NSFD Event Update - Bihar

Please check the pics below from the events organized in Bihar on National Safe Food Day:

Farmers Meeting at Minapur, Muzaffarpur

Students from schools formed a Human Chain at Nala Road, Patna

NSFD Event Update - Vadodara, Gujarat

 Vadodara, Gujarat

 A "Khao Safe, Jiyo Safe" Rally was organized in Vadodara by Jatan Trust from Dairy Den Circle to Narhari Hospital & Back To Dairy Den Circle on the occassion of National Safe Food Day.

The Mayor of Vadodara was gifted with a basket of organic vegetables and she gifted another basket to a young organic consumer of Vadodara. She appreciated the movement. About 300 people rallied for 2 hours in the heart of the city in the evening hours. The Local FM Radio Mirchi also aired interview of Shri Kapil Shah from Jatan Trust.

Please check the pics below:

NSFD Event Update - Mumbai

 Mumbai

On the 7th of February a public talk was organized by the Council for Fair Business Practices and supported by V-Can. Mr. Devinder Sharma, a distinguished food and trade policy analyst and an award-winning Indian journalist addressed the safety issues of GM crops while Ms. Dilnavaz Variava, former CEO WWF-India, vice-president BNHS, and member of apex Govt of India Committees on wildlife and environment, addressed their environmental impacts. Poison on the Platter (short version) was also screened.  The event was well attended with well over 100 people comprising of students, industrialists and even a few farmers. Although this event was not billed as an IFSF event the dates coincided with a number of events organinsed to celebrate ‘National Safe Food Day’. The event was covered in the Free Press Journal and about 50  CDs with Poison on the Platter, an abbreviated 20 page version of GMO Myths and Truths, an AV presentation and the Parliamentary Standing Committees press release was distributed free of cost to those who asked for it.

On the 8th of February three talks were organized under the IFSF banner addressed by Mr Devinder Sharma and Mrs Dilnavaz Variava.

At HR college the topic ‘Food Safety and Security: Are GM crops the answer’ was addressed by Mr Devinder Sharma. Over 100 students attended the seminar at HR college and two other colleges, Jaihind and K J Somaiya sent their representatives.

Mr Sharma spoke at a talk at Sophia College for 50 Mass Media students and at St. Xavier’s College organized by the Sociology Department. At both these talks the impact of GM crops on the environment, food security and consumers was discussed followed by an interactive session with the speakers.

At all the college events Poison on the Platter (short version) was screened along with a picture of Seralini’s rat study and Jatans leaflet was distributed to everyone

NATIONAL SAFE FOOD DAY 2013 - FEBRUARY 9

Let us all join hands to celebrate National Safe Food Day on 9th Feb to mark 3rd anniversary of moratorium put on Bt Brinjal. Let us gather in maximum numbers to celebrate the fact that in India, we have been able to keep away an unknown, and unproven-to-be-safe GMO called Bt Brinjal away from our plates. Let us make sure that we have safe food.

 Q) What is National Safe Food Day?

 On February 9, 2010, the Government of India placed a moratorium on the commercial release of Bt brinjal, a genetically modified (GM) food crop. This was done taking into account safety and other concerns around this GMO (Genetically Modified Organism). The moratorium decision followed a nationwide public consultation and debate, which found an overwhelming opposition to this GM food in India. To celebrate and mark the anniversary of the people’s victory on an issue of food safety, February 9th is being observed as NATIONAL SAFE FOOD DAY every year. On this day, we request Governments (Central & State) to continue to keep India free of GM food and exhort all Indians to remember that our food safety, food security and food sovereignty are in our hands!

 Q) What are Genetically-Modified (GM) crops?

 Genetically Modified (GM) crops are developed by artificially introducing a gene from one species into an unrelated species (For e.g. a bacterium gene called “Bacillus thuringiensis” (Bt) is introduced  into Brinjal resulting in Bt Brinjal). As of now there are only two GM traits that have been commercialized. These are produced by transfer of a pesticide producing or herbicide tolerating gene into cells of seeds so that the plant either generates toxins to kill the pest or can survive large doses of chemical (herbicide) sprays. This technology is unnatural, hazardous to our health and environmentally unpredictable and dangerous.

Q) What is the current status with the GM crop debate in India?

