This whole issue seems to have quietened down now that the govt has decided to not introduce Bt Brinjal. However, what exactly is the issue ? Are their health concerns, environmental concerns or other issues ? What about Canada ? Are we eating all GM veggies here ? Just wanted some opinion on this.

This has been a good move by the GOI.

The new brinjal plant seeds have been GM:genetically modified and they will definitely destroy the older brinjal plants already existing in India. They will not let the cross pollination and also over a period of time we will find that whenever our farmers need to plant brinjal they need to be dependant on MNC's like Monsanto for brinjal seeds. Already the Karnataka farmers had a famous battle for cotton against the US MNC Cargill.

The Indian vegetables have their own flavour and when they are tinkered with they tend to loose their natural flavor. This is like eating an Udupi dosa versus the McDosa(like in the movie Quick Gun Murugan).

As the joke goes when the Padre went to Africa he had the Bible. He met the African(who had the land) and suggested they pray with eyes closed. When they finished praying the land was with the Padre, while the African had the Bible.

This is the way East India Company conquered India.

Lucky there was a Mahatama/Sardar Patel/Netaji then to lead us.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


On a side note I'm posting a junk mail received from India(this is unedited/Scouts Honor) and hope you can get the message from this while I cannot figure out for God's sakes why Canadian $ for comparison nor the exchange rate vis-a-vis INR:

U CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THE INDIAN ECONOMY BY FOLLOWING FEW SIMPLE STEPS.

Please spare a couple of minutes here... for the sake of India ... our country.


I got this article from one of my friend, but it's true, I can see this from day to day life,

Small example,
Before 5 months 1 CAN $ = IND Rs 32
After 5 months. Now it is 1 CAN $ = IND Rs 37

Do you think Canadian Economy is booming? No, but Indian Economy is Going Down.

Our Economy is in u'r hands


INDIAN economy is in a crisis. Our country like many other ASIAN countries is undergoing a severe economic crunch. Many INDIAN industries are closing down. The INDIAN economy is in a crisis and if we do not take proper steps to control those, we will be in a critical situation.


More than 30000 crore rupees of foreign exchange are being siphoned out of our country on products such as cosmetics, snacks, tea, beverages... etc which are grown, produced and consumed here.


A cold drink that costs only 70 / 80 paisa to produce is sold for NINE rupees, and a major chunk of profits from these are sent abroad. This is a serious drain on INDIAN economy.


We have nothing against Multinational companies, but to protect our own interests we request everybody to use INDIAN products only for next two years. With the rise in petrol prices, if we do not do this, the rupee will devalue further and we will end up paying much more for the same products in the near future.


What you can do about it?

1. Buy only products manufactured by WHOLLY INDIAN COMPANIES.
2. ENROLL as many people as possible for this cause.


Each individual should become a leader for this awareness.

This is the only way to save our country from severe economic crisis. You don't need to give-up your lifestyle. You just need to choose an alternate product.

All categories of products are available from WHOLLY INDIAN COMPANIES.

LIST OF PRODUCTS

COLD DRINKS & water:


USE: - LEMON JUICE, FRESH FRUIT JUICES, CHILLED LASSI (SWEET OR SOUR), BUTTER MILK, COCONUT WATER, JALJEERA, ENERJEE, and MASALA MILK...

INSTEAD OF: -

COCA COLA, PEPSI, LIMCA, MIRINDA, SPRITE

BATHING SOAP:

USE - CINTHOL & OTHER GODREJ BRANDS, SANTOOR, WIPRO SHIKAKAI, MYSORE SANDAL, MARGO, NEEM, EVITA, MEDIMIX, GANGA, NIRMA BATH & CHANDRIKA

INSTEAD OF - LUX, LIFEBOY, REXONA, LIRIL, DOVE, PEARS, HAMAM, LESANCY, CAMAY, PALMOLIVE


TOOTH PASTE: -

USE - NEEM, BABOOL, PROMISE, VICO VAJRADANTI, PRUDENT, DABUR PRODUCTS, MISWAK

INSTEAD OF - COLGATE, CLOSE UP, PEPSODENT, CIBACA, FORHANS, MENTADENT.


