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1.Tribals protest against GE

2.Rally against GM seeds

3.After Orissa, call for a ban on GM crop in AP

4.Against GM crops

5.Call to boycott GM soya, corn products

6.Call to shun genetically modified crops

NOTE: Amazing things have been happening in India. Below are some of the recent press reports from different parts of the country but they hardly capture the scale or the breadth of all the protests.

In the southern State of Andhra Pradesh (AP), for instance, more than 5000 farmers participated in anti-GM rallies organised by the Deccan Development Society (DDS). And other organizations are organizing anti-GM rallies in AP today, with the DDS also organizing village level rallies in 50 villages in the Medak district where more than 3000 women farmers are expected to participate in demonstrations.

Among many colourful events elsewhere, there was even a funeral procession held by farmers in Jhabua in Madhya Pradesh, organised by Beej Swaraj Abhiyaan. The death procession symbolised the impact on India's farmers of GM crops like Bt brinjal (aubergine/eggplant).

There are also some great photos from some of the many events that have been taking place, including a delightful 'no gm moms' pic from Hyderabad, a photo of the 'Bt brinjal funeral' in Jhabua, and photos of State agriculture ministers signing on to the protests. We'll let you know if these go up on any websites.

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1.Tribals protest against GE
Staff Reporter
The Hindu, April 9 2008
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/09/stories/2008040955870300.htm

Declaration of Orissa as organic State demanded

BHUBANESWAR: Over 4000 women, mostly tribals, under the banner of Orissa Nari Samaj (ONS), on Tuesday picked up an innovative idea to give an impetus to their demand that Orissa should be declared as organic state.

They exhibited 500 indigenous paddy varieties collected by them in front of State Assembly to put across the message that State government would risk the rich flora base of rice species if genetically modified organisms (GMOs) entered the region.

Action day

Observing the global action day against Genetic Engineering (GE), the women activists of ONS from different corners of the State, civil society members and students took to the street in the capital city.

They shouted slogans against entry of GE technology for the food crops and seed.

'The GE is a new technology which artificially manipulates and transfers genetic material between unrelated organisms. GMOs are potentially hazardous to human health and create irreversible risks for environment,' said G. John, convenor of the coalition of people’s movement against GE.

Orissa government had earlier banned bacillus thuringiensis brinjal in the State after a series of meetings with scientists and other civil society groups, Mr. John said.

Ms. Janani Hansdha, spokesperson of ONS, said the government should incorporate in agriculture policy that Orissa would be GE free organic state.

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2.Rally against GM seeds
The Statesman, 8 April 2008
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=9&theme=&usrsess=1&id=198648

BHUBANESWAR, April 8: Ms Renubala Majhi can barely recognise english alphabets yet she is aware of two - 'GM'. She also knows that GM is a type of seed which is going to spell disaster to her crops.

Many such Renubala's were in the rally against Genetically Modified seeds organised here today by NGOs .The farmers and rural women delivered sp-eeches explaining how GM seeds will cause extinction to the local varieties and indebt them. They also rendered folk songs highlighting the benefits of traditional agriculture practices.

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3.After Orissa, call for a ban on GM crop in AP
AndhraCafe, 9 April 2008
http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=33062

HYDERABAD : Addressing an anti-GM protest meet here today, farmer leaders of all major farmers' organizations in the state of Andhra Pradesh demanded that the AP government take a clear anti-GM stand and ban GM crop trials in the state as has been done in other states like Kerala and Orissa. The protest has been organized by the Coalition for a GM-Free AP, a network of civil society organizations and farmers' groups.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarampalli Mallareddy, Vice President, All India Kisan Sabha (affiliated to CPM) said, 'When the first trials of Bt Cotton began in the state and the country, the Legislative Assembly of Andhra Pradesh passed a resolution against any GM crops and their trials in the state. Any cultivation or trials in the state of such crops is therefore illegal'. He demanded that the AP government ban such trials in the state and not allow any GM food crops.

Raghava Reddy, President of Bhartiya Kisan Sangh pointed out that the government polices were allowing MNCs like Monsanto total control over our agriculture. He pointed out that when chemical pesticides were brought in, we were told that no harm will come out of them when the reality today points out to a different picture. The same can be anticipated from GM crops and the government should have a long term vision about the impacts of such a technology, he said.

'We are not against technology and we welcome any technology that helps in improving the environment, economy and health of our citizens. However, GE crops do not deliver these. They increase the cost of production, cause deterioration in health and MNCs are making profit out of thi. We want sustainable agriculture practices to be promoted', said Samineni Rama Rao, President, AP Rythu Sangam.

Ramakrishna, ex-MLA and President, Rythu Sangam (affiliated to CPI) said that the all-party forum created of farmers' unions in the state in the case of Minimum Support Price for paddy will also take up this anti-GM cause.

