INDIA
Deccan Development Society, a NGO based in Andhra pradesh state of India organized rallies protesting the large scale introduction and spread of the GM crops at various places in South India.
- Warangal
Over 150 farmers and shepherds from 13 villages gathered in Warangal city, the headquarters of Warangal District in Andhra Pradesh, [a region which has seen an explosion of Bt Cotton cultivation over the last five years] and pledged not to sow GM crops on their farms. The event took place on the GM opposition day, 8th April 2008.
Farmers who gathered to protest the introduction and large scale spread of GM crops Through corporate manipulation, raised slogans against the corporate control over seed sector in India. Sheperds who have witnessed the death of their small ruminants grazing on Bt cotton stalks narrated their bitter experiences with the Bt cotton. Farmers who grew Bt cotton and experienced the damage to succeeding crops like chilly and tomato also shared their grief with the fellow farmers.
The event was organized by the South Against Genetic Engineering, Andhra Pradesh Coalition in Defence of Diversity and Deccan Development society in collaboration with Warangal based NGOs (CROPS, SSS, SEED, SYO, MARI, SPACE and PSS).
In Medak, another district of Andhra Pradesh, over 300 women farmer leaders representing over 60 villages, took out an Anti GE \ rally singing freshly composed anti GE songs, placards opposing Genetic Engineering and shouting slogans. At the end of the rally they took a collective pledge against genetic engineering as follows:
We the farmers from Medak District of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India have today met in Pastapur village and discussed the issue of genetically engineered crops.
1. We have directly felt the impacts of cultivation of genetically modified crops in our vicinity or indirectly understood it through fellow farmers, newspapers and other media.
2. We know that wherever genetically engineered crops have been cultivated,
- Our soils have become toxic and are on the path of total destruction
- Our animals have died grazing these crops
- Our health has been destroyed through skin allergies and respiratory problems whenever we have worked in these fields
- Our control over our seeds have been snatched away from us.
3. We are therefore convinced that growing genetically engineered crops means the end of our soils, animals and our own existence as farmers.
IN VIEW OF ALL THE ABOVE WE TAKE A PLEDGE THAT WE WILL NOT GROW GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CROPS ON OUR FARMS AND TO THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY PREVENT ITS CULTIVATION IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE DECLARE OUR SOLIDARITY WITH ALL THE FARMERS AND CITIZENS WHO ARE OPPOSING GENETIC ENGINEERING IN AGRICULTURE.
From April 9th, they will fan out into their own villages, take out village level rallies, get community pledges that they will not allow the cultivation of Genetic Engineering in their communitie.
Exactly 5234 peasants attended rallies in the following districts : Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Chittoor (7 locations), Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Adilabad, Medak, Warangal. |
