HARMFUL CHEMICAL FARM INPUTS: Endosulfan ban stays, says SC!

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August 6, 2011 / DC, New Delhi / DC.

In view of the plea for permitting export of Endosulfan, the production and sale of which has been banned, the Supreme Court (SC) sought clarification on Friday from the monitoring panel on aspects, including international conventions, before the demand could be considered.

A committee set up by the top court earlier to examine the adverse effects of the pesticide was directed to furnish details in three weeks to enable it to take a decision on the plea.

Full Story at,

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/endosulfan-ban-stays-says-sc-700

Kerala for ban on Endosulfan: Health Minister Adoor Prakash

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Roy Mathew, The Hindu / THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, August 5, 2011.

An endosulfan victim handing over a memorandum to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy during the latter's visit to Kasaragod district recently - PTI.

Health Minister Adoor Prakash said here on Friday that the Government would be taking a strong stand in favour of ban on Endosulfan. However, he parried questions whether the State government would implead as a party in case seeking ban before the Supreme Court.

The Minister said that the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had clearly articulated the stand of the State government in the matter. (Mr. Chandy had said that the State government disagreed with the submissions of the Central government before the Court.). It had cancelled the licence of the Hindusthan Insecticides to manufacture Endosulfan at its factory in Kochi.

Mr. Prakash said that the government was examining how the health problems faced by the people exposed to Endosulfan could be solved.

Full Story at,

http://www.thehindu.com/health/policy-and-issues/article2324801.ece

ENDOSULFAN: Centre told to file report on endosulfan within three weeks - S.C.!

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PTI / The Hindu / NEW DELHI, July 15, 2011.

The Supreme Court on Friday took a serious note of government’s failure to meet the two-month deadline on submitting its interim report on the possibility of either imposing a complete ban on pesticide endosulfan or eliminating the existing stock in phases.

The Supreme Court, which on May 13 had imposed a complete ban on production, sale and use of endosulfan for eight weeks, granted another three weeks to the Centre to come out with the report while refusing its plea for a six-week time.

“The Additional Solicitor-General seeks six weeks’ time to file the interim report. We are not inclined to give six weeks and the preliminary report based on the study by an expert committee has to be filed within three weeks,” a bench comprising Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia and Justices K.S. Radhakrishnan and Swatanter Kumar said.

The bench reminded Additional Solicitor-General Mohan Parasaran that already two months had passed since it gave an interim order on May 13 asking for preliminary report based on a detailed study from all aspects by an expert committee.

Full Story at,

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article2230359.ece

INDIA's FIXATION ON ENDOSULFAN: India silent on endosulfan at Rotterdam Convention!

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ROY MATHEW / THE HINDU.

President Noluzuko (Zukie) Gwayi and other members discuss Cuba's request to include text on financial and technical assistance in decisions to list chemicals under the Rotterdam Convention at the fifth conference of parties to the Convention, in Geneva on Tuesday. Photo: IISD Reporting Services.

India is remaining silent on the listing of endosulfan under the Rotterdam Convention at the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties which opened in Geneva on Monday.

The Convention on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for Certain Hazardous Chemicals and Pesticides in International Trade requires exporting countries of listed chemicals to provide the importing countries with data on effects of the pesticide in advance so that the importing country could opt to reject or prohibit the imports.

The Convention agreed, in principle, to list endosulfan under the Convention. However, final decision had been delayed because Cuba would not agree to the listing unless decision included need for technical and financial assistance. An agreement might be worked out before the closure of the conference on Friday.

Meriel Watts, who is attending the Convention as representative of Pesticide Action Network (Asia-Pacific) said in an email message that the conference had already decided to list alachlor and aldicarb under the Convention.

India, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Vietnam and Sudan objected to listing of Chrysotile asbestos besides Zimbabwe and Russia which are non-members. So, a decision had been postponed until after discussion on how to deal with chemicals for which consensus could not be reached.

With heavy investments in PSU Fertiliser firms, the Government would rather protect the health of them rather than the people's health and environment!

Full Story at,

http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/article2125592.ece

Different Reactions to the Supreme Court’s ban of Endosulfan!

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While most citizens and environmentalists welcomed it, there are some who expressed differing views.  According to the Today’s “Deccan Chronicle” (‘Ban gets mixed reaction’ in print edition), Mr. P. Chengal Reddy, Chairman of the Federation of Farmers Association states that alternatives to Endosulfan are more expensive. 

