false statements.

5). The Leaders of farmers association request every political party in the state and the central to make open statement or declare in their Election Manifesto that they will ban or support banning of GM crops and food in the state and India as well.

6).The central government should pay a compensation of 10 lakh rupees to the families of all those who had committed suicide due the failure of Bt.Cotton.

7).The conference resolved that during this Parliament election the farmers association will join their hands with the Traders Federation and other like minded organizations to campaign for a ban on GM crops and Food and to oppose the entry of MNCs in retail trade.

8). The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University should call for a public hearing and provide information of all the research done on Gm crops.

9). The Government of India should terminate the Indo-US Knowledge Initiative Agreement signed with the US.

10). If the TNAU fails to destroy the hazardous GM maize trial immediately, before the end of the trial period, the conference warns that the farmers associations in association with Traders federation, Green movements and SFA will launch a massive protest rally and agitate in front of TNAU.
Representatives of organizations adopting the resolutions of the Conference.

1) Dr.M.R.Sivasamy, President of Thamizhaga Vivasayeegal Sangam ( Tamil Nadu Farmers association)
2) Dr. Na. Markandan, Former Vice Chancellor of Gandhi Gram rural university
3) T.Vellaiyan, President, Tamil Nadu Vanighar Sangangalin Perava
4) Ila.Ka. Sadagopan, Tamil nadu Farmers Movement. ( Thamizhaga Uzhavar Perriakkam).
5) Mr.C.M. Thulasi Mani, Vice President, Tamil nadu Vivasayeegal Sangam, (affiliated to the Communist Party of India).
6) Mr.N.S.Palanisamy , President of Tamil nadu farmers association ( non political).
7) Mr. S.Nallusamy, Keezh Bhavani Farmers’ Association. (Lower Bhavani Project Farmers Association).
8) A.M.Raja, President, Confedration Of Indian Farmers Association.
9) R.Selvam, Organic Farmers Federation.
10) Su. Kannaiyan, Organising Secreatry, Thamilga Vivasayeegal Sangam.
11) G.Thirunavukkarasu, Thalanmai Uzhavargal Iyaakkam.
12) P.Thirugana Sambantha Moorthy, Upparru Pasana Vuivasayeegal Sangam. (Upparu River basin Farmers Association).
13) Arumuga Manickkam, Kongu Mandala Vivasayeegal Sangam. ( Kongu region Farmers Association).
14) R.A. Sakthivel, President,South Indian Coconut growers’ Association.
15) K. Ram Mohan, State President, HMKP.
16) Kongu Kulanthaisamy, Erode Dist. Horticultural Farmers’ Society.
17) Dr.Sathya Sundari, Bhavani River Protection Federation.
18) Ponnuthai, Womens Collective.
19) R.Ravi Kumar, Kongu Research Centre.
20) R. Shiva Shanmugam, Organic People.
21) Sundararajan, Poovulagain Nanbargal.
22) M. Shajudheen, Pasumai Illaingarkal. (Green Youth).
23) Kurunthasalam, South Indian Tribals Association.
Those who could not participate but given consent for the resolutions
1) Vetta Valam Manikandan, Thamilaga Vivasyaeegal Sangam.
2) K.Bala Krishnan, State President, Thamizhaga Vivasayeegal Sansam. (Affiliated to the Communitst Party of India Marxist)
3) Arupathy. Kalyanam, General Secreatry, Federation Of Farmers Association of Cauvery Delta Districts.
4) M. Cheran, President, Federation Of Farmers Association of Cauvery Delta Districts.
5) Prabhu Raja, President, NAM farmers’ Movement.
6) Thalpathi, President, Thadappali Farmers Association.
7) Velayutham, President, Kaligarayan Farmers Federation.
8) Vaiyapuri, Iykkiya Farmers Sangam.
9) Abbas, Millai Periyar River Protection Council.

Lunch Break

'Monsanto Quit India’, 65 activists arrested

2009-04-03T03:37:00.000-07:00

'Monsanto Quit India’, say active protestors at TNAU, get arrested

Coimbatore, 2^nd April 2009: The movement against Genetically Modified (GM) crops in Tamil Nadu took a dramatic turn today when a large number of protestors, led by Vellaiyan, the leader of Tamil Nadu Traders Association were arrested by the police for staging an active protest against the field trial of a GM corn plant inside the premises of the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU). The protestors, under the umbrella organization of the Safe Food Alliance had come together to demand immediate destruction of the field where trial of BT corn, a hazardous GM food crop developed by Monsanto within the university premise was being carried out in secrecy for the last 3 months.

Genetically modified (GM) foods have been proved to be risky and can cause serious health hazards like hyper allergies, retarded growth, inflammation and liver and kidney toxicity. Studies have even predicted that long term consumption of GM foods like Bt corn can lead to serious reproductive problems and eventually to infertility. GM crops also are unanimously opposed by all farmers union’s across India, as they can contaminate the agri-biodiversity developed over thousands of years, while increasing corporate control over seed, impairing soil fertility and end the rights of farmers over their seed.

Despite these issues surrounding GM crops that have been raised by activists, the TNAU has been conducting open air field trials for the multinational company Monsanto on the public land held by the university - free of cost.

“We are tired of the strategy of silent destruction that this university has adopted” Said Mr. Vellaiyan, President of the Tamil Nadu Vanighar Sangangalin Peravai while being dragged into the police van. “The university is acting against the welfare of the people of Tamil Nadu - both farmers and traders. It has sworn its loyalty to the MNC Monsanto by conducting this field trial, and has been defending its act by propagating lies and misleading the government and the people of this state,” he added.

