Press Release: Launch of I AM NO LAB RAT campaign.

[Guest guest]

Hamara Beej Abhiyan 1181/2146, Ratnakar

Bag – 2 Tankapani Road Bhubaneswar. DT: 15.10.08

PRESS RELEASE “I AM NO LAB RATâ€

–Consumer Awareness Campaign against Genetically Modified Food Bhubaneswar: Hamara Beej Abhiyan, a movement to

restore the right to seed of farmers, has launched a campaign against the

introduction of Genetically Modified (GM), food. Formally titled “I am no lab

ratâ€, this campaign highlights the fact that human beings are being subjected

to a mass experiment by the way of GM food, whereby plants are genetically

modified to include novel characteristics.

It is of great concern, that this

campaign points out, is that genes of sexually incompatible species are being

interchanged. Spider, scorpion, toxic bacteria and even human genes are being

introduced into such commonly consumed food such as brinjal, cabbage, cowpeas,

bhindi and even rice. The idea is to make the crops toxic to pests but without

bothering to investigate the effect on humans.

Laboratory experiments on rats

has revealed that upon being fed genetically modified food, these rats

displayed symptoms of immune system damage, stunted growth, misshapen cell

structures in different organs, organ damage particularly to liver and kidneys,

bleeding ulcers in stomach, reduced digestive enzymes, inflamed lung tissue,

higher offspring mortality etc.

Thus the food that we have so

confidently eaten for the last so many centuries is soon going to be so

drastically changed and made dangerous. The Indian Government (the Genetic

Engineering Approval Committee) is on the verge of releasing the first

genetically modified food crop for human consumption, Bt-Brinjal, which will be

followed by all other vegetables, cereals and fruits. Following huge

resistance, especially in Europe and many other countries, the big seed

companies are now eyeing India for their experiments.

Bt Brinjal, as the name suggests,

contains the toxin producing gene from the toxic bacteria Bacillus

Thuringiensis, in an effort to kill the pests like fruit and stem borer. However

what effect this toxic brinjal will have on humans who consumed it is not being

investigated. Independent research has revealed that the Bt toxin is not

destroyed by cooking and has the ability to interfere with the gut bacteria in

humans. The Bt toxin Cry1Ac protein has tested positive on all parameters of

tests for allergy. In a horrific incident in 1989, dozens of Americans died and several thousands were afflicted and

impaired by a genetically altered version of the food supplement –

L-tryptophan. A settlement of $2 billion dollars was paid by Showa Denko , Japan ’s

third largest chemical company. (Mayeno and Gleich, 1994). The programme was launched in

Hotel The New Marrion by Secretary Wildlife Society of Orissa Sri Biswajit

Mohanty unveiling a cage where a half human half rat specimen was enclosed

signifying that the human race has become a laboratory rat for the dangerous GM

food experiment.

Sri Bhabani Das of Hamara Beej

Abhiyan described why the “I Am No Lab rat†was launched as a means to sensitize

the urban consumers and is running successfully all over India . The

response has been very good and people are signing a petition to the Union

Health Minister protesting the GM food experiment in very large numbers. He

said anybody could visit the website www.iamnolabrat.com

and going to the petition page, fill in the required details, and participate

in the petition signature campaign. He said that a van carrying the caged “lab

rat†would move all around the city for the next one week to create awareness

about the adverse effects of GM crops. He also spoke that because the GM crops

could contaminate other crop, all our food can become exceedingly toxic. The

process of contamination was irreversible he pointed out.

Sri Saroj Mohanty of Paschim

Ordisha Krushak Sangathan Samamvay Samiti

spoke about the illegal cultivation of Bt Cotton in Orissa. If the

government was not able to check this illegal cultivation how could it ensure

that the strict bio safety protocols to be followed during the cultivation of

GM crops? Have the farmers been able to follow the instructions of the State

with regard to fertilisers and pesticides, he questioned.

Sri Debjeet Sarangi of Living

Farms spoke about the threat to food sovereignty and how GM was all about

patenting seeds and handing over the ownership of the world’s food to a few

American multinationals.

The launch was followed by a

press conference.

(Bhabani Das), (Saroj Mohanty) (Debjeet Sarangi) (Jagannath Chatterjee) Hamara Beej Abhiyan.

 

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