Courting Arrest.
By Foodchoices
On Friday, July 10th, in Hyderabad, Greenpeace activists which included film-star Amala Akkineni, courted arrest at Patancheru Police Station in continuation of their protests against field trials of GM rice in the village of Chinna Kanjaria. Bayer Bio-Science which is conducting these trials had pressed charges against the activists who cordoned off the fields where the trials are being done and put up scarecrows and warning sayings “Bio-Hazard”. The charges are tresspassing, damage to property and criminal intimidation.
The activists are welcoming the arrest warrant in their names as they feel it is for a just cause, the right to safe food and the protection of the environment and bio-diversity.
Bayer has not taken permission from the village Panchayat for conducting the trials. In 2004 they had given an assurance to Greenpeace that GM rice trials had been discontinued in India. The rice crops have to be sprayed with a herbicide that has been proven to be toxic and is being phased out in Europe.
As consumers we need to take a strong stand against this and make sure that the government takes action against the contamination of our food and environment.
For more info:
<a href=”http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/24/stories/2009062454740800.htm”>
http://www.greenpeace.org/india/stand-up-for-your-rice
Posted by vishu cards on January 25, 2010 at 6:58 pm
very nostalgic and beautiful post!
Keep it up
Cheers
prasad