Earlier in March, the Safe Food Alliance had organised a rally against the continued allegiance of the University to the MNC Monsanto. On the same day, representatives form more than 11 Farmers organisaitons, Tamil Nadu Vanighar Sangangalin Peravai and Greenpeace had delivered a set of recommendations to the University- asking it to destroy the field trials immediately.

‘When countries across the world like France, Italy, Austria, England, Poland and Romania have decided to keep a moratorium on GM crops, when states like Kerala can declare themselves GM free and chart a organic path to revive their farming sector, why cant Tamil Nadu ? If we farmers don’t need GM crops, why does the university continue signing agreements with foreign companies for collaboration?’ asked Aruchamy of the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam..

Today’s active protest carries a lot of significance to the fluid political situation in the State- as the 15^th Lok Sabha Elections are fast approaching. Many parties, like the PMK- Pattali Makkal Katchi have taken a strong position against GM crops in the Manifesto. The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) had also been supporting the demand for gm free India and for a state ban in Tamil Nadu.

Mrs. Ponnuthai of the Womens Collective, who is part of the team, said, “We are here to protest against the introduction GM food in the country. As responsible citizens, we are here to assert that we do not need such technologies. As consumers, our right to safe food cannot be violated and we cannot be made into lab rats in this experiment”

The protests against such anti farmer alliances made by public sector universities has also flared up at Kolhapur in Maharashtra recently. There also farmers have united against the leadership of legendary farmers leader N D Patil and have demanded immediate halt and destruction of the Monsanto’s BT Corn field trial which is currently going on inside the Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyalaya campus in Kolhapur.

Today’s active protest at TNAU university also was also addressed by many others including K. Ramakrishnan, of the Periyar Dravida Kazhagam, Balusamy, Secretary, Thondamuthur region, Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, Selvam from the Erode district organic farmers collective and Jai Krishna from Greenpeace.

Conference of all Farmers’ Associations

2009-03-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

Conference of all Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Associations against
Genetic Engineering in Agriculture planned in Coimbatore- Safe Food Alliance

Coimbatore: 30th March 2009: A conference of all the Farmers associations in the state is being organised in Coimbatore on the 3rd of April against Genetically modified crops in Agriculture by The Safe Food Alliance.

Genetically modified (GM) foods have been proved to be risky and can cause health hazards like allergies to serious problems retarded growth, inflammation and liver and kidney toxicity. A recent study has even predicted that long term consumption of GM foods like Bt corn can lead to serious reproductive problems and eventually to infertility. GM crops also are unanimously opposed by all farmers unions across India, as they can contaminate the agri-biodiversity developed over thousands of years, while increasing corporate control over seed and imparing soil fertility.

It is also known that despite the issues surrounding GM crops, the Tamil Nadu agricultural university has been found to conduct field trials for the multinational company Monsanto on its own land - free of cost. On March 16th, the safe food alliance had organised a rally against the continued allegiance of the University to the MNC Monsanto. On the same day, representatives form more than 11 farmers organisaitons, Tamil Nadu vanighar sangangalin peravai and Greenpeace had delivered a set of recommendations to the University.

“Despite our representation, the university has not given any responsible answer so far. In this juncture, we have decided to call for an all farmer organization conference to consolidate the opinions of all the farmers representatives in the state”, said Mr. Vazhukkuppaarai Balu, President of Tamizhagha Vivasaaya Sangam. “A decision to ban GM crops is expected to be adopted in this conference after detailed deliberations within farmer organizations”. He added.

Mr.N.S.Palanisamy Ex. MLA, of the Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam (Non political), said that “Agricultural research in India has never been in favour of farmers. The TNAU always been mis-prioritising its research and its seeds have never been adopted by farmers all these years. Now it has started becoming outsourcing agents for anti farmer agenda of Multinational companies.” “We are going to get a unanimous resolution among farmers of the state against this university.” He added.

“The upcoming election is an ideal platform to put forward the demand for a safe food without Gm crops. All parties should come together in banning GM crops and should mention it in their manifestos. Members of the Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai and their families, will choose the political parties that that bring a GM Free India proclamation in their manifesto” said Mr. Vellaiyan the president of the Peravai.

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) in its manifesto, that has been released on 27th of this month, has declared that it will insist on long-term research before the introduction of GM crops and that Agricultural universities should not be allowed to carry out research on such crops along with the private sector.

Mr. Eashwaran, state deputy organizer of the Engineers association of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), who was present at the conference, said “Our General Secretary Mr. Vaiko, has taken a position against GM crops”. He further added that “It has already been stated by the outgoing union Health minister, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss that GM crops in India have not been tested to be safe. Thus, we would not support the approval of GM crops without long term safety tests, and without assessing the impacts on farmers.”
Mr. Sundararajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal and Mr. Selvam.of the Erode Organic Farmers’ Collective- part of the Safe Food Alliance, were also present during the interaction.

Program Agenda: English, தமிழ்

Protest: Media Clips

2009-03-19T00:15:00.000-07:00

Kovai: Rally Protest

2009-03-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

16th march 2009: A deligation of 11 farmer’s leaders and Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangam met the Registrar of TNAU and submitted a memorandum advised the university to destroy the ongoing GM Corn field trail for Monsanto. Police force of 150 personnel was deputed to manage the situation in TNAU. Farmers’ leaders were shocked to see the kind of reception in the University, yes, the main gate of the University was locked by the Police and security personals to prevent entry of the farmer’s leaders. The previous day the police requested to the Safe Food Alliance to submit the memorandum to the district collector as there is no Vice chancellor to TNAU and the Registrar was also not in station. But the Mr.Ram mohan, a representative of safe food alliance told the Police that the Police has no role to advise us to decide to whom the representation to be submitted. The Police said that only 5 representatives could meet the Registrar as there is insufficient space in his office room, but the all the leaders wanted to meet the Registrar. Finally the Registrar of the TNAU came out to his office premises and received the memorandum. Senior farmer’s leader Mr.K.Balakrishnan submitted the memorandum and said the demand of the alliance. But, the registrar was in a hurry to get back to his seat and kept on saying that he would read the memorandum and get back to us.