 After the moratorium on Bt brinjal, independent reports revealed more problems with Bt brinjal. Many state governments have said No to open air field trials of GM crops. A report from the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture( in August 2012), unequivocally stated that there is “no compelling need for adopting” such technologies and asked the  Government of India  to come up with a fresh road map to address food security – without jeopardizing biodiversity and human and animal health. A report from an expert committee of the Supreme Court has in Oct 2012 stated that there should be a moratorium on field trials of Bt and Ht crops and crops where India is the centre of origin.  Despite the moratorium and these reports and the concern of the state governments , the Union Government still believes that GM crops is the way ahead for the country, particularly the Ministry of Agriculture, which is assiduously promoting GM crops.

 Q) If GM crops are harmful for us, then why is our Govt. planning to allow them in India?

 Our Govt. is keen on promoting GM technology in agriculture influenced by the powerful multi-national seed and biotech companies who make exorbitant profits out of selling proprietary seeds to farmers. This would result in putting our biodiversity and our farmers’ livelihoods into jeopardy. Bt cotton, the only GM crop allowed in India a decade ago, has shown that choices for farmers as well as consumers are denied in this onslaught. Now the Govt., instead of strengthening our regulatory regime around biosafety, is proposing a Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) Bill in the Parliament, to create a single-window clearing-house for Genetically Modified (GM) crops in the country, without paying heed to the popular resistance against this.

 Q) Isn’t it enough that farmers can choose whether they want to grow GM crops or not and consumers can choose whether they want to eat GM food or not?

Choice of crops and choice of food is not a simple matter where GM crops and non-GM crops can exist along side. GM crops can contaminate non-GM crops (causing loss of choice) and in addition are backed with enormous corporate power, which removes the non-GM options from the market.  This has happened, within a few years, in all countries where GM crops are cultivated (including cotton in India). As regards food choices, India has recently introduced a labeling law without any teeth to properly regulate GM foods. Moreover, in India   most produce is sold in open markets and produce is not tracked right from seed to plate, so it is not possible to ensure GM-Free food. GM soybean oil and Bt cotton seed oil are already part of our food, without labeling, and could be causing serious health problems, in the long run. One of the ways of avoiding GM foods is to opt for Organic foods. However,  the foolproof way to steer clear of GM foods is to not allow them in any manner. 

 Q) Is the Food Safety Law of India adequate to deal with the issue of safety of GM foods?

 A Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is currently functioning under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. But, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution has issued a gazette notification that labeling has been made mandatory (from January 1, 2013), but only for packaged foods using GM products as ingredients. So currently food labeling does not cover GMOs in general or GM foods when they are being manufactured.
 
Q) Does keeping GMOs out of India mean our food is safe?
While GMOs are an immediate threat to our food sovereignty and safety, our agriculture establishment  has been promoting chemical-intensive agriculture with heavy use of chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, which pose a serious hazard to our health and environment.

Q) What can we do?

 It is important that we as citizens come forward to ensure that our food is safe. As the saying goes, “we are what we eat” after all! We should ask our Govt. to promote more sustainable and eco-friendly ways of farming, which will ensure a better future for all of us and a better environment for the coming generations. We should also take responsibility for ensuring safe food for us, our loved ones and for the larger society. Eat natural and organic food; grow at least part of our food in kitchen gardens and promote community safe food initiatives; use open pollinated seeds and save seeds, learn more about our food and spread the word about safe food.


Q) How can I participate in celebrating National Safe Food Day?

Several events are being organized across different cities of India, as a voluntary initiative by various groups. You can check the details of the upcoming events at http://nationalsafefoodday2013.blogspot.com to take part in them. Additionally, you can do the following activities to participate in the event:

•     Organize documentary screenings on issue of GMOs
•     Invite experts to talk about Safe Food
•     Arrange for Poster Exhibition on GM Crops
•     Organize walks, cycle rallies or get-togethers to create awareness about Safe Food and effects of GM Food
•     Spread the word on Facebook, Twitter and other social media about the event and also about Safe Food and issues surrounding GM Food

 If you are planning any event then also drop a mail to Nishank (Email: nishank.kisanswaraj@gmail.com ; Mob: 9015867930) or Renu (Email: renu.gmfi@gmail.com ; Mob: 9868383057), so that we can add your event details on the event blog.

For More Resources: Join National Safe Food Day Event 2013 on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/390953627662426/?fref=ts  & 

Check – www.indiagminfo.org  & To keep up to date on the latest developments related to GM Crops in India, please join 

“GM Watch India” Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/GMWatchIndia  & 

“GM Watch India” E-group: https://groups.google.com/forum/?fromgroups#!forum/gmwatch-india

Also visit “India For Safe Food” (www.indiaforsafefood.in) and I AM NO LAB RAT (www.iamnolabrat.com )