BT - SOME COMMENTS

Too dubious and in a dilemma. Is it a necessary evil???????

See the following pros and cons

Pros

• Use of pesticides and costs will go down
• better yield
• better earning for farmers
• solution for food security
• the scientific committee has given the approval
• World`s 69% production of soyabean is by GMO technique and all the people are healthy.

cons

• Bad impact on human health
• genetical disorders
• seed monopoly - India's number one seeds company Mahyco in collaboration with American multinational Monsanto
• fatal for lungs and kidneys.
• Bt cotton has already been declared a farce with crop failures and mass suicides of farmers in India."
• it creates a imbalance in nature.
• Bt brinjal produces a protein in the vegetable cells that induce antibiotic resistance. This is recognised as a major health problem and is inappropriate for commercialised use.
• It contains 16-17 mg/kg Bt insecticide toxin.
• loss of indigenous varieties
• of brinjal

See this comment by an expert.

"GM crops are not just about science; they are about food safety, consumer choice, health, agro-ecology, farmer livelihoods, seed sovereignty, social justice, bio-diversity, biosafety and, above all, the threat of irreversible contamination of the biosphere. It is well known that the largest pesticide manufacturers in the world are also the largest seed companies (all of who are in the business of producing GM seeds). Once GM food crops are approved, these companies can peddle both pesticides and GM seeds. While our regulator has approved Bt brinjal and our media have applauded it, South Africa’s GM regulatory body has rejected attempts to bring GM potatoes to the market, citing “biosafety and socio economic and agronomic concerns.”

Addition to this, Dr. P. M.Bhargava (founder and former Director of Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad) say, we have other methods such as integrated pest management (IPM) that includes the use of biopesticides and sustainable agricultural
practices, such as the use of organic farming, that may be better alternatives to Bt brinjal

 A fact which is make us alert is that - the GM crop was successful in all tests conducted over a period of ten years, but ultimately was not commercialized as it failed the immunogenicity tests in mice.

Lastly, We have proclaimed the utility of plastic, pesticides and fertilizers because of its convenience and productivity. Now we are lamenting over it, that is why Government still continuing the moratorium. Even though it can increase production, its long lasting effects towards the environment and human health still bulges as an unanswered question! 

---

From: Sudeep Chandramana
To: Paul Mathew
Cc: faculty
Sent: Tue, 22 February, 2011 7:22:57 PM
Subject: Re: Are we really green ???
Yes! About BT Brinjal, I feel it should never be allowed in our market without thorough verification about its impact on health and environment. Adequate safeguards are required to be put in place before taking a decision on introducing Bt Brinjal for commercial purpose in the country.

I do believe in the fact that it's our birthright to have a poison-free land, food and water. Our country is a country of farmers, and if the farmer is happy, the country is happy. It is Indian villages which stand for and personify human values. This is what our country has to offer to the world. And organic farming can also bring prosperity to those who are at the bottom of the pyramid, thereby bringing prosperity to our country as a whole.

Let's promote organic farming, which is a long-term, sustainable solution for the poor condition of farmers in particular; and economic, social and environmental betterment for us in general.

regards

Sudeep

On Mon, Feb 21, 2011 at 11:59 PM, Paul Mathew <paulmacfast@yahoo.com> wrote:

Thanks for the information. Very much appreciated. Now because of the overdose of such pesticides our soil became infertile and contaminated. Even earth worms are not seen anywhere. What a paradox?

Let me explain - this Monsanto`s herbicide Roundup has resulted in nausea, skin and eye inflammation, bronchial constriction and nervous system disorders in farmers. But Monsanto has made Roundup, its most successful herbicide. Even some of their products like Alachlor are carcinogens.Monsanto consistently ranks as one of the largest corporate generators of toxic emissions into the environment that continue to endanger the health of marine mammals, birds, humans and even entire eco-systems.
Additionally we all know their most debated product 'Terminator` gene technology. Agent Orange is another cancer-causing herbicide from Monsanto. The most interesting comedy is that - Abroad at least, one legal condition that Monsanto imposes on purchasers of genetically modified seeds is that the crops should be treated only with Monsanto`s Roundup herbicide. Spraying them with Roundup does not harm them but it destroys the weeds around them.Unfortunately in the similar circumstances, many Scientists and activists have been astonishingly silent on these issue.