Rally in the afternoon.
A rally of farmers, traders, women and general public under the banner Safe Food Alliance started in Gandhi Puram near Thiruvalluvar Bus stand. Mr. Vellaian , president of Tamil Nadu vanigar Sangam presided the inaugural of the rally and Mr. Su. Si. Kalaiarasan of Viduthalaigal siruthaigal inaugurated the the rally.

More than 500 women and men wearing ribbon on their fore head saying “No to GMOs” and were marching in the procession shouting slogans against the GMOs, Monsanto, Tamil Nadu Agriculture university and state and central governments. They were also demanded complete ban on GMOs as they are cause cancer, infertility and allergy etc. There were hundreds of placards against GMOs, Monsanto and TNAU were carried and displayed by the participants.

Women from women collective were wearing vegetables as ornaments and shouted against GMOs.
Mr. Markandan, former Vice chancellor of Gandhi Gram Rural University presided the demonstration in front of the Red Cross Society in Coimbatore at the end of the 5km long procession. He strongly condemned the Government of India and government of Tamil Nadu for having mindlessly allowing GMOs in our country.
Mr.Vellaiyan Leader of Tamil Nadu appealed to political parties take resolve to make the state GM Free and announce the same before Lok Sabha election and should implement if they are elected to power or should continue to fight against GMOs if they happened to be in opposition. He declared on behalf of Vanigar sangam that his organisation is even prepared to take violent means to destroy the field trails if it absolutely necessary to prevent the entry of GMOs in Tamil Nadu and to ensure the health and safety of people. He further said that the members of vanigar sangam and their family will cast their votes only to the parties who come out clearly against GMOs.
Ms. Saral, secretary of the Women’s collective of the Nilgiris district came out very strongly against the anti farmer and anti people research initiatives of the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University (TNAU) for the benefit of Trans National Agri Business giant Monsanto by conducting the open field trials in the university campus.
Mr. Valukku Parai balu veteran farmers leader said that farmers totally rejected the GMOs as it will take away the farmers control over the seeds and a serious threat to fertility of the land and human and animal health.
Mr.Ce.Ma.Velusamy, M.L.A and former minister of Tamil Nadu government and Mr.Pollachi. Jeyaraman, Ex.Minister were also extended their solidarity on behalf their party.
Ms. Grace from the Nesakarangal, a part of the Tamil Nadu Womens Forum, N.S. Palanisamy, C.Nallusamy, Mr. Balusamy, Er. Ramasamy, Mr.Thulasimani, Mr.S.Kannaiyan, Mr.Ram Mohan, Vetavalam Manikandan and Mr.R.Selvam were expressed their commitment and extended their solidarity for the ban and banishment of GMOs.

------------
Demands for the Tamil Nadu Government by the safe food alliance:

Burn and destroy the GM corn field trial presently being conducted in the campus of the university,
GM crops and their field trials should be banned immediately. All State agricultural universities (SAU) must disengage any partnership research on GM crops with any private companies.
No GM foods should be allowed through imports or through other means. Strict action should be taken on illegal imports.

RALLY & PROTEST

2009-03-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

THE SAFE FOOD ALLIANCE and Greenpeace are organizing a state level massive MARCH & PROTEST with thousands of farmers, consumers, students, women’s group and the public at Coimbatore against GM food.

The first Gm crop in India, Bt Brinjal is about to be released anytime now by the central government is not yet proved to be safe. International experts from France and Australia who have reviewed the data have stated that the tests are totally insufficient to say that Bt Brinjal is safe.

Tamil Nadu agricultural university has been found to conduct field trials for the company – on its campus. A variety of GM Corn, which belongs to Monsanto, has been in trial in the university since December 2008. This is an act against people’s rights to choose.

Join us and voice out, to make sure our food is safe
on Monday, 16th March 2009, at 4.00 pm

Rally Starts at Thiruvalluvar bus stand, Gandhipuram and Protest at 5pm in front of Red Cross building, Coimbatore

பாதுகாப்பான உணவுக் கூட்டமைப்பும் அதன் ஒரு அங்கமான கிரீன்பீஸ் (Greenpeace) அமைப்பும், விவசாயிகள், நுகர்வோர், மாணவர்கள், பெண்கள் அமைப்புகள், மற்றும் பொதுமக்கள் இணையும் மாநில அளவிளான மரபணு மாற்ற உணவிற்கு எதிரான மாபெரும் பேரணி, ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்தை கோவையில் நடத்த உள்ளது.

மரபணு மாற்று பயிர்கள் இன்று நமது பாரம்பரிய வேளாண் முறைகளை மிக வேகமாக அழித்து வருகிறது. எந்த முன்னெச்சரிக்கையுமின்றி, தகுந்த உயிர் பாதுகாப்பு ஆய்வுகளுமின்றி, பலதரப்பு மக்களிடமிருந்து வரும் பலத்த எதிர்ப்புகளையும் பொருட்படுத்தாமல் இந்திய அரசு, மரபணு மாற்று பி.டி. கத்திரிக்காயை வெகு விரைவில் அறிமுகப்படுத்தவிருக்கிறது.

