(This post is a petition against the blatant use of banned pesticides of India For Safe Food - www.indiaforsafefood.in and you can sign your petition by simply giving a missed call to 022 33010031)
PETITION
(reprinted without any alterations)
PESTICIDES IN MY FOOD? NO, THANK YOU!
An apple a day keeps good health away. Yes, you read right! The government's own reports suggest that banned pesticides like like Chlordane, Hepatachlor and DDT, are present in our food. Chlordane, for instance, is associated with severe damage to the central nervous system nd is known to adversely affect liver, lungs, kidney and the eyes! Further, pesticides not meant for use on particular crops are repeatedly showing up as residues in those very foods.
As per law, monocrotophos, known for its 'acute' (immediate) as well as 'chronic' (long term) adverse health effects, and one of the most-used pesticides in India, is not allowed to be used on vegetables. However, monocrotophos has been repeatedly found in the vegetables tested for toxic residues by different agencies in India. Even the pesticides/toxins allowed in agriculture do end up as residues in our food, and well above the legal permissible limits. These are just a few examples of how our food, water and soils in India are getting contaminated by chemical pesticides.
Just think of all the effort you put in to ensure that you pick fresh fruits and vegetables from the supermarket shelves or from your local vendor, and diligently wash it, cut it, cook it and feed your loved ones and yourself... only to let the toxic trail of chemicals trickle into your system. Fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry and milk are all laced with high levels of pesticide residu - numerous times, above the maximum residue limits (MRL) set by Indian law. Not just this, our drinking water is also contaminated! Worse, even mother's milk is laden with poison. And no one is monitoring or taking any deterrent action to stop this poisoning of the nation!
THE GOVERNMENT'S NOT WATCHING
It is evident that the origin of the problem is in our farms. Here, the Indian Government continues to support the use of these deadlyl chemicals, despite being cognizant of these problems and despite having alternatives to chemical pesticides. this in turn keeps the pesticide industry prosperous and helps them flourish at the costs of the citizens' health. To add insult to injury now the government has begun promoting Genetic Modification of crops (food) as a solution, which is hazardous and worse, irreversible. Instead the government should be providing preferential support to safer alternatives whereas there is not even a level playing field being created for them at this point of time and our anna dataas, the farmers, are left with no choices. Meanwhile they are themselves reeling under a severe crisis due to rising costs of cultivations, indebtedness, health problems due to exposure to pesticides and other related issues.
YET, THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS!
The good news is that world-over, there is a growing research and experiential evidence about the viability and benefits of safer alternatives for farming. For instance, in Andhra Pradesh, lakhs of farmers have shifted to farming without the use of chemical pesticides, a practice they call "Non Pesticidal Management" (NPM). Reports demonstrate that farmers find this farming more profitable! If there are no pesticides used in food production, there would be no pesticide residues in our food.
Since the Indian Government shows little inclination to wean off the nasties, and prefers to be supportive of the pesticide industry, we, the consumers have to come together and demand safe food. As citizens, we have a right to safe food.
ALL OF US CAN BECOME AGENTS OF CHANGE TO IMPROVE THIS SITUATION!
As citizens who are being subjected to such poisoning, we can demand that the Government put the safety of its people and the environment ahead of the profits of companies producing such dangerous chemicals and that the Government take responsibility and provide us access to safe food.
We can demand that the Government:
LOG ON TO
www.indiaforsafefood.in and sigh the petition.
Or just GIVE A MISSED CALL on
022 3301 0031
and we'll convey your message.
We'll take it to the Agriculture Minister for you.
The website also has information on what else you can do to get involved and make change happen.
PETITION
(reprinted without any alterations)
PESTICIDES IN MY FOOD? NO, THANK YOU!
An apple a day keeps good health away. Yes, you read right! The government's own reports suggest that banned pesticides like like Chlordane, Hepatachlor and DDT, are present in our food. Chlordane, for instance, is associated with severe damage to the central nervous system nd is known to adversely affect liver, lungs, kidney and the eyes! Further, pesticides not meant for use on particular crops are repeatedly showing up as residues in those very foods.
As per law, monocrotophos, known for its 'acute' (immediate) as well as 'chronic' (long term) adverse health effects, and one of the most-used pesticides in India, is not allowed to be used on vegetables. However, monocrotophos has been repeatedly found in the vegetables tested for toxic residues by different agencies in India. Even the pesticides/toxins allowed in agriculture do end up as residues in our food, and well above the legal permissible limits. These are just a few examples of how our food, water and soils in India are getting contaminated by chemical pesticides.
Just think of all the effort you put in to ensure that you pick fresh fruits and vegetables from the supermarket shelves or from your local vendor, and diligently wash it, cut it, cook it and feed your loved ones and yourself... only to let the toxic trail of chemicals trickle into your system. Fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry and milk are all laced with high levels of pesticide residu - numerous times, above the maximum residue limits (MRL) set by Indian law. Not just this, our drinking water is also contaminated! Worse, even mother's milk is laden with poison. And no one is monitoring or taking any deterrent action to stop this poisoning of the nation!
THE GOVERNMENT'S NOT WATCHING
It is evident that the origin of the problem is in our farms. Here, the Indian Government continues to support the use of these deadlyl chemicals, despite being cognizant of these problems and despite having alternatives to chemical pesticides. this in turn keeps the pesticide industry prosperous and helps them flourish at the costs of the citizens' health. To add insult to injury now the government has begun promoting Genetic Modification of crops (food) as a solution, which is hazardous and worse, irreversible. Instead the government should be providing preferential support to safer alternatives whereas there is not even a level playing field being created for them at this point of time and our anna dataas, the farmers, are left with no choices. Meanwhile they are themselves reeling under a severe crisis due to rising costs of cultivations, indebtedness, health problems due to exposure to pesticides and other related issues.
YET, THERE IS SOME GOOD NEWS!
The good news is that world-over, there is a growing research and experiential evidence about the viability and benefits of safer alternatives for farming. For instance, in Andhra Pradesh, lakhs of farmers have shifted to farming without the use of chemical pesticides, a practice they call "Non Pesticidal Management" (NPM). Reports demonstrate that farmers find this farming more profitable! If there are no pesticides used in food production, there would be no pesticide residues in our food.
Since the Indian Government shows little inclination to wean off the nasties, and prefers to be supportive of the pesticide industry, we, the consumers have to come together and demand safe food. As citizens, we have a right to safe food.
ALL OF US CAN BECOME AGENTS OF CHANGE TO IMPROVE THIS SITUATION!
As citizens who are being subjected to such poisoning, we can demand that the Government put the safety of its people and the environment ahead of the profits of companies producing such dangerous chemicals and that the Government take responsibility and provide us access to safe food.
We can demand that the Government:
- Promote and encourage organic/ecological/natural farming, without pesticices and Genetically Modified Organisms
- Ensure access to organic food (also specifically for pregnant/lactating mothers and children)
- Ban pesticides, which have been banned in other countries
LOG ON TO
www.indiaforsafefood.in and sigh the petition.
Or just GIVE A MISSED CALL on
022 3301 0031
and we'll convey your message.
We'll take it to the Agriculture Minister for you.
The website also has information on what else you can do to get involved and make change happen.
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