Sei sulla pagina 1di 36

Www.kisankiawaaz.org Vol.1 No.6.

June,2010
Editor’s desk
Farmers short-changed again:
The racketeering in warehousing and storage facility
Warehousing plays a crucial role in the food value chain, from production to
distribution and retailing. Food is produced by farmers.They produce food, feed,
fodder and fibre that sustain this nation of 1.24 billion people. They need
warehousing facility and all those support systems promised to them six decades ago by Nehru's government. Instead, the
UPA-II wants to establish COLD-CHAIN that only supports the corporations who buy raw foods cheap from dying
farmers, convert them into processed foods for domestic and export consumption. The farmers have been short changed
time and time again.

Please recall that the Reserve Bank of India [RBI] in 1946 formed an “India Rural Credit Survey Committee” that
recommended the establishment of warehouses to strengthen the rural credit and marketing.

As a result of the recommendations of the Committee, the Government of India enacted the Agricultural Produce
(Development and Warehousing) Corporation Act, 1956. Among the four key recommendations were:

Scientific storage: In Warehouses the stored produce could be protected from the vagaries of weather and pests [rodents,
insects, etc.] and substantially reduce post harvest losses that according to various estimates ranges between Rs. 20,000 to
50,000 annually.

Financing: Warehouses were mandated to meet the financial needs of farmers with a provision for issuing
'WAREHOUSING RECEIPT.' It was felt that the farmer could obtain cash support from any bank against the receipt for
his/her stock.

Price stabilization: Warehouses would help in regulating the price levels by regulating the supply of foodgrain in the
markets. More goods from the buffer would be released when supplies are less. They would also advice farmers when to
sell when there was glut in the market. Thus they would monitor the supply and demand in the interest of farmers. It would
also prevent distress sale.

Extension services: Provision for appointing technical officers was made at each warehouse who would advice farmers on
seeds, fertigation, irrigation, etc, for various crops consistent with data from market intelligence.

Strategies to reach out to the farmers were further refined with talks of smaller rural warehouses to large nodal warehouses.
It should be noted during the early days, the CWCs and SWCs had highly committed staff. They performed admirably and
that was responsible in no small measure for rapid agricultural growth during late 50s right up to early seventies.

Should Government promote cold chain when they could not provide vital warehousing services to 148 million farming
households? Who benefits from cold chain? Farmers or large corporation? Why should investments in cold chain be
subsidized as it is planned? If people came to know of the true purpose of Warehousing Act of 1956, taxpayers wouldn't
mind subsidizing hundreds of thousands of warehouses [large, medium, small or micro]. But warehousing corporations.
However, if people get to the truth of how warehousing corporations short changed farmers and how cold chains are going
to indirectly subsidize large food corporations and many multinational food and agribiz corporations, I doubt even one
person would support this sort of lop-sided policy.

The governments [both Central and State] need to re-focus their effort at rapidly expanding warehousing capacity for
farmers, stop indirectly subsidizing large firms' control over small producers through cold chains. Most importantly, the
government must revive the original concept enshrined in the 1956 Act because the situation for farmers is deteriorating by
the day. It will not be too long before India faces a major food crisis.

Krishan Bir Chaudhary


Vol. 1 No. 6 June, 2010

KISAN KI AWAAZ
National Magazine of Farmers’ Voice
Editor :

Dr. Krishan Bir Chaudhary,


President, CONTENTS
Bharatiya Krishak Samaj,
F-1/A, Pandav Nagar, Bill for a biotech authority... 2
*Dr. Pushpa M. Bhargava (Padma Bhusan)
Delhi-110091
Here is some more.. 5
Advisory Board : *JOSHUA FRANK
S. P. Gulati, Sect. G.O.I., Retd. New Study Exposes the... 9
Lingraj B. Patil — *Dr. Mercola
Dr. Mangesh Deshmukh
Dr. R.B. Thakare New Alarm Bells About... 12
D. Guruswamy, Adv. *NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF
Rajesh Sharma “Bittoo”
Pratap Singh, DIG Retd. Monsanto gives Haiti... 14
Hatam Singh Nagar, Adv. — *JONATHAN M. KATZ
K. Sareen
Ajay Singh Hkkjr esa fdlkuksa dh nqnZ'kk D;ksa \... 15
— *Mk0 d`".k chj pkS/kjh
Desiged by : Rahul Sharma
Aastha Chaudhary Scientists call for GM review... 19
— *Ian Sample
Printed & Published by :
Genetically Modified Corn... 21
Dr. Krishan Bir Chaudhary on behalf of *Jaelithe Judy
Bharatiya Krishak Samaj.
Reishi Mushrooms Offer... 23
Printed at Everest Press, E-49/8, Okhla *William Rudolph, journalist
Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi-20.
Study Links Pesticides... 24
Published at : — *Melissa Breyer

F-1/A, Pandav Nagar, Delhi-110091 Bill Gates funds covert ... 26


Mob.:9810331366, Telefax:011-22751281, — *Mike Adams
kbc@kisankiawaaz.org
E-mail:bharatiyakrishaksamaj@gmail.com How useful is Genetic Engineering... 31
Website:- www.kisankiawaaz.org ---- *Bharat Dogra

US Farmers Are Bailed Out… 32


The views expressed by the *Devinder Sharma
authors are their own. The
editor does not accept New Subscription
responsibility for returning Annual subscription charge of Rs 300/- for our monthly journal
unsolicited publication material. 'KISAN KI AWAAZ' may please be sent by cheque/Draft, drawn in
Disputes arising if any will be favour of BHARATIYA KRISHAK SAMAJ,
under Jurisdiction of Delhi F-1/A, Pandav Nagar, Delhi-110091.
Court
Complimentary Copy
Single copy Rs. 25/-, Annual Rs. 300/- Suggestions for improvement are invited

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 1


Bill for a biotech authority-
It's draconian and full of scientific absurdities
*Dr. Pushpa M. Bhargava (Padma Bhusan)

W hen Mr Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister


for Environment and Forests, put an
indefinite moratorium on the release of
genetically modified Bt brinjal on February 9, he
actually made a far more important statement that
Ministry of Environment.
We would thus be able to do what you want us to do”.

It has not been their concern as to what happens to 99


per cent of the “less fortunate” Indians. The Bill must
India is not tied down to the apron strings of any be the most draconian Bill. Consider some of its
multinational corporation or country, specifically, the provisions.
United States. Sandeep Joshi
*Section 63 says, “Whoever, without any evidence or
This came as a surprise to the rich and the powerful, scientific record misleads the public about the safety
the politicians and the bureaucrats (exceptions of the organisms (GMOs) and (their) products, shall
granted), who benefit by India's being an appendage be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall
of MNCs and the US. not be less than six months but which may extend to
one year and with fine which may extend to two lakh
A lot of what has happened in the country in the last rupees or with both”.
few years had made the above clan fully complacent
about Mr Ramesh's decision that irrespective of the And who will decide whether there is “evidence or
enormity of the evidence and public opinion against scientific record”?
Bt brinjal, he would permit its commercialisation and
thus open irreversibly the floodgates for US control of A three-member authority which will be chosen
Indian agriculture, of our food security and (probably in consultation with Monsanto and its
sovereignty, farmers' security and the security of the supporters in India) by a selection committee that
rural sector. would be easy to influence, as it would have no
nominees of the civil society that will bear the brunt of
And whosoever controls Indian agriculture, de facto the failure of a GM crop or the harm caused by it.
controls India. The unpleasant fact is that the above
clan, comprising a miniscule proportion of Indians, No matter how strong the evidence is or how good the
believes it stands to gain enormously by such a sell scientific record is and no matter how flawless the
out. However, Mr Ramesh disappointed them. reputation of the person criticising the release of a
GMO is, the regulatory authority can brush all that
We congratulated him for his bold decision but also aside and put the person in jail.
realised that we have only won the battle and not the
war. So, Nina Federoff of the US who was here when This writer wonders what it will do to foreign critics
Mr Ramesh announced his decision, almost certainly with an impeccable scientific record and reputation.
to influence his decision in favour of Bt brinjal, did Ask for their extradition?
not return to the US empty-handed.
The National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority
Nina was probably told by Mr Ramesh's opponents in (NBRA) will work under the Department of
the government, “Don't worry. We have ways and Biotechnology (DBT) in the setting up of which this
means of legally reversing Mr Ramesh's decision. We writer had a significant role and which this writer has
will pass a Bill to set up a National Biotechnology known reasonably well as a member of its first
Regulatory Authority (NBRA) under the Department Scientific Advisory Committee.
of Biotechnology which will take away the power of
decision-making in regard to GMOs from the The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) is today the

2 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


most ardent vendor of GMOs in the country. Thus, the laboratory to do all the required tests, to be controlled
vendor will be the regulator which would be against jointly by all the stakeholders as stated in the proposal
the principle of natural justice. for such a laboratory that this writer had submitted to
the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
The Appellate Tribunal proposed in the Bill is an eye- (GEAC) at their request, which proposal Mr Ramesh
wash as it will also work under the DBT. Strangely, it has supported in principle.
shall not be bound by rules of evidence contained in
our Evidence Act. No reasons are given as to why a new authority. It is
not stated as to what is wrong with the present system.
Agriculture is a State subject and well over 10 states, The Bill is against any kind of transparency (Section
cutting across political affiliations had, de facto or de 27.1).
jure, expressed opposition to Bt brinjal.
Given the situation in the country in respect of, for
The Bill (Section 34) now envisages only an advisory example, corruption and unqualified commitment of
role for the state government in regard to release of the government to MNCs and the US, it is most likely
GMOs. They cannot oppose it, even though that GMOs will be released without any test
agriculture is a State subject. whatsoever or just face-saving tests done
superficially.
The Bill is full of scientific absurdities. Thus, it calls
“transformation, polyploidy induction and mutation If the Bill is passed, there will be only two alternatives
breeding” as “natural processes”. They are all human- for our countrymen: to make sure that the Bill is not
controlled processes to bring about genetic changes. notified or is repealed in a reasonable time; or to begin
the Third War of Independence!
The Bill's definition of “modern biotechnology” is
ridiculous and highly restrictive. It is like saying that
by “modern science” we mean “modern biology”. *Former Vice-Chairman of the National
Knowledge Commission and founder-director,
The Bill does not encourage a totally independent Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology,

Delhi Network of Positive People and some of the Forum members staged an
energetic protest demonstration against the EU India FTA talks at Udhyog
Bhavan. Protesters raised slogans such as "European Commission Go back",
"FTA Nahi Chahiye", ''Halt EU India FTA' and so on.

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 3


Multinational Companies wreaking havoc
through GM Food
May 14, 2010 -Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Prof. Conference on the various issues concerning GM food.
Prem Kumar Dhumal has said that some of the multi Earlier, Dr. P.M. Bhargava in his keynote address opined
national companies were wreaking havoc in India by that the last century had witnessed enormous progress in
spreading their tentacles through Genetically Modified the field of nuclear technology, space and genetic
(GM) food, which needs to be curbed by imposing engineering and all these had posed a great threat to the
adequate restrictions. He said that like drug mafia, seed mankind. He said that GM food had more than 60 adverse
mafia was operating in India through powerful network affects on the health of human beings. India being an
and strong mechanism of multi national companies. The agrarian society, more than 70 percent population lived in
Genetically Modified seeds and food were responsible for rural areas while 62 percent of the population was engaged
bringing physical disorders and deformity in human in agriculture and allied economy.
beings not only in other countries of the world but India as
well and it was a matter of grave concern. Referring to the organic farming, Dr. Bhargava told that
this new concept in farming was fast gaining popularity
Chief Minister was addressing senior officers of the State and in Andhra Pradesh where two lacs acres of agriculture
Government including Deputy Commissioners after the land was under organic farming will be enhanced to one
most significant keynote address delivered by Padam crore acre of land during the next few years. The market for
Bhushan Dr. P.M. Bhargav, an international authority on organic produce was fast expanding in the country and the
GM food here today. vegetables and other agro- products so produced were
being exported to numerous countries from India.
Prof. Dhumal said that Genetically Modified food had an
adverse affect on the health of human beings but a strong He said that Indian Council for Agriculture Research
nexus between the market forces, GM food had made (ICAR) had published more than six volumes compiling
inroads into our society. He said that East India Company therein more than 4000 traditional agriculture practices
had made the country slave for more than 200 years and which were in vague in India since times immemorial and
now the multi national companies were controlling our most of them these needed to be revived. More than 90 such
Agriculture and related economic activities indirectly. He practices were validated
said that according a survey report, in Punjab the use of
GM food by the consumers had led to the deformity among Emphasising upon the curbs required for discouraging GM
children and the fertility age of women had been reduced Food, Dr. Bhargava maintained that it was high time that
drastically. everyone rise to the occasion and find out ways and means
to completely ban the import of genetically modified seeds
Chief Minister said that it was quite surprising that how a and food in our country.
country of more than 120 crore people had become
helpless before the network of seed mafia and GM food. Welcoming the Chief Minister and participants, Shri
He said that obsolete technology being imported to India Narender Chuahan, Principal Secretary, Irrigation and
on the terms and conditions of other countries and the Public Health said that Dr. P.M. Bhargava was an
personal interests of some people and scientists had international luminary in the field of science and
gripped our country. technology, especially on the food front he had made
outstanding contribution. He hoped that the valuable
Referring to the media hype created by some vested recommendations and observations of Dr. Bhargava will
interests about swine flu, some times back, Chief Minister help in the policy formulation for the future agricultural
said that some dishonest people sitting in World Health scenario of our hilly State.
Organization (WHO) had tried to spread panic in India
about this flu and their hidden agenda was to sell the Dr. Nagin Nadda, Member Secretary of Science and
medicines and drugs of their own companies and people. Technology Department and Director of H.P. Pollution
Control Board proposed vote of thanks.
Prof. Dhumal said that the State Government will consider
the proposal for imposing moratorium on GM food even
for more than 15 years apart from holding an International Http://himachalpr.gov.in/pressreleaseEng.asp?id=4889