இச்சமயத்தில் தமிழ்நாடு வேளாண்மைப் பல்கலைக்கழகம், பன்னாட்டு பகாசுர நிறுவனமான மான்சாண்டோ போன்ற நிறுவனங்கள் தரும் பணத்திற்காக மரபணு மாற்றுப் பயிர் ரகங்களை பகிரங்கமாகவும், ரகசியமாகவும் ஆய்வு செய்து வருகின்றன. குறிப்பாக, இங்கு பி.டி. மக்காச்சோளம் மான்சாண்டோவிற்காக இலவசமாக பயிரிட்டுள்ளது உறுதியாகியுள்ளது. இது மக்களின் உணவு, சுகாதாரம், சுற்றுச்சூழல் போன்ற அடிப்படை உரிமைகளை அழிக்கும் ஒரு செயலாகும்.

மார்ச் 16 அன்று (திங்கள்) பேரணியில் கலந்து கொண்டு நமது உணவினை மரபணு மாற்ற ஆபத்திலிருந்து தடுக்க வாரீர்.

பேரணி மாலை 4 மணிக்கு காந்திபுரம் திருவள்ளுவர் பேருந்து நிலையத்திலிருந்து தொடக்கம்; 5 மணிக்கு செஞ்சிலுவை சங்கம் அருகில் ஆர்ப்பாட்டம்.

Participating in the massive protest are…
Dr. MARKANDAN, Former Vice Chancellor, Gandhi Gram University;
VELLAIYAN, President, Tamilnadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai;
Dr. M. R. SIVASAMY, President, Tamilnadu Farmers Association;
K. BALAKRISHNAN, State Secretary, Tamilnadu Farmers Association (C.P.I.(M));
E. K. SADAGOPAN, President, Tamilnadu Uzavar Periyakam;
C. BALASUBRAMANIAM, Swadeshi Vivesayigal Kuttamaipu;
T. S. PRABHU RAJA M.A., President, National Agricultural Awareness Movement;
Su. Si. KALAIARASAN, District Secretary, Vithudhalai Siruthaigal;
S. NALLASAMY, Coordinator,Tamilnadu Kal Iyakkam;
K. C. RATHNASAMY, President, Tamilnadu Farmers Association;
N. S. PALANISAMI, Ex. M.L.A.;
Vettavalam. K. MANIKANDAN, President, Tamilnadu Farmers Association;
Vazukupaarai BALU, District president, Tamilnadu Farmers Association;

இந்த பேரணி ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்தில்...

தமிழ்நாடு வணிகர் சங்கங்களின் பேரவைத் தலைவர் திரு. வெள்ளையன் ;
காந்திகிராம பல்கலைக்கழக முன்னாள் துணை வேந்தர் முனைவர். மார்கண்டன்;
தமிழக விவசாயிகள் சங்கத் தலைவர் டாக்டர் M.R.சிவசாமி ;
CPI (M) விவசாயத் சங்கத் தலைவர் திரு. K.பாலகிருஷ்ணன் ;
விடுதலை சிறுத்தைகள் மாவட்ட செயலாளர் திரு.சுசி. கலையரசன் ;
தேசிய விவசாய விழிப்புணர்வு இயக்கம் (NAAM) தலைவர் திரு . T. S.பிரபுராஜா;
தமிழக விவசாயத் சங்கத் தலைவர் வழுக்குப்பாறை திரு. பாலு ;
திரு. N.S. பழனிச்சாமி EX- M.L.A
தமிழக விவசாயத் சங்கத் தலைவர் திரு. K. C. ரத்தினசாமி ;
தமிழக உழவர் பேரியக்கத் தலைவர் திரு. இல. க. சடகோபன் ;
சுதேசி விழிப்புணர்வு இயக்கத் தலைவர் திரு. C. பாலசுப்பிரமணியம் ;
தமிழக விவசாயத் சங்கத் தலைவர் வேட்டவலம் திரு. K. மணிகண்டன் ;

ஆகியோர் உட்பட பலர் கலந்து கொள்ள உள்ளனர்.

FOR MORE INFO:

Jai Krishna – Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner, Greenpeace India, 098455 91992;
Chennai: Sundararajan – Poovulagin Nanbargal, 98402 46661;
Coimbatore: Gnanaguru – Affiliate, Safe food alliance, 98426 44151;

Street Play Marathon

2009-02-27T21:10:00.000-08:00

Street Play Marathon

On the 18th, 19th and 20th of February 2009, safe food alliance met around 6000 students and 1000 public in the city of Coimbatore.

Street play marathon titled “Thalaiyaati Bhommaigal” by the team named “Theatre for Rights” from Chennai performed to highlight the issue of GM and state of the farmer today.Colleges visited:
• P.S.G. Management College, Peelamedu
• G.R. Damodaran College, Nava India
• P.S.G.R. Krishnamal College, Hope College
• Hindustan College, Meenakshi Garden
• C.I.T. College, Sitra
• Nirmala College, Red Field
• P.S.G. Medical College, Peelamedu
• N.G.P. College, Nehru Nagar
• R.V.S. Engineering College, Sulur
also some of the neighbouring villages like Kaalapatti, Thondamuthur and V.O.C park.

The response has been overwhelming and we have got more than 4000 signatures on banners.

The core of the play has been “GM crops are in Tamil Nadu, and GM can be harmful to your health and farmers livelihood. It is in Coimbatore today and it could be in your plate tomorrow. The reason behind this is the MNC Monsanto and its subsidiary – the state owned “Tamil Nadu Agricultural University”.

Cover Story: Business World

2009-02-03T03:16:00.000-08:00

AGRICULTURE: The Future Of Food

Businessworld (issue 3-9 Feb 2009) covered the story on GM, India’s first genetically modified vegetable Bt Brinjal and other GM crops, promise food security and on consumer safety.

