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Greenpeace Unconvinced by DBT Response; Toughens Stance Against GMOs
New Delhi, September 3, 2003: In the light of Dr. Manju Sharma's self -contradictory statement(1) following Greenpeace's surprise action at her residence on Tuesday - ".GM potato would be released 'only' when the data has been analysed satisfactorily ", Greenpeace today reiterated its demand to halt all further releases of GM crops, given that bio-safety
assessments are never conclusive and cannot establish beyond doubt the safety of any trans-genic crop.
Greenpeace activists surprised Dr. Manju Sharma, Secretary of the Department of Bio-Technology (DBT) with a house-call on Tuesday 2nd September, bearing indigenous potatoes & a banner stating " GE Food No Solution to
Malnutrition." Dr. Sharma refused to accept the 100 kgs of desi (local) kufri variety of potatoes but did acknowledge that 'stipulated procedures' for bio-safety assessments would be fulfilled before the GM potato is considered for approval.
" It is far more important to acknowledge that there is no such thing as a 'satisfactory' bio-safety assessment in the case of GMOs. When we do not even know what the possible risks are, what are scientists going to test for?" asks Dr. Ashesh Tayal, Scientific Advisor, Greenpeace India.
"Greenpeace believes that malnutrition exists due to mismanaged distribution and lack of purchasing power, not because of inadequate quantities produced. Protein-rich foods have existed for years and yet our children are undernourished. What is even more outrageous is that the scientist responsible for cultivating the GM potato, Prof. Asis Datta, is also a
member of the DBT, which means this expedited approval process smacks of nepotism besides scientifically unsound practice," says Divya Raghunandan, GE Campaigner, Greenpeace India. "They've been hoping to force-feed us GM
potatoes, and we are here to exercise our Right to say NO to GMOs. We will continue to escalate our campaign against all proponents of GE technology."
"It took us ten years to acknowledge the risks of pesticide usage - and that is when the toxic link was so apparent, the offending chemicals so obvious. When the risk element is something as insidious as a manipulated gene, we have no idea what the effects will be - on people, agriculture, indeed the entire ecosystem!" Divya adds. Greenpeace is against the unpredictable, irreversible and potentially dangerous release of GMOs into the environment.
NOTES
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(1)BBC report, 11 June 2003: The 'protato' is in its final stages of regulatory approval, which Dr Sharma said she was very confident of getting. Deccan Herald report, 14 June 2003: Dr. Manju Sharma said "the commercial growing of a genetically modified potato is expected to be approved in India within six months.
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