Genetically Engineered (GE) crops, gene splicing and mutant crops are not just terms that belong to the science fiction genre. Food is becoming scarce. The new hotspots of hunger and famine will be Africa and Asia, say the oracles. These oracles say that biotechnology will save the world's hungry billions. But there is another scary side to this new mantra and Star of Mysore brings you, Kabir Cariappa's impassioned plea to the governments to think twice before opening the Pandora's Box of mutants gone haywire. The following is a petition presented by the young farmer, Kabir Cariappa, to Union Minister for Environment and Forests, at a public hearing on Feb. 6, 2010.
By Kabir Cariappa
As a young farmer, as an adult citizen of India of the next generation, I am worried about the possibly wrecked state of affairs your generation plans to leave us.
The effects of your decisions now, may not be felt by you or your brethren but could definitely make our life hell, in our future. A world where Cancer, and worse, cancerous life around us could be a daily issue.
A world where corporations rule, owning our livelihoods, stealing them from under our feet and twisting them to their benefits, even owning the life forms we grow and live with.
A neo-colonialism, much deeper and more effective, one we cannot imagine, will be upon us. And like the fools and weaklings who willingly betrayed our country to the British colonizers, today's universities and governments are selling our tomorrows for 'a few dollars more'.
Today, many technologies are allowed to become production realities based on the quantum of investment made in them. Toyota, working in the realm of known mechanical technologies made a mistake, endangering lives and effected a recall of thousands of units of their product.
Genetic Engineering (GE) is a field far more unknown, akin to playing God where no recalls are possible. A mistake once made of this magnitude will be irreversible and the effects cumulative.
Therefore Sir, I request you not to be swayed by the magnitude of investment made, because the investment was made with profit as the only motive.The risks and possible fallouts have to be the guiding principles for any decisions regarding our future.
Gene-jumping and cross contamination between not only the same species but in the same botanical family is well documented. Any plant having modified genes will be governed by a patent, the powers and interests of those patent-holders will rule policy regarding them. Besides, ownership of life forms or life itself is against Nature!
I mean, if someone entered your home and claimed rights over your family just because they had patented oxygen and you obviously breathe it, would you accept it? Would you hand over your lives and call it fate? Or would you stand up and fight?
Since the green revolution, the destruction and murder of agricultural systems of this country has been devastating. First, scientists and corporations forced farmers to use chemical fertili-sers and pesticides on their land, thereby stealing the farmers' right to be sustainable, by owning the inputs the farmers used. Then, new hybrids were developed to respond only when given these inputs, and now finally, GE seeds, so they can own the seeds and the crops as well.
Herbicide resistant crops are next. The examples of the US and Australia, the examples no one talks about because it isn't pretty, needs to be taken into consideration.
Glyphosate resistant weeds came into being within a few generations of 'Roundup Ready' seeds and the farmers had to switch to another Monsanto favourite, 2,4,D, part of the infamous Agent Orange developed by Monsanto as a defoliant for the Vietnam war. Now, some weeds, after gaining resistance to that too, have to be dug out by hand. So what was the point of all that ?
The environmental impact of all these inputs and poisons is yet unknown and we push these issues under the carpet, they will only become larger and larger as your generation refuses to see them. Some scientists when asked about nuclear waste, said, "Well, we hope future generations will find ways to deal with it, for now lets lock it up in lead barrels and throw it in a deep pit or the bottom of the ocean.”
But no amount of lead barrels or deep pits will be able to hold this world's poisoned soils and life forms, let alone the wild mutations that will be the outcomes of GE in agriculture.
These are the views I would like to project as a member of today's youth. And as a second generation organic farmer, the entire organic movement, our way of life and organic status is at stake because of GE contaminating our crops.
Even if organic certification decides to allow a certain amount of GE contamination, we will know, in our hearts, that we have been wronged. And fight we will. Because, although it is said, "The meek shall inherit the Earth," if left entirely to the present generation, I fear that there will not be much of an Earth left for us to inherit.
Before we come to this point of no return, I urge you, Sir, to ensure that this world is kept safe for my generation and those yet to come by preventing the commercialisation of GE technology, (Bt Brinjal and the 40 other crops that are apparently awaiting the approval of Bt Brinjal) before they too are released upon an unsuspecting and unaware society.
[The author may be contacted at 206,Halsur village, Birwal Post, H.D. Kote taluk, Mysore or e-mail:kabir.346@gmail.com]