Check the following link or just click the picture above for the complete article.

http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/Economy/The-Future-Of-Food.html

http://www.businessworld.in/index.php/Editor-s-Note/Slapdash-Policy.html

MLA - STOP Bt Brinjal Today!

2009-01-28T00:09:00.000-08:00

பி.டி கத்திரியை தடுக்க உங்களால் முடிந்ததை
இன்றே செய்க ! நன்றே செய்க !

பெருமதிப்பிற்குரிய சட்டமன்ற உறுப்பினர் கவனத்திற்கு:

மரபணு மாற்று உணவு என்பது கிருமிகளான பாக்ட்டீரியா வைரஸ் மற்றும் பூச்சிகள் போன்றவற்றின் மரபணுகளை எடுத்து அரிசி, சோளம் போன்ற தானியங்களிலும் கத்திரி உருளை போன்ற காய்கறிகளிளும் திணிக்கப்பட்டு உருவானதாகும்.

மரபணு மாற்று பயிர்கள்-உடல் நலத்திற்கு தீங்கு விளைவிக்கும், மண் வளத்தினை அழிக்கும், சுற்றுச் சூழலை பாதிக்கும், விவசாயிகளின் வாழ்வுரிமையைப் பறிக்கும்.

மண்ணையும் மனிதனையும் மலடாக்கும் மரபணு மாற்றம்:

மரபணு மாற்ற உணவுகளை உட்கொண்ட சோதனை எலிகளுக்கு உள் உறுப்புகள் வளர்ச்சி பாதிப்பு, திசுக்கள் பாதிப்பு நோய் எதிர்புச் சக்தி குறைதல், ஒவ்வாமைப் பிரச்சிசினைகள், கல்லீரல் மற்றும் மண்ணீரல்களில் நச்சுத்தன்மை,- இவை எல்லாவற்றுக்கும் மேலாக சமீபத்திய ஆய்வுகளில் கருவுறுவதிலும் மகப்பேற்றிலும் தீவிர பாதிப்பு இருப்பதாக கண்டறியப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கடந்த 6 வருடங்களாக மரபணு மாற்ற பி.டி பருத்தியினால் விவசாயிகளுக்கு எந்த இலாபத்தையும் தர முடியவில்லை என்பதற்கு ஆண்டுதோறும் பெருகி வரும் பருத்தி விவசாயுகளின் தற்கொலைகளே சாட்சி. அது மட்டுமில்லாமல், ஆயிரக்கணக்கில் ஆடு மாடுகள் ஆந்திரா, மத்தியப் பிரதேசம், ஹரியானா என்று பல்வேறு இடங்களில் இறந்து போனதற்கும் பி.டி பருத்தியே காரணம் என பல கால்நடை மருத்துவர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர்.

முதலில் கத்திரி அடுத்து...

இத்தகைய ஆபத்தான மரபணு மாற்றுத் தொழில்நுட்பத்தை பயன்படுத்தி அரிசி, கோதுமை, சோளம், கேழ்வரகு, கம்பு, உளுந்து, துவரம்பருப்பு, கத்தரிக்காய், வெண்டைக்காய், தக்காளி, காலிபிளவர், முட்டைக்கோஸ், பப்பாளி போனறு 41க்கும் மேலான உணவுப்பொருட்களில் 170க்கும் மேலான மரபணு மாற்ற ரகங்கள் கொண்டு வரப்பட இருக்கின்றன.

தமிழர்களுக்கு விருப்பமான கத்தரிக்காயில் மரபணு மாற்றம் விரைவில் விற்பனைக்கு அனுமதிக்கப்பட உள்ளது. மான்சான்டோ நிறுவனத்தின் இந்திய கூட்டாளியான மஹிகோ, சந்தையில் அறிமுகம் செய்யப்படவிருக்கும் Bt கத்தரிக்காய் மனிதர்களுக்கு மிகவும் ஏற்றது என்று கூறி வருகிறது. ஆனால் உலகெங்கிலும் உள்ள பல்வேறு தனிப்பட்ட வல்லுனர்கள் இந்த ஆய்வு முடிவுகள் அனைத்தும் தவறானவை என்று நிரூபித்துள்ளனர். ஆயினும் மத்திய அரசு இதை விற்பனைக்கும் அனுமதிப்பதில் முனைப்போடு உள்ளது.

தமிழக வேளாண் பல்கலையா இல்லை மான்சாண்டோ கைக்கூலியா?

இத்தகைய ஆபத்தான பயிர்களை உருவாக்குவதிலும் அங்கீகரிப்பதிலும் தமிழக மக்களின் வரிப்பணத்தில் இயங்கும் தமிழ்நாடு வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழகம் முக்கிய பங்கு வகிக்கிறது. குறிப்பாக மான்சான்டோ என்ற பன்னாட்டு பகாசுர நிறுவனத்தின் கைக்கூலி நிறுவனமாகவே தமிழ்நாடு வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழகம் மாறிவிட்டது.

தமிழர்களின் பாரம்பரிய அறிவுச்சொத்தான பல இயற்கை தானியங்களை வளர்த்தெடுக்காமல், அவற்றை அழித்தொழிக்கும் நோக்கதோடு தமிழ்நாடு வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழகம் செயல்பட்டு வருகிறது.

தற்போது தமிழக வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழகம், விவசாயிகளுக்கு அவசியமான ஆய்வுகளை விடுத்து மான்சாண்டோவிற்கு இலவசமாக மரபணு மாற்ற விதைகளை பயிரிட்டு ஆய்வு செய்து வருகிறது. இது இன்று மட்டுமன்றி முன்னர் கத்திரிக்காய்க்கும் நடை பெற்றது. இது தொடர்ந்தால் பல்கலைகயும், மக்களின் வரிப்பணமும் வெளிநாட்டு கம்பெனிகளுக்கு தாரை வார்க்கப்பட்டு ஒப்ப்ந்தப் ஆய்வுகமாகும் சூழ்நிலையில் உள்ளோம். இது உடனடியாக தடுக்கப்படவேண்டும்.

