Press Releases

Dt: 03.12.09

Bhubaneswar: The Bhopal Gas tragedy is one of the biggest and the most dreadful industrial disasters. Shortly before midnight on 2nd December 1984 thousands of tonnes of deadly chemicals leaked from Union Carbide’s pesticide plant in Bhopal , Madhya Pradesh. The disaster killed between 8,000 and 10,000 people within the first three days, according to the data by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), a further 15,000 over the next 25 years and hundreds of thousands more still suffer from the effects of exposure to the fumes and contamination of land and water and still continue to seek medical care, compensation and justice even after 25 long years. Criminal negligence by the Union Carbide, the US multinational led to this disaster. The criminal Union Carbide and the callous government have colluded to deny the survivors the basic justice.

Dt: 07.10.09

Endosulfan, a deadly pesticide encouraged by India

Bhubaneswar, October 07: Endosulfan is a pesticide belonging to the organochlorine group of pesticides, under the Cyclodiene subgroup. It has been introduced in the 1950’s and in India has become a leading chemical used against pests in agriculture. It is used as an insecticide and also to kill fishes in lakes and rivers. It is not recommended for household use as it is known as a potent poison that can cause harm upon contact, eating food contaminated by it, swallowing, and even inhaling the odour.

Dt: 13.05.09

This has reference to the report, "After Bt Brinjal row, it's rice variety in storm", that has appeared in today's edition of your news paper. Prima facie it appears that the genetically modified (GM) variety "Swarna Sub-1" has been developed using the marker assisted selection process (MAS). This process is a biotechnologically superior version of traditional breeding. This process has not been discussed properly in the public domain. The "experts" say it is safe as this usually involves gene transfer within the same species and does not use any marker of external origin. The knowledge whether this can lead to any problems to health or the environment is also limited to the "experts".

Dt: 26.03.09

Bhubaneswar: Mahesh Bhatt adds a new dimension to the growing rage against GM food amongst consumers all over the world. In the film, “Poison on the Platter”, directed by Ajay Kanchan, Mahesh Bhatt puts across the message that consumers in India deserve better than mere verbal assurances by a handful of industry backed scientists and bureaucrats that GM food is safe. He himself prefers to be on the side of science.

DT: 17.03.09
 
Protest against impending regularization of Bt Cotton and move to conduct field trials of Bt Brinjal in Orissa.
 
Bhubaneswar: Enraged over blatant government apathy at the plight of cotton farmers who have suffered heavy losses after being goaded into illegal cultivation of Bt Cotton the United Coalition Against Genetic Engineering (UNCAGE), Orissa launched a massive rally in Bhubaneswar today. They protested the manner in which an inept government machinery sat in the sidelines and watched as seed multinationals openly sold illegal Bt Cotton seeds to the farmers in the State. A huge number of participants from all walks of society including 200 farmers from different parts of Orissa also protested against the decision to conduct field trials of Bt Brinjal, a genetically modified food crop, in Orissa.

05.03.2009

There is the possibility Bt Cotton will be regularised without full attention to risks involved and without considering the dismal performance in cotton growing districts.

27.01.2009 

Bhubaneswar: At a meeting Convened at the Conference Hall of IMAGE, Jeffrey M Smith, renowned author of three bestselling books on the health risks of genetically engineered food, cautioned the Orissa government against allowing the commercial production of genetically engineered crops particularly Bt Brinjal which is poised to be sanctioned very soon. Even field trials of genetically engineered crops can result in cross pollination and cause contamination by releasing the inserted gene into the environment and into other associated crops, he informed, appealing to the government to go in for confined tests instead. 

10.12.2008
 
Bhubaneswar: Speaking at a public meeting of farmers from all over Tamil Nadu at Kancheepuram yesterday, the Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss has expressed his opposition to GM crops and Bt Brinjal in particular. "PMK has always opposed GM seeds. As a Minister of PMK and as the Union Health Minister, I will continue to oppose it. As far as the recent controversy of Bt Brinjal is concerned, it is being brought into the country without proper research on its safety. We should oppose it collectively. The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare as a policy will ensure holistic research of Bt Brinjal, including (on) health impacts and farmers' issues. We will not permit it into India otherwise".