First and foremost I never heard of this gentleman or of his Association fighting for any of the genuine farmers’ causes.  Like me, he too hails from the state of Andhra Pradesh, where according to Mr. Devinder Sharma, a noted food policy analyst the A.P. Government is aiding the cultivation of pesticide-free crops on over 4 million Acres (1.66 million Hectares). 

Yes, 100% pesticide-free agriculture, horticulture, sericulture and pisciculture is quite possible through cross-cropping and this ancient technique has been in vogue till the Western MNCs started dumping their energy-guzzling (in the manufacture), environment-degrading (both in manufacture and application) and ill-health-causing (both in manufacture and application) Inorganic Pesticides – in the name of Green Revolution-I. 

Mr. Sharad Joshi, the founder of the Shetkari Sanghatana of Maharastra contends that Endosulfan is largely used in horticulture and pulses have been proved to be effective pest killers.  I do not know whether he has ever cultivated either horticultural products or pulses, but I know that pesticide of both can be effectively eliminated with Organic based pesticides / insecticide like plant derivatives of seeds of neem, pongamia, etc. as well as chunks and powder of Turmeric, Karela (bitter gourd), etc. which also provide good nutrition to the crops.

It is high time that our so-called farmers’ representatives leave their A.C offices and arm-chairs and sweat in the field along with the actual toilers of the soil, for their own academic knowledge rather than to teach the farmer how to farm, which they already knew and often forced by the skewed governmental policies influence by the self-centered corporates to use Inorganic Chemicals or been misled by half-baked authorities on agriculture, always ready with their specious defense for the continued usage of harmful chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, weedicides,  – multinational or otherwise.

Kerala can shut down Endosulfan Plant, as it is degrading the Environment!

Kerala government is well within its right to shut down Endosulfan Plant, as it is not only degrading the local Environment but also the health of its citizens.

The existing Environmental laws vest such power in the state pollution control board and the same rights protected by our Constitution and various rulings of the High Courts and the Supreme Court.

Instead of looking up what is in hand the Kerala Chief Minister appears to be taking maximum political mileage by insisting the Central Government to ban Endosulfan.

This is not to condone Dr. Manmohan Singh's Administration's insensitivity toward such a sensitive issue.

M. Prabhakar Rao, [Author of “Mayhem of the Miserables!”] http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52075 Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Myspace: prmadhura & Linkedin

Please read, "Why endosulfan, all insecticides are poison" DR. S. RAJENDRAN PILLAI!

Kindly read "Why endosulfan, all insecticides are poison"  DR. S. RAJENDRAN PILLAI! @
http://www.hindu.com/op/2011/05/01/stories/2011050152401800.htm

This well researched and articulately written article tells you that all forms of chemicals whether they are cosmetic, disinfectant, agricultural or for any other use are harmful and also tell how frugally we should use them and the related precautions and postcautions that we need to take as individuals & as Society..

M. Prabhakar Rao,
[Author of “Mayhem of the Miserables!”]
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/52075

Clarification: Why can't Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanadan, ban Endosulfan within Kerala?

My Response to Rigger's Comment on this Blog-piece.

But, Kerala can still pass a resolution in the Assembly to stop the operations of any industry including that of the Central Government, if its operations, have degrade the local Environment.  In case of Central Government owned Endosulfan plant in Kerala, it has been adversely affecting the Environment of the Kasargod District and its people.

Thus, you will confront a legal battle between the sate of Kerala and the GoI, which soon will come up at the Supreme Court.

The resulting legal battle would bring around a peoples battle like that of Jan Lok Pal Bill and the GoI would be forced to stop operations of Endosulfan Factory in Kerala, to start with, as the state of Kerala has an inherent right to protect its Environment and the health of its citizens.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Why can't Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanadan, ban Endosulfan within Kerala?  And force all other states to follow suit.  Soon, the Government of India too would have no choice than to ban it.

Mr. Achuthanandan's intent appears to be achieving some political mileage than genuinely do something about banning the harmful Endosulfan within the state of Kerala, to start with.

It is highly condemnable on the part of the Dr. Manmohan Singh's Government to be so insensitive to the plight of the affected people of this organochlorine insecticide and acaricide.