4 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


Here is some more about the clout of Monsanto.
Elena Kagan and Monsanto
*JOSHUA FRANK

A lfalfa is the fourth largest crop grown in the


United States and Monsanto wants to control
it. On April 27, the Supreme Court heard
arguments in a case that could well write the future of
alfalfa production in our country.
organic honey producers," said farmer and anti-GE
advocate Todd Leake shortly after the ruling.

Monsanto, however, didn't back down and appealed


the Ninth Circuit's decision to the US Supreme Court.
In stepped Elena Kagan, whose role as solicitor
Fortunately, for those who are concerned about the general is to look out for the welfare of American
potential environmental and health impacts of citizens in all matters that come before the high court.
genetically engineered (GE) crops, Supreme Court
nominee Elena Kagan is not yet residing on the bench. Unfortunately, Kagan opted to ditch her duty and
instead side with Monsanto. In March 2010, a month
For the past four years, the Center for Food Safety before the Supreme Court heard arguments in the
(CFS), a Washington DC-based consumer protection case, the solicitor general's office released a legal brief
group, and others have litigated against Monsanto and despite the fact that the US government was not a
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) defendant in the case.
regarding the company's Roundup Ready alfalfa.
Monsanto appealed the lower court's decision so the
The coalition has focused their fight against USDA was not party to the suit. The Solicitor
Monsanto's GE alfalfa, based on concerns that the General's office produced an amicus brief during the
plants could negatively impact biodiversity as well as petitioning stage of the appeal at the behest of the
other non-GE food crops. Supreme Court.

In 2007, a California US District Court ruled in a As Kagan's office argued, "The judgment of the court
landmark case that the USDA had illegally approved of appeals should be reversed, and the case should be
Monsanto's GE alfalfa without carrying out a proper remanded with instructions to vacate the permanent
and full Environmental Impact Statement. injunction entered by the district court."

The plaintiffs argued that GE alfalfa could Despite numerous examples of cross-pollination of
contaminate nearby crops with its genetically GE crops, Monsanto argued during the April 27 court
manipulated pollen. Geertson Seed Farm, with the proceedings that this was highly unlikely to occur.
help of CFS, claimed that the farm's non-GE crops CFS and other plaintiffs are concerned that a federal
could be damaged beyond repair by Monsanto's law could be affected by the Supreme Court's ruling.
Roundup Ready alfalfa.
Courts in Oregon and California have already argued
Monsanto's well-paid legal team appealed the court's in previous cases that GE seeds must also be studied as
decision, but, in June 2009, the Ninth Circuit Court of to the potential impact on other conventional and
Appeals upheld the previous ruling and placed a organic crops.
nationwide ban on Monsanto's Roundup Ready
alfalfa. Surprisingly, it seems that Kagan does not support a
thorough study of GE seeds and their potential impact
"USDA should start over and truly evaluate the on environmental and human health.
contamination of non-GM alfalfa and the potential
affects on seed growers, organic and natural meat In doing so, Kagan has sided with conservative
producers, dairy producers, and conventional and justices on the court who appeared skeptical that the

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 5


lower courts had made the right decision in banning potentially fatal to Monarch butterflies and other
GE alfalfa. pollinators ...

During the Supreme Court hearings, Chief Justice Without mandatory government testing, we're
John Roberts questioned whether the Ninth Circuit clueless about the universe of keystone pollinators
had the authority to issue a ban on GE alfalfa. Roberts and other species that are being decimated as the [GE]
contented that the court ought to have instead plants continue to proliferate in our fields."
remanded the issue back to the USDA.
The Supreme Court's decision on Monsanto's alfalfa
Conservative Justice Antonin Scalia took his defense ban will likely come early this summer. Justice
of Monsanto even further, stating, "This isn't the Stephen Breyer recused himself from the case because
contamination of the New York City water supply," he his brother Charles Breyer oversaw the lower court's
said. "This isn't the end of the world, it really isn't." decision against the company.

Apparently Scalia and Roberts aren't up on the latest Unsurprisingly, Justice Clarence Thomas, who once
scientific analysis that Monsanto's GE crops have, in worked in the legal department for Monsanto, did not
fact, bred new voracious super-weeds, which have recuse himself from the matter.
forced farmers to "spray fields with more toxic
herbicides, pull weeds by hand, and return to more While Elena Kagan has no experience on the bench
labor-intensive methods like regular plowing." and has provided the public with little to no
information about where she stands on some of the
"Bowing to pressure from Monsanto and the other most important issues of the day, the fact that she came
biotech companies, our federal agencies approved to bat for Monsanto two months ago, at a time when
[GE] corn and cotton without requiring any the company is reeling from negative press, may shed
mandatory testing for environmental impacts," some light on how she could rule in future GE cases if
Andrew Kimbrell, executive director for the CFS she's confirmed as the next Supreme Court justice.
recently wrote.

"And the expected happened: a few years later,


independent university researchers - again not the Http://www.counterpunch.org/frank05192010.html
government - discovered that this [GE] pesticide was

Elena Kagan: Toward a Pro-GM Supreme Court?


MAY 12 2010- It's a good thing for Elena Kagan that there's no non-GMO litmus test for Supreme Court nominees. She'd flunk.As
solicitor general, Kagan is supposed to represent the interests of the American people in matters that come before the Supreme Court.
Instead, she has gone to bat for Monsanto. In a case that the court is currently considering, Monsanto is trying to overturn a 2007
California decision that imposed a nationwide injunction on planting the company's genetically modified alfalfa. In March, Kagan's
office interceded on Monsanto's behalf even though the government was not a defendant in the appeal. The original suit was brought by
Geertson Seed Farms and a collection of environmental groups, who claimed that pollen from Monsanto's Roundup Ready alfalfa
could contaminate neighboring plots of conventional alfalfa, causing irreparable harm to Geertson's non-GMO business.

The decision that Kagan and Monsanto object to was issued by U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer, who ruled that during the Bush
administration, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) should not have given its blessing to GM alfalfa without
considering possible environmental, financial, and health consequences (a requirement under the law). Erring on the side of caution,
Breyer said that until the USDA conducted the proper environmental assessment, no GM alfalfa could be grown. The appeal that is now
before the court has a telling aside. Justice Stephen Breyer recused himself from the case because Charles Breyer, the lower court
judge, is his brother. Notably, Justice Clarence Thomas, who was once a lawyer for Monsanto, did not recuse himself.

The case will probably be decided this summer, prior to Kagan's taking up her new post, assuming she is confirmed. But she still might
have an opportunity to show her true colors. Last fall, another lower-court judge ruled that the Bush-era USDA erred when it approved
GM sugar beets without a proper environmental assessment. The Obama administration was given the opportunity to drop the USDA's
case, but the Justice Department told the court that its position had not changed. We'll see if Monsanto pursues that case through the
appellate courts. Whatever happens, it's all but certain that the Supreme Court has not heard the last of GMOs.

6 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


Nordics sailing with the winds of globalization- Lamy
Director-General Pascal Lamy, in a speech at the rights and pro-business environments. But you have also
Globalization Forum in Copenhagen on 20 May 2010, chosen a strong social model by investing heavily in
cited the Nordic countries as models in harnessing education, health care, social security and innovation.
globalization. “To embrace it to maximize its benefits Education has contributed to social mobility and
while minimizing its costs for that, we need to work empowers citizens to better themselves. Education is
together,” he said. He said he saw a strong need to have a also at the heart of an essential component in our
“Nordic flag” in the architecture of global governance. economies today: innovation.
This is what he said: Some thoughts about the current
trends in the global economy and how the Nordic Social security and health care ensures a decent living
countries can face together the challenges of our standard for all citizens, regardless of their economic
globalised world. situation. It reduces the anxieties provoked by the
changes brought about by globalisation. This is a model
Globalisation is transforming our economies, our social which meets the consensus of both left and right forces in
fabrics, our culture. We are becoming much more inter- your countries. And despite the many criticisms of the
dependent. Greater economic integration has allowed system as too complex, too cumbersome and too costly
millions to be lifted out of poverty. It has also to survive, you have proven that it can work. In fact it is
empowered millions who now have access to now a model which many in Europe and around the
information and education. But globalisation has also world want to emulate.
shown a darker side.
Today this model of economic opening and social safety
Whether we speak of the H1N1 flu last year or of the net faces a triple challenge. On the one hand the cost of
financial explosion that led to the current economic the social model is increasing. It is very good but very
crisis, whether it is about CO2 emissions or over- expensive and therefore questions about its
fishing, we have also realised that disruptions in one sustainability do arise. And this at a time when public
corner of the world can no longer be ignored since their finances are overstreched as a result of the crisis will, in
impact is likely to be felt at home. my view, lead to an inevitable questioning of parts of the
social model.
We can choose to be the bystanders of globalisation.
And our citizens will feel disempowered. They will no My sense is that it will need to be adjusted, but I believe
longer accept the constraints imposed on them by an the adjustments should be made bearing in mind two
ever changing world. Nationalism, populism and considerations: a continued focus must be placed on the
foreigner scapegoating will spread. Or we can choose to weakest and most vulnerable; and that reduction of
harness globalisation. To embrace it to maximise its spending on education, research and development, and
benefits while minimising its costs. For that, we need to innovation should be avoided these elements empower
work together. We are globally responsible, even if people.
locally accountable. We are also accountable to future
generations. The second is the demographic challenge. Europe is the
only continent where population will decline by 2050.
This is precisely what the Nordic countries have chosen. Nordic societies are ageing. This has an impact on the
You have decided to join hands, to pool part of your social dynamism, on innovation and growth and takes a
sovereignty to face together these challenges. You did severe toll on public spending. Immigration is the
not start this from scratch. In fact you share a common solution, but as we know raises its own challenges.
culture and history. There is a sense of cohesion and
common destiny that unites you, a “Nordic dimension”. The third challenge is that of growth. Without robust
growth we will not be able to maintain the social model.
You all have open economies, with relatively low We will falter under the weight of our public debt. We
barriers to trade and investment, with robust property must therefore invest in growth policies which means

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 7


structural reforms. They will be painful in the short term Council. But a structure of global governance of this
but will increase the growth potential in the long term. type needs to be underpinned by a set of core principles
This today is a must. and values, some sort of “global economic contract”, to
anchor economic globalization on a bedrock of ethical
Many of these challenges require domestic responses. principles and values which would renew the trust that
But they need to be underpinned by international action citizens need to have that globalization can indeed work
to address their global dimension. More and better for them.
global governance is therefore a necessity. In recent
years we have seen a rebalancing in world power. There I believe Nordics have a role to play in this emerging,
has certainly been a rebalancing in the world economy. new global architecture. The values of solidarity, of
The share of developing countries in global GDP is justice, of inclusive growth, of sustainable development
increasing. which you represent must be ingredients of this global
economic contract.
Their share of world trade has increased. Many of these
emerging economies are now huge investors in other You have demonstrated this in your efforts to build a
developing countries, but also in developed economies. global deal to tackle climate change. I know that many of
The world is changing and the structures of global you were disappointed that the summit which took place
governance need to adjust. The global economic crisis precisely in this city did not result in a Global Climate
has accelerated the move towards a new architecture of Change Agreement. And yet, I do not believe it was as
global governance, in what I have called a “triangle of bad as many have described it. Global governance is
coherence”. often made of crab walking, of apparent defeats and
procedural messes but which produce steps forward.
On one side of the triangle lies the G20, replacing the
former G8, providing political leadership and policy To judge the Copenhagen Accord, one cannot stop at
direction. Its representativity has improved even if more what happened last year, since far more important is
can be done. Many small and medium sized countries what has happened this year with respect to this Accord.
which have been and are key bridge builders, middle By the 31 January deadline set in the Copenhagen
grounders which can help construct compromises, feel Accord, all of the world's major emitters had notified
they should have a seat at the table, whether individually either their emissions caps, or actions to reduce
or through a system of constituencies. On another side emissions, that they would undertake. In fact about 100
lie member-driven international organizations countries have responded to the deadline, amounting to
providing expertise and specialized inputs, be they 80 per cent of world emissions. This result is not enough,
rules, policies or programmes. but it is a step forward and certainly the result of your
efforts.
The challenge they face is one of coherence in the
actions of their members in the different organisations. You also demonstrate this in your solidarity with
The heads of the respective organisations can contribute developing countries through your development
to this coherence, but as the good old English saying cooperation. Here again your contribution has helped lift
goes “coherence starts at home”. The third side of the many boats in poor countries. We will have an
triangle is the G-192, the United Nations, providing a opportunity to discuss this together at the UN
forum for accountability. Millennium Development Goals Summit in September.

