«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»«°»^«°» M A K I N G I N D I A G R E E N Vol. 1, No. 9 «°» September 2001 Priya Shah, Editor, mailto:makingindiagreen-owner@yahoogroups.com «°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»^«°»«°»^«°» Privacy Policy: Our subscriber list is confidential and we respect your privacy. This newsletter is distributed by subscription only. Details on subscribing or unsubscribing can be found at the end of this issue. «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» In This Issue: «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «» Leader «» News Digest «» Take Action: Join RAFI's campaign to fight the basmati patent! Tell Indian Pesticide Manufacturers not to mislead consumers! «» Feature: Can India Protect its Plant Varieties? Author: Utkarsh Ghate «» Green Tips: «» Contact Details «» Subscribe/Unsubscribe «» Announcements: «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» A PANDA IS BORN! A baby panda was born this year in China's Wolong Reserve. Not much larger than a stick of butter, the tiny ball of fur clings helpless to his mother, but her protection might not be enough. It's a perilous time to be born in the Wolong Reserve, where about 100 of the 1,000 remaining wild pandas struggle to survive. While prospects for the cuddly baby panda seem grim, Care2 has partnered with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) to help save the panda and other threatened animals, and they need your help. Click on the link below: http://panda.care2.com Save the Planet with a Click of your Mouse! Make a Difference Daily! Visit our 'Click to Save' page: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/clicktosave.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» GET YOUR FREE ISO 14001 ASSESSMENT ONLINE The isotop TimeSaver CD provides fully integrated ISO 14001 documentation, including all the required management procedures, forms and an environment manual to coordinate the system. Visit: http://clik.to/iso14001 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Leader «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» PATENT THEFT An old African folk-tale from the Ashanti people of Africa tells about the spider, Anansi, who tries to steal all the wisdom in the world, but soon realises that even a little child knows more than he does. It bears an uncanny resemblance to the modern day theft of wisdom by today's corporate bio-pirates who are in the process of usurping the traditional knowledge of native people the world over. The score leaned a little on the side of the natives this Independence Day, when Indian campaigners witnessed a partial victory against the pirates, as the US Patent Office(USPTO) prohibited US company RiceTec Inc. from using the term *basmati* (although it upheld patents on three rice lines developed by RiceTec). Opinions vary on basmati patent issue with some branding the ruling as a victory for India, while others insist we have lost the battle. Everyone however, agrees that India lags behind in formulating relevant laws making it difficult to protect the country's bio-diversity. India still faces 40 other cases on basmati in about 25 countries. Efforts are now on to strengthen India's case in other countries by classifying basmati varieties in terms of geographical indication. DNA identification is being used to help authorities register different strains in the geographical indication registry. This sort of knee-jerk reaction is typical of the way the Indian government treats issues related to the protection of our traditional plant varieties. As I type this, patent offices across the world are processing a dozen applications on Amla, the popular Indian gooseberry, with just one application by Lupin Labs at the Indian patent office. Five amla-related patents have already been granted by the US patent office. The Indian government needs to become proactive rather than reactive on the issue of biopiracy. Our scientific establishment must pull up its socks and enter the arena with more preparation. Until they do, the battle will be over even before it has begun. Its time to declare war on the Anansis of the modern world. If only they would realise, like the spider of African lore, that wisdom must be acquired, not stolen. Read the reports on the Battle over Basmati: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/newsbiotech.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Voice your opinion or start a discussion on this topic at: mailto:makingindiagreen@yahoogroups.com TAKE A GREEN POLL! Tell us what you think about issues like Genetic Engineering and Plastic Recycling at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/polls.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» News Digest «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» BIOETHICS Cells of Contention Reliance Life Sciences, a unit of the Reliance group, and the Bangalore-based National Center for Biological Sciences were two of 10 entities around the world identified by the US National Institutes of Health as having *genetically diverse* human embryonic stem cell lines obtained in an approved manner, and eligible for use by federally financed researchers. A stem cell line is a genetically identical population of stem cells that have been multiplied and grown for a number of generations in the laboratory. Some researchers believe that we must experiment with embryonic stem cells in order to understand their broad potentiality. But the research is somewhat controversial because the most useful stem cells are those harvested from embryos, and opponents of the research condemn as genocide, the creation of human embryos specifically to harvest their stem cells. More on the Debate over Stem Cells and Human Cloning: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/newsbiotech.htm#cloning -------------------------------------------------------------- ALTERNATIVE FUELS CNG See-Saw As scientists, environmentalists and politicians tie themselves into a knot debating the environmental merits of CNG and diesel, the Indian populace (autorickshaw, taxi and bus owners in particular), has been left confused, disgusted and disillusioned over what might prove a real solution to the problem of pollution our cities. Trying to dispel the *myths* over CNG, the New Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the fuel was a much cleaner option than made out and rebutted various arguments against CNG. CSE has picked up cudgels against the Delhi transport minister, Parvez Hashmi, for *attempting to mislead the Supreme Court and the public about the merit of moving the buses to CNG as directed by the Supreme Court.