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[2008-2010]
Collaborative Activity: Genetically Modified Food and Crops (GMO): APPL and
Center For Contemporary Studies & Research, Lucknow (CCSR)
Problem Scenario
Public
awareness in India about genetically modified seed and crops, in general,
is poor. There is no labeling in
stores on genetically engineered food materials. Consumers are, therefore,
totally in the dark on what they are eating and what their effects on
health are.
The Bt
Brinjal, like many other Genetically Modified (GMO) crops has been now
shown by independent analysis to impact health adversely. In other studies
too, when GM food was tested on rats, the results were alarming. Evidence
linked GM food with stunted growth, impaired immune systems,
potentially pre-cancerous cell
growth in the intestines, liver/pancreas/intestinal damage and even
inter-generational effects. Latest studies have confirmed that GM foods
affect fertility.
Ever
since GMO s were first introduced in the mid-1990s, farmers’ groups and
NGOs have warned that they would not only contaminate other crops, but have
adverse impact on Environment, Bio-diversity, country’s Food-sovereignty,
social and economic structure in farming community. As produce of GMO crops cannot be used as seed for
next crop, farmers shall always be at mercy of MNC seed companies for their
future needs. In the absence of a national facility, presently seed
companies either do the tests themselves or get them done in laboratories
in-equipped to know if a seed was normal or genetically modified?
When
GMO crops are planted they contaminate other crops with transgenic
material. In places where GM crops are grown on a large scale, it has
already become almost impossible to find crops of the same species that are
free of GMO material. And the contamination spreads even to areas where GMO
crops are not officially permitted. This has happened, just as predicted.
Contamination will reach a new level of toxicity, and occur not only within
organisms of the same species but also between species as different from
each other as plants and bacteria, or plants and fungi.
In Mexico, GMO based maize has now
Contaminated the indigenous
maize variety, which is sick and needs to be cured, but not killed. It may
take a year or 100 years to cure it, but it has to be done, because the
indigenous maize has been with their communities for generations. In
Argentina, in GMO based Soya farming the intense application year after
year of a single herbicide – gly-phosphate – has led to the emergence of
a new class of weeds that have become resistant to this chemical.
Apart from these, it has badly affected the overall fertility of the
soil.
The
Govt. Of India (GOI) is considering the proposal for commercial-scale
approval of Genetically Modified food-products in our country. Bt-Brinjal
is one of the identified items. Bt-Cotton has already been tried in the
country since last 7-8 years and feed back from the farmers and other
agencies from different states are
available. Many renowned scientists have shown their concerns about
the ill- effects of GMO s on human body, besides other bad effects on environment,
bio-diversity, food-sovereignty etc.
After
a tremendous pressure by Anti-GM lobby of civil society, now the GOI is
organizing some public debate on the issue, which will take place at
various centers of India in January 2010, before a final decision on the
issue is taken. In its series, recently the Center of Environment
Education, an autonomous body funded by the GOI, Ministry of Environment,
has organized such public debate in form of a public hearing in Kolkatta,
Chandigarh, Hyderabad. Some more
hearings are in the queue.
Reports
Meeting in 2008
APPL
organized a workshop, in collaboration with Center For Contemporary Studies
& Research, Lucknow, on Genetically Modified seeds and crops and its implications
on our agriculture and food situations and especially the over all impact
on the farming community in India, on April 13, 2008 at Gorakhpur.
Participants included apart from the concerned NGOs, Agricultural
scientists, Govt. officials, Electronic and Print media, leading persons
from farming community. Some information about the event is available
below.
1.
Photo
2.
Newspaper
coverage: 1, 2, 3, 4
Meeting in 2010
Regarding
this matter of GMO, APPL has always been very much concerned and taking
various initiatives. In the series, APPL, in collaboration with Center For
Contemporary Studies & Research, Lucknow have organized one day meeting on
"Genetically Modified (GMO) Crops/Foods & Health Impacts" on
January 16th, 2010 at Gorakhpur.
During the said meeting, it was decided to seek the expert-opinion/
guidance of all concerned intellectuals, especially practicing
medical-professionals / Doctors, both from allopathic and ayurveda streams
and to know their views on the human-health aspect of GMO s. Also a film on
GMO s produced by famous cine personality: Mr. Mahesh Bhatt namely ”Poison on the Platter’ was also
screened.
The
report, photographs and the press-footings
of the said meeting are given here.
Report on APPL and
CCS&R’s workshop/meeting on “Doctors Against Genetically Modified Food
& Crops(GMO)” (Gorakhpur Chapter )& Screering of Mahesh Bhatt’ s
Film “POISON ON THE PLATTER’’ held on January 16, 2010
Govt.
Of India is considering the proposal for commercial-scale approval of
Genetically Modified food-products in India. Bt- Brinjal is one of the
identified items. Bt-Cotton has already been commercially tried in the
Indian states of Punjab, Gujrat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh in last 8-9 years, with
disastrous results, both from long range production and human/animal health
view points. Many renowned scientists have shown their concerns about the
ill- effects of GMO s on human body, besides other bad effects on environment,
bio-diversity, food-sovereignty etc.
After
a tremendous pressure by Anti-GMO lobby of civil society, now the GOI is
organizing some public debate on the issue, which will take place at
various centers of India in this month of January 2010. In its series,
recently the Center of Environment Education, an autonomous body funded by
the GOI, Ministry of Environment, has organized such public debate in form
of a public hearing starting from
in Kolkatta, some more are in the queue at different parts of the country.