In the longer term, we should have both the G20 and the I believe it will be important that the international
international agencies reporting to the “parliament” of community, and you as leaders in this field, send a signal
the United Nations. In this respect, a revamping of the that, despite the severe crisis, you will maintain your
UN Economic and Social Council could lend support to commitment to helping the poorest raise their own
the recent resolution adopted by the UN General capacity to develop. That you will continue to empower
Assembly on UN-system wide coherence. This triangle them to fight against poverty with their own weapons.
would constitute a potent mix of leadership, Not because of a charitable sentiment, but because this is
inclusiveness and action to ensure coherent and a question of justice, as well as efficiency. I see a strong
effective global governance. With time, the G20 could need to have a “Nordic flag” in the architecture of global
even be a response to the reform of the UN Security governance.

8 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


New Study Exposes the Dark Side of
New Genetically Engineered 'Killer Weeds'…
*Dr. Mercola
May 06 2010 - A report has found that farmers are planting too many so-called Roundup Ready
crops. These plants are genetically engineered to resist the herbicide Roundup, which allows
farmers to spray the chemical to kill weeds without harming their own crops. But overuse of this
approach to weed control is becoming a problem. Use of Roundup has increased to the point that
weeds are also becoming resistant to the chemical. That means that farmers have to start using
additional herbicides, some of them even more toxic than Roundup. More than 80 percent of the
corn, soybean and cotton crops grown in the United States are genetically engineered.

T he National Research Council report, which is “In particular, farmers who grow GE herbicide-resistant
being described as “the first comprehensive crops should not rely exclusively on glyphosate and need to
assessment of how genetically modified (GM) incorporate a range of weed management practices,
crops are affecting all U.S. farmers,” paints a dangerously including using other herbicide mixes.” In other words, if
rosy picture about genetically engineered crops. While applying loads of Roundup no longer works, simply start
touting benefits like lower production costs, higher yields dousing your crops with other chemical mixtures and one
and declines in insecticide use, the report does not give of them is bound to work! Problem solved! Of course, it is
justice to the seriousness of one glaring, and potentially not nearly that simple.
devastating, finding: Superweeds.
80-90 Percent of Some U.S. Crops are Genetically
GM Crops Create Superweeds and Super-Pests! Modified

Since 1996, when GM crops were first introduced, at least One day, perhaps, when the health and environmental risks
nine species of U.S. weeds have developed resistance to of GM foods have been widely accepted, more people will
glyphosate, the active ingredient in RoundUp herbicide. In look back on this statistic and shake their heads. For now,
case you're not familiar with Roundup, Roundup Ready however, while several European countries have banned
soybean, cotton and corn crops are the world's largest GM corn and other GM crops, the United States has
group of genetically modified crops. This particular allowed the technology to overwhelm much of commercial
variety of GM crops became so popular because it allows farming.
farmers to spray Monsanto's Roundup herbicide directly
onto their fields without harming the crops. Ordinarily, if As of right now, about 85 percent of the corn grown in the
you were to spray Roundup, or any other glyphosate-based United States is genetically engineered to either produce an
herbicide, onto a plant, it would die. insecticide, or to survive the application of herbicide. And
about 91-93 percent of all soybeans are genetically
As you might imagine, the use of Roundup herbicide has engineered to survive massive doses of Roundup
increased dramatically since the GM Roundup Ready herbicide. Also, according to the Institute for Responsible
crops were introduced, and now the repeated exposures Technology, about 76 percent of cotton, 75 percent of
have given Mother Nature all she needs to stage her canola and more than 50 percent of Hawaiian papaya
comeback. Weeds have evolved so that they're resistant to grown in the United States are genetically modified as
Roundup, and as a result, farmers are applying even more well.
herbicides to crops.
The Institute for Responsible Technology has also
This is, in fact, the National Research Council's advice to compiled these other sources of GM foods to watch out for,
farmers who are facing issues with superweeds: including:

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 9


* Zucchini and yellow squash (small amount) GM soya. Up to 100 percent failures of Bt cotton have been
recorded in India. And recent studies by scientists from the
*Dairy products from cows injected with rbGH USDA and the University of Georgia found that growing
GM cotton in the U.S. can result in a drop in income by up
*Food additives, enzymes, flavorings, and processing to 40 percent.
agents, including the sweetener aspartame
(NutraSweet®) and rennet used to make hard cheeses *No reduction in pesticides use: on the contrary, USDA
data shows that GM crops has increased pesticide use by 50
*Meat, eggs, and dairy products from animals that million pounds from 1996 to 2003 in the U.S., and the use
have eaten GM feed of glyphosate went up more than 15-fold between 1994 and
2005, along with increases in other herbicides to cope with
*Honey and bee pollen that may have GM sources of rising glyphosate-resistant superweeds.
pollen.
*Tobacco (Quest® brand) *Roundup herbicide is lethal to frogs and toxic to
human placental and embryonic cells. Roundup is used in
Now, more than a decade after these crops have been more than 80 percent of all GM crops planted in the world.
monopolizing the market, the first report is released on
how they might impact farmers. Most rational individuals *GM crops harm wildlife, as revealed by UK and U.S.
would question why this type of report wasn't done first. Studies.
You and your family are already eating these foods, and the
country has, in many ways, already taken steps that cannot * Bt-resistant pests and Roundup-tolerant superweeds
be undone. Herbicide-resistant weeds are already popping render the two major GM crop traits useless. The evolution
up all over the United States, and only time will tell how of Bt resistant bollworms worldwide have now been
widespread and difficult to control they will ultimately confirmed and documented.
become.
*Vast areas of forests, pampas and cerrados have been
GM Crops are Not Beneficial lost to GM soya in Latin America.

Regardless of the favorable slant the National Research *Epidemic of suicides in the cotton belt of India. 100,000
Council took in their report, it's time for people to realize farmers between 1993-2003, and an estimated 16,000
that while the declared motive behind GM food is an farmers a year since, have committed suicide since Bt
altruistic one -- to alleviate hunger, poverty and cotton was introduced.
malnutrition worldwide -- in reality, the ruthless
propagation of GM crops are intended to create previously * Transgene contamination is completely unavoidable,
unimaginable profits above anything else. Despite their as science has recently revealed that the genome (whether
assurances, we're already beginning to see the real price of plant, animal or human) is NOT constant and static, which
all that tinkering with Mother Nature: unnatural crop is the scientific base for genetic engineering of plants and
combinations that can harm your health and potentially animals.
cause generational DNA changes, for example. Not only
that, but contrary to promises, GM crops are FAILING Instead, geneticists have discovered that the genome is
MISERABLY all across the world. The reality simply isn't remarkably dynamic and changeable, and constantly
living up to the hype of increased yields of healthy crops. 'conversing' and adapting to the environment. This
interaction determines which genes are turned on, when,
After 30 years of GMO experimentation, we have the where, by what and how much, and for how long. They've
data to show: also found that the genetic material itself has the ability to
be changed according to experience, passing it on to
*No increase in yields: on the contrary GM soya has subsequent generations.
decreased yields by up to 20 percent compared with non-

10 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


*GM food and feed linked to deaths and sicknesses both would avoid it like the plague. So, true to form, they
in the fields in India and in lab tests around the world. For supported the economic interests of the biotech companies
example, in April 2006, more than 70 Indian shepherds at the cost of long-term human and environmental health.
reported that 25 percent of their herds died within 5-7 days
of continuous grazing on Bt cotton plants. Given the You Can Still Avoid GM Food
myriad of data showing disastrous consequences for the
environment and human health, I am not exaggerating The only silver lining to all of this is that you still have a
when I say that genetically modified foods are, from my choice in whether or not to consume GM foods. No, GM-
perception, one of the most significant threats that we have containing foods are not labeled. And, yes, it takes some
against the very sustainability of the human race. diligence on your part to determine whether the food you
are eating is GM-free, but if enough people stop taking part
You're a GM Guinea Pig in this massive GM experiment, food manufacturers will
listen and stop buying GM ingredients. For a helpful,
That's right. We all are, unfortunately. straightforward guide to shopping Non-GMO, please see
the Non-GMO Shopping Guide, created by the Institute for
How did this happen? Responsible Technology.

Michael Taylor, a former vice president of public policy In addition, the natural food industry has decided to turn
and chief lobbyist at Monsanto Company(who is now the October of this year into “Non-GMO Month,” and October
senior advisor for the FDA) is the person who “oversaw the 10th (10/10/10) will be “Non-GMO Day.” Please let your
creation of GMO policy,” according to Jeffrey Smith, the friends and family know about this important event, but
leading spokesperson on the dangers of GM foods. Smith don't wait until then to get started. You can make every day
continues: a No-GMO Day, and I suggest, for the sake of your health
and the environment's, that you do.
“If GMOs are indeed responsible for massive sickness and
death, then the individual who oversaw the FDA policy Please Remember You CAN Make a Difference!
that facilitated their introduction holds a uniquely
infamous role in human history. That person is Michael GMO foods have not been in Europe since 1999 because of
Taylor. He had been Monsanto's attorney before becoming public opposition. We have already been successful in
policy chief at the FDA. Soon after, he became Monsanto's causing industry to cut down their use of HFCS and our
vice president and chief lobbyist.” campaign last year against the swine flu vaccine worked to
radically reduce the number of people immunized. So
The FDA policy being referred to is the 1992 GMO PLEASE download this report and boycott GMO foods.
policy, which stated: Vote with your wallet and you will not only keep yourself
and your family safe but your action will catalyze the
"The agency is not aware of any information showing that necessary change to eliminate these dangerous crops from
foods derived by these new methods [genetic engineering] our food supply.
differ from other foods in any meaningful or uniform way."
In fact, the overwhelming consensus among the FDA's
own scientists were that genetically modified foods were
inherently dangerous and could create allergies, toxins, Sources:
new diseases and nutritional problems, and of course they
should be labeled because they are a food additive and new New York Times April 13, 2010
food additives must be labeled.
BNET April 16, 2010
However, Smith explains, the FDA was directed by the
White House to promote the biotechnology industry, and National Research Council April 13, 2010
they knew that if they labeled GM foods, most Americans

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 11


New Alarm Bells About Chemicals and Cancer
*NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

T he President's Cancer Panel is the Mount


Everest of the medical mainstream, so it is
astonishing to learn that it is poised to join
ranks with the organic food movement and declare:
chemicals threaten our bodies.
immunologist at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in
Houston. Both were originally appointed to the panel
by former President George W. Bush.