* Read the CSE's Statements and Factsheets on CNG: Myths and facts about CNG http://www.cseindia.org/html/cmp/air/apc_factsheet20010824.htm Misleading incompetence http://www.cseindia.org/html/cmp/air/press_20010828.htm As the deadline nears... http://www.oneworld.org/cse/html/cmp/air/press_20010809.htm In the process, of converting to CNG, however, Delhi, one of the most polluted cities in the world, has quietly gone on to establish a world record of sorts for its fight against air pollution, with the city now having the largest fleet of over 2000 CNG-run green buses and the DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) owning nearly 1000. Source : The Hindu August 1, 2001 -------------------------------------------------------------- NATURAL RESOURCES What-A-Harvest For the first time in 50 years, several state governments in India are moving away from drought relief to drought mitigation. Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan have actively pursued major rainwater harvesting programmes. The benefits have come quickly. The rains of June and July have already filled up tanks, ponds, earthen check dams and other structures. The Rajasthan irrigation department did prove to be a spanner in the works when it attempted to demolish a johad (earthen dam) constructed by the villagers of Lava ka Baas in Alwar district, but a concerted campaign by the CSE soon gathered public support for the villagers and put paid to their misguided efforts. When Rajendra Singh of the Tarun Bhagat Sangh (which helped the villagers construct the johad) won the Magsaysay award last month, for his efforts in water conservation, it vindicated the villagers efforts to control their own resources. Updates on the CSE's Campaign: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/waterpetition.htm Sign the Petition in support of the villagers of Lava ka Baas: (The deadline for signing is September 12, 2001) -------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.thePetitionSite.com/takeaction/564192748 -------------------------------------------------------------- CONSERVATION Man v/s Animal Indian culture reveres animals, often deifies them, and Indians (with the exception of some Bollywood brats) have by and large, been tolerant of animals straying onto their property or farms, even though the result is often death and destruction. However, increasing animal populations, combined with large-scale habitat loss and lack of proper conflict mitigation strategy, have led to a recent escalation in wildlife-human conflict. Elephant populations are some of the hardest hit, by the *unthinking construction of railroads, highways and canals* that play havoc with their migratory patterns. Join Sanctuary Asia's campaigns to preserve our last few wild places: http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/campaigns.html -------------------------------------------------------------- TOXICS Agar Batti Na Jale What do a packet of cigarettes and a Hindu temple have in common? Burning incense may soothe your soul, but it could be playing havoc with your chest,says a recent report in the New Scientist. Full report: Incense burning releases cancer-causing chemicals http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99991100 -------------------------------------------------------------- BIOTECH FOODS Unpalatable Fare As countries the world over debated the risks of allowing genetically modified (GM) foods into their food chain, the US (which has the largest acreage of GM crops) played bully and threatened to challenge laws in Sri Lanka and Thailand designed to protect consumer safety. The threats have drawn the ire of more than 200 food safety groups which have written to the US government protesting its threats to challenge other countries' food safety laws. Read their statements and letter here: Stop threats over international food laws, Bush told http://www.foe.co.uk/pubsinfo/infoteam/pressrel/2001/20010814112715.html Food Safety Groups Blast U.S. http://www.foei.org/whatsnew/press2001/14_august_food.htm While the Consumer Education and Research Centre (CERC), Ahmedabad, warned the Union agriculture ministry not to allow unrestricted import of food items, a TERI report emphasised that used wisely, agricultural biotechnology has the potential to increase India's agricultural productivity and address our imminent food availability crises while bringing about a reduction in chemical, fertiliser and pesticide use. Greenpeace recently highlighted new information on *unknown* DNA found in Monsanto soya products, while in other news, a breed of *super pest* born through resistance to anti-bug toxins in genetically engineered crops threatens to wreak havoc on food supplies in the United States. Links to these and more news reports are available at: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/newsbiotech.htm -------------------------------------------------------------- CONSUMER SAFETY Mobile Menace The jury is still out on the safety of wireless phones and agencies are all conducting additional research on health effects of the radio frequency (RF) energy absorbed by the body. This ZDNET India report provides the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) levels of cellphones available in India to help you buy the perfect (safest) mobile phone. Full story: How safe is your mobile phone? http://www.zdnetindia.com/supercentre/mobiles/stories/top,37093.html?slink=nsl -------------------------------------------------------------- POLITICS When pigs grow wings If the US (Read George W. Bush) had the political courage, it could displace two-thirds of coal generated electricity with wind power and meet the goals laid out