The Board has officially reversed course and confirmed they will move forward with the prosecution of these corporations for their acts of biopiracy. This victory belongs to every single one of the 481 people who refused to let our local biodiversity be exploited for profit. I am keeping a very …
May 2, 2012
Karnataka Biodiversity Board must prosecute Monsanto/Mahyco and ors. for biopiracy
Final supporters
Shri. Sadananda Gowda
Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka
Dear Mr. Gowda,
We write to you as Mr. Krishna Palemar has resigned as Karnataka's Environment Minister.
We are shocked that Mr. Palemar presided over the 19th meeting of the Karnataka State Biodiversity Board on 20 January 2012, where a decision has been taken not to initiate any action against corporates and institutions that violate the Biological Diversity Act of India. It is evident that this decision has been taken to shelter US MNC Monsanto and its Indian subsidiary Mahyco and their collaborators in India and the United States from being prosecuted for engaging in biopiracy while controversially promoting India's first commercial food GMO - B.t. Brinjal.
The Biological Diversity Act is absolutely clear that the State Board is statutorily bound to protect biodiversity and a major mechanism of doing this is to prosecute corporations, public institutions or individuals engaging in acts of biopiracy. Over the past two years the Board has systematically worked to investigate Environment Support Group's complaint that Monsanto/Mahyco and their collaborators did engage in biopiracy. To now stop this investigation, and what's worse, decide not to prosecute any violators, as is evident in the 19th Board Meeting minutes, is absolutely condemnable. This exposes Karnataka Government's credentials that it will not yield to any pressure, be it local or from multinational, as hollow.
It is imperative now that as Chief Minister, you should immediately summon an emergency Board meeting, recall this decision to drop prosecution against Monsanto/Mahyco and ensure that the Board's actions are fully compliant with the law. We do hope you will take this decision with due dispatch and fearlessly.
By way of this letter I/we endorse the representation submitted to you by Environment Support Group.
Thank you.
Updates
February 9, 2012
We just hit our first hundred signatures and it proves people are finally seeing through the excuses made for these corporations. Watching this grow gives me hope that we can actually force the Board to stop shielding those who profit from our stolen biodiversity.
Reached 250 supporters
February 9, 2012
February 8, 2012
The blatant disregard for our laws regarding biopiracy remains a deep betrayal of our local farming communities. We are currently preparing a formal challenge to the recent board minutes because the fight to protect our native seeds is far from finished.
Reached 100 supporters
February 8, 2012
6 Comments
Our biodiversity is not for sale to foreign corporations. Protect what belongs to India. Prosecute them now.
This is our land and our seeds. Stop letting these big companies steal from our farmers. It is a total shame the govt is protecting them.
The people of Karnataka deserve better. Stop sheltering these companies and start upholding the law.
Enough with the GMOs. We dont want them here and we definitely dont want our own laws ignored just to help out Monsanto. Do your job!
Corruption at the highest level. They think they can just ignore the act and sweep it under the rug. Not happening.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Copy link or share directly
The Board has officially reversed course and confirmed they will move forward with the prosecution of these corporations for their acts of biopiracy. This victory belongs to every single one of the 481 people who refused to let our local biodiversity be exploited for profit. I am keeping a very …
May 2, 2012
Karnataka Biodiversity Board must prosecute Monsanto/Mahyco and ors. for biopiracy
Final supporters
Shri. Sadananda Gowda
Hon'ble Chief Minister of Karnataka
Dear Mr. Gowda,
We write to you as Mr. Krishna Palemar has resigned as Karnataka's Environment Minister.
We are shocked that Mr. Palemar presided over the 19th meeting of the Karnataka State Biodiversity Board on 20 January 2012, where a decision has been taken not to initiate any action against corporates and institutions that violate the Biological Diversity Act of India. It is evident that this decision has been taken to shelter US MNC Monsanto and its Indian subsidiary Mahyco and their collaborators in India and the United States from being prosecuted for engaging in biopiracy while controversially promoting India's first commercial food GMO - B.t. Brinjal.
The Biological Diversity Act is absolutely clear that the State Board is statutorily bound to protect biodiversity and a major mechanism of doing this is to prosecute corporations, public institutions or individuals engaging in acts of biopiracy. Over the past two years the Board has systematically worked to investigate Environment Support Group's complaint that Monsanto/Mahyco and their collaborators did engage in biopiracy. To now stop this investigation, and what's worse, decide not to prosecute any violators, as is evident in the 19th Board Meeting minutes, is absolutely condemnable. This exposes Karnataka Government's credentials that it will not yield to any pressure, be it local or from multinational, as hollow.
It is imperative now that as Chief Minister, you should immediately summon an emergency Board meeting, recall this decision to drop prosecution against Monsanto/Mahyco and ensure that the Board's actions are fully compliant with the law. We do hope you will take this decision with due dispatch and fearlessly.
By way of this letter I/we endorse the representation submitted to you by Environment Support Group.
Thank you.
Updates
February 9, 2012
We just hit our first hundred signatures and it proves people are finally seeing through the excuses made for these corporations. Watching this grow gives me hope that we can actually force the Board to stop shielding those who profit from our stolen biodiversity.
Reached 250 supporters
February 9, 2012
February 8, 2012
The blatant disregard for our laws regarding biopiracy remains a deep betrayal of our local farming communities. We are currently preparing a formal challenge to the recent board minutes because the fight to protect our native seeds is far from finished.
Reached 100 supporters
February 8, 2012
6 Comments
biopiracy is a crime. why is the board letting them walk away? completely corrupt.
Our biodiversity is not for sale to foreign corporations. Protect what belongs to India. Prosecute them now.
This is our land and our seeds. Stop letting these big companies steal from our farmers. It is a total shame the govt is protecting them.
The people of Karnataka deserve better. Stop sheltering these companies and start upholding the law.
Enough with the GMOs. We dont want them here and we definitely dont want our own laws ignored just to help out Monsanto. Do your job!
Corruption at the highest level. They think they can just ignore the act and sweep it under the rug. Not happening.
Share Petition
Don't stop at signing, share the petition link with friends to multiply our impact
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
biopiracy is a crime. why is the board letting them walk away? completely corrupt.