“We wanted to let people know that we're concerned,


The cancer panel is releasing a landmark 200-page and that they should be concerned,” Professor Leffall
report on Thursday, warning that our lackadaisical told me.
approach to regulation may have far-reaching
consequences for our health. The report blames weak laws, lax enforcement and
fragmented authority, as well as the existing
I've read an advance copy of the report, and it's an regulatory presumption that chemicals are safe unless
extraordinary document. It calls on America to strong evidence emerges to the contrary.
rethink the way we confront cancer, including much
more rigorous regulation of chemicals. “Only a few hundred of the more than 80,000
chemicals in use in the United States have been tested
Traditionally, we reduce cancer risks through regular for safety,” the report says. It adds: “Many known or
doctor visits, self-examinations and screenings such suspected carcinogens are completely unregulated.”
as mammograms.
Industry may howl. The food industry has already
The President's Cancer Panel suggests other eye- been fighting legislation in the Senate backed by
opening steps as well, such as giving preference to Dianne Feinstein of California that would ban
organic food, checking radon levels in the home and bisphenol-A, commonly found in plastics and better
microwaving food in glass containers rather than known as BPA, from food and beverage containers.
plastic.
Studies of BPA have raised alarm bells for decades,
In particular, the report warns about exposures to and the evidence is still complex and open to debate.
chemicals during pregnancy, when risk of damage
seems to be greatest. That's life: In the real world, regulatory decisions
usually must be made with ambiguous and conflicting
Noting that 300 contaminants have been detected in data. The panel's point is that we should be prudent in
umbilical cord blood of newborn babies, the study such situations, rather than recklessly approving
warns that: “to a disturbing extent, babies are born chemicals of uncertain effect.
'pre-polluted.' ”
The President's Cancer Panel report will give a boost
It's striking that this report emerges not from the to Senator Feinstein's efforts. It may also help the
fringe but from the mission control of mainstream prospects of the Safe Chemicals Act, backed by
scientific and medical thinking, the President's Senator Frank Lautenberg and several colleagues, to
Cancer Panel. Established in 1971, this is a group of improve the safety of chemicals on the market.
three distinguished experts who review America's
cancer program and report directly to the president. Some 41 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with
cancer at some point in their lives, and they include
One of the seats is now vacant, but the panel members Democrats and Republicans alike.
who joined in this report are Dr. LaSalle Leffall Jr., an
oncologist and professor of surgery at Howard Protecting ourselves and our children from toxins
University, and Dr. Margaret Kripke, an should be an effort that both parties can get behind if

12 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


enough members of Congress are willing to put the www.cosmeticsdatabase.com or
public interest ahead of corporate interests. www.healthystuff.org.)

One reason for concern is that some cancers are ¶For those whose jobs may expose them to chemicals,
becoming more common, particularly in children. We remove shoes when entering the house and wash work
don't know why that is, but the proliferation of clothes separately from the rest of the laundry.
chemicals in water, foods, air and household products
is widely suspected as a factor. ¶Filter drinking water.

I'm hoping the President's Cancer Panel report will ¶Store water in glass or stainless steel containers, or in
shine a stronger spotlight on environmental causes of plastics that don't contain BPA orphthalates
health problems not only cancer, but perhaps also (chemicals used to soften plastics). Microwave food
diabetes, obesity and autism. in ceramic or glass containers.

This is not to say that chemicals are evil, and in many ¶Give preference to food grown without pesticides,
cases the evidence against a particular substance is chemical fertilizers and growth hormones. Avoid
balanced by other studies that are exonerating. To help meats that are cooked well-done.
people manage the uncertainty prudently, the report
has a section of recommendations for individuals: ¶Check radon levels in your home. Radon is a natural
source of radiation linked to cancer.
¶Particularly when pregnant and when children are
small, choose foods, toys and garden products with
fewer endocrine disruptors or other toxins. The New York Times
(Information about products is at

Need to make water conservation a people's movement: PM panel


New Delhi, May 29 The Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change yesterday approved in principle the National Water
Mission and suggested that its basic approach should be to make water conservation a people's movement in India. For this, it is
essential to mobilise citizens and state governments for focused action on water conservation and augmentation, a statement
issued by the PMO said.

The Prime Minister, who chaired the council, highlighted the need to create a general consciousness about the need to use water
in the most sustainable manner. Given the fact that there were multiple uses for water and an integrated approach based on basin
development planning needed to be evolved, he said political leadership at the local body level, state level and civil society
organisations needed to be involved in activities of the National Water Mission. Ministers and other members of the council
endorsed these views.

It was stated that the first step in this direction would be to prepare a comprehensive water data base in the public domain and the
impact of climate change on water would be assessed. Action had to be focused on vulnerable areas, where ground water was
overexploited. It was also decided that water-use efficiency should be raised by 20 per cent through the promotion of new
technologies.

Members felt incentives should be created for using water in a sustainable manner. It was felt that there was need to focus on
research and development requirements of the mission. Many members stressed the need to use opportunities from the Mahatma
Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, which already prioritises community-level water security and offers an
opportunity to convert water conservation into a people's movement.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Power Minster Sushil Kumar Shinde, Water Resources Minister Pawan Bansal, Non-
Conventional and Renewable Energy Resources Minster Farookh Abdullah, Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy,
Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja, Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh and members of the
Council were present at the meeting
(Source: Tribune News Service)

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 13


Monsanto gives Haiti $4 million in hybrid seeds
*JONATHAN M. KATZ

not immediately provide more details.

Haiti's agriculture ministry approved the donation,


while UPS and Switzerland-based Kuehne and Nagel
are assisting with the shipping and logistics,
Monsanto said.

The announcement raised concerns in Haiti that the


donation would include genetically modified seeds,
for which the country does not have a regulatory
system. Monsanto representatives said no such seeds
will be included.

Instead they are sending hybrid seeds, which are


produced by manually cross-pollinating plants. The
company said the seeds produce larger yields than

A dministrators Note: Another successful


infiltration by the ‘Seed and Food Mafia' to
pollute the food in an economically
challenged country -- all in the name of helping the
poor]
non-hybrid seeds, but that with such a variety new
seeds have to be purchased and planted every year.

For decades Haiti has been unable to feed itself, while


local farms have been wiped out by competition from
cheap foreign food and free food aid -- especially from
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti:- U.S. agriculture giant
the United States. The U.N. World Food Program
Monsanto Co. is donating $4 million worth of seeds to
estimates 2.4 million Haitians, a quarter of the
Haiti, the biotechnology manufacturer's first major
country, do not have enough to eat.
foray into the chronically hungry nation.
The Jan. 12 earthquake damaged warehouses and
The corporation, based in Creve Coeur, Missouri,
roads when it wrecked much of the capital and killed a
announced a pledge this week of 475 tons (431 metric
government-estimated 230,000 to 300,000 people.
tons) of corn and vegetable seeds. Some 130 tons (118
metric tons) have been delivered and are on their way
But the urban disaster had less effect on food than
to farmers as of Friday.
Haiti's past calamities, such as a string of 2008
hurricanes that ruined market roads and fields,
"We looked at what would be well-suited to Haitian
worsening hunger and causing some children to die in
growing conditions," said Elizabeth Vancil, the
isolated villages.
company's development partnership director.
"What we're really focused on now are these first
Farmers will have to buy the seeds at markets to avoid
shipments and trying to help during this current
flooding the local economy with free goods, but
crisis," Vancil said. Doing future business in Haiti
Monsanto will not receive any revenue from the sales,
"would be good, but it's not a requirement by any
Vancil said.
means."
A spokesman for the U.S. Agency for International
Development program distributing the seeds could
Source: Bloomberg Business Week

14 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


Hkkjr esa fdlkuksa dh nqnZ'kk D;ksa \
Mk0 d`".k chj pkS/kjh ¼v/;{k] Hkkjrh; d`"kd lekt½
ns'k es vkt fdlkuksa esa vlUrks"k HkM+d uke ij fo'ks"k vkfFkZd tksUl cuk;s tk jgs
jgk gSA fiNys yxHkx ,d n'kd esa nks gSa fons'kh /ku ds cy ij mudh fgLlsnkjh
yk[k ls T;knk fdlkukssa us dtZ ds cks> ls esa fj;klrsa [kM+h dh tk jgh gSA tehu dks
ncdj vkRe gR;k;sa dh gSA ns'k dks dkSfM+;ksa ds nkeksa ij tcjnLrh ywVk tk
vktkn gq;s 62 o"kZ gks x;s ijUrq fdlku jgk gSA bl ns'k dh Hkz"V vkSj csyxke
vkt Hkh nq[kh gSA mls mldk gd ugha fudEeh ukSdj'kkgh cM+s vkS|ksfxd ?kjkuksa
fey jgk gS ;g dSlk yksdra= gS \ tcfd vkSj cgqjk"Vªh; dEifu;ksa ds b'kkjksa ij
ns'k dk vkfFkZd <kapk vkSj 70 izfr'kr dke dj jgh gSA eujsxk vkSj fodkl dh
vkcknh iwjh rjg d`f"k ij vk/kkfjr gSA reke ;kstukvksa dh /kujkf'k dks Hkz"V
m|ksxks dks dPpk eky rFkk 58 izfr'kr vf/kdkjh ,oa usrk feydj Mdkj jgs gS A
jkstxkj d`f"k ls feyrk gSA ns'k dh 120 ctV esa Hkh m|ksxksa dks yk[kks djksM+ #i;ksa
djksM+ ls T;knk vkcknh dk isV vius [kwu dh NwV djks ds ek/;e ls nh tk jgh gS A
ilhus ls lhap dj Hkjrk gSA ljdkj dh ns'k ds xzkeh.k bykdksa esa 14 djksM+ 80
fdlku fojks/kh uhfr;ksa dh otg ls yk[k ifjokj jgrs gS buesa ls 8 djksM+ 14
vkfFkZd gkykr [kjkc gksrs tk jgs gSA yk[k fdlkuksa ds ifjokjksa esa ls vk/ks ls
vkt Hkh d`f"k dk;Z gsrq laLFkkxr _.k T;knk ifjokj dtZ eas Mwcs gS A lcls
ek= 27 izfr'kr fey ik jgk gS vkSj 73 T;knk Hk;kud fLFkfr rks fodflr izkUr
izfr'kr fdlku egktuksa vkSj vk<fr;ksa ls vka/kzizns'k 82 izfr'kr] rfeyukMq 75
dtZ ysdj dke pyk jgs gSA ftl ij mls izfr'kr] egkjk"Vª 55 izfr'kr ifjokjksa dh
cgqr T;knk C;kt nsuk iM+rk gS A fdlkuksa cu x;h gSa] tks dtsZ ds tky esa Qal x;s
dks mudh Qly dk okfto ewY; ugha gS A ;g lc d`f"k {ks= dks xyr fn'kk esa
feyrk tcfd [ksrh dh ykxr izfr fnu ys tkus dk ifj.kke gSA fdlkuksa dh
c<+ jgh gSA vkRegR;k;s Hkh lcls T;knk bUgh izns'kks es
Ns'k es txg txg fdlkuks dh Hkwfe dk gqbZ gS A vkt 'kgjh {ks=ksa ds yksxksa dh
vf/kxzg.k fd;k tk jgk gSA mnkjhdj.k ds Ø; 'kfDr c<+h gS rks nwljh vksj xzkeh.k
{ks=ksa ds yksxksa dh Ø; 'kfDr ?kVh gS A
June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 15
'kgjksa dh bl ubZ miHkksDrkoknh ih<h dh dher Hkkjh vuqnkuksa dh otg ls de gS
otg ls ns'k dh laLd`fr Hkh [krjs es iM vkSj fodkl'khy ns'kksa ds cktkj ij dCtk
x;h gs A bu gkykrksa us nqfu;k esa izfl) djus ij ywV epk;saxsA fdlkuksa dh d`f"k
Hkkjrh; thou n'kZu ds ewY;ksa ds fy, Hkwfe dks dEifu;ksa dks Bsds ij fnyok dj
dfBu pqukSfr;kW mRiUu dh gSA mUgha dEifu;ksa ds egaxs cht vkSj miknkuksa
xzkeh.k {ks=ksa esa 1993&94 esa csjktxkjh dh ds paxqy esa Qalk dj ljdkj xqyke cuok
nj 5-6 izfr'kr Fkh tks vkt c<+dj 11 nsxhA isVsUV dkuwu esa cnyko djus ls
izfr'kr ls Hkh T;knk gks x;h gSA 'kgjh tSfod o ikS/k lzksrks esa Hkkjrh; Lora=rk
{ks=ksa esa Hkh 6-7 izfr'kr ls c<+dj 10 dk leiZ.k rFkk cht vkSj ikS/kksa ds ckjs es
izfr'kr ls T;knk gks x;h gSA xzkeh.k gekjs ijEijkxr Kku dk fons'kh dEifu;ksa
vkSj 'kgjh nksuksa {ks=ksa esa cjkstxkjh c<+h }kjk vigj.k dk jkLrk lkQ dj fn;k gS A
gSA blds lkekftd vkSj vkfFkZd ns'k dh [kk|kUu lqj{kk dh lcls izFke
nq"ifj.kke lkeus vk jgs gS] vkSj vijk/k vko';'drk ^chtks* dks ljdkj cht
c<+ jgs gSA bllsa ;g Li"V gS fd ljdkj dkuwu cuk dj mls cgqjk"Vªh; dEifu;ksa dks
dh uhfr;ksa ls dgha Hkh jkstxkj ds lk/kuksa lkSius tk jgh gS D;ksafd ns'k ds ifCyd
esa c<+ksRrjh ugh gSA bl nkSj es xjhc vkSj lSDVj vkSj izkbosV lSsDVj dh fLFkfr cgqr
xjhc gks x;k gS vkSj vehj vkSj vehj gks detksj gS blfy;s chtksa ds O;kikj ij
jgs gSA D;ksafd reke vkfFkZd uhfr;ksa dk cgqjk"Vªh; dEifu;kW vklkuh ls dCtk dj
ykHk iwathifr;ksa dks fey jgk gS blfy, ysaxh vkSj tc cht muds dCts esa gks
vehj vkSj xjhc ds chp dh [kkbZ cgqr tk;sxk rks ns'k dh jksVh ij Lor% mudk
pkSMh gksrh tk jgh gS A ns'k es dsUnz vkSj dCtk gks tk;sxk A
jkT; ljdkjksa ds vkUrfjd _.kksa esa Hkh fdlkuksa dh nksgjh ywV gksrh gS tc fdlku
/kqWvk/kkj o`f) gqbZ gSA ns'k ds Bsdsnkjksa us eagxs d`f"k miknkuksa dks [kjhn dj iSnkokj
fodkl ds uke ij vU/kk/kqU/k dtZ ysdj esa o`f) djds viuk mRikn cktkj es ykrk
ns'k dks vkdaB rd dtsZ esa Mwcks fn;k gS gS rks Hkko fxj tkrs gS vkSj tSls gh lLrs
A nkeksa ij mRikn O;kikfj;ksa }kjk [kjhn dj
fodflr ns'kksa esa fu;kZr c<+kus ds fy;s vius Hk.Mkjksa es Hkj fy;s tkrs gSa rks Hkko
d`f"k dks Hkkjh vuqnku fn;k tk jgk gSA c<+ tkrs gSA c<+s gq;s Hkko dk ykHk flQZ
vUrjkZ"Vªh; cktkj esa d`f"k mRiknksa dh O;kikfj;ksa dk gksrk gSA Qly T;knk iSnk

