October 05, 2016 03:28 AM

New Delhi: Rejecting appeals and protests from civil society and scientists, the Union environment ministry is not going to extend the time period to seek public representations on genetically modified Mustard crop and the ministry’s deadline for comments comes to a close on Wednesday.

October 05, 2016 02:36 AM

Monsanto recently decided that it would stop the release of new genetically modified (GM) cotton technology because of “uncertainty in the business and regulatory environment”. At the same time, it was reported that GM mustard has moved closer to obtaining clearance for commercial cultivation in India following a key committee’s favourable assessment on issues of soil suitability and risks to health and ecology.

October 05, 2016 12:40 AM

India is now the site of a “battle royalty”, in the struggle between localisation and globalisation of power, between freedom for India and its citizens, through swadeshi and swaraj, and freedom of a cartel of three MNCs — selling poisons as pesticides and pesticide producing GMOs. India finds itself (once again) torn between its unforgiven history and uncertain future state. Back in 1857, the sepoys of the East India Company’s private military rose against their indignant monopolistic “masters” in “the mutiny”. The Industrial Revolution brought with it colonialism. Colonies of cotton, indigo, opium (and other) plantations were installed, to feed the machines of the Industrial “Revolution” — patented machines, built by patented machines. The company was (is) a monopoly based on patented machines and patent letters. The Monsanto-Bayer (MOBAY) merger is a mere show.

October 04, 2016 11:55 PM

New Delhi, Oct 4 (PTI) Raising twenty objections against the biosafety report put out by Environment Ministry on GM Mustard, environmentalist Vandana Shiva today said Independent studies, health and socio-economic factors should be taken into account before exposing 1.5 billion Indians to the "unscientific GM fraud".

October 04, 2016 10:19 PM

Several groups of environmentalists, farmers, beekeepers and NGOs have been protesting against the possibility of the government's approval for commercial cultivation of genetically-modified (GM) Mustard in India.

October 04, 2016 07:15 PM

New Delhi, Oct 4 () Strongly opposing any move by the country's biotech regulator to grant approval to GM-Mustard, an RSS body has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention alleging that vested interests are acting in haste, spreading falsehood and hiding facts on the issue.

October 04, 2016 11:46 AM

New Delhi: On Wednesday evening, the environment ministry’s genetic engineering approval committee’s (GEAC) one-month deadline for comments on allowing commercialization of Genetically Modified (GM) mustard crop expires, but the panel has a difficult road ahead. The GEAC is the nodal regulator for GM crops.

October 04, 2016 12:30 AM

Progressive farmers and supporters of natural farming/organic agriculture have launched a state-wide campaign titled ‘sarson satyagrah’ against the government’s move to allow genetically modified (GM) mustard.

October 03, 2016 11:31 PM

The fight over GM mustard had moved on to a new platform with honey bee manufacturers joining the debate as to whether genetically modified mustard seed is harmful for the honey making industry. Last week, honey makers under the aegis of Confederation of Bee Keeping Industry staged a protest march against GM mustard alleging that GM mustard would have a direct adverse impact on mustard production itself, when bees are adversely impacted. Around 50-60 per cent of the honey produced in India is through mustard crop.

October 03, 2016 06:47 PM

சென்னை: மரபணு மாற்று விதைகளை இந்தியாவுக்குள் கொண்டு வந்தால் நம்முடைய பாரம்பரியமிக்க இயற்கை விதைகள் அழியும் என்பது இயற்கை ஆர்வலர்களின் அச்சம். பாதுகாப்பான உணவுக்கான கூட்டமைப்புடன், இயற்கை விவசாயிகள் சங்கம் இணைந்து, காந்தி ஜெயந்தியை முன்னிட்டு, மரபணு மாற்றப்பட்ட கடுகுக்கு எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவிக்கும் விதம் மற்றும் விதை சத்யாகிரகம் எனும் விழிப்புணர்வு நிகழ்ச்சியை தமிழகத்தின் பல்வேறு இடங்களில் நடத்தினர்.

October 03, 2016 04:33 PM

On Sunday, as the tributes for Gandhi Jayanthi poured in, one organisation called the Safe Food Alliance (SFA) marked the day with a “Seed Satyagraha”. Among the many participants of this satyagraha were Tamil film director Vetrimaaran and actor Rohini. The protest, which took place at the Thakkar Bappa Institute in Chennai, was organised against the impending introduction of DMH11 or genetically modified mustard.

October 03, 2016 05:57 AM

Farmers on Sunday staged a demonstration against genetically-modified mustard seeds near Roshanpura square in Bhopal. GM mustard could become India’s first GM food crop released for cultivation by regulator Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC).

October 03, 2016 05:56 AM

சென்னை:''மரபணு மாற்று கடுகு, ஆண்களுக்கு மலட்டுத்தன்மையை உருவாக்கும்,'' என, பேராசிரியர் முகமது இஸ்மாயில் கூறினார். சென்னை, சி.ஐ.டி.நகர், தக்கர்பாபா வித்யாலயாவில், மரபணு மாற்றப்பட்ட கடுகுக்கு எதிராக, 'விதை சத்தியாகிரகம்' என்ற நிகழ்ச்சி நடந்தது.

October 03, 2016 05:56 AM

CHENNAI: Marking the occasion of the Gandhi jayanthi on Sunday, various groups of farmers, consumers, doctors, scientists, activists and other members of civil society campaigned against the potential approval of GM mustard in India for commercial cultivation by the government.

October 03, 2016 05:53 AM

Kulantari Mukta Karnataka Samiti held protest against the government’s decision to permit cultivation of genetically modified mustard seeds in front of the Mysuru District court, on Sunday. The committee members claimed that while organic farming is gaining popularity these days, the decision of government to permit genetically modified mustard seeds is completely opposite in nature.