in the Kyoto Protocol - all at no cost to the taxpayer, says a new study published in the journal Science. What the scientists did not factor in however is that it might be easier for pigs to grow wings than for Dubya to part ways with his Big Oil buddies. *Such is the power of the industry...that Big Oil may influence, if not actually determine, how international borders are drawn, which leaders remain as heads of state and government, and what countries sit as members of the United Nations* says an analysis of the oil industry's influence in Washington today. Enron's threats over sanctions has made India only too aware of that fact. Source: Wind is cheaper than coal in the US http://www.msnbc.com/news/617631.asp Is Big Oil Calling the Shots in Washington? http://www.inthesetimes.com/web2519/madsen2519.html «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Get your daily dose of environmental news at: http://www.makingindiagreen.com/ «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Take Action: Join RAFI's campaign to fight the basmati patent! Tell Indian Pesticide Manufacturers not to mislead consumers! «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» RAFI's Postcard Campaign to Oppose Basmati Rice Patent. On Tuesday, 12 May at the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia, RAFI officially launched an international postcard campaign aimed at Prince Hans Adam II, the Prince of Liechtenstein. The Prince is the chairman of the RiceTec Group, whose Texas-based subsidiary, RiceTec Inc., holds the controversial patent on Basmati rice (#5,663,484). RAFI's postcard campaign is the latest in a series of civil society protests of the Basmati rice patent. The patent covers Basmati grown anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, and effectively claims ownership of traditional Pakistani or Indian Basmati strains when crossed with the company's proprietary lines. Visit RAFI's Campaign page: http://www.rafi.org/web/action-rice.shtml The US patent is viewed as a threat to the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of farming families in India, Pakistan and Nepal who grow Basmati rice for export. When news of the patent reached New Delhi, over 50,000 Indians protested in front of the US Embassy. A wide coalition of Southeast Asian NGOs and Peoples' Movements recently denounced the Basmati rice patent at the World Trade Organization. ============================================================= Read and act on the recent statement from peoples' movements and NGOs across Asia: No Patents on Rice! No Patents on Life! http://www.makingindiagreen.org/pr36.htm You can lend your support to the statement by writing to the organisations listed at the page above. ============================================================= JOIN RAFI's Campaign! Send your own message to the Prince of Liechtenstein! Print out the text from RAFI's campaign on a postcard or letter and send it to the Prince. You can download the text of the letter and the address from here: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/RAFIpostcard.txt ============================================================= Recent news reports on the Basmati case: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/newsbiotech.htm Press Release from Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology : RiceTec loses in the Basmati battle http://www.makingindiagreen.org/pr35.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Tell Indian Pesticide Manufacturers not to mislead consumers! ENDOSULFAN POISONING UPDATE In previous issues, we highlighted the controversy, as reported by the CSE, over the health problems caused by the spraying of Endosulfan along the Kerala-Karnataka border. An ad was recently published by the Pesticide Manufacturers and Formulators Association of India, in the Times of India (Bangalore) recently. Although it doesn't deny that Endosulfan is the cause, it implies that it is safe for use. In the meantime, endosulfan continues to paralyse Kerala villages. Trauma deepens as more and more villages in Kasargode district of Kerala are affected by the deadly pesticide. ============================================================= Read excerpts from the ad, and take action on it: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/camtoxics.htm#kerala (We will soon try to provide a letter that you can send to the pesticide manufacturers, but a personal note might be more effective) ============================================================= Recent news on the Endosulfan tragedy: Down to Earth Special Report (August 15, 2001) http://www.cseindia.org/html/dte/dte20010815/dte_srep.htm Cashews for human life? (July 22, 2001) http://www.safe2use.com/ca-ipm/01-07-22.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» PROFESSIONALIZE YOUR EMAIL WITH YOUR OWN LETTERHEAD! Improve the image of your business with your own Letterhead embedded into your email program. Make your correspondence more professional, add the credibility you need! Download and try it for FREE! http://www.letterhead4email.com/at.asp?a=171575 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Feature: Can India Protect its Plant Varieties? Author: Utkarsh Ghate «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» After the basmati fiasco, it is time to question whether India has the capability to protect its traditional plant varieties. Although we face an uphill task of holding our ground, India's traditional adaptability will help it survive in the new regimes of globalisation, believes Utkarsh Ghate. Read his analysis of the challenges we face in protecting what is rightfully ours. Click here: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/utkarsh1.htm «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Utkarsh Ghate is the resident consultant ecologist at the Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), and works on the distribution & threat assessment of medicinal plants and related IPR issues. He may be contacted at: The Foundation for Revitalisation of Local Health Traditions (FRLHT), 50, M S H Layout, Anand Nagar, Bangalore - 560 024, INDIA Ph : 91-080-333 6909, 333 0348, 343 4465 Fax: 91-080-333 4167 Email: mailto:g.utkarsh@frlht-india.org «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» BECOME A PORIVO PEER! Are you always connected to the Internet? Use the Porivo PEER application and get paid just for being connected. You can earn even when you're asleep! Join up now at: http://www.linkcounter.com/go.php?linkid=172174 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Green Tip: GREEN CAMPING «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» A recent television advertisement plugging a popular brand of detergent made me very angry, because it shows a party of campers POURING a packet of detergent into a pristine mountain stream. Any camping activity takes a toll on the wilderness. Here are some tips on how to camp a little greener. 