16 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


gks tk;s rks Hkh fdlkuksa dks mldk ykHk ds cSad [kkrksa esa lh/ks nh tk;s] d`f"k ;ksX;
ugha feyrkA cMs dkiksZjsV ?kjkus vkSj Hkwfe dk vf/kxzg.k ugha fd;k tkuk pkfg,]
cgqjk"Vªh; dEifu;ka d`f+=e vHkko iSnk dj d`f"k esa mRikndrk c<+kus ds fy, gfjr
ewY; o`f) dj Hkkjh equkQk dek jgs gS [kkn vkSj dEiksLV ds iz;ksx dks c<+kok
vkSj miHkksDrkvksa dk 'kks"k.k dj jgs gS A fn;k tk;s] cM+s iSekus ij flapkbZ dh
cktkjhdj.k vkSj mnkjhdj.k ds uke ij ;kstuk,W cuk;h tk;s] d`f"k _.kksa ij C;kt
ns'k dh [kk|kUu lqj{kk ij cgqjk"Vªh; nj de fd;k tk;s] pØo`fRr C;kt lekIr
dEifu;ksa dk lcls cM+k geyk gksxk A fd;k tk;s] dtkZ u pqdkus ij tsy Hkstuk
vkt d`f"k 'kks/k xyr fn'kk es tk jgk gS cUn fd;k tk;s] ns'kh xk;ksa dh uLyksa ds
^^Hkkjr&vesfjdk d`f"k Kku le>kSrs** ls fy, vuqla/kku dsUzn cuk;s tk;s] d`f"k
ns'k ds d`f"k fo'ofo|ky;] dsUnzh; 'kks/k dk dk;Z fgUnh o lHkh {ks=h;
vuqla/kku dsUnzksa vkSj d`f"k foKku dsUnzksa Hkk"kkvksa esa izdkf'kr dj izR;sd xkao esa
ds lHkh oSKkfud ^^eksulsUVks** tSlh fdlkuksa rd igqWpk;k tk;sA
dEiuh ds b'kkjksa ij ukpsaxs vkSj mudh ljdkj tehu dks cgqjk"Vªh; dEifu;ksa vkSj
rduhd ds fy;s cktkj cuk;saxs vkSj dkiksZjsVl~ dks Bsds ij fnyokdj djksM+ks
^^okyekVZ** tSlh cM+h dEifu;kW fjVsy ds fdlku ifjokjksa dks D;ksa cjckn djuk
cktkj ij dCtk dj ysxhA d`f"k vk;kr pkgrh gS\fdlkuks dks d`f"k ls ckgj ykdj
ij ek=kRed izfrcU/k lekIr djus ls vkt dgkWa ys tk;sxh] dgkWa ls jkstxkj ds lk/ku
ns'k esa d`f"k mRiknksa dk vk;kr dbZ xquk eqgS;;k djsxh \
c<+ x;k gS A ns'k es ftruk d`f"k mRiknksa laln es fdlkuksa ds izfr oQknkj vkSj
dk vk;kr c<+sxk mruh T;knk csjkstxkjh mudh vkokt mBkus okys izfrfuf/k de
c<+sxhA vkt ljdkj fo'o O;kikj laxBu] gksus dh otg ls laln es fdlkuksa dh
fo'o cSad vkSj vkbZ0,e0,Q0 ds ncko esa etcwr ykWch ugh gS] blfy;s fdlkuksa ds
cgqjk"Vªh; dEifu;ksa ds fy;s cktkj cukus fgrksa ds fy;s uhfr;kW ugha cu ik jgh gSA
ds fy;s dk;Z dj jgh gSA ljdkj reke tkfr;ksa vkSj /keksZ es ckaVus dh jktuhfr
uhfr;ksa 15 izfr'kr ^^bf.M;k** ds fy;s dks le>uk gksxk vkSj mlls Åij mBuk
cuk jgh gS 85 izfr'kr ^^Hkkjr** ds fy;s gksxk vkSj laxfBr gksuk iM+sxkA ns'k esa
dkSu uhfr;ksa cuk;sxk \ d`f"k lcflMh dk fdlkuksa dh vkcknh 70 izfr'kr vkSj
ykHk Hkh m|ksxksa dks feyrk gS ;g fdlkuksa jktuSfrd rkdr vkSj ljdkj esa fgLlsnkjh

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 17


yxkuk ux.; gSA lcls [krjukd ckr ;s gS dEifu;ksa dks vius m|ksx yxkus dh
fd vkt ns'k esa cgqjk"Vªh; dEifu;ksa us vuqefr vkSj mUgsa lHkh djks ls eqDr
/ku ds cy ij viuk [ksy cM+s iSekus ij j[kuk ns'k ds lkFk /kks[kk gS] blls ns'k dks
'kq: dj fn;k gS vkSj muds nyky fdlku [kjcksa :i;ksa dk fjoSsU;w dk uqdlku gks
laxBuksa esa ?kqldj /ka/ksckth esa yx x;s gS jgk gSA ftUgs ns'k dk vke vkneh vHkh
A dqN laLFkkvksa us rks cgqjk"Vªh; dEifu;kWa le> ugh ik jgk gS] vusdksas a cqf)thoh Hkh
ds fgrks esa dke djus dh Bsdsnkjh ysuh vHkh Hkfo"; ds [krjksa dks HkkWi ugh ik
'kq: dj nh gS vkSj fons'k ;k=k, dj jgs jgs gSA dqN yksx rks futh LokFksakZ dh
gS A tcfd os uk rks fdlku gS] u fdlku [kkfrj cgqjkZ"Vªh; dEifu;ksa ds xq.kxku
usrk vkSj u gh d`f"k ekeyks ds fo'ks"kK gS djus esa yxs gS A 'kk;n mUgs ns'k dh
blfy, gkykr ;s gS fd muds }kjk fy[ks xqykeh dh rLohj ;kn ughaA jktuSfrd
tkus okys i=ksa ds elkSns Hkh cgqjk"Vªh; nyksa esa Hkh bu [krjksa ds ckjs esa psruk
dEifu;ksa ds nyky cuk dj ns jgs gS A,sls 'kwU; dh fLFkfr utj vk jgh gSA iawthoknh
yksx cgqjk"Vªh; dEifu;ksa ds /ku ds cy fodkl ds mnkjhdj.k ds nkSj es vkt
ij fdlkuksa ds uke ij dk;ZØe dj fdlkuksa dks cpkus ds fy;s lHkh dks
dyafdr dj jgs gS A vkokg~u djuk gksxk fd vc fdlku vkRe
ge oS'ohdj.k ds 19 o"kksZ dk fglkc ns[ks gR;k ugh djsxk] cfYd la?k"kZ djsxk vkSj
rks Li"V dg ldrs gS fd ns'k vkfFkZd viuh oksV dh jktuSfrd 'kfDr ds cy ij
ijk/khurk dh vksj rsth ls c<+ jgk gSA lRrk esa Hkkxhnkj cusxkA rHkh fdlku
fons'k O;kikj ?kkVk Hkh yxkrkj c<+rk tk cpsxk---------------- [ksr cpsxk -----------
jgk gS] gekjh vkfFkZd uhfr;kW ns'k dks ----- jksVh cpsxh--------------vkSj ns'k
[krjukd fn'kk es ys tk jgh gSA d`f"k cpsxk A
mRikn {ks= esa fons'kh dEifu;ksa dks [ksrh
Bsds ij vuqcU/k djkus dh rS;kjh] u;k
cht dkuwu ykxw djuk] [kqnjk cktkj es
fons'kh iwWth fuos'k] lalksf/kr isVsUV dkuwu]
fo'o O;kikj laxBu] fo'o cSad]
vUrjkZ"Vªh; eqnzk dks"k] cgqjkZ"Vªh; dEifu;ksa
dk [kqyk izos'k] ,l0bZ0tSM0 es cgqjk"Vªh;

18 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


Scientists call for GM review after surge
in pests around cotton farms in China
*Ian Sample
Farmland struck by infestations of bugs following
widespread adoption of Bt cotton made by biotech giant Monsanto

S cientists are calling for the long-term risks of


GM crops to be reassessed after field studies
revealed an explosion in pest numbers around
farms growing modified strains of cotton.
Traditional cotton famers have to spray their crops
with insecticides to combat destructive bollworm
pests, but Bt cotton produces its own insecticide,
meaning farmers can save money by spraying it less.
The unexpected surge of infestations "highlights a But a 10-year study across six major cotton-growing
critical need" for better ways of predicting the impact regions of China found that by spraying their crops

of GM crops and spotting potentially damaging less, farmers allowed mirid bugs to thrive and infest
knock-on effects arising from their cultivation, their own and neighbouring farms. The infestations
researchers said. are potentially catastrophic for more than 10m small-
scale farmers who cultivate 26m hectares of
Millions of hectares of farmland in northern China vulnerable crops in the region studied.
have been struck by infestations of bugs following the
widespread adoption of Bt cotton, an engineered The findings mark the first confirmed report of mass
variety made by the US biotech giant, Monsanto. infestations arising as an unintended consequence of
farmers using less pesticide a feature of Bt cotton that
Outbreaks of mirid bugs, which can devastate around was supposed to save money and lessen the crops'
200 varieties of fruit, vegetable and corn crops, have environmental impact.
risen dramatically in the past decade, as cotton
farmers have shifted from traditional cotton crops to The research, led by Kongming Wu at the Chinese
GM varieties, scientists said. Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing, is
published in the US journal, Science.

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 19


"Our work highlights a critical need to do ecological But as more farmers began growing Bt cotton, their
assessments and monitoring at the landscape-level to use of sprays declined, leading to a steady rise in pests,
better understand the impacts of GM crop adoption," including mirid bugs.
Dr Wu told the Guardian.
Over the decade-long study, cotton farms flipped from
Environmental campaigners seized on the study as being a grave for mirid bugs to a source of the pests,
further evidence that GM crops are not the where populations grew rapidly and then spilled out to
environmental saviour that manufacturers have led feed on a variety of flowering crops in neighbouring
farmers to believe. farms.