TOOTH BRUSH: -

USE – PRUDENT, AJANTA, PROMISE

INSTEAD OF - COLGATE, CLOSE UP, PEPSODENT, FORHANS, ORAL-B

SHAVING CREAM:

USE - GODREJ, EMANI

INSTEAD OF - PALMOLIVE, OLD SPICE, GILLETE


BLADE:-

USE - SUPERMAX, TOPAZ, LAZER, ASHOKA

INSTEAD OF - SEVEN-O -CLOCK, 365, GILLETTE


TALCUM POWDER:

USE - SANTOOR, GOKUL, CINTHOL, WIPRO BABY POWDER, BOROPLUS

INSTEAD OF - PONDS, OLD SPICE, JOHNSON BABY POWDER, SHOWER TO SHOWER


MILK POWDER:

USE - INDIANA, AMUL, AMULYA

INSTEAD OF - ANIKSPRAY, MILKANA, EVERYDAY MILK, MILKMAID.


SHAMPOO:

USE - LAKME, NIRMA, VELVET

INSTEAD OF - HALO, ALL CLEAR, NYLE, SUNSILK, HEAD AND SHOULDERS, PANTENE

MOBILE CONNECTIONS :

USE - BSNL, AIRTEL

INSTEAD OF -VODAFONE,






Every INDIAN product you buy makes a big difference. It saves INDIA.. Let us take a firm decision today.


BUY INDIAN TO BE INDIAN we are not against of foreign products.

WE ARE NOT ANTI-MULTINATIONAL.

WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE OUR NATION. EVERY DAY IS A STRUGGLE FOR A REAL FREEDOM.

WE ACHIEVED OUR INDEPENDENCE AFTER LOSING MANY LIVES.

THEY DIED PAINFULLY TO ENSURE THAT WE LIVE PEACEFULLY. THE CURRENT TREND IS VERY THREATENING.


MULTINATIONALS CALL IT GLOBALISATION OF INDIAN ECONOMY. FOR INDIANS LIKE YOU AND ME IT IS RECOLONISATION OF INDIA ...

THE COLONIST'S LEFT INDIA THEN. BUT THIS TIME THEY WILL MAKE SURE THEY DON'T MAKE ANY MISTAKES.


WHO WOULD LIKE TO LET A\" GOOSE THAT LAYS GOLDEN EGGS\" SLIP AWAY.



PLEASE REMEMBER: POLITICAL FREEDOM IS USELESS WITHOUT ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE.


RUSSIA, S.KOREA, MEXICO ............THE LIST IS VERY LONG!!
LET US LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE AND FROM OUR HISTORY.

LET US DO THE DUTY OF EVERY TRUE INDIAN.


FINALLY: IT'S OBVIOUS THAT U CAN'T GIVE UP ALL OF THE ITEMS MENTIONED ABOVE,


SO GIVE UP ATLEAST ONE ITEM TO FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTRY.

We would be sending useless forwards to our friends daily.
Instead please forward this mail to all your friends to create awareness.

\"LITTLE DROPS MAKE A GREAT OCEAN.\"

JAI * HIND

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sunny Leone a true Canadian DESI now back in India !.

http://expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Uncommon+furore+over+common+brinjal&artid=tczA80qWQIk=&SectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=&MainSectionID=b7ziAYMenjw=&SEO=Bt+Brinjal,+moratorium,+farmers,+environmental+gro&SectionName=pWehHe7IsSU=


Uncommon furore over common brinjal


IANSFirst Published : 09 Feb 2010 08:24:13 PM ISTLast Updated : 09 Feb 2010 11:38:26 PM IST

NEW DELHI: India's decision Tuesday to place an indefinite moratorium on commercial cultivation of Bt Brinjal followed months of heated debate over the advantages and risks of growing the world's first genetically modified vegetable.