'Self reliance in seeds is very important and if all farmers start creating their own seeds, no MNC can make profits out of farmers and I urge all farmers to acquire those simple breeding skills â€' after all, companies are exploiting seed-producing farmers on the one hand and seed-consuming farmers on the other.. We need to put an end to this', said Gollamarri Shoury David, National Executive Committee Members of Bharatiya Janata Kisan Morcha, affiliated to the Bharatiya Janata Party.

Jamalaiah, President of the Andhra Pradesh Shepherds and Goatherds Union promised that their struggle would be intensified to get the government answerable to the deaths of livestock after grazing on Bt Cotton fields. He demanded a complete halt to all research on GM crops until investigations on animal deaths are comprehensively done and made public.

'Genetic Modification is not true science, as it claims', pointed out Mr Ramesh, General Secretary of Jana Vignyana Vedika, a people's science movement, which expressed its solidarity to the anti-GM cause..

B Venkateswarlu and Chittoor Rambabu also participated in the protest meet on behalf of Telugu Rythu, affiliated to the Telugu Desam Party [TDP]. Jeevan Kumar of Human Rights Forum also addressed the gathering.

The protest was attended by more than 250 farmers and consumers from different parts of Andhra Pradesh including ones affected by losses incurred with Bt Cotton, ones who have experienced allergies while working in Bt Cotton fields and ones who have lost their livestock upon grazing on Bt Cotton.

Further, scores of farmers who practice ecological farming were also protesting, urging the AP government to ban GM crop trials in the state. This protest was one of the events organised to mark a 'Global Day of Action Against GM Crops', including many protests all over India in different states.

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4.Against GM crops
The Hindu, April 8 2008
http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/08/stories/2008040858200200.htm

KOCHI: Tuesday is going to be a day without genetic engineering, across the world. Minister for Agriculture Mullakkara Ratnakaran will inaugurate the workshop and exhibition on genetically modified crops and its implications on agriculture and food at Vyapari Bhavan, Palarivattom, here on Tuesday.

State Bio-diversity Board chairman V.S. Vijayan and Information Kerala Mission chairman M.K. Prasad are other lead speakers at the meeting.

The event is being organised by Thanal, Thiruvananthapuram; Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samiti, Eloor; Ernakulam region of Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samiti and Sense, Thrissur.

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5.Call to boycott GM soya, corn products
Special Correspondent The Hindu, April 9 2008 http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/09/stories/2008040950830500.htm

KOCHI: A workshop on 'genetically-modified (GM) crops and their impact on Kerala’s agriculture' held here on Tuesday called upon the people to boycott soybeans, corn (maize) products and other GM foods.

It noted that these foods, which were imported from the U.S., were being sold by many supermarkets and posed health threats.

The workshop, held as part of the 'people's No-Genetic Engineering Day,' pointed out that GM foods harmed human health as well as the environment and hurt the agrarian economy. The workshop urged the Central government not to allow any GM crop trials in Kerala and asked the people and the government to practise and promote organic farming in order to ensure chemicals-free food.

State to say 'no'

Agriculture Minister Mullakkara Ratnakaran, who opened the meet, said that the State government was determined not to turn Kerala into a site for GM crop trials. He said multinational companies were trying to grab the monopoly of the seed from the farmers through the promotion of GM crops. This should be resisted by the people and the governments. The workshop pointed out that the genetically engineered (GE) cotton had created havoc in the rural economies of Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and other States and wrecked farmers’ livelihoods. The GM seeds had been hard-sold by multinational companies as totally pest-resistant which needed no use of pesticides. However, the promise had been proved hollow and the GM seeds had contaminated the land, water and livestock. The fertility and natural pest resistance of the croplands had been damaged needing extra heavy use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

GE rice was a threat to human health as well as the environment. Since the GE rice plant produced a toxin that killed pests, it was quite possible that the toxin would get into the food chain.

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6.Call to shun genetically modified crops
Staff Reporter
THe Hindu, April 6 2008 http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/06/stories/2008040651850300.htm

TIRUNELVELI: Besides wiping out the protein-rich traditional cereals of the land, food stuff made from genetically modified (GM) crop will also have a 'carcinogenic effect' on consumers, organic farming expert G. Nammaazhvaar has warned.

Addressing a workshop on 'Genetically modified food and consumers' health' organised here on Saturday by the Federation of Consumer Organisations Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, the Consumer Research, Education, Action, Training and Empowerment and 'Thanal,' Thiruvananthapuram, he said the increased use of GM seeds had resulted in higher expenditure for farmers.

DRO G. Srinivasan; FEDCOT chairman P. Duraisingam; D.A. Prabhakar, general secretary of Red Cross Society, Palayamkottai; Rev. Fr. Cruz Antony, parish priest of St. Xavier’s Cathedral Church; and G. Venkatachalam, district coordinator of FEDCOT, participated.