"This is a massive issue in terms of the environment, Bt cotton is modified to produce a natural insecticide
but also in terms of costs for the farmer. The plan with that is made by a soil bacterium called Bacillus
GM crops was to reduce costs and environmental thuringiensis. The toxin specifically targets
impact, but neither of these things seem to be bollworms, which can devastate cotton yields.
happening, because over time, nature takes its course,
and that was bound to happen. Additional reporting by Celia Cole

The supposed benefits in yield can be cancelled out by BT cotton timeline


unintended consequences like this," said Kirtana
Chandrasekaran, a food campaigner at Friends of the 1990: Cotton plants genetically engineered to produce
Earth. enough Bt toxin (derived from the Bacillus
thuringiensis bacterium) to be protective against
In the past decade, farmers in India and elsewhere insects
have noticed that herbicide-tolerant GM crops have
developed resistance to pesticide sprays, again 1996: First Bt cotton varieties, known as Bollgard
reducing the benefits of the crops, Chandrasekaran Cotton in US, introduced commercially by Monsanto,
said. "Reliance on GM is not sustainable. and Delta and Pine Land Company

We need to get back to using local varieties of crops 1997: China begins cultivating Bt cotton, increasing
that are adpted to the conditions, and develop an area of the crop planted to 1.8m hectares worldwide
integrated system of pest management.”
2003: Britain's large scale field trials of herbicide
While many countries around the world have tolerant GM crops. Showed that changes in herbicide
embraced GM crops, they have never taken root in use had an impact on weeds and insects that might also
Britain, where multinational companies have faced affect country wildlifem hectares worldwide
protests and vandalism to crop trials in recent years.
Britain's large-scale field trials of herbicide-tolerant 2009: 49% of cotton production worldwide is Bt
GM crops in 2003 found changes in herbicide use had cotton, or 16m hectares
an impact on weeds and insects that might also affect
country wildlife. 2010: No GM crops grown commercially in the UK.
Spain is the biggest grower in Europe, but there are
Dr Wu's team monitored insecticide use from 1992 to also significant amounts of crops grown in France,
2008 at 38 farms throughout the six northern Chinese Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Portugal.
provinces of Henan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Anhui,
Shandong and Shanxi. They also kept records of mirid
bug populations at the farms between 1997 and 2008.

Before switching to GM cotton, farmers used more Http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/m


broad-spectrum insecticides to kill bollworms and ay/13/gm-crops-pests-cotton-china/print
other pests.

20 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


Genetically Modified Corn and Soy Breed Superweeds
*Jaelithe Judy

T he law of natural selection dictates that species


will adapt, over time, to a changing
environment. And unfortunately for American
farmers who rely on GM crops, it seems that some of
the world's most invasive weeds are following
modified foods on human health, there have been a
few animal studies on the effects of certain types of
genetically modified foods that may be cause for
concern.In 2008, an Austrian study indicated that
eating GM corn may cause a decline in fertility in
nature's laws to the letter when it comes to competing mice.
with genetically modified soybeans and corn.
And in January of this year, a study published in the
Genetically modified corn and soybeans developed International Journal of Biological Sciences warned
by Monsanto in the 1990s to be resistant to the that a comparative analysis of Monsanto's own data on
synthetic herbicide glyphosate (better known by the effects of genetically modified corn, indicates that
Monsanto's trademarked name for the weedkiller, a diet heavy in GM corn may cause organ damage in
Roundup), have nearly taken over the American rural rats.
landscape.
Even as the safety of herbicide-resistant GM food
More than 80 percent of soybeans and more than 70 crops continues to be called into question by studies
percent of corn produced in the United States are the such as these, it now appears the very selling points
genetically modified, herbicide-resistant variety. that bioengineering companies used to convince
farmers to switch to genetically modified crops, may
And not without reason. Genetically modified no longer apply.
soybeans and corn make it possible for farmers to
plant their crops without tilling the soil to kill weeds In a world where nearly every field for miles and miles
first. With Roundup Ready crops, farmers can simply is sprayed every spring with a uniform fog of
douse an entire field in glyphosate; then plant their glyphosate, the weeds GM corn and GM soy were
seeds. developed to fight have done the only thing they can to
survive -- they have adapted.
According to the corporate producers of GM corn and
soy, this method of farming is actually better for the According to a report on genetically modified foods
environment than traditional large-scale farming recently released by the National Academy of
methods. Sciences Board on Agriculture and Natural
Resources, up to nine species of invasive plants that
Why? Because no-till farming reduces the runoff of interfere with food production are now naturally
fertilizer and pesticides into water systems and genetically resistant to Roundup.
prevents degradation and erosion of the soil.
The report notes, "the nearly exclusive reliance on
But environmentalists and natural food advocates glyphosate for weed control, a practice accelerated by
have been wary of GM foods since their introduction. the widespread introduction of glyphosate-resistant
crop varieties, has caused substantial changes in weed
Some scientists have argued for years that companies communities."
like Monsanto don't do enough to test the safety, or the
environmental impact, of their genetically modified Which means that some farmers who are already
crops before putting them on the market. paying premium prices for the Roundup Ready seeds
that are supposed to keep them from having to till their
Though there is still scant scientific evidence soil to kill weeds must now till anyway.
regarding the long-term effects of genetically

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 21


Farmers who have depended on Roundup and spread as needed from one generation to the next.
Roundup Ready crops for years to reduce their use of
other, more toxic herbicides, are finding they must The traditional crossbreeding techniques used by
now add those other herbicides on top of a generous people for thousands of years, sped and guided, but
application of glyphosate. did not hamper this process. We changed the plants,
but also left them free to keep changing.
Just over a decade after their development, these
artificially created, genetically modified plants that Nature's rules do not produce vast, miles-wide
were meant by their creators to permanently monoculture stands of identical clones of a single
transform agriculture, are already in danger of being plant, all bearing a single set of genetic instructions,
made obsolete by nature's own power to rearrange for a very good reason: that model of life is not
genes. sustainable on a changing planet.

This points us to the obvious question: if genetically Life needs genetic variation to thrive. By trying to
modified crops, designed to resist herbicides, provide control the genetic code of our food plants so tightly,
such a brief window of benefit to farmers, why use making sure every planted, patented seed bears the
them at all? proper modified genes, we actually cage and cripple
them. They cannot adapt without our assistance.
There are heirloom varieties of corn and soy that have
been grown by organic farmers for literally hundreds But the weeds and pests that threaten our food supply -
of years -- foods that were developed through the very - wild creatures outside our genetic control -- still can.
old-fashioned, time-tested biotechnology called And they have. Will we learn from it?
crossbreeding -- foods that have proven their safety by
safely feeding generations of people.

Though heirloom crops often require more H t t p : / / w w w. c a re 2 . c o m / c a u s e s / re a l -


individualized attention than conventional food/blog/genetically-modified-corn-and-soy-
commercial crops to thrive, some of them are make-superweeds/
surprisingly resistant to various problems and pests if
they are given the right nutrients in the right
environment.

It is absolutely true that the world needs innovative


scientific solutions to provide our growing global Find all
population with sustainable food.
Agriculture Policies
But instead of trying to best nature, we may do well to
seek new ways to thrive by nature's own rules. In Farmers Issues
nature, variety is the genuinely vital spice of life.
Products News
Species thrive in nature by harnessing the power of
diversity, capitalizing on the constant natural Video & Magazine.
variations on their own genetic codes to adapt and
compete in an ever-changing environment. For More Information.
A tiny variation in the thickness of a corn stalk or the
taste of a leaf may hold the key to successful
competition in a new set of circumstances.
Www.kisankiawaaz.org
And in nature, natural selection allows those traits to

22 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


Reishi Mushrooms Offer Help
for Those with Rheumatoid Arthritis
*William Rudolph, journalist
May 27, 2010 (NaturalNews) One of the key promoting capabilities. Reishi influences cells that
measures of a long and well lived life is adaptability. A regulate the immune system - namely, lymphatic cells
person`s ability to adapt to changing circumstances and interferon alpha and interferon beta cells - and has
goes a long way toward predicting longevity. This the ability to "educate" these cells of immunity so that
involves the responsiveness and functionality of the they better respond to the body`s needs.
immune system. A robust immune system capable of
adjusting to ever-changing situations is a key factor in In other words, with the help of Reishi, if cells of the
preventing the manifestation of a cold or cancer, or immune system are not responsive enough, they will
anything in between. be called to action, or if they are hyperactive such as in
the case of an autoimmune disorder such as RA, they
One important aspect of immune function is its ability will back down.
to self-regulate downward when needed so that it
doesn`t become hyperactive and attack your own In a 2007 study published by the University of Hong
tissues, as in the case with Rheumatoid arthritis. Kong, the polysaccharide peptides in Reishi were
Fortunately, nature has delivered an amazingly found to "significantly inhibit the proliferation of
versatile herb in the Reishi mushroom with the proven Rheumatoid Arthritis Synovial Fibroblasts (RASF)."
capacity to deliver relief and even assist in reversing
this condition.
Where steroid medications suppress the immune
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder system, Reishi doesn`t stimulate or suppress but rather
that can be characterized by chronic inflammation of educates, helps modulate, and teaches the cells of the
the tissues and organs, but it usually attacks the joints. immune system how to self-regulate more effectively.
This hyper-inflammatory response can lead to the When your white blood cells graduate from the School
destruction of cartilage and the loss of mobility. of Reishi, they are better equipped to manage your
Symptoms of RA can include swollen and stiff joints, immune system.
accompanied by considerable pain and loss of
function. It is three times more common in women Reishi capsules or a Reishi tea that you consume today
than men, with the first onset of symptoms usually may have been one hundred years or more in the
occurring between the ages of 40 and 60. making. First, a tree grows and lives for decades,
absorbing energy and nutrients from the sun and the
RA is usually treated by mainstream medicine with soil. Then, when the tree begins to die, mushrooms
cortisone-like steroids that suppress the immune will attach to the tree, absorb the life force and further
system. Even in low dosages, these drugs can cause concentrate the nutritional content and medicinal
osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, weight gain, or qualities that the tree has acquired throughout its life.
high blood sugar. Most importantly, this unnatural
and dangerous approach to artificially suppressing the Once the mushrooms are harvested and encapsulated
immune system can leave you susceptible to or made into powders or teas, this concentrated life
infections. force is transferred to its end user. This process
represents unleashing the power of Mother Nature
Reishi mushroom, also known as Ganoderma onto your immunity.
lucidum, is one of the oldest known herbal medicines
in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is native to
China, Japan, and North America, has been used for Http://www.naturalnews.com/028874_reishi_arth
thousands of years, and is revered for its longevity- ritis.html

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 23


Study Links Pesticides and ADHD
*Melissa Breyer
May 17, 2010- Exposure to pesticides is associated organophosphate malathion were found in 28 percent
with increased risk of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity of frozen blueberry samples, 25 percent of strawberry
Disorder (ADHD) in children, according to a team of samples, and 19 percent of celery samples.
scientists from the University of Montreal and
Harvard University. Children are thought to be at greatest risk from
organophosphate toxicity because the developing
Published in the journal Pediatrics, the study focused brain is more susceptible to neurotoxicants and the
on 1,139 children from the general U.S. population dose of pesticides per body weight is likely to be larger
and measured pesticide levels in their urine. for children.