தமிழகம் மரபணு மாற்றத்தை தடை செய்ய வேண்டும்

தமிழகம், கேரள மாநிலம் போன்று வேளாண்மையில் தங்கள் உரிமையை நிலைநாட்டி மரபணு மாற்ற உணவுகளை தடை செய்ய வேண்டும். இயற்கை வேளாண்மை எல்லோர்க்கும் தேவையான உணவைக் கொடுப்பதுடன் மண்ணின் வளத்தையும் உழவனின் வாழ்வையும் காக்கும் தன்மை கொண்டது என்பதை உணர்ந்து தமிழக வேளாண் கொள்கையினை இயற்கை வேளாண் கொள்கையாக மாற்ற வேண்டும்.

பாதுகாப்பான உணவுக்கான கூட்டமைப்பின் அங்கத்தினர்களாகிய மருத்துவர்கள், வழக்குரைஞர்கள், வர்த்தகர்கள், மனித உரிமை ஆர்வலர்கள், விவசாயிகள், நுகர்வோர்கள், கல்வியாளர்கள், கலைஞர்கள், தொழில்நுட்பவியலாளர்கள், மாணவர்கள் ஆகிய அனைவரும் தாங்கள் கீழ்க்கண்ட வேண்டுகோள்களை ஏற்று அரசினை செயல்படுமாறு வலியுறுத்த வேண்டும் என்று பணிவுடன் வேண்டிக் கொள்கிறோம்:

மரபணு மாற்று பயிர்களும், அவற்றின் கள ஆய்வுகளும் உடனடியாக தடைசெய்யப்பட/நிறுத்தப்பட வேண்டும்.
மரபணு மாற்று பயிர்கள் மீது நீண்டகால பாதுகாப்பு ஆய்வுகள் நடத்திய பின்னரே கள ஆய்வுக்கு அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும்.
அரசின் வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழகங்கள், தனியாருடன் இணைந்து மரபணு மாற்று சோதனை செய்வதை கைவிட வேண்டும்.
மருத்துவ மூலிகைகள், அரிசி, கோதுமை போன்ற முக்கிய பொருட்களின் மீதான மரபணு மாற்று ஆய்வுகளை தடை செய்ய வேண்டும்.

பாதுகாப்பான உணவுக்கான கூட்டமைப்பு: தமிழ்நாடு வணிகர் சங்கங்களின் பேரவை, தமிழக விவசாயிகள் சங்கம் (இ.உ.உ.கட்சி), தமிழ்நாடு பெண்கள் இணைப்புக் குழு, பூவுலகின் நண்பர்கள், தோழமை, கீரீன்பீஸ், தமிழ்நாடு தன்னார்வ நலக் குழுமம், , தமிழக விவசாயிகள் சங்கம்., தமிழ்நாடு விவசயிகள் சங்கம். ஈரோடு மாவட்ட இயற்கை விவசாயிகள் கூட்டமைப்பு, இந்திய இயற்கை விவசாயிகள் இயக்கம்., சர்வோதைய இயக்கம்.

Protest Update

2009-01-23T01:21:00.000-08:00

Media update of the protest on Jan 22^nd 2009 at memorial hall.

The release of the book Genetic Roulette by Jeffrey.M.Smith happened at Hotel Kanchi, Egmore from 10 am to 1pm and was quite a success with farmers and women groups forming majority of the gathered, he touched upon his experiences with farmers who cultivated GM crops. He said what makes a GM crop very dangerous is that it is almost impossible to predict what will happen every time we shoot a gene into a plant/crop, as it is not yet a perfect science. The metabolism that results is totally out of our control and releasing it into nature is a the biggest crime man can do… he also spoke of the GM campaign in US that is gaining strength and will tip the scale any day. He spoke of how the anti-gm groups in US got shopping guides with Non-GM food printed and gave it to consumers. (Maybe something we could do too!!) According to a study conducted 9/10 Americans want GM labeling on their food, but the American companies were being pro-gm for just % major companies against 90% of Americans. But recently Obama has promised GM labeling (Here, the entire audience applauded with wide grins ????!!!)

For the Indian anti-GM movement, Jeffrey Smith thinks we should move our strategy in Political, Medical and Educational (Farmers, Consumers) mode. He also attended the initial few minutes of the Protest and filmed some parts for his documentary.

Protest at Memorial Hall on 22^nd January between 4 and 6pm with Almost 200 farmers and activists turned up, though at different points of time and thus the entire strength didn't really show. We used the whistles, blowing in time with some firebrand slogans.

Ms.Sheelu from the Tamilnadu Women’s Collective and SAGE, Mr.Vellaiyan from Tamil Nadu Vanighar Sangangalin Peravai, Mr.Nammalvar, Indian organic farmers movement, Dr.Markandan, ex- vice chancellor, Gandhigram Rural University, Mr. Oswald Quintal from Kudumbam, and Jeffrey Smith were there straight from the book release event. Also present were Mr.Kannaiyan of Tamil Nadu farmers association, Mr.Selvam Erode district organic farmers collective, Mr.Vettavalam Manikandan of Tamil Nadu farmers association (Indian farmers and toilers party), Mr.Munusamy of Tamil Nadu Farmers association ( CPI (M)), Mr.Backer of Indian Thouheed Jama'at, Sundararajan from Poovulagin Nanbargal and Greenpeace.

