El Salvador Bans Monsanto's RoundUp

El Salvador has voted to ban glyphosate (RoundUp), the pesticide that most GM crops are designed to be grown with, along with 52 other chemicals.

With 45 votes in favor, members of the FMLN, Unidos por El salvador and GANA approved the amendment of a Law on the control of pesticides, fertilizers and products foragricultural use, which allows the prohibition of 53 chemicals in El Salvador.

Among the list of the 53 chemicals are Paraquat, Glyphosate and Endosulfan, which caused controversy among right-wing deputies. Deputy Mario Ponce, of the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (ARENA) party, opposed these substances being on the list, however, he did not have the support of other MPs.

Nery Diaz, deputy of the Frente Farabundo Martí party (FMLN) defended the opinion on the grounds that paraquat is related to an increase in renal diseases.

Protecting the Health of the Salvadoran People

During the period 2007-2011 a total of 8,159 people were reported to the health system of being poisoned by pesticides, some as young as 10 years of age, for both sexes and who mainly covered the rural population.

With a view to protecting the health of the Salvadoran people and also to promote healthy agricultural production practices, the Legislative Assembly passed amendments to two laws to regulate the production, prohibition, trading, distribution, import, export and use of pesticides and fertilizers in agricultural crops.

These reforms specifically affect the Control of Pesticides, Fertilizers and Products for Agricultural Use Act and the Plant and Animal Health Act. These yet-to-be-adopted reforms prohibit the use of 53 pesticides and fertilizers which are formulated using heavy metals or metalloids; several of these will need to be replaced within an absolute term of one year, while others will be replaced within two years. Among the pesticides that will be legally  ban are endosulfan, paraquat, glifosato, clorpirifos, and metamidofos.

The ban was declared following social media coverage and a huge public outcry regarding the high number of deaths and cases of chronic kidney failure - which is the fifth leading cause of death nationwide in people over age 19, the second leading cause of death in males, and farm workers are significantly affected. This is according to the Ministry of Health, as quoted by the Committee on the Environment and Climate Change. Most patients with this illness do not present the traditional causes attributed to it in most other countries, such as diabetes mellitus or high blood pressure. On the other hand, these patients do present diagnoses associated with toxic substances used in environmental and agricultural occupations, among which are: the misuse and lack of protection from agrochemicals  including no occupational health precautions, aerial spraying in residential areas, the presence of chemicals and heavy metals (cadmium and arsenic) in both surface water and groundwater - wells and deposits, and working long hours in high temperatures with intense physical activity and insufficient hydration, according to the Ministry of Health of El Salvador and who were highlighted in the report in favor of banning pesticides.

One to Two Years for finding Replacements

The law states that there will be a maximum of one year from the effective date of the approved reforms to replace the use of chemicals such as methyl parathion, paraquat, endosulfan, methamidophos, methomyl, and Hedonal. Two years are given for the following pesticides: Latigo, Carbofuran, Aldicarb, Glyphosate and blindage. The regulation of these chemicals was incorporated into the Act on the recommendation of the Ministry of Public Health.

To replace these, the Ministry of Agriculture will be in charge of looking for alternatives, and, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, will form a technical committee to review, register, authorize and prohibit pesticides and fertilizers, in accordance with regional and countrywide considerations and international standards.

Regarding the penalties for failing to comply with the law, there are fines ranging from 100 to 10000  time the minimum monthly wage of trade, industry and service sector workers.

Opposition from the Chemical Companies

Predictably, protests have been raised by the GM lobby group CropLife, which is scaremongering about losses of up to 60% in crop production if the chemicals are banned. CropLife is funded by the big GM companies, including Monsanto.

During the discussion for the approval of the decree, representatives expressed that these products are necessary to combat coffee blight and other pests that gravely affect crops. Similarly, the right affirmed that prohibiting these products will affect the small farmers the most, an argument that the Representative explained to be false.

Sources:
http://en.centralamericadata.com/en/article/home/El_Salvador_Use_of_53_Chemicals_Banned
http://www.sustainlabour.org/noticia.php?lang=EN&idnoticia=651
http://vivaecoviva.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/landmark-law-bans-53-pesticides-in-el-salvador/

These are the 53 agricultural chemicals whose use yesterday banned 45 members of the Legislative Assembly.