The authors conclude that exposure to Children 6 to 11 years of age have the highest urinary
organophosphate pesticides, at levels common concentrations of dialkyl phosphate (DAP)
among U.S. children, may contribute to a diagnosis of metabolites (markers of organophosphate exposure),
ADHD. compared with other age groups in the U.S.
population. As well, children have fewer detoxifying
In the past, exposure to organophosphates has been enzymes, which contributes to their vulnerability.
associated with negative effects on
neurodevelopment, such as behavioral problems and The best way to limit exposure to pesticides is to limit
lower cognitive function. the intake of foods with high pesticides loads. What
are the worst culprits for pesticide residue?
However earlier studies have focused on populations
with greater pesticide exposure relative to the general The Shopper's Guide developed by Environmental
population. Working Group (EWG) is based on data from nearly
87,000 tests for pesticide residues in produce
This study was conducted with 1139 children 8 to 15 collected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and
years of age, representative of the general U.S. the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
population. The findings showed that children with
higher urinary levels of organophosphate metabolites Here are the top 15 fruits/vegetables from the guide
were more likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for that contain the most pesticide (number one being the
ADHD. worst). It is advised, whenever possible, to purchase
these items organically:
According to the study, approximately 40
organophosphate pesticides are registered with the 1. Celery, 2. Peaches, 3. Strawberries
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use
in the United States. 4. Apples, 5. Blueberries (Domestic), 6. Nectarines

The EPA considers food, drinking water, and 7. Sweet Bell Peppers, 8. Spinach,
residential pesticide use major sources of exposure.
Residential pesticide use is common, but the 9. Kale / Collard Greens, 10. Cherries, 11. Potatoes
important source of exposure to pesticides for infants
and children would be from the diet, says the National 12. Grapes (Imported), 13. Lettuce,
Academy of Sciences.
14. Blueberries (Imported), 15. Carrots
The U.S. Pesticide Residue Program Report for 2008
notes that measurable concentrations of the Mail by googlegroup.com

24 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


US states move to ban BPA even
while US FDA does nothing
Alternative Medicine in the News
May 2010 - An increasing number of USA states Industry rhetoric is not enough to convince the
are considering banning bisphenol-A (BPA) public, however, which is increasingly opposed
from food and drink containers in response to to the chemical's use in food containers.
growing concerns that the chemical causes
cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and other serious Many manufacturers have responded to the
illnesses. outcry over BPA by voluntarily eliminating it
from their containers and noting on labels that the
Despite disregard by the U.S. Food and Drug products are "BPA free".
Administration (FDA) about its potential In addition to Connecticut and Massachusetts,
dangers, states like Connecticut and the city of Chicago and Suffolk County, New
Massachusetts have passed legislation outlawing York have also banned BPA from food containers
the chemical from being used in food and drink as has the entire nation of Canada.
containers.
New Mexico, Maryland, Missouri, California,
For years, the FDA has denied that BPA is New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Vermont, and
dangerous, even when numerous studies have Washington, D.C., also have pending legislation
indicated that the chemical leeches into food and to ban the chemical as well.
disrupts hormones.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and
After being pressed to reevaluate its position by Human Services (HHS), plastic containers
the National Toxicology Program and others whose bottoms bear a 3 or 7 in the triangle
who disagreed with the FDA's position, the recycling logo likely contain BPA.
agency reluctantly agreed to take a look at the
evidence once more. Those with a 1, 2, 4, 5, or 6 most likely do not.
HHS also recommends not using plastic
Last month, the FDA announced that it now has containers that are scratched since they are more
"some concerns" about BPA's effect on brain likely to leech toxic chemicals.
development in children and babies, but would
not admit that the chemical is dangerous or It is always good practice not to put really hot
unsafe. liquids into plastic containers, since doing so can
encourage leeching of chemicals like BPA.
The agency has stated it will not issue a ban on
BPA, even though it agrees that the chemical is Freezing plastic bottles is also a bad idea because
likely problematic. it can encourage leeching as well.

Spokesmen from the American Chemistry


Council (ACC) agreed with the FDA's decision,
insisting that a ban on BPA is unnecessary. Sources-
According to ACC, research indicates that BPA http://content.usatoday.com/communi...
is perfectly safe.

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 25


Bill Gates funds covert vaccine nanotechnology
*Mike Adams

T he Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is gaining a


reputation for funding technologies designed to
roll out mass sterilization and vaccination
programs around the world. One of the programs recently
funded by the foundation is a sterilization program that
with water fluoridation. Fluoride is a drug, and regional
and national governments all over the world are using the
water supply as a way to deliver the fluoride drug to people
whether they need it or not -- and without any proper
medical diagnosis or prescription.
would use sharp blasts of ultrasound directed against a
man's scrotum to render him infertile for six months. It So if governments are already covertly medicating people
might accurately be called a "temporary castration" with fluoride in the water supply, they've set the stage
technology. mass-vaccinating people through similar channels, such as
the air supply in buildings. And thanks to Bill Gates, this
Now, the foundation has funded a new "sweat-triggered nanotechnology needed to pull this off is now being
vaccine delivery" program based on nanoparticles funded. Is this really a "major breakthrough in global
penetrating human skin. The technology is describes as a health?"
way to "...develop nanoparticles that penetrate the skin
through hair follicles and burst upon contact with human I suppose it is if you believe in covert medicine where you
sweat to release vaccines.” dose people with drugs or vaccines without their
knowledge. Western medicine is so offensive to rational
The research grant money is going to Carlos Alberto people that it can't even operate out in the open. That's why
Guzman of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research in it resorts to covert contamination of the water supply in
Germany and Claus-Michael Lehr and Steffi Hansen of the order to force the public to swallow its drugs.
Helmholtz-Institute for Pharmaceutical Research. These
are both part of the Gates Foundation's involvement in the Fluoride and covert medicine
"Grand Challenges Explorations" program which claims
to be working to "achieve major breakthroughs in global Oh, by the way, to anyone who argues that fluoride is not a
health.” drug, remember this: According to the FDA, any chemical
substance that has a biological effect on the human body is,
...breakthroughs like mass sterilization and nanoparticle by definition, a drug. Therefore fluoride is a drug, too.
vaccines that could be covertly administered even without
your knowledge, it turns out. These nanoparticles could be Even more, fluoride is promoted with outlandish claims
used in a spray mist that's sprayed on to every person who about "preventing cavities" by swallowing it, making it an
walks through an airport security checkpoint, for example. "unapproved drug" according to the FDA. So how is it that
Or it could be unleashed through the ventilation systems of this unapproved drug can be dripped into the water supply
corporate office buildings or public schools to vaccinate and forced upon hundreds of millions of people without a
the masses. You wouldn't even know you were being single diagnosis of fluoride deficiency or even a single
vaccinated. prescription from a doctor?

This technology is potentially very dangerous to your The answer is that western medicine is so arrogant that it
health freedom. Using it, governments or drug companies does not believe it needs to follow any rules, regulations or
(which are all the same thing these days) could create a laws. It is a system of "bully" medicine where drugs are
vaccine skin cream that's handed out and described as shoved down your throat by being covertly dripped into the
"sunscreen." But when you put it on, you're actually water supply without your consent. So why should we
vaccinating yourself as the nanoparticles burrow believe vaccines will be any different? If mainstream
underneath your skin and burst, releasing foreign DNA medicine can find a way to force every person to
inside your body. unknowingly be injected with vaccines, make no mistake
they will pursue it!
A history of covert mass medication
And such efforts will no doubt have the continued financial
But why would the government medicate people without support of Bill Gates.
their knowledge or consent, you ask? They already do it
Http://www.naturalnews.com/028887_vaccines_Bill_Gates.html

26 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


Farmer relief package turns suicidal: CAG

A
farmers.
griculture being the main source of income
for the country, the government earlier
announced some fund relief for the distressed
The audit slams the government for weak monitoring,
delays in payments of compensation and lack of
coordination in implementing the packages. The audit
conducted between March and June 2007 highlights
some glaring deficiencies.
But things has not worked according. The number of It is the first report evaluating implementation of the
suicide by the farmers surprisingly has only packages since they were announced two years back.
increased.
The CAG report says that government directives for
THE GOVERNMENT has pumped in Rs 5,000 crore moneylenders to free farmers lands were turned down
in the suicide belts of Vidarbha over the last two years. by the High Court when moneylenders approached it.
Yet, farmers continue to kill themselves.
Neither did the government challenge the court ruling
Now, a performance audit by the Comptroller and nor did it strengthen the existing laws in favour of the
Auditor General (CAG) of India has exposed the farmers.
futility of the package..
A door-to-door survey in 2006 by the state showed
A report titled Performance Audit of Farmers Package there were 13.48 lakh distressed and 4.34 lakh very
by the CAG of India, has concluded that the package distressed farmers in these six districts. But they were
has failed in its basic purpose, that of reducing the not considered when benefits were handed out.
agrarian crisis in the six affected districts of Vidarbha.
Short-term measures like help-lines and rescheduling
The districts are Yavatmal, Amravati, Wardha, Akola, loans were ineffective for most farmers. The report
Buldhana and Washim also questioned long-term goals, like creating
irrigation potential and subsidiary occupations for
"Reduction in farmers distress in Vidarbha does not farmers.
inspire confidence,” the report emphatically states.
Adding that unless corrective measures are taken, As per CAG report, it is now official that all claims
"The agrarian distress would start rising again in the made by the state administration as per as
closing years of the package. implementation of relief packages are concern were
misleading and far away from the ground reality that
Such distress could increase significantly particularly has killed more innocent distressed Vidarbha farmers.
after the moratorium of loan repayment expires,"
cautions Sunil Dadhe, the accountant general (audit) Here is the detail of CAG report officially released by
in his concluding remarks. Maharashtran government.

A survey, covering 41,663 farmers in 383 villages of Suicides by debt-ridden Vidarbha farmers have
the six districts worst hit by cotton failures in actually accelerated after Prime Minister Manmohan
Vidarbha, was part of the CAG audit of the farmers Singh announced the multi-crore relief package in
packages announced by the state and central 2006.
governments in 2006.
The state administration is blamed for lack of co-
It found that 36 per cent of farmers were not even ordination and a faulty implementation of plans.
aware of the state and central government packages.
The CAG statistics reveal that the suicide graph has

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 27


been on the rise. From 712 farmers in 2005-06, to A scrutiny of the state government records in
1414 suicides in 2006-07 the total suicide deaths Amravati by the CAG has revealed that 224 eligible
reported from April-July 2007-08 stood at 608. farmers were deprived of the compensation of Rs 2.14
lakh due to non-availability of funds, speaking
The report was tabled in the state legislature , hours volumes about the state administration' s handling of
before the seven-week budget session was prorogued. the issue.

Dadhe has demolished the state government's claim, The report said that many banks claimed interest
that alls well after funds flow from the relief package. without extending fresh loans to the distressed
In fact the CAG team has asserted that there is no farmers. Of the 17.64 lakh farmers in the six districts,
monitoring of the implementation of the packages. 9.29 lakh cases of loan having outstanding principle
amount of Rs 1,369 crore were proposed to be
"Though the state created the Vasantrao Naik Sheti rescheduled after waiver of interests.
Swawalamban Mission (VNSSM) for monitoring of
the implementation of the packages, it had no However, fresh loans of Rs 673 crore (43 per cent)
dedicated staff apart from its director general and a were given in 4.84 lakh cases. "The waiver of interest
driver. in all these cases did not help the families of the
farmers concerned in income augmentation since loan
Consequently, it failed to even watch the expenditure was not rescheduled.
incurred by the implementing departments under
various components,' ' the report said. Further the government waived interest on 1. 92 lakh
farm workers, though the packages did not envisage
The auditors, who surveyed 363 villages covering assistance to those who were not farmers,'' the report
41,663 farmers, said the state failed to implement its said.
announcements that farmers who took loans from
unregistered moneylenders can treat themselves free The Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti (VJAS) president
from that loan. Kishor Tiwari urged UPA government to order CBI.
inquiry in this matter as issue of huge malpractices in
In fact, the CAG survey revealed that 75 per cent of more than Rs.5000 crore.
their respondents were unaware of this announcement
in absence of adequate and effective publicity. This failure of relief package has resulted to more than
3000 suicides of farmers.
The CAG report reveals that illegal money lenders
have got relief from the courts after the assistant In fact VJAS has demanding that due to total apathy of
registrars of the cooperative societies (ARCS) administration and causal attitude, coupled with
declared the farmers free from debts. massive corruption has made this condition of rural
Vidarbha so pathetic and aggravated that the agrarian
In 18 writ petitions filed by the money lenders the crisis grew more after the announcement of relief
Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court passed package;as the relief did not reached the dying
orders setting aside the orders of the ARCS. farmers in time even after the lapse of two year.

"The government neither appealed against the orders It is the need of the time to provide food security
(in the Supreme Court) nor took any remedial action health care to minimum 4.34 lakh farming families
like amendment of the relevant acts to secure the who are identified by administration as farmers in
interests of the indebted farmers. deep distress, Tiwari added.