Bt Brinjal is a transgenic variety of the vegetable, created by inserting a gene (Cry 1Ac) from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringenisis (Bt) to brinjal. The insertion gives the plant resistance against pests like the brinjal fruit and shoot borer. On eating the bacterium Bt, the insect's digestive processes are disrupted, ultimately resulting in death.

Supporters of the technology say it will reduce pesticide use and thus bring down input costs for farmers, while improving yields.

Opponents are principally worried on two counts -- one, what happens if there is accidental cross-pollination between Bt and ordinary brinjal? Will the modified gene get into the other variety? What will the consequences be?

Two, what are the long-term effects of Bt Brinjal on human health, given that long-term trials have not been held? The product is too new for that.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh, who had to take the decision on the commercial release after the government Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) had passed it last October, held a series of consultations with scientists, farmers and civil groups before reaching Tuesday's decision.

He said the inadequacy of tests on long term health and environment impacts could not be ignored, and placed a moratorium pending further tests whose results would be available to all.

Ramesh said that in the past month, since he started public and private consultations on the issue, he had met around 8,000 people.

At the public meetings in Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad and Bangalore there was vociferous opposition. However small groups of farmers have said they are in favour of Bt Brinjal if it assures less dependence on pesticides.

The issue has also raised tempers in political circles. The agriculture and science and technology ministries had supported the commercial release of Bt Brinjal. Ramesh, on the other hand, wrote a sharp letter to Sharad Pawar after the agriculture minister said the government had no role left to play after the GEAC nod.

India is the world's largest brinjal producer. West Bengal produces more than any other state, and the Left Front government there was one of 12 that had declared it would not allow commercial release of Bt Brinjal.

There are as many as 2,500 natural varieties of brinjals cultivated in India. The National Gene Bank here has accessions for nearly 3,550. Many of these also have medicinal value. The opponents are also worried because Bt Brinjal will carry no label since there are no labelling laws in the country for vegetables.

Another question raised time and again is why the GEAC had kept its test reports under wraps. The chairman had said that seed developers Mahyco wanted the information kept confidential in the "research and development stages". This claim was severely critisised by global environmental group Greenpeace.

The moratorium declared by Ramesh is on the version of Bt Brinjal being developed by Mahyco. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, the University of Agriculture in Dharwad (Karnataka) and two laboratories of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research are also developing genetically modified versions of brinjal.

So far, the only genetically modified crop cultivated commercially in India is Bt Cotton. It has had mixed reviews, but there is such a large area under its cultivation that India is now the sixth largest country growing genetically modified crops.

There are only 14 countries that cultivate GM food crops, according to the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture, near Hyderabad.

After Bt Brinjal, there are many more genetically modified food crops awaiting GEAC approval -- 25 kinds of rice, 23 kinds of tomatoes, many types of groundnut, pigeon peas, potato, mustard, sugarcane, soy and okra.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sunny Leone a true Canadian DESI now back in India !.

http://expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Dear+Jairam+babu&artid=nnAclh0zX2g=&SectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&MainSectionID=XVSZ2Fy6Gzo=&SectionName=m3GntEw72ik=&SEO=Bt%20brinjal,Monsanto


Dear Jairam babu


K P Prabhakaran NairFirst Published : 09 Feb 2010 11:45:00 PM ISTLast Updated : 09 Feb 2010 12:14:51 AM IST

Dear minister,


I write this letter on a crucial issue that will affect the health of millions of Indians, and our agriculture at large, in the firm hope that as an intelligent politician who can feel the pulse of the nation, you will take a decision between now and February 20, when you will have to communicate the same to the prime minister.

It is about the controversial Bt brinjal. Brinjal is the favourite vegetable of India, as common as cornflakes for breakfast for Americans or fish and chips for the British. It is omnipresent on the Indian plate. You can find its mention even in our Vedas. India is the land of its origin.

I write this as an agricultural scientist who has opposed the introduction of Bt brinjal in India since September 2006 against a campaign by vested interests and some ‘leading scientists’ to promote this half-baked technology. I am involved in Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court since October 2006, pending final decision. The vested interests are planning to push it on unsuspecting millions.