தினமணி

Deccan Chronicle

The Indian Express

தினகரன்

செய்தி: ஆர்ப்பாட்டம்

2009-01-22T22:30:00.000-08:00

சென்னை, 22 ஜனவரி:

இந்தியாவில் பசுமைப்புரட்சி என்ற பெயரில் ரசாயன உரங்களையும், பூச்சிமருந்துகளையும் அறிமுகம் செய்த “வேளாண் அறிவியல் விஞ்ஞானி”களே ரசாயன உரங்களும், பூச்சி மருந்துகளும் விவசாயிகளின் வாழ்வைப்பறித்து, அவற்றை தயாரித்த நிறுவனங்களை வாழவைப்பதாக ஒப்புக் கொள்கின்றனர்.

இந்நிலையில் அதே வேளாண் அறிவியல் விஞ்ஞானிகள், மரபணு மாற்ற உணவுப்பொருட்களை இந்தியாவில் திணிப்பதில் தீவிரமாக ஈடுபட்டுள்ளனர்.

பயிர்களை அதிகமாக தாக்கக்கூடிய பூச்சிகளை கொல்லும் விஷப்பொருட்களை அந்த தாவரங்களின் மரபணுவில் பொருத்துவதையே மரபணு மாற்றம் என்று அழைக்கின்றனர். இதன் மூலம் பூச்சிக்கொல்லி மருந்துகளை தனியே பயன்படுத்த தேவையில்லை என்றும், ஏனெனில் அந்தப்பயிர் முழுவதுமே விஷத்தன்மை கொண்டதாக இருக்கும் என்றும் கூறுகின்றனர். ஆனால் அந்த விஷப்பொருட்கள், அந்த தானியங்களை உட்கொள்ளும் மனிதர்களுக்கு ஏராளமான ஆபத்துகளை ஏற்படுத்தும் வாய்ப்புள்ளதை இந்த விஞ்ஞானிகள் சாமர்த்தியமாக மறைத்துள்ளனர்.

இத்தகைய ஆபத்தான மரபணு மாற்றுத் தொழில்நுட்பத்தை பயன்படுத்தி அரிசி, கோதுமை, சோளம், கேழ்வரகு, கம்பு, உளுந்து, துவரம்பருப்பு, கத்தரிக்காய், வெண்டைக்காய், தக்காளி, காலிபிளவர், முட்டைக்கோஸ், பப்பாளி போன்ற 41க்கும் மேலான உணவுப்பொருட்களில் மாற்றங்கள் கொண்டுவரப்படுகின்றன.

இத்தகைய ஆபத்தான பயிர்களை உருவாக்குவதில் மக்களின் வரிப்பணத்தில் இயங்கும் தமிழ்நாடு வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழகம் முக்கிய பங்கு வகிக்கிறது. குறிப்பாக மான்சான்டோ என்ற பன்னாட்டு பகாசுர நிறுவனத்தின் கைக்கூலி நிறுவனமாகவே தமிழ்நாடு வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழகம் மாறிவிட்டது.

இவ்வாறு மரபணு மாற்றப்பட்ட உணவுப்பொருட்களை உட்கொள்பவர்களுக்கு அரிப்பு முதல் ஆண்மைக்குறைவுவரை பிரச்சனைகள் ஏற்படும் என்று உலகின் பல்வேறு பகுதிகளிலும் நடந்த ஆய்வுகள் கூறுகின்றன. ஆனால் மனிதர்களின் பாதுகாப்பு குறித்த எந்த ஆய்வையும் மேற்கொள்ளவில்லை என்று வெளிப்படையாகக் கூறும் தமிழ்நாடு வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழகம், மனிதர்களுக்கு கேடுவிளைவிக்கும் மரபணு மாற்று பயிர்களை உருவாக்கும் ஆய்வை அயராது மேற்கொண்டு வருகிறது.

குறிப்பாக தற்போது மான்சான்டோவின் முதல் உணவுப்பயிரான மக்காச்சோளத்தை தமிழ்நாடு வேளாண் பல்கலைக்கழகம், அதன் நிலத்தில் பாதுகாப்பு விதிமுறைகளுக்கு எதிரான வகையில் களப்பரிசோதனை செய்துவருகிறது.

தமிழர்களுக்கு விருப்பமான கத்தரிக்காயில் மரபணு மாற்றம் விரைவில் அறிமுகம் செய்யப்பட உள்ளது. மான் சான்டோ நிறுவனத்தின் இந்திய கூட்டாளியான மஹிகோ, சந்தையில் அறிமுகம் செய்யப்படவிருக்கும் Bt கத்தரிக்காய் மனிதர்களுக்கு மிகவும் ஏற்றது என்று கூறி வருகிறது. ஆனால் பிரான்ஸ் நாட்டின் மரபணு மாற்று அறநெறிக்குழுவில் பல ஆண்டுகள் பணியாற்றிய மூத்த விஞ்ஞானியான செரெலினி என்பவர் மஹிகோ நிறுவனம் நடத்திய ஆய்வு முடிவுகள் அனைத்தும் தவறானவை என்று நிரூபித்துள்ளார்.

நாகாலாந்து, மிசோரம், உத்தரகாண்ட் போன்ற மாநிலங்களிலும், நமக்கு அண்டை மாநிலமான கேரளாவிலும் மரபணு மாற்று பயிர்களுக்கும், உணவுப்பொருட்களுக்கும் மற்றும் ஆய்வுகளுக்கும் தடை விதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஆனால் தமிழ்நாட்டில் அரசு சார்பு நிறுவனமான தமிழ்நாடு வேளாண்மை பல்கலைக்கழகமே மரபணு மாற்று ஆய்வுகளை முதன்மைப்பணியாக மேற்கொண்டு செயல்படுகிறது. இந்த மக்கள் விரோத நடவடிக்கை உடனடியாக நிறுத்தப்படவேண்டும் என்று பாதுகாப்பான உணவுக்கான கூட்டமைப்பு சார்பில் வலியுறுத்தி ஆர்பாட்டம் நடைபெற்றது.