1. Before leaving home, strip the packaging from your food items. You can re-pack everything in re-usable bags that will last for many trips. 2. When hiking, stay on the trail. Cutting through from one part of a winding switchback to another creates erosion and can destroy fragile plant life. 3. Camp in established sites. If there are none, then camp in an unobtrusive area at least 200 feet (70 paces) away from the nearest water source. 4. NEVER put soap into the water. If you need to use soap, bring the water to you. Use a basin and a small amount of biodegradable, phosphate-free soap for washing chores. Dump waste water in a hole at least 25 yards from waterways. Even though some soaps say they are biodegradable, they should still not be used in streams or lakes. 5. It's best to cook on a small, lightweight camp stove. If you must have a fire, use established fire rings, and keep the fire small. Collect only fallen wood and don't bother with anything you can't break with your own hands. 6. When it's time to go, and you are out of range of a latrine, find a secluded place at least 200 feet AWAY from the nearest water source. Dig a hole 4 to 6 inches deep and do your business. 7. Scour your campsite before packing up. Leave no litter behind. The next time you camp out, please try to leave little more than your footprints behind. Source: Verde Media, Inc [If you have any tips to share, please send them with your name and e-mail address to: mailto:makingindiagreen-owner@yahoogroups.com] «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Contact Details «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Priya F. Shah, Editor Email: mailto:Priya@makingindiagreen.com Web: http://www.makingindiagreen.com Plot No 45, Lane G, Sector 8, Vashi, Navi Mumbai - 400 703, Maharastra, India Tel: 022-7826746 «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Subscriptions to this newsletter are free. Making India Green is published monthly. Subscribe by e-mail: mailto:makingindiagreen-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Subscribe online at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/makingindiagreen/join Unsubscribe: mailto:makingindiagreen-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Archives of this newsletter: http://www.makingindiagreen.org/archives.htm Send us your feedback at: mailto:makingindiagreen-owner@yahoogroups.com Like this newsletter? Tell a friend and you could win $10,000! http://recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=854129 Get a free listing on our website. Add Events/Announcements: mailto:addevent@makingindiagreen.com List Green products, services, resources or courses: http://www.linkbank.com/get_links/makingindiagreen/ Or mailto:listsite@makingindiagreen.com Submit your articles: mailto:articles@makingindiagreen.com «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» THE BEST LITTLE MONEY MAKERS ON THE NET! Get paid for everything you do online. Great resources to promote your programs too. All International and Free to join. Click: http://www.linkcounter.com/go.php?linkid=169294 «»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«»^«» «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Announcements: «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» THE AMSTERDAM DECLARATION ON GLOBAL CHANGE An important declaration on global environmental changes was made recently in Amsterdam. Over 1,500 scientists from over 100 countries participated in the deliberations in drawing up the declaration. More: http://www.sciconf.igbp.kva.se/fr.html JOIN THE EARTH SUMMIT 2002 DEBATE Your chance to speak out on *What Earth Summit 2002 should be trying to achieve?* Ten years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the world's nations will gather again in Johannesburg next September to review progress and plan for the future. This electronic forum hopes to initiate a focused and constructive public discussion on some of the priority issues. Key writers and thinkers on sustainable development will start the debate. Everyone is encouraged to join in. You are invited to share your ideas, knowledge and diverse perspectives. The results of the debate will be taken forward to inform the next preparatory meeting for Rio+10/Earth Summit 2002. Join the Earth Summit 2002 online debate throughout September at: http://www.lifeonline.org/debate THE COMMISSION ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS WEBSITE The Commission on Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR) is an initiative of the UK Government, financed by the Department for International Development (DFID). It is looking at how national and international intellectual property rules and practices might be improved to take greater account of the needs and interests of poor people and developing countries. The Commission on Intellectual Property Rights website is now fully operational at: http://www.iprcommission.org STOCKHOLM PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES. Covers sustainable urban solutions that may have their origin in technological innovations, city management or community based proactive initiatives. This website is continuously being updated. Click here: http://www.partnerships.stockholm.se/ «»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«»«» Thanks for reading this issue. For more resources and information on sustainable living, visit us online at: http://www.makingindiagreen.com/