Stakeholders such as farmers and society in general have expressed great concern on the safety of Bt brinjal, cleared by the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) for commercial cultivation in India on October 14 last year, under pressure from the ministry of agriculture. While there have been proponents and opponents, the consensus is that this is not a desirable thing.

This letter examines crucial aspects concerning the safety of Bt brinjal and its desirability in our country. Potato, tomato, brinjal, chilli, datura (Datura fastuosa, the pernicious weed), tobacco and deadly nightshade (belladonna) all belong to a plant family called Solanaceae. It contains a number of important agricultural plants, of which brinjal is one, as well as many psychoactive and toxic plants, like datura and tobacco. Solanaceae species are rich in complex chemicals called alkaloids and contain some of the most poisonous plants known to mankind. These alkaloids can be hallucinogens, stimulants or outright toxic. Belladonna, datura (a pernicious weed) and tobacco are all toxic.

It took thousands of years for farmers to domesticate wild plants such as those of the Solanaceae family to make them safe for domestic consumption. Much of this exercise involved breeding out the toxins. Scientists too have used careful, selective breeding to ‘clean up’ crop varieties which had good qualities but contained toxins.

Bt brinjal is a genetically engineered plant. It produces a toxin to protect itself against a particular pest, the fruit borer. For this, a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis has been transposed through recombinant gene technology to act as an intestinal poison when the borer sucks the juice of the fruit. The problem is clear. This is a process working to reverse several thousands years’ of efforts to detoxify the brinjal. So is there an inherent danger in this for human consumption?

Genetic engineering in plants has not yet been mastered to eliminate the possibility of ending up with dangerous new products when genes are muddled during the insertion of new, usually foreign genes from different species. Several cases are known of new proteins and toxins produced in genetically engineered plants. For example, when genetically modified peas were being developed by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) in Australia to protect peas from the pea weevil, newly-formed proteins in the GM peas repeatedly caused immunity problems and lung inflammation when fed to mice. The experiments had to be abandoned. In another case, when mice were fed the genetically engineered Flavr Savr tomato, seven out of 40 animals died within a fortnight. The others suffered stomach lesions.

Genetic engineering in plants of the Solanaceae family could be potentially hazardous to human health. Inserting an alien (non-specific) gene, which can lead to new gene constructs containing a battery of genes may trigger metabolic processes that have been lying dormant.

Disturbing the cell metabolism (by genetic engineering) of species that are naturally genetically hardwired to produce toxins is likely to alert dormant plant toxins in these species, which could prove deadly to the consumer. Bt brinjal thus is ridden with this potential hazard, and there is, as yet, no foolproof mechanism to test its safety.

The independent expert committee constituted in 2006 to specifically examine the field data provided by Mahyco (the Indian arm of Monsanto, the agribusiness giant of the US), had some of the best brains in the country, under the chairmanship of the writer. It found several instances where safety protocols were blatantly breached. Even the economic data were not subjected to rigorous statistical scrutiny, thus raising questions about the very thesis that Bt brinjal cultivation is an economic proposition.

In addition to safety issues, there are other questions that arise with the impending release of India’s first genetically engineered food crop. There is no foolproof system for labelling these foods. How can one, in the Indian situation, label a vegetable that will be sold from farmers’ fields, laden into trucks and taken to wholesale mandis?

For most consumers, especially rural consumers, labelling would be meaningless unless they are made aware of the nature of GM foods. Despite these gaps, the GEAC has approved Bt brinjal for commercial production. This is a violation of the consumer’s right to ‘informed choice’. Consumers’ rights are enshrined in the Consumer Protection Act and GEAC approval violates the provisions of this Act.

Another crucial question is about fixing liability. If organic brinjal is contaminated with Bt brinjal, what will be the process of recall? Who will be liable to producers of organic brinjal? In case adverse health impacts are reported from consuming Bt brinjal, who would be liable to pay compensation? How would liability be fixed and what would be the quantum of liability? In the absence of any kind of preparedness or safeguards, what would be the liability of the government for approving such food crops? And in the event of damage caused by Bt brinjal, will Monsanto or Mahyco be put in the dock? India is simply unprepared for all these contingencies. Yet the GEAC has been pressured by vested interests and it has succumbed to this pressure.