Agrochemicals	Type of chemical
Methyl Parathion	OP (Organo Phosphorus Insecticide and Acaricide
Paraquat  N,N′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride	Herbicide
Endosulfan 6,7,8,9,10,10-Hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro- 6,9-methano-2,4,3-benzodioxathiepine-3-oxide	OC (Organo Chlorine)/ Insecticide and Acaricide
Metamidofos - O, S-dimethyl fosforamidotiodato	Pesticide
Methomyl  - (E,Z)-methyl N-{[(methylamino)carbonyl]oxy}ethanimidothioate	Carbamate insecticide.
Latigo - dicamba and 2,4-D acids	Herbicide
Carbofuran - 2,2-dimethyl-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-7-yl methylcarbamate	Carbamate pesticides
Aldicarb - 2-Methyl-2-(methylthio)propanal O-(N-methylcarbamoyl)oxime	Carbamate pesticides
Glyphosate - N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine	Broad-spectrum systemic herbicide
2-4 D / Hedonal - (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid	Systemic pesticide/herbicide
Shield
DDT - 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane	OC insecticide
Leptophos - 3-chloro-6-methoxydibenz [1,2]-oxaphosphorin-6-thione or O-methyl-O,P-(4-chlorobiphenyl-2,6-ylene) phosphonothioate	Pesticide and fungicide
Ethyl Paratón - O,O-Diethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) phosphorothioate	OP Insecticide
Sloe
Dieldrin - (1aR,2R,2aS,3S,6R,6aR,7S,7aS)-3,4,5,6,9,9-hexachloro-1a,2,2a,3,6,6a,7,7a-octahydro-2,7:3,6-dimethanonaphtho[2,3-b]oxirene	Insecticide
Aldrin -  1,2,3,4,10,10-Hexachloro-1,4,4a,5,8,8a-hexahydro- 1,4:5,8-dimethanonaphthalene	OC insecticide
Heptachlor -  1,4,5,6,7,8,8-Heptachloro-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,7-methano-1H-indene	OC insecticide
Chlordimeform - N′-(4-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-N,N-dimethylmethanimidamide	Acaricide (pesticide)
Toxaphene - mixture of approximately 200 organic compounds	Insecticide
Hexachlorobenzene (BHC)	Fungicide
Chlordecone - decachloropentacyclo[5.3.0.02.6.03.9.04.8]decan-5-one	OC Compound
Arsenicals - monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA), disodium methanearsonate (DSMA), calcium acid methanearsonate (CAMA), and cacodylic acid and its sodium salt	Arsenical Pesticide
Sodium fluoroacetate -  Sodium 2-fluoroacetate	Organo fluorine Pesticide
Chlorine Dibromo Propane - 1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane	Nematicide
Chlorofluorocarbons -	Pesticide
Dodecachloro - 1,1a,2,2,3,3a,4,5,5,5a,5b,6-dodecachlorooctahydro-1H-1,3,4-(methanetriyl)cyclobuta[cd]pentalene	Pesticide
2.4.5 T	Pesticide
Ethylene dibromide - 1,2-Dibromoethane	Organo bromine insecticide
Captafol - 2-(1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethylsulfanyl)-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydroisoindole-1,3-dione	Fungicide
Pentachlorophenol - 2,3,4,5,6-Pentachlorophenol	OC pesticide
HCH - β-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane	OC insecticide
Phosphamidon - (E/Z)-[3-Chloro-4-(diethylamino)-4-oxobut-2-en-2-yl] dimethyl phosphate	OP Insecticide
Monocrotophos - Dimethyl (E)-1-methyl-2-(methylcarbamoyl)vinyl phosphate	OP Insecticide
Quintozene - pentachloronitrobenzene	Pesticide
1.2 Dibromoethane	Organo bromine insecticide
Chlorinated camphene	Disinfectant
Lindane - (1r,2R,3S,4r,5R,6S)-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane	OC insecticide
Sodium cyanide – Cyanide	Cyano Rodenticide
Dinoseb and dinoseb salts- (RS)-2,4-Dinitro-6-sec-butylphenol	Herbicide
Chlordane - 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,8-Octachloro-2,3,3a,4,7,7a-hexahydro-4,7-methanoindene	OC- Pesticide
Daminozide - N-(Dimethylamino)succinamic acid, butanedioic acid mono (2,2-dimethyl hydrazide), succinic acid 2,2-dimethyl hydrazide	Plant Growth regulator
Mercury compound -	Organo mercuric pesticide
Clorobencilato - 4,4 '-diclorobencilato acetate	Pesticide
Fluoracetamide - 2-fluoroacetamide	Pesticide
Chlorpyrifos - O,O-Diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl phosphorothioate	OP insecticide
Terbufos - O,O-Diethyl S-{[(2-methyl-2-propanyl)sulfanyl]methyl} phosphorodithioate	Insecticides and nematicides
Forato -
Dimethoate - O,O-dimethyl S-[2-(methylamino)-2-oxoethyl] dithiophosphate	OP insecticide
Biphenyl (PCBs) - diphenyl or phenylbenzene or 1,1'-biphenyl or limonene	Pesticides
Diclorinados -
Dioxins - Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds	Pesticide
Furans - 5-Oxacyclopenta-1,3-diene	Heterocyclic organic compound

