Stop Bill

Dear URVASHI, Our food and health is at stake again. The government is in a hurry to approve the Biotechnology Regulatory Authority of India (BRAI) bill in the upcoming Parliament session. [1] Click here to write a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh According to the version leaked by the media, the BRAI bill can clear genetically modified (GM) foods, ignoring all the concerns raised against them. This bill threatens our food safety, environment and our right to choose what we eat.[2] Instead, the government needs to come up with a regulation to keep our food safe from the unscrupulous multinational seed giants. Last year, we sent an open letter to National Advisory Council head Ms Sonia Gandhi, asking her to stop the bill.[3] The bill is back and can be tabled in the Parliament soon. We need to write to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and ask him to stop this bill and come with a regulation to ensure protection from risky GM crops instead. You should write a letter to PM Manmohan Singh, asking him to stop the BRAI bill. http://greenpeace.in/take-action/brai/stop-the-bill.php Civil society groups and individuals have already written to the PM,[4] asking him not to table the bill. Thousands of signatures on the Bt brinjal petition and general public opposition stopped its commercialisation last year.[5] Lots of letters asking the PM to stop the bill will help put pressure on him and the cabinet to act. In the last publicly available draft leaked by the media, the bill allows BRAI to escape the purview of Right to Information.[6] If the bill is passed as is, the public will be unable to stop genetic contamination of rice or 56 other crops whose GM versions are in the pipeline. If the government has its way, our plates will be full of potentially toxic GM foods. They need to know that we want our food to be safe. Write to the PM now and ask him to stop this bill and bring in a regulation to ensure protection from risky GM crops. http://greenpeace.in/take-action/brai/stop-the-bill.php Thanks a billion! Rajesh Krishnan Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner Greenpeace India P.S. Want to support our campaigns? We don't take money from any corporation, government or political party! We never have, and we never will. Do help Greenpeace remain fiercely and proudly independent. Click here to chip in. Sources: 1. BRAI Bill to be tabled in Parliament, Express buzz, March 4, 2011 http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/brai-bill-to-be-tabled-in-parliament/253217.html 2. A law unto itself, www.outlookindia.com, March 8, 2010 http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264454 3.Greenpeace seeks Sonia’s intervention for redrafting bill, www.thaindian.com and IANS, August 21, 2010 http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/enviornment/greenpeace-seeks-sonias-intervention-for-redrafting-bill_100416120.html 4. Open Letter to PM - Concerns about BRAI Bill http://www.greenpeace.org/india/Global/india/report/Letter%20to%20PM-concerns%20about%20BRAI%20bill.pdf 5. India says no to Bt brinjal, for now, www.rediff.com, February 9, 2010 http://business.rediff.com/report/2010/feb/09/india-says-no-to-bt-brinjal-for-now.htm 6. Biotech Bill: Sweeping powers, glaring omissions, www.rediff.com, March 11, 2010 http://business.rediff.com/column/2010/mar/11/guest-biotech-bill-glaring-omissions.htm Greenpeace on the web We're also on Facebook, Twitter and Youtube - join our friends list. Why have I received this mail? Either because you signed up as a Greenpeace India cyber-activist or a friend forwarded this mail to you. How do I subscribe? To receive regular updates from Greenpeace India, sign up here. How do I unsubscribe? To stop receiving messages on how you can help the planet click here. How can I help more? You can help by forwarding this message to everyone on your email list. You can also donate to keep us going strong! Where do I send feedback? Please send all feedback to ocampaig@greenpeace.org Greenpeace India, #60 Wellington Street, Richmond Town, Bangalore 560025