Consequently the affected farmers did not get the


intended benefit of the government decision of
December 2005,'' it said.
Http://www.merinews.com/article/farmer-relief-

28 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


Broccoli Component Limits
Breast Cancer Stem Cells
May 27 2010- Sulforaphane, a compound found in That's it!
broccoli, could help treat breast cancer by targeting cancer
stem cells, which fuel the growth of tumors. In that case, the researchers determined that the cancer-
protective benefits were derived from a particular
Sulforaphane was tested in both mice and cell cultures. It sulforaphane compound called isothiocyanate, which
targeted and killed the cancer stem cells and prevented new sparks hundreds of beneficial changes in your genes. It
tumors from growing. activates some genes that fight cancer, and switches off
other genes whose job it is to aid in tumor growth.
Science Daily reports:
Now, if you go back about 10 years, researchers looking at
“Current chemotherapies do not work against cancer stem broccoli for cancer prevention discovered that
cells, which is why cancer recurs and spreads. Researchers glucoraphanin a precursor to sulforaphane boosts cell
believe that eliminating the cancer stem cells is key to enzymes that protect against molecular damage from
controlling cancer.” cancer-causing chemicals.

Dr. Mercola's Comments: So the biological mechanisms behind broccoli's ability to


act as a cancer preventive aid are numerous, and they
If you've read this newsletter for awhile, you've surely function on multiple levels within your system.
heard that broccoli is one of nature's most potent cancer-
preventing foods. Several studies attest to this fact. The healing, restorative power of vegetables have been
researched and known for some time, but remain largely
One of the reasons that broccoli seems to work is related to unappreciated; overshadowed by the massive marketing of
a compound called sulforaphane. It selectively targets pharmaceutical drugs that seek to provide symptomatic
cancer stem cells, and by doing so, it effectively prevents relief, and processed, denatured foods, filled with man-
the cancer from spreading and/or recurring. made chemicals and unnatural additives and flavors all of
which do more harm than good in the long term.
This is something current chemotherapies cannot do, but Meanwhile, as illustrated in a 2001 study, women who
food can! consumed at least 2.5 servings of fruit and vegetables daily
as adolescents were 46 percent less likely to develop
If that's not a powerful testament to the inherent wisdom ovarian cancer.
and symbiotic relationship between man and food, I don't
know what is. I can't think of any drug that can beat those prevention
odds.
The Health Boosting, Cancer Preventive Mechanisms
of Broccoli Broccoli has also been found to be effective against other
A diet of mostly whole, organically-grown foods is the types of cancer, including lung cancer ,skin cancer, and
most effective way to prevent disease and achieve optimal stomach cancer.
health there is. No doubt about it.
!Additional health benefits also include:
And while Science Daily states that “the concentrations of !Reversing diabetes damage
sulforaphane used in the study were higher than what can !Restoring your immune system
be achieved by eating broccoli or broccoli sprouts,” that !Preventing and treating ulcers (it may actually be more
has certainly not been the case in other studies. effective than modern antibiotics against the bacteria that
In fact, one study published in PLoS, found that just four cause peptic ulcers!)
extra servings of broccoli per week could protect men from
prostate cancer. Is Broccoli the Right Choice for You?

One serving of broccoli equates to about two spears. So While I believe foods, especially vegetables, are a far
we're only talking approximately 10 spears a week, folks. smarter choice to treat serious health challenges like cancer

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 29


than using most drugs, certain foods such as broccoli may D levels. Control your insulin levels, and be sure to limit
not be ideal for everyone. your intake of processed foods.

One of the most serious mistakes a protein type can make is Eliminate sugar as much as possible as it's been shown
to consume large amounts of dark green vegetables. This again and again that sugar feeds cancer. Fructose is
tends to over-alkaline your system and worsens rather than especially problematic so also be sure to limit your fructose
improves your health if you're a protein type, despite the intake.
many beneficial phytonutrients that are present.
Eat broccoli and/or cauliflower sprouts, depending on your
This is where a deep appreciation of nutritional typing will nutritional type.
assist you in selecting the best vegetables for you.
Although broccoli, and even more so, broccoli sprouts, Consume fresh vegetable juice daily - including one small
contain the highest amounts of isothiocyanates, other tomato (lycopene).
cruciferous vegetables also contain this compound,
including: Get appropriate amounts of animal-based omega-3 fats
such as krill oil, and reduce your intake of omega-6 oils.
brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage , arugula,
watercress , horseradish Consume freshly ground flaxseeds - two ounces every
other day. Selenium - 400 mcg per day.
Good News! Free Nutritional Typing Will Soon Be
Available Vitamin E - 400 units per day. (Please note: Only natural
vitamin E should be used, not synthetic. Additionally,
I strongly believe that nutritional typing is the master key mixed tocopherol is more preferable than alpha-
to determining your optimal diet, and an optimal diet is tocopherol, as the gamma tocopherols are particularly
essential to increasing your health without ever touching a useful antioxidants.)
drug.
This is why I will soon give away my nutritional typing Boil, poach or steam your foods, rather than frying or
program completely free of charge. charbroiling them. Better yet eat as many of your foods raw
LINK as you can.
So keep on the lookout for this offer in a future issue of this
newsletter! Get appropriate exercise. One of the primary reasons
exercise works is that it drives your insulin levels down.
I want you to be aware of just how important it is to Controlling insulin levels is one of the most powerful ways
understand your body at a deeper level, because if you are a to reduce your cancer risks.
protein type and were to eat too much broccoli, the other
effects of broccoli might push your metabolic Have a tool to permanently erase the neurological short-
biochemistry in the wrong direction and thus override its circuiting that can activate cancer genes. Even the CDC
benefits. states that 85 percent of disease is caused by emotions. It is
likely that this factor may be more important than all the
When you eat properly for your particular type, however, other physical ones listed here, so make sure this is
you will experience increased daily energy, improved addressed.
emotional well-being, a feeling of satiety and satisfaction,
and, of course, optimized health and weight so you live My favorite tool, as you may know, is the Emotional
longer. Freedom Technique. Get enough high-quality sleep
Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins and sources
Further Guidelines to Help Avoid and Treat Breast of heavy metals. Reduce your exposure to EMFs like cell
(and Prostate) Cancer and portable phones.

The guidelines for preventing and treating breast cancer Check your ferritin level and make sure you don't have iron
and prostate cancer are almost identical. excess as this can clearly increase your risk of cancer.
Below are 15 lifestyle recommendations for how to avoid
and treat both types of cancer:

Optimize your vitamin D levels with appropriate sun


exposure. Ideally, it would be best to monitor your vitamin

30 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


How useful is Genetic Engineering
*Bharat Dogra

I n the context of agriculture and animal husbandry,


genetic engineering has far-reaching implications
as it allows the introduction into plants and
animals of entirely new characteristics, including
genes originally found in unrelated plants, animals or
organism to another in a significant number of cases.
The limited ability to transfer identifiable molecular
characteristics between organisms through genetic
engineering does not constitute the demonstration of
any comprehensive or reliable system for predicting
micro-organisms. This is very different from all the significant effects of transposing genes.”
traditional breeding practices, and we need time to
consider all its possible impacts. In a widely quoted paper titled “The Biotechnology
Bubble” Dr Mae-Wan Ho (who heads Bio-
However, technology is spreading so fast that very Electrodynamics lab of the Open University in the
adverse consequences can result even before we have UK), Joe Cummins (Professor Emeritus of Genetics in
the time to understand the implications. At a very Canada) and Hartmut Meyer have summarised the
early stage of its development this technology has got results of several experiments, trials and commercial
heavily concentrated in the hands of a few giant releases of GMOs. They write : “There are many signs
corporations which are interested in its quick of the problems caused in genetic engineering
commercial exploitation recover their investments organisms. For every product that reaches the market,
and reap profits. In the process, critics fear, very there are perhaps 20 or more that fail. It is particularly
serious and irreversible damage can be caused to our disastrous for animal welfare.
environment, to our food system and to the health of
millions of people. The “superpig” engineered with a human growth
hormone gene turned out arthritic, ulcerous, blind and
Several scientists involved in studying the impotent. The “supersalmon” engineered, again, to
implications and impacts of genetic engineering got grow as fast as possible, with genes belonging to other
together at the International Conference on fish, ended up with big monstrous heads and died from
“Redefining of Life Sciences” organised at Penang, not being able to see, breathe or feed properly.
Malaysia, by the Third World Network. They issued a
statement (the Penang Statement, or PS) which The latest clones of the transgenic sheep Dolly are
questioned the scientific basis of genetic engineering. abnormal and eight times as likely to die at birth
compared with ordinary lambs. Even products that
This statement said: “The new biotechnology based reach the market are failing, including crops that have
upon genetic engineering makes the assumption that been widely planted.
each specific feature of an organism is encoded in one
or a few specific, stable genes, so that the transfer of Recently 17 distinguished scientists from Europe, the
these genes results in the transfer of a discrete feature. USA, Canada and New Zealand wrote to the Prime
This extreme form of genetic reductionism has Minister of India warning against “the unique risks (of
already been rejected by the majority of biologists and GM crops) to food security, farming systems and bio-
many other members of the intellectual community safety impacts which are ultimately irreversible.” This
because it fails to take into account the complex letter adds, “The GM transformation process is highly
interactions between genes and their cellular, mutagenic leading to disruptions to host plant genetic
extracellular and external environments that are structure and function, which in turn leads to
involved in the development of all traits. disturbances in the biochemistry of the plant. This can
lead to novel toxin and allergen production as well as
“It has thus been impossible to predict the reduced/ altered nutrition quality.”
consequences of transferring a gene from one type of

June - 2010 Kisan Ki Awaaz 31


US Farmers Are Bailed Out,
Indian Farmers Are Left To Die
*Devinder Sharma
Ground Reality the farm families pocketed 74 per cent of the entire
subsidy.

A midst the raging debate on the farm suicide


toll in India comes this interesting report
about the huge agricultural subsidies being
doled out to the US farmers.
6. On an average, the wealthiest 10 per cent received a
total payment of $ 445,127 in the past 15 years
.
7. Small farmers received an average of $ 8,862 per
In India, nearly 200,000 farmers have taken the fatal recepient in the same period.
route to escape the humiliation that comes along with
growing indebtedness (in the absence of direct Now this should be some form of an eyeopener. After
income support) between 1997 and 2008. all, when we tell Indian farmers to increase
productivity (and I see this being the usual refrain
The US has paid a quarter of a trillion as farm among agricultural scientists, agribusiness companies
subsidies in almost the same period, between 1995 and parliamentarians) I fail to understand how
and 2009. Farmers not only get "direct support", they enhancing crop yields would increase farm income.
also receive the benefit of "counter-cyclic payments",
"market loss payments" and now subsidies under the I have often asked this question to senior scientists and
crop insurance programme and the bio-fuel economists, who unfortunately have no idea of the
programme. political economy that determines farm wealth in the
OECD countries.
No wonder, while Indian farmers take to gallows, US
farmers (I am talking of the big farmers/Corporate They tend to believe that farmers in US/Europe are
firms) quietly proceed on a cruise holiday every year. rich because they have high productivity. To my
understanding, this is the primary reason why Indian
The report "Government's Continued Bailout for farmers continue to suffer.
Corporate Agriculture"http://bit.ly/accyio published
by Environmental Working Group (EWG) They have been misled to believe that the higher their
endorses what is being said in this column time and crop productivity, the more will be their income. In the
again. Let us look at some of the salient findings: US, farmers are surviving because of direct income
support (in various forms) and not because of the
1. US paid a quarter of a trillion in farm subsidies 'farm-to-fork' kind of market operations.
between 1995 and 2009.
The US knows the cost of feeding the loss-making
2. Direct payments have averaged around $ 5 billion farms is much more than what is normally spent on
every year since 2005. importing food. But it still is willing to take that risk
knowing that food self-sufficiency is fundamental to
3. Subsidies under the crop insurance programme national sovereignty.
have tripled -- from $ 2.7 billion in 2005 to $ 7.3
billion in 2009. In fact, it goes a step ahead. It is making an all out
effort (along with the EU) to be the food bowl of the
4. Since 1995, crop insurance subsidies have crossed globe. The more the world depends upon US/EU for
$ 35 billion. food, the more will be the political dominance of these
two blocks over the entire world.
5. Between 1995 and 2009, the richest 10 per cent of

32 Kisan Ki Awaaz June - 2010


Hkkjr esa fdlkuksa dh nqnZ'kk D;ksa \
R.N.I.. No. DELENG/2009/30545 DL(E)-20/5324/2010-2012

Save Tree, Save Water, Save Fuel,


To make the Earth Cool

To Save Farmers Rights,


To Save Land Rights,
To Save Food Rights,

Be the member of
Bharatiya Krishak Samaj
(A National Farmers Organisation)
By the Farmers,
Of the Farmers,
For the Farmers.

Dr. Krishan Bir Chaudhary


President,

If undelivered return to : F-1/A, Pandav Nagar, Delhi-110091,Telefax: 011-22751281

Potrebbero piacerti anche