சாயம் வெளுத்த "நோபல் பரிசு"

லண்டன் பொருளாதாரம் 1970 களில் வீழ்ந்த சமயத்தில் அதை மீட்கவழி வகுத்ததாக கூறி, 1974 களின் நோபல் பரிசு பிரிட்ரிக்  பான்  ஹைக் க்கும், குன்னர் மிர்டாளுக்கும் பங்கிட்டு கொடுக்கப்பட்டது.  மிர்டால் நவீன பொருளாதாரத்தை எதிர்த்தார். எதிர்ப்பாளர்களின்  வாயை அடைக்க அங்கீகரிப்பு என்ற பெயரில் கொடுக்கப்படும் லஞ்சம் என கருதி மிர்டால் அதனை வாங்கமறுத்தார். 

இன்றும் அதே போல் அமைதிக்கான நோபல் பரிசை அமைதி இழக்கும் நிலையில் உள்ள ஐரோப்பிய நாடுகளில் அமைதியை நிலை நாட்டினர் என்று கூறி ஐரோப்பிய யூனியன் தலைவர்களுக்கு வழங்குவது பெரும் சர்ச்சையை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது. 

இது போன்ற பல துறைகளில் வியாபார ரீதியான ஆராய்ச்சிகளுக்கு நோபல் பாரிஸ் கொடுத்து அவர்களை நவீன பொருளாதாரத்தை தக்கவைக்க மேலும்  ஆராய்ச்சிகளை ஊக்குவிக்க கொடுக்கும் இந்த பரிசின் சாயம் இப்போது   வெளுத்துள்ளது. வெந்த புண்ணில் வேலை குத்துவது போலாகும். 

அமைதிக்கான நோபல் பரிசை பெறுவதில் சர்ச்சை

பிரசல்ஸ்: "அமைதிக்கான நோபல் பரிசை, ஐரோப்பிய யூனியனில் உள்ள நாடுகளின் தலைவர்கள், ஒன்று சேர்ந்து பெற்று கொள்ள வேண்டும்' என, வற்புறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. அமைதிக்கான நோபல் பரிசு, இந்த ஆண்டு, ஐரோப்பிய கூட்டமைப்புக்கு, அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.இரண்டாம் உலகப் போரின் போது, சண்டை போட்ட நாடுகள், தற்போது ஒன்றிணைந்து அமைதியாக இருப்பதை பாராட்டி, 27 நாடுகள் கொண்ட ஐரோப்பிய யூனியனுக்கு, இந்த அமைதி விருது அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஐரோப்பாவில் 44 நாடுகள் உள்ளன. ஐரோப்பிய யூனியனில் இல்லாத நாடுகள், இந்த விருதுக்கு கண்டனம் தெரிவித்துள்ளன.ஐரோப்பாவில் உள்ள பெரும்பாலான நாடுகள் இன்று பொருளாதார நெருக்கடியில் சிக்கி தவிக்கின்றன. நோபல் பரிசைல நேரில் யார் சென்று பெறுவது, பரிசு பணத்தை பிரித்து கொள்வது உள்ளிட்டவற்றில் சிக்கல் நிலவுகிறது.