I conclude by requesting you to avoid succumbing to pressure from Sharad Pawar, who is invoking the GEAC decision as a shield to promote Bt brinjal, while the chairman of GEAC is on record saying he was pressured to take a favourable decision. I have absolute faith in your intelligence.

-----------------------------------------------------------------
Sunny Leone a true Canadian DESI now back in India !.

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Vandematram


Lucky there was a Mahatama/Sardar Patel/Netaji then to lead us.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


On a side note I'm posting a junk mail received from India(this is unedited/Scouts Honor) and hope you can get the message from this while I cannot figure out for God's sakes why Canadian $ for comparison nor the exchange rate vis-a-vis INR:

U CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE TO THE INDIAN ECONOMY BY FOLLOWING FEW SIMPLE STEPS.

Please spare a couple of minutes here... for the sake of India ... our country.


I got this article from one of my friend, but it's true, I can see this from day to day life,

Small example,
Before 5 months 1 CAN $ = IND Rs 32
After 5 months. Now it is 1 CAN $ = IND Rs 37

Do you think Canadian Economy is booming? No, but Indian Economy is Going Down.

Our Economy is in u'r hands


INDIAN economy is in a crisis. Our country like many other ASIAN countries is undergoing a severe economic crunch. Many INDIAN industries are closing down. The INDIAN economy is in a crisis and if we do not take proper steps to control those, we will be in a critical situation.


More than 30000 crore rupees of foreign exchange are being siphoned out of our country on products such as cosmetics, snacks, tea, beverages... etc which are grown, produced and consumed here.


A cold drink that costs only 70 / 80 paisa to produce is sold for NINE rupees, and a major chunk of profits from these are sent abroad. This is a serious drain on INDIAN economy.


We have nothing against Multinational companies, but to protect our own interests we request everybody to use INDIAN products only for next two years. With the rise in petrol prices, if we do not do this, the rupee will devalue further and we will end up paying much more for the same products in the near future.


What you can do about it?

1. Buy only products manufactured by WHOLLY INDIAN COMPANIES.
2. ENROLL as many people as possible for this cause.


Each individual should become a leader for this awareness.

This is the only way to save our country from severe economic crisis. You don't need to give-up your lifestyle. You just need to choose an alternate product.

All categories of products are available from WHOLLY INDIAN COMPANIES.

LIST OF PRODUCTS

COLD DRINKS & water:


USE: - LEMON JUICE, FRESH FRUIT JUICES, CHILLED LASSI (SWEET OR SOUR), BUTTER MILK, COCONUT WATER, JALJEERA, ENERJEE, and MASALA MILK...

INSTEAD OF: -

COCA COLA, PEPSI, LIMCA, MIRINDA, SPRITE

BATHING SOAP:

USE - CINTHOL & OTHER GODREJ BRANDS, SANTOOR, WIPRO SHIKAKAI, MYSORE SANDAL, MARGO, NEEM, EVITA, MEDIMIX, GANGA, NIRMA BATH & CHANDRIKA

INSTEAD OF - LUX, LIFEBOY, REXONA, LIRIL, DOVE, PEARS, HAMAM, LESANCY, CAMAY, PALMOLIVE


TOOTH PASTE: -

USE - NEEM, BABOOL, PROMISE, VICO VAJRADANTI, PRUDENT, DABUR PRODUCTS, MISWAK

INSTEAD OF - COLGATE, CLOSE UP, PEPSODENT, CIBACA, FORHANS, MENTADENT.