The recent edition of Front line has published a detailed report on the greed of Monsanto and its eye on India by promoting GM and BT. As a bio scientists I hope how are are very well aware about the pros and cons.

And I hope....... as we said in order to get out from the strives of food shortage and inflation, we need to trigger yet another green revolution and some one in the opinion that it should be organic. As an ordinary people we look forward to You like people for making environmental friendly products and herbicides. Any way we need to ensure our agriculture profitable and viable. And in the present circumstances these are unavoidable.(not proved any viable alternativee). Then what Vandana Shiva, Green Peace, Jayakumar etc. can suggest to tackle this food issue in the midst of strident wars against Bacillus turingus and GM crops. We all created these venomous things and cursing it later. We are astonished by knowing even the wombs are also contaminated by pesticides.

Really we are forced to become helpless while knowing the facts like this,,,, that created by multinational pesticide manufactures with lucrative intentions in the culmination of Rand D developments.

Trigger a green revolution.

Promote Organic Farming.

Go green.

While in the doubt of,  is this notion helps to make our agriculture profitable/practical? 

 

 

---

From: Hareesh R <hareesh@macfast.org>
To: paulmacfast@yahoo.com
Cc: faculty@macfast.org
Sent: Tue, 22 February, 2011 2:52:26 PM
Subject: Are we really green ???

Dear Paul,

After having read your informative postings regarding green and cleen practices around the word, I felt it is worthwile to point out  some ominous practices in our so called ‘green & cleen campus’ itself. You might have noticed that the herbs and the grass lawn in our campus is withering day by day eventhough they receive daily water sprays. This is not only because of  drought, but the use of a commercial weedicide (ROUNDUP) is also equally responsible for the distruction of the greenery. We are regularly spraying  ROUNDUP inorder to kill unwanted weeds in our grass lawn and garden. I would like to bring your kind attention to the following facts regarding the weedicide.

ROUNDUP is the brand name for a systemic, broad-spectrum herbicide produced by the U.S. company Monsanto, and contains the active ingredient glyphosate.Glyphosate-based herbicides all work on the same biochemical principle, i.e they inhibit a specific enzyme that plants need in order to grow. Without that enzyme, plants are unable to produce other proteins essential to growth, so they yellow and die over the course of several days or weeks. A majority of plants use this same enzyme, so almost all plants succumb to ROUNDUP. Another important ingredient of ROUNDUP is the surfactant POEA (polyethoxylated tallow amine), which is known for its toxicity in wildlife. It increases herbicide penetration in plant and animal cells. ROUNDUP commercial formulations were never submitted to test by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Its main active ingredient, glyphosate, received EPA Toxicity Class of III for oral and inhalation exposure. Inhalation is the main route of exposure, but spray mist may cause oral or nasal discomfort, an unpleasant taste in the mouth, tingling and throat irritation. Eye exposure may lead to mild conjunctivitis, and superficial corneal injury is possible. Dermal exposure to ready-to-use glyphosate formulations can cause irritation. Owing to the longevity and extent of use, ROUNDUP is among the most thoroughly studied herbicides with respect to environmental properties. It is one of the most toxic herbicides, and is the third most commonly reported cause of pesticide related illness among agricultural workers. Glyphosate is technically extremely difficult to measure in environmental/food samples, which means that data is often lacking on residue levels in food and the environment, and existent data may not be reliable. Monsanto’s advertising campaigns have convinced many people that ROUNDUP is safe, but scientific facts just don’t support this. Studies have shown that ROUNDUP is toxic to earthworms, beneficial insects, birds and mammals, and it destroys the vegetation on which they depend for food and shelter. Although Monsanto claims that the degradation of ROUNDUP by soil microbes results in harmless substances, it has been found to be extremely persistent with residue absorbed by subsequent crops over a year after application. ROUNDUP shows adverse effects in all standard categories of toxicological testing, including medium-term toxicity, long-term toxicity, genetic damage, effects on reproduction, and carcinogenicity.

NB: This mail has been sent to all faculty members so as to abort the use of the weedicide in their homes.

With Regards

Harish.R