Spread the word - Stop Genetically-modified crops and save your food!

Spread the word - Stop Genetically-modified crops and save your food!

Mr. Amrit Gowda is a farmer in a village in Bijapur, Karnataka. American seed giant Monsanto used this unsuspecting farmer's land to produce genetically modified corn seeds,^[1] which have still not been assessed for safety in our country.

A Greenpeace team along with a television news channel caught Monsanto violating all safety norms important to keep our food supply and environment safe from such experiments.^[2] Genetically contaminated seeds threaten our food safety and security. Studies have shown that these crops also pose a threat to the environment and the health of those who consume it.^[3]

In spite of all this the state government has allowed such field trials. This will contaminate other crops grown in the state and the health of those who consume them later. We need to tell Chief Minister Yeddyurappa to stop giving permissions for such field trials and uphold the health of the people and the environment in the state.

Ask the Chief Minister to stop all field trials in Karnataka.

The petition says: Mr. Chief Minister, do not allow field trials of genetically modified crops in Karnataka.

The petition signatures will be delivered to the CM. Strong public opposition to the introduction of the genetically contaminated Bt brinjal resulted in a moratorium on its release last year.^[4] We can do this again. A lot of people asking the CM of Karnataka to say no to field trials of genetically contaminated crops will put pressure on him to act.

Minister of environment, Jairam Ramesh has given state governments the right to allow or refuse permissions for field trials.^[5] States like Kerala, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh ^[6] have already said no to the field trials of genetically contaminated crops.

Our food and health are at stake again. The state government needs to put the interest of its people before those of the multinational corporations. Ask CM Yeddyurappa to keep our food safe now!

Thanks a billion!

Shivani Shah,
Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner,
Greenpeace India.

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1. Monsanto accused of violating bio-safety rules, The Hindu, July 4, 2011
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2159367.ece

2. Surreptitious GM crop trials see new calls for ban, Deccan Chronicle, July 4, 2011
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/surreptitious-gm-crop-trials-see-new-calls-ban-714

3. GM food, potential threat to fertility: New study. Will Dr. Ramadoss act now?, Greenpeace, November 14, 2008
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/en/news/gm-food-potential-threat-to-f/

4. India says no to Bt brinjal, for now, rediff.com, February 9, 2010
http://business.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/09/india-says-no-to-bt-brinjal-for-now.htm

5. No GM crop trials without states' consent: Jairam Ramesh, in.msn.com, March 9, 2011
http://news.in.msn.com/business/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5012255

6. Madhya Pradesh bans trial of Genetically Modified crops in state, post.jagran.com, April 29, 2011
http://post.jagran.com/madhya-pradesh-bans-trial-of-genetically-modified-crops-in-state-1304076805-1