4th January 2003,

Alternatives to Bhopal and Bt

* On the night of December 3, 1984, Union Carbide (now Dow Chemicals) killed 8000 people in one night. Since then, 1,50,000 more have been affected. The victims of Bhopal are yet to receive justice.

* Monsanto, which became infamous during the Vietnam War for its Agent Orange which defoliated huge irreplaceable rainforests, is today turning the ecologically fragile desert state of Rajasthan into a wasteland with its herbicide Roundup (the largest
selling agri-chemical in the world).

* Companies like Dow and Monsanto which brought us Bhopal and Vietnam are now preparing to unleash genetic catastrophes, while claiming to be green.

* Monsanto is now turning plants into chemical factories with its toxin producing Bt gene. Now this toxic gene is being introduced into almost all food crops.

* Bt cotton, which has already ruined thousands of Indian farmers, is also causing biopollution.

At the seminar on Beyond Bhopal & Bt.: Taking on the Biotech Giants organised by Bhopal Group for Information and Action, Greenpeace, Navdanya/Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology, as part of the Asian Social Forum, scientists, activists and victims of chemical and genetic engineering disasters made presentations.

Satinath Sarangi and the Bhopal victims talked of their 18-year struggle for justice and their continued commitment to bring corporate criminals to accountability.

G. Ananthapadmanabhan of Greenpeace reported on the Toxic Tour through the toxic hotspots of India.

Scientists like Dr. Pushpa Bhargava, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Dr. Jalapathi Rao and Dr. K.R. Chowdry exploded the myths of higher productivity and higher incomes and provided scientific analysis on the risks of genetically engineered crops. Afsar Jafri gave details
to show how corruption and criminality are necessary prerequisites for the entry of GMOs in the food chain.

Dr. Rajput., Dr. Pawar, Dr. Kranthi and farmers gave evidence of the failure of Bt cotton in India.

Tony Clarke of the International Forum on Globalisation showed how the chemical giants are the Gene and Biotech giants, and how they seek total control over food, health and our biodiversity.

Dr. Jalapathi Rao, Dr. Chari and Dr. Vandana Shiva provided examples of how ecological agriculture and sustainable farming offers superior alternatives for pest control as well as higher income to farmers.

Dr. Shiva wrapped up the session with a call to create another India and another Asia, free from agricultural poisons and genetically engineered crops. ' "No more Bhopals" was the resounding message from the disaster 18 years ago. It is time we learnt our lessons from Bhopal. It is time we stopped the corporate criminals from destroying the planet and human lives."