Invite: VOICE OUT protest

2009-01-20T03:01:00.000-08:00

Join us to ‘VOICE OUT’ for safe and secure food

P R O T E S T

Time: 04.00pm,

Day: Thursday, 22nd January 2009

Venue: Memorial hall,

(near central railway station & G.H. hospital)

to declare

we will not allow any genetically engineered crops

in India.

Come, participate to protect the rights of farmers, traders and consumers.

THE SAFE FOOD ALLIANCE

Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai, Tamil Nadu womens Collective, Poovulagin Nanbargal, Thozhamai, Greenpeace, Tamil Nadu Voluntary Health Association.

The SAFE FOOD ALLIANCE is a network of organisations and individuals who want to stop GM food from being approved as safe , from consumers and farmers losing a choice, from the nation losing its food security forever and for protecting the health and safety of citizens.

book launch by Jeffery M.Smith

2009-01-18T01:50:00.000-08:00

Join us to ensure a future of safe and secure food

Genetically modified food is engineered by taking genes from bacteria, viruses and insects and forcibly inserting them into foods like rice, Brinjal potato, corn etc…

Genetically modified crops cause negative impacts on health starting from allergies to reproductive disorders, affects soil fertility, destroys biodiversity irreversibly by contamination, and ends the choice of farmers and consumers to choose safe food.

January 22^nd 2009

Time: 10.30 am

Venue: Hotel Kanchi,

Ethiraj Salai, Egmore, Chennai.

with

Jeffrey M.Smith

at the occasion of the release of the Indian edition of his book ‘Genetic Roulette’

(Courtesy: South Against Genetic Engineering / Tamil Nadu women’s collective)

SAFE FOOD ALLIANCE

Scientific Fraud: Coalition demands immediate stopping of all public sector transgenic research & action against fraudulent scientists

ASHA opposes FDI in Retail

Report on 10 years of Bt Cotton usage in Tamilnadu released

Leaders concur that BRAI has to go at the BRAI round table organized by SFA: 11/11/11. Chennai

Round Table on BRAI, 11th Nov 2011 - Chennai

Release of "I am No Lab Rat"

Images from the 'Quit India Monsanto' protest in Chennai

9th August Quit India Movement: Quit India Monsanto Campaign

The Hindu : Today's Paper / NATIONAL : Cereal-based diet for tacklinghunger a “flawed prescription”

Lecture: 'Career of Hunger - the role of Caste and Class in influencing Nutrition Policy, Policy makers and Science in India', 14th June Tuesday, 5 p.m.

SFA-Tamilnadu Press Release, 27/04/2011

SFA organizes Organic Food Mela in Chennai - 19th March 2011

SFA media briefing - press clips

World Consumer Day - Press briefing & release- 15th March 2011

The Hindu : News / National : Banned pesticides being used in India, admits Pawar

Press Meet on the World Consumer Day, Chennai

Reject Bt Brinjal Dossier, Halt GM Trials, Enact Bio-Safety Laws in for TN State

Meeting on 9th Jan 2011, KSY follow-up in Tamilnadu

Kisan Swaraj Yatra in Chennai

Members of Safe Food Alliance thank the Chief Minister in person

Pledege and Street Theatre near Gandhi Statue

Photos from the Hunger Fast and Awareness Walk

Soroptimist Interational of Chennai resolution against Bt Brinjal

SFA meeting with the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu

Meeting of SFA members with the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu

25th January 2010, 9.30 a.m. - 10.20 a.m.

This morning news in Dinamani on Grama Sabhai

Street Play against Bt Brinjal

தமிழக கத்திரிக்காய் வகைகள்

'Pass Resolutions on Bt Brinjal in your Grama Sabhai meetings on 26th Jan'

Editorial in Popular Tamil Daily against Bt Brinjal

Sudden postponement of the consultations in Hyderabad and Bangaluru, who benefits?

Statement on Bt Brinjal in the MDMK website

Vehicle Stickers aginst Bt Brinjal

Eminent Ayurvedic Vaidya against GM Food

தலைகுனியுமா தமிழகம்?

Anne of Rotary Club of Madras West resolution on Bt Brinjal

SFA Campaign Movie launch on 19th Jan 2010 in the Media

News on the release of Campaign Short Film on Bt Brinjal by SFA

NEW SFA MOVIE ON BT BRINJAL - to released on 19th Jan 2010

Diverse traditional varieties of Brinjal in the Chennai Sangamam stall

Article in Junior Vikadan on Bt Brinjal

Join the 'Save our Food!' Campaign

Congratulations on your Victory: TN Agriculture Council bill withdrawn

Companies should follow MTR's lead

TNSAC bill on Hold-Let us rejoice victory with a thanks to the CM

Greenpeace raises GM alert on top Indian foods

Notes to the editor:

Traders 26th annual conference, Vellore

Conference resolutions

'Monsanto Quit India’, 65 activists arrested

Conference of all Farmers’ Associations

Protest: Media Clips

Kovai: Rally Protest

RALLY & PROTEST

Street Play Marathon

Cover Story: Business World

MLA - STOP Bt Brinjal Today!

Protest Update

செய்தி: ஆர்ப்பாட்டம்

Invite: VOICE OUT protest

book launch by Jeffery M.Smith

25^th January 2010, 9.30 a.m. - 10.20 a.m.