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Biosafety breakdown in India/ Schmeiser tours California (8/11/2006)

1.Bt Bhindi field trial poses human risk
2.Percy Schmeiser tours California

EXTRACT: Though field trials for genetically modified food crops is happening across the country, experience has shown that monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure biosafety is far from satisfactory. (item 1)
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1.Bt Bhindi field trial poses human risk
NDTV, November 8 2006
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?slug=Bt+Bhindi+field+trial+poses+human+risk&id=95994&category=National

(Hyderabad): Farmers in Karnal in Haryana recently set fire to a crop of genetically modified rice.

They said the field trial was being done secretly and no steps had been taken to ensure that contamination of rice being grown nearby did not take place.

Another field trial, this time of Bt Bhindi, in the Gulbarga region of Karnataka has shown gross violations of regulatory guidelines.

"We have been told not to allow any TV camera to shoot. We spray pesticide every four to eight days, not once in 15 days like the farmers. We have harvested about 12 times. We put it in a pit, we don't market it," said Bheema Shankar, Field Assistant, Mahyco.

Biosafety violations

The testimony confirmed that there are no foolproof measures in place to ensure that no one eats the untested Bt Bhindi by accident. There are other biosafety violations as well.

The village panchayat committee has no information on the field trial either.

"They have not informed any of us," said Laxman Poojary, Panchayat Committee Member, Nandikur.

Somasekhar Nadekkatti, a seed dealer, who leased land to Mahyco for the trial, said he is not happy with the Bt cotton grown on his field this year.

"On my three acres that I have grown Bt cotton commercially, I have lost the entire crop because of fungus," said Somasekhar.

Though field trials for genetically modified food crops is happening across the country, experience has shown that monitoring and accountability mechanisms to ensure biosafety is far from satisfactory.

The most worrying aspect is that the public mostly remains blissfully unaware of the potential danger to human health and environment.
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2.GE FREE EDUCATION AND DIALOGUE WITH PERCY SCHMEISER
Tue Nov 7 2006 Farmer Tours California in Mid-November
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/11/07/18327471.php

California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) has organized several GE-Free Education and Dialogue events to be held around the state, with Percy Schmeiser speaking. Schmeiser is the Canadian farmer whose canola fields were contaminated with GE seed, and who in turn was sued in 1998 by

Monsanto. Monsanto claimed the Schmeisers were illegally growing the company's patented GE technology, RoundUp Ready Canola, in their

fields. But Schmeiser and his wife Louise were yet another victim of unwanted GE contamination, and they decided to take the fight all the way to the Supreme Court. The Schmeisers never wanted the GE seed to enter their crop fields in the first place, and they have been sharing their story ever since.

The tour will be Co-Hosted by Sheana Davis of The Epicurean Connection, and it will bring to light Percy's story of his ongoing struggle and court appeal with the agri-chemical and GE giant corporation Monsanto.

Special guest speakers include Dr. Ignacio Chapela (UC Berkeley), Michael Pollan (author, Omnivore's Dilemma), Peggy Miars (CCOF Executive Director), Sheana Davis (The Epicurean Connection), and Britt Bailey (Environmental Commons).

Tour Dates:

Monday, November 13th in Santa Cruz; Tuesday, November 14th at UC Berkeley; Thursday, November 16th in Sonoma; Friday, November 17th in Ukiah; Saturday, November 18th in Pt. Arena/Manchester.

All programs begin at 7 p.m. with doors opening at 6 p.m. Donation requested is $10 (except for UC Berkeley, which is free), and no one will be turned away for lack of funds. All proceeds from these events will go directly to the Schmeisers' efforts to fight Monsanto and GE contamination, as well as to educate the public and farmers alike about the severe risks associated with GE crops.

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