India observes a Day of Fasting on Jan 30th against Bt brinjal (aubergine)
You can sign up to support the campaign at: http://brinjal.org
In the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, thousands of people all over India and the world are joining the National Day of Fast on Jan 30th. From Kerala to Delhi and Bengal to Gujarat in India, and Baton Rouge to Boston in the US, they are opposing the introduction of genetically modified (GM) Bt Brinjal into the Indian markets. GM foods like Bt brinjal pose a large threat to health, agriculture and environment, and they need to be strongly opposed in order to preserve farmers' self-reliance and control over seeds and agriculture, and protect the consumers' access to safe healthy food.
Bt Brinjal is made by inserting a toxin-producing gene from the Bt bacteria into the brinjal plant. India is the first country where the seed companies are trying to introduce Bt brinjal, and indeed the first time a directly consumed vegetable is being modified. Animals grazing in Bt cotton fields have died or faced serious illnesses, and introducing this technology into our own food is very risky for health, bio-safety and environment.
As BT Brinjal public consultations, led by the honorable Min. Jairam Ramesh, happening across the country come to its final stages, several state governments representing the bulk of the brinjal growing states have already decided to say no to Bt Brinjal.
More than 800 people have already joined online, in addition to the thousands who cannot access the web but plan to join on the street. Consumers, scientists, medical community, public servants, and even government agencies are joining at this historic juncture. Same day events have been planned at 64 different cities across 14 states in the country.
Please sign up to support the campaign at: http://brinjal.org