Regarding
this matter APPL (Action For Peace, Prosperity & Liberty), a privately
funded, not-for-profit trust, engaged in the service and to empower the
unprivileged section of our society, has always been very much concerned
and taking various initiatives. APPL has always been in favor research and
development by means of transparent testing and fair field trials of GMO
s. In the series, APPL, in
collaboration with CCS&R (Center for Contemporary Studies &
Research, Lucknow) have organized an one-day workshop/meeting on
"Genetically Modified (GMO) Crops/Foods & Health Impacts" on
January 16th, 2010 at Aryavart MRI
Center, Gorakhpur. During the said meeting, it was decided to seek the expert-opinion/guidance
of all concerned intellectuals, especially practicing
medical-professionals/doctors (both from Allopathic and Ayurvedic branches) and to know
their views on the effect of GMO on health aspects and treatment of human
beings. Also to create, through them, awareness among the various section
of the society. Also a film on GMO’
s produced by famous cine personality: Mr. Mahesh Bhatt, with the name
“POISON ON THE PLATTER’’ was also be screened. This meeting was attended by 35 Doctors and 10 para-medical staff. The meeting was
chaired by Dr. Thakur Bharat Lal Srivastava, M.D and Facilitated by Dr.
Sanjay Kumar Srivastava, Trustee, APPL Trust. The subject-title of the
meeting was GM FOOD and our Health.
After
welcoming the delegates, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Srivastava introduced the subject
to the delegates and opened the dialogue by the introduction of the
participants.
Mr.
Utkarsh Kumar Sinha of CCS&R, while explaining about the objective of the meeting
(& screening of the said Film), gave the facts about GMOs in respect of
Health of Human being & Domestic Animals, Bio-diversity. Mr. Sinha
expressed his view about the rights of Farmer. He emphasizes that the
Doctors are backbone of the society’s health, so their
experience/recommendations are very important about the well being of the
society.
Dr.Th.
Bharat Srivastava emphasized that genetic engineering (GE),as such is a
very good scientific tool/achievement. However, its wrong application for
the greed of a few individuals/multi-national cos. Can be so disastrous
that ultimately may finish our life. He also emphasized
that it was doctors secret-duty to educate the people about this disastrous
out-come of the GE.
Dr.
Alok Sinha of Sahara Welfare Foundation cautioned and strongly condemned
the Intra- species-effects of GMOs . He was of the opinion that, while
studying the ill-effect of GM s on
human-health, the current set of tests were in-adequate and said that the
scope of type and number of tests/experiments should be enlarged. Also the scientific
research should be re-examined by a neutral agency. 90 days time tenure
should be increased, as it is too in- adequate for to see chronic and
genetic disorder in the new springs.
Famous
pediatrician Dr. A.K. Pandey, frankly admitted about his ignorance for GMO
foods and its effects on the health of children. It is not presently
covered in general texts and course-syllabuses for medical bachelor’s/
master’s degrees in any Indian universities. He was agreed that most of the
medical-practitioners, in this part of the country do not know about GMO s.
He expressed his view in two way: first-- about our ancient culture that
food is only to live our lives but at the same time it was on very
respectable ladder, on the level of Gods. Secondly, we should not tolerate
any type of play with our life i.e. ‘OUR FOOD’. He was of the view that playing with the genetic code of our food would
may precipitate in very bad manner
in long run .
Dr. A.
K. RAO, a veterinarian, from Distt.
Kushinagar was deadly against
large scale use of GMO s, especially for animals
view point, as very limited experiments had been done on animals. DR.R.B.
Chaurasiya was of the view, as the large scale studies are yet to be done
on various aspects of GMO s, let the country decide in due course of time
whether the GMO s are necessary or not, depending upon the outcome of these
studies?
Dr.
Harsh Kumar, Reader, D.D.U.University, Gorakhpur thanked to ‘Doctors
against GMOs’, CCS&R and A.P.P.L. and their respective teams for the
sincere efforts and organizing such a fruitful discussion on a sensitive
issue like of GMO s. He expressed his agreement to Dr.S.K. Srivastava and
Mr. Utkarsh ‘s views. He further reiterated the need on careful monitoring
on implementation of GE for Human & Animal consumption, in line with
today’s agenda. He also extended his full support to the alliance and asked
for the data from CCSR & APPL so
that they can also use it.
Mr.
A.K. Singh felt that this discussion has opened new ways. As per him it is
a new concern for practicing
doctors to educate and deliver the facts to the common people because that
would be the bridge between the society and scientists.
All
the members were agreed about the need for more meeting about GMO s. It was
agreed that DOCTOR s against GMO s should lead the alliance and will co-ordinate with others for further
action and proceedings. It was also agreed that the concerned members
should have at least one meeting
every three months to discuss and share their experiences. The collective
program would be formulated in the next meeting to be held soon.
In the last, while thanking to all the
speakers for their views. Mr. Utkarsh Sinha was of the opinion that this
workshop/meeting facilitated to reach to the point, from where it is easy
to proceed. He supported Dr.
Srivastava’s and Dr. Sinha’s views and emphasized about the need for a
collective effort. As per him the formation of consortium and awareness
about GmO s were the biggest achievement of today’s dialogue. He invited
all the representatives from heath institutions for sharing the efforts and
to fight against commercial applications of GOM s .
Dr.
S.K. Srivastava offered APPL’ s willingness for any help, any time and any
where. He emphasized that the proposal should be discussed and should be
finalized today as most of the Doctors and organizations concerned have
their representatives here. One more thing he added is that we should focus
on all the concerning issue related to GMO s .
At the
end of the meeting all participants signed the petition to Prime minister,
Govt. of India, to stop commercial scale approval to BT Brinjal.
[Report
by : Dr. Sanjay Srivastava]
Why APPL?
“Because
all journeys start with the first step. And not doing anything is approving
the status-quo.”™
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