Blog Page

Time is ripe for Goa’s own green revolution

Vivek Menezes | Jul 27, 2014, Some good news earlier this week, as it was learned that proposals to the government agriculture department to construct greenhouses have gone up an amazing 700% this year. It is expected that at least 40 new farming ventures will be established with state assistance in 2014, bringing close to […]

Karunanidhi opposes approval of field trials of GM crops

July 26, 2014 Objecting to the Centre’s approval for field trials of 15 genetically modified crops, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today sought the BJP government’s intervention in this matter and cancel the permission. “Even during the UPA government, they had revoked their approval given to cultivate Bt brinjal, following strong protests against it. So, the […]

Modi and Modified Crops

Vol – XLIX No. 30, July 26, 2014   India must stay with the precautionary principle with regard to genetically-modified crops. By clearing the way for field trials of genetically-modified (GM) food crops, the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of the Environment Ministry has inadvertently laid a political challenge before the Narendra Modi-led government in […]

GM food crops – Why India must say no

Viva Kermani 23 Jul 2014 When the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) on July 18 decided that open field trials of 21 new varieties of genetically modified (GM) crops should be permitted, the arguments contra and pro became considerably more intense. That a single committee is seen to have the experience and foresight to judge […]

Hot off the rack: organic cotton clothing

CHENNAI, July 24, 2014 Zubeda Hamid Hand-spun, naturally-dyed and directly-sourced garments gain popularity At a small sale of organic cotton clothes V. Rama recently held at her house in Velachery recently, the response was stupendous. “Many of my friends in the neighbourhood were interested. Organic cotton is soft, its production does not damage anything anywhere […]

Don’t allow field trials of GM crops: farmers, activists

Gargi Parsai New Delhi,  July 22, 2014   The recent decision of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) to allow field trials of GM rice, mustard, cotton, chickpea and brinjal has been met with strong opposition from farmers’ groups and environmental activists. Seeking the intervention of Union Environment and Forests Minister Prakash Javdekar, the Bhartiya […]

`Veggies full of river toxins’

New Delhi: May 15 2014   Plea Says Effluents In Yamuna Pollute Groundwater, Soil It’s not just pesticides–a toxic mix of sewage and industrial effluents may be contaminating what’s grown on the bed of the Yamuna. The quality of the fruits and vegetables–that feed most of Delhi’s population–may thus stand severely compromised, according to two […]

Report heavy metals in veggies: NGT asks PCB

TNN | Jul 23, 2014,   BHOPAL: National Green Tribunal (NGT) has ordered MP Pollution Control Board to inspect nullahs which flow into vegetable farms in the state and submit a report on heavy metals present in water and vegetable samples. Tribunal took a serious exception to vegetable farming being done using sewage water in […]