Doctors, Scientists oppose GM Bt Brinjal cultivation.

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Pioneer, January 14, 2009

 

Scientists oppose Bt Brinjal cultivation

http://dailypioneer.com/149799/Scientists-oppose-Bt-Brinjal-cultivation.html

 

PNS | Bhubaneswar

 

Scientists,

researchers, homeopaths, health professionals and environmentalists in

Orissa are raising voice against the introduction of genetically

modified (GM) Bt Brinjal crop in the state in view of its

scientifically-proved toxic effects on human beings and animals.

 

Bt Brinjal is soon going to undergo field trials in Orissa prior to its approval

for commercial cultivation.

 

At

the recently concluded State Level Homeopathic Conference, eminent

homeopaths of Orissa pointed out that genetic modification of plants

created new mutations and destroyed the natural gene pool resulting in

harmful flora and fauna. Widespread introduction of this technology

will result in completely nullifying the whole principle of homeopathy

as most of the drugs in homeopathy are produced from food crops and

medicinal plants, they echoed.

 

Our entire Materia Medica would

be rendered useless. The whole system of homeopathy will be jeopardised

and will lead to chaos amongst homeopaths, they apprehended.

 

Moreover,

eminent scientists of Orissa have also desperately opposed GM food

crops for adverse effects noted by them during laboratory tests in the

Biju Pattnaik Hall of the OUAT where a workshop on " Management and

Monitoring of Field Trials of Genetically Engineered Crops " was held

recently on January 3. They have informed that cattle and goats are

suffering and dying in the cotton cultivation districts of Orissa where

large scale illegal cultivation of Bt Cotton has taken place. Very

senior scientific researchers have warned against the inevitable

consequences of widespread GM contamination.

 

The State

Agriculture Secretary has personally cautioned against the introduction

of GM crops, even as he was forced to adopt a pro-GM stance in this

workshop sponsored by an organization formed to promote GM food and

crops in the country. Union Health Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, has

also publicly protested against the introduction of GM crops after

going through research findings made available to him.

 

More

recently a French scientific study led by Caen University professor

Gilles-Eric Séralini has branded Bt Brinjal “unsafe for human

consumptionâ€. The tests have proved that mice fed on GM food have

suffered sterility, high infant mortality rates, stunted growth,

stomach and intestinal lesions, liver and kidney damage, organ damage

at the cellular level, internal bleeding amongst others. In India

cattle fed on Bt Cotton fodder and oil cakes have suffered from

infertility, reduced milk yield, bloody dysentery, excessive

salivation, bloated stomachs, and have also died very painful deaths.

 

Living

Farms, an organization of concerned individuals opposed to agrochemical

TNCs, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and chemical pesticides,

has strongly opposed the highhanded methods that are being adopted by

the officials of the regulatory bodies to suppress the loud voice of

dissent emanating from respected Indian scientists all over the

country. We earnestly appeal the government to kindly intervene and

stop the poisoning of brinjal, the favourite food of the Oriya's in its

many preparations and which is consumed daily, Debjeet Sarangi and

Jagannath Chatterjee of Living Farms beseeched.

 

 

 

 

 

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