1.CHALO DELHI to stop Bt Brinjal: March 20th (onwards)
2.'I am no lab rat': Youth denounce GM foods
NOTE: 'Chalo' is Hindi for 'Let's go!'. 'Brinjal' is eggplant or aubergine.
---
---
1.CHALO DELHI to stop Bt Brinjal: March 20th (onwards)
Coalition for a GM-Free India
Dear friend
As the Government of India plunges into useless discussions over Mahyco's Bt Brinjal, continuing to base its regulatory decision-making on Bt Brinjal on the company's data - without addressing fundamental questions that we have always raised about the very need for this GM Brinjal and the fact that a precautionary approach requires the government to straightaway say NO to GM foods - we urge each concerned Indian to say "I AM NO LAB RAT" to the Government of India, if you don't want to be a guinea pig in this experiment by profit-hungry corporations.
This is a call to all concerned citizens to come to Delhi on March 20th 2009 (Jantar Mantar) and any day after that, especially on April 7th again which is World Health Day, for a sustained direct action until the Government of India at the highest level steps in to say that our right to know what we are eating, our right to informed choices and our right to safe food will not violated through GM foods entering our plates. In other words, we want the government to stop Bt Brinjal.
Spare a day or two or more - whether you are in the North East or Gujarat or Kerala or Himachal, make the time and effort to come to Delhi. Stay in touch with us on the www.iamnolabrat.com website, through the volunteer registration link and find out other ways in which you can support us.
Come, join us in this public protest from March 20th onwards - sit in Delhi, at the gates of the highest authorities in this country who are taking decisions for all of us, along with scores of other concerned citizens to protest the undemocratic thrusting of GM foods down our throats, until we secure an assurance.
Remember, if ever you felt concerned about the food that you are eating or feeding your family and friends and about GM foods, this is the time to ACT. Also remember, it is your responsibility as a citizen to DEMAND and SECURE safe food as well as your right - and please extend your support and solidarity to this cause, for your own sake.
Hope to see you in Delhi.
Pass this mail to all others who you know are concerned too and want to ACT - ask them to join the action.
Meanwhile, also visit www.iamnolabrat.com to send a petition to the Prime Minister of India.
Sincerely,
Kavitha Kuruganti
Coalition for a GM-Free India
Kavitha Kuruganti
KHETI VIRASAT MISSION
Street No 1, Baba Farid Nagar
JAITU-151202
District-Faridkot, Punjab.
Phone: +91-9393001550
www.indiagminfo.org
---
---
2.'I am no lab rat': Youth denounce GM foods
The Times of India, 16 Feb 2009
http://tiny.cc/xrS7Q
CHANDIGARH: Scores of citizens held a candlelight vigil against genetically modified (GM) foods like Bt brinjal at Sukhna lake on Sunday evening and vowed to resist all attempts from the government to allow such foods into the country.
Street plays were organized, one-on-one outreach with consumers taken up in various parts of the city, public lectures were organized to create informed debate on the issue of GM foods and health implications and information kiosks set up as part of the campaign.
These citizens were activated as part of a nation-wide consumer campaign called "I am no lab rat", to secure their right to safe food and informed choices when it comes to food.
The campaign was launched on January 30 in the city and had since then mobilized more than 2,000 people to write to the Prime Minister and Punjab health minister.
Samriddhi Chauhan, a lecturer said there is no turning back once these foods enter our food chain.
Tushar Bhargava, a young consumer leading a team of others like him to petition state health minister said, "What can we do if the food we eat to survive becomes our worst enemy?"
Gaurav Goyal, an advocate said, "It is not just the right but also the responsibility of citizens to articulate their demand for safe food to policy makers in a democratic set up."