To:
Shri
Jairam Ramesh,
Minister of State (I/C) for
Environment & Forests,
Government of India.
I
would like to convey to you that on Martyrs’ Day January 30 2010, I
intend to fast or light a candle to ensure that Indian farming and food
systems are free of Genetically Modified food items and to stop the
Indian Government from giving any approval to Bt Brinjal. I believe Bt
Brinjal would damage our health and adversely impact the environment
owing to combining the poisonous Bt genetic material with vegetables.
More so, it will open the floodgates to such technologies which will
enslave Indian farming and threaten our food sovereignty.
Genetic engineering technology
is not going to solve the issue of hunger. The answer lies in education,
livelihoods, human rights and sustainable agriculture, development and
appropriate technology. Bt Brinjal is a costly experiment to try on the Indian
soil and the burden of its failure will have to be borne by common
people, if approved. A few corporates and seed companies profit by this
and the government should not succumb to the vested interests that are
threatening the independence of the farmer and our rich traditional
seed and and crop varieties that have sustained us for generations.
On January 30th, while remembering
the Mahatma and his hard-fought battle of Swarajya through Satyagraha,
I choose to uphold the national food sovereignty from needless,
hazardous and enslaving technologies like GM seeds and in particular,
Bt Brinjal. I have decided to join the hands of millions across the
country to remember the Mahatma, who taught us the most equitable, just
and sustainable way towards self-reliance.
Sincerely,
