please see this link.
http://thailand.ipm-info.org/bt/Bt_Basics.htm
reuters reports that the decision to delay introduction of GE vegetables in India until further tests have taken place, is seen as boosting the Congress party among its main farming vote base, much of which is fearful of GE use, and comes despite pressure from Farm Minister Sharad Pawar who supported the introduction of GE Bt brinjal. The Bt brinjal story travelled in world news receiving attention in the UAE, in The National print edition, also featuring the Greenpeace action in India. The Guardian and The Guardian International print editions also feature the Bt brinjal campaign, mentioning that several warnings have been flagged to the government from scientists and opposition from the public following the Bt cotton controversy. The Hindustan Times print edition warned once again against the potentially disastrous consequences of introducing Bt brinjal.Poland's Environment Minister, Janusz Zaleski, says there is no convincing data that GE crops are harmful or could have negative consequences for local farming if introduced. However, Greenpeace campaigner Luke Supergan highlighted that GE crops could spread spontaneously and take over non GE plants through contamination, making farmers dependent on big biotech companies for buying and producing GE crops.
Survey of extensive pollution levels in China needs to be made public
A Chinese government survey of the country's environmental problems has shown water pollution levels in 2007 were more than twice the government's official estimate, largely because agricultural waste was ignored. The story was also featured in The New York Times. Greenpeace campaigners in China are urging the government to disclose pollution data which for the first time includes the agriculture and services sectors reports the South China Morning Post. The story has also received attention in Europe. The Guardian International print edition featured Sze Pangcheung of Greenpeace China in an article talking about farmers being the biggest polluters in China, not factories, saying that China needs to step up the fight against overuse of fertilizers and pesticides and promote ecological farming. The Hindu Business Line print edition carried a similar story.
"Robin Hood tax" to fight poverty and tackle climate change
A coalition of 50 organizations and charities including Oxfam, the TUC, Barnardo's, ActionAid and the Salvation Army, unions and aid agencies have called on the UK's political parties to support a global "Robin Hood tax" on financial transactions that could raise up to £250bn every year to fight poverty, protect public services and tackle climate change.
Nuclear plant to close in Canada
Metro in Canada reported that Pickering's nuclear power plant will be shut down within a decade, as it has shown not to be as profitable as desired. "The announcement that they're closing Pickering is the first up-front decision to shut down a CANDU reactor because of the bad economics," said Shawn-Patrick Stensil, an energy expert with Greenpeace. Read more about the economic and environmental problems of nuclear power and why it is an inadequate response to the climate crisis here.
(Photo credit: Copyright Greenpeace/Greenpeace activists bearing witness to open-air field trials of Genetically Engineered Brinjal (aubergine) at Hamidpur, near Delhi. This was to highlight that GE field trials are risky and can be a threat to public health.)
India puts on hold first GM food crop on safety grounds
 The cultivation of the BT brinjal aubergine variety has divided opinion |
India has deferred the commercial cultivation of what would have been its first genetically modified (GM) vegetable crop due to safety concerns.
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said more studies were needed to ensure genetically modified aubergines were safe for consumers and the environment.
The GM vegetable has undergone field trials since 2008 and received approval from government scientists in 2009.
But there has been a heated public row over the cultivation of the GM crop.
The BBC's Geeta Pandey, who was at the news conference in Delhi, says Mr Ramesh's decision has put any cultivation of GM vegetables in India on hold indefinitely.
'Difficult decision'
"Public sentiment is negative. It is my duty to adopt a cautious, precautionary, principle-based approach," Mr Ramesh said.
He said the moratorium on growing BT brinjal - as the variety of aubergine is known in India - would remain in place until tests were carried out "to the satisfaction of both the public and professionals".
The minister said "independent scientific studies" were needed to establish "the safety of the product from the point of view of its long-term impact on human health and environment".
Mr Ramesh said it was "a difficult decision to make" since he had to "balance science and society".
"The decision is responsible to science and responsive to society," he said.
India is the largest producer of aubergines in the world and grows more than 4,000 varieties
Is the Bt brinjal is veg or non-veg?
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