TOOTH BRUSH: -

USE – PRUDENT, AJANTA, PROMISE

INSTEAD OF - COLGATE, CLOSE UP, PEPSODENT, FORHANS, ORAL-B

SHAVING CREAM:

USE - GODREJ, EMANI

INSTEAD OF - PALMOLIVE, OLD SPICE, GILLETE


BLADE:-

USE - SUPERMAX, TOPAZ, LAZER, ASHOKA

INSTEAD OF - SEVEN-O -CLOCK, 365, GILLETTE


TALCUM POWDER:

USE - SANTOOR, GOKUL, CINTHOL, WIPRO BABY POWDER, BOROPLUS

INSTEAD OF - PONDS, OLD SPICE, JOHNSON BABY POWDER, SHOWER TO SHOWER


MILK POWDER:

USE - INDIANA, AMUL, AMULYA

INSTEAD OF - ANIKSPRAY, MILKANA, EVERYDAY MILK, MILKMAID.


SHAMPOO:

USE - LAKME, NIRMA, VELVET

INSTEAD OF - HALO, ALL CLEAR, NYLE, SUNSILK, HEAD AND SHOULDERS, PANTENE

MOBILE CONNECTIONS :

USE - BSNL, AIRTEL

INSTEAD OF -VODAFONE,






Every INDIAN product you buy makes a big difference. It saves INDIA.. Let us take a firm decision today.


BUY INDIAN TO BE INDIAN we are not against of foreign products.

WE ARE NOT ANTI-MULTINATIONAL.

WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE OUR NATION. EVERY DAY IS A STRUGGLE FOR A REAL FREEDOM.

WE ACHIEVED OUR INDEPENDENCE AFTER LOSING MANY LIVES.

THEY DIED PAINFULLY TO ENSURE THAT WE LIVE PEACEFULLY. THE CURRENT TREND IS VERY THREATENING.


MULTINATIONALS CALL IT GLOBALISATION OF INDIAN ECONOMY. FOR INDIANS LIKE YOU AND ME IT IS RECOLONISATION OF INDIA ...

THE COLONIST'S LEFT INDIA THEN. BUT THIS TIME THEY WILL MAKE SURE THEY DON'T MAKE ANY MISTAKES.


WHO WOULD LIKE TO LET A\" GOOSE THAT LAYS GOLDEN EGGS\" SLIP AWAY.



PLEASE REMEMBER: POLITICAL FREEDOM IS USELESS WITHOUT ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE.


RUSSIA, S.KOREA, MEXICO ............THE LIST IS VERY LONG!!
LET US LEARN FROM THEIR EXPERIENCE AND FROM OUR HISTORY.

LET US DO THE DUTY OF EVERY TRUE INDIAN.


FINALLY: IT'S OBVIOUS THAT U CAN'T GIVE UP ALL OF THE ITEMS MENTIONED ABOVE,


SO GIVE UP ATLEAST ONE ITEM TO FOR THE SAKE OF OUR COUNTRY.

We would be sending useless forwards to our friends daily.
Instead please forward this mail to all your friends to create awareness.

\"LITTLE DROPS MAKE A GREAT OCEAN.\"

JAI * HIND

---

This bogey of another takeover of India by multinational companies is absurd, baseless and fundamentally impractical. The steady growth in GDP, the improvement in the lives of (some) Indians is the result of globalization. The theory of "swadeshi" is honey to the ears, but is it really practical? Can we go back to Khadi, boycott anything we consider "foreign" including foreign currency?

That would not be a bad idea, after all, if you don't mind putting India back by a few decades. Then again, Indians are used everything "phoren" - that said how many would like this change? Something we should seriously consider!

There is a lot of politics, muscle power and money power in all movements, to reverse globalization in India. These powers that be behind movements such as "swadeshi jagran manch" have no problem using "phoren" products, while exhorting the country to become "swadeshi". So much for their principles!

Quote:

---

Originally posted by jonav

Quote:

---

Originally posted by Vandematram




Small example,
Before 5 months 1 CAN $ = IND Rs 32
After 5 months. Now it is 1 CAN $ = IND Rs 37

Do you think Canadian Economy is booming? No, but Indian Economy is Going Down.



I think Indians are way ahead and smart then to let any foreigner take over our country now.

Jona

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