"ஐரோப்பிய யூனியனின் தலைவர், வான் ராம்பி, நேரில் சென்று இந்த பரிசை பெற்றுக் கொள்வார்' என, பிரான்ஸ் மற்றும் ஜெர்மன் அதிபர்கள் தெரிவித்திருந்தனர்."நம்மை மதித்து அளித்துள்ள இந்த பரிசை, ஐரோப்பிய யூனியன் தலைவர்கள் அனைவரும், ஒன்று சேர்ந்து பெற வேண்டும்' என, ராம்பி வற்புறுத்தியுள்ளார்.நோபல் பரிசை, ராம்பி பெற்றுக் கொண்டால், யார் ஏற்புரை நிகழ்த்துவது என்பதில், தற்போது சர்ச்சை நிலவுகிறது. நோபல் பரிசை உருவாக்கிய, ஆல்ப்ரெட் நோபலின், நினைவு தினமான, டிசம்பர், 10ம் தேதி,நோபல் பரிசு வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது. 

முட்டாளாக்கும் "அதிகாரி"கள்

 Source: http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=539894

Deschooling farmers

By Arachalur Selvam published in Cross currents - Down to Earth Sep 15, 2009 Issue

A new bill in Tamil Nadu puts farmers at the thrall of agriculture university graduates On the last day of its budget session the Tamil Nadu assembly passed 30 bills without any discussion. One of them was without parallel. If the governer signs the bill, writings of Thiruvalluavar, Oovaiyar and many more poets would become unlawful as they have several things to say about farming.

Let us forget the people long dead. Even prominent personalities associated with agriculture like Norman Borlaug, the doyen of the modern agriculture system, cannot give suggestions to farmers in Tamil Nadu. A first suggestion will attract a fine of Rs 5,000; they will be fined Rs 10,000 if they repeat their crime. They might even be imprisoned for six months. The Tamil Nadu State Agriculture Council 2009 says only those with a degree from three universities in Tamil Nadu can counsel farmers. Such esteemed advisors will be called agricultural practitioners—like medical or legal practitioners. All farmers of Tamil Nadu will have to abjectly follow the agricultural graduates. Many of these graduates would have seen a paddy plant for the first time during their college life. What the agricultural universities all over the world have done so far is to pick up farmers’ innovation, work on it, improve it and give back the farmers their knowledge—packaged very often as a new product. Has an agricultural university ever discovered a food crop or pioneered the domestication of any animal species? During colonial rule, agriculture universities were geared towards the export market and towards mills in Manchester. But many British scholars did acknowledge farmers’ knowledge. One of them, Albert Howard, declared “Indian farmers will be my professors for next five years”.

In every village community the knowledge of farming is embedded in folk songs, stories, and riddles. A Tamil riddle asks: “ Adi kattula, nadu mattula, nuni veetula. athu yenna? (What is the item at whose base lies the field, cattle is at its middle and the house on the tip?) This answer is paddy. The riddle can give a lesson or two to our agriculture economists. When paddy is harvested we leave the basal portion in the land as it is of no use to the farmer or the cattle. The straw goes to cattle, which give the farmer milk and supplies draught power and provides manure. The land and the cattle were nourished from what the farmer cannot use. The result was the tip, the grain, kept inside the house.

The green revolution taught the farmer to feed the soil with fertilizer, a work he earlier left to nature. It brought in new types of seeds, which left his cattle without fodder. He was forced to sell the cattle and lost the manure. He could not keep the grain inside the house; he had to sell it to repay loans. He also had to part with his wife’s jewels and the land documents. If the government was seriously interested in helping the farmer then it should have directed the scientist to go to the villages and learn from them. Let’s take the technology that officials and those used to jargon refer to as the system of rice intensification. The farmers had begun using the method since the late 1990s but the government programme began in 2002. That farmers are way ahead of government thinking is a challenge to the managers of agriculture science, who have sold themselves to Monsanto and other multinationals. In fact, the vice chancellor of the Tamil Nadu Agriclutural University had, sometime ago, said, “The university will promote Bt brinjal seeds.” Laws will not stop farmers from sharing experiences. But this bill, if enacted, will rob the farmers the choice of to whom he/she should listen. This is a violation of one’s fundamental right. R Selvam was a government official till 1994 when he began organic farming

Source: http://downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20090915&filename=croc&sec_id=10&sid=2