US govt funding 'dubious PR firm' to discredit anti-GM, anti-pesticide activists

The advocacy group Alliance for Sustainable & Holistic Agriculture (ASHA) has condemned the financial support provided by the US Government to what it calls questionable public relations firms aimed at undermining the efforts of activists opposed to pesticides and genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in India.

ASHA said, investigations by Lighthouse Reports, shared with global media partners have unveiled that an American PR firm headed by a former Monsanto employee has been profiling and surveilling anti-GMO activists worldwide. This initiative, which involves a private social network known as “Bonus Eventus,” is only accessible to about 1,000 subscribers, including representatives from biotech and pesticide lobbying groups in India, it adds.

The platform has been tracking approximately 100 activists, scientists, and others in India, in addition to numerous individuals globally. “The US government’s relentless lobbying on behalf of the pesticide and biotech industries is well-documented. The corporate agricultural framework in America is heavily reliant on unsustainable, profit-driven technologies, supported by billions in subsidies, and seeks global acceptance for its products,” ASHA states.

Historical instances, such as leaked documents revealing US government officials in India monitoring decisions regarding Bt brinjal, highlight the problematic nature of American involvement in Indian agricultural policy-making, ASHA said. Notably, the efforts of Dr. Nina Federoff in 2010 to promote Bt brinjal exemplify the blatant lobbying efforts by the US, it adds.

Furthermore, organizations like USAID and philanthropic entities such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have been known to advocate for sustainable practices that pose risks to Indian agriculture, ASHA asserts, expressing concerns about the Indian government’s susceptibility to foreign lobbying, despite its restrictions on “foreign-funded” groups.

“We demand that the US government cease its interference in the sovereign policy matters of other nations and respect the scientifically grounded concerns raised by activists regarding harmful technologies. We also call upon V-Fluence to halt its unethical tracking and profiling of activists, and to extend an apology to those dedicated to public welfare in India,” ASHA insists.

ASHA's statement further says: “The pesticide and GM seed industries, often intertwined, feel increasingly threatened as awareness of the dangers posed by these technologies grows among citizens and governments alike, leading them to reject GM agriculture. In a bid to silence essential scientific and public discussions that highlight the need to forbid these toxic technologies, the industry has employed Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) tactics to suppress scientific research and publications."

It notes, "Our primary concern is that the Indian government may yield to the lobbying pressure and misinformation propagated by these corporations, particularly if public debate is stifled. Repeated reports indicate that international trade agreements and high-level diplomatic engagements are wielded as tools to influence the Indian government in favor of profit-oriented industries, disregarding the interests of ordinary citizens."

"Despite some encouraging announcements and budgetary allocations for promoting natural farming, GMO and pesticide promotion continues, jeopardizing India's trade prospects, including organic produce, and threatening the food safety of its populace”, ASHA adds.

Comments

When Pakistanis whispered: ‘end military rule’ — A Moscow memoir

During the recent anti-terror operation inside Pakistan by the Government of India, called Operation Sindoor — a name some feminists consider patently patriarchal, even though it’s officially described as a tribute to the wives of the 26 husbands killed in the terrorist strike — I was reminded of my Moscow stint, which lasted for seven long years, from 1986 to 1993.

Despite Hindutva hold claim, 18% Hindus in US don't want to be identified with Hinduism!

Scanning through news items on the Google News app on my mobile — which is what I do almost every morning — I came across a story published on India.com, which I found somewhat misleading. The headline said, "Muslim population drops significantly in THIS country as over 25% Muslims leave Islam due to…, the country is…"

Tracking a lost link: Soviet-era legacy of Gujarati translator Atul Sawani

The other day, I received a message from a well-known activist, Raju Dipti, who runs an NGO called Jeevan Teerth in Koba village, near Gujarat’s capital, Gandhinagar. He was seeking the contact information of Atul Sawani, a translator of Russian books—mainly political and economic—into Gujarati for Progress Publishers during the Soviet era. He wanted to collect and hand over scanned soft copies, or if possible, hard copies, of Soviet books translated into Gujarati to Arvind Gupta, who currently lives in Pune and is undertaking the herculean task of collecting and making public soft copies of Soviet books that are no longer available in the market, both in English and Indian languages.

Beyond Indus water treaty suspension: A 'nationalist' push despite harsh climate realities

The suspension of the Indus Water Treaty (IWT) appears to have pushed the middle classes, at least in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home state, Gujarat, further towards what the powers-that-be would consider—a "positive" direction. As usual, during my morning walk, I tried talking with a neighbour about what impact it would have. Ignoring what is widely considered a "security lapse," this person, who had just returned after buying milk, compared the Modi move with Trump.

Adani Group a key player in Indo-Israel defence cooperation: Tel Aviv daily

Said to be one of the most influential Israeli dailies, "Haaretz" (literally: News of the Land) has identified the Adani Group—known to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi—as one of the key Indian business houses engaged in defence cooperation with Israel. Pointing out that India supplied the Israeli military with Hermes 900 drones, the daily reported that this advanced aerial vehicle came off “the production line in a factory set up in Hyderabad, as part of the cooperation between the Israeli Elbit and India's Adani Group.”

A sector under siege? War and real estate: Navigating uncertainty in India's expanding market

I was a little surprised when I received an email alert from a top real estate consultant, Anarock Group , titled "Exploring War’s Effects on Indian Real Estate—When Conflict Meets Concrete," authored by its regional director and head of research, Dr. Prashant Thakur. I had thought that the business would wholeheartedly support what is considered a strong response to the dastardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Operation Sindoor.

A conman, a demolition man: How 'prominent' scribes are defending Pritish Nandy

How to defend Pritish Nandy? That’s the big question some of his so-called fans seem to ponder, especially amidst sharp criticism of his alleged insensitivity during his journalistic career. One such incident involved the theft and publication of the birth certificate of Masaba Gupta, daughter of actor Neena Gupta, in the Illustrated Weekly of India, which Nandy was editing at the time. He reportedly did this to uncover the identity of Masaba’s father.

Environmental concern? Global NGO leads campaign urging banks to cut ties with Odisha steel project

A decade after the withdrawal of the South Korean multinational POSCO from Odisha following large-scale protests, questions remain about whether India-based JSW Steel, which took over the project, can successfully revive the 13.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) steel plant and coal-fired power plant. POSCO initiated the project in 2005 but exited in 2017 due to sustained local opposition.

Irrational? Basis for fear among Hindus about being 'swamped' by Muslims

I was amused while reading an article titled "Ham Paanch, Hamare Pachees", shared on Facebook, by well-known policy analyst Mohan Guruswamy, an alumnus of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University. Guruswamy, who has also worked as an advisor to the Finance Minister with the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, seeks to probe, as he himself states, "the supposed Muslim attitude to family planning"—a theme that was invoked by Narendra Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister ahead of the December 2002 assembly polls.

Olympics ready? Overflowing gutters in Amit Shah's high profile constituency: Vejalpur, beyond

A few days ago, I was talking to a close acquaintance who used to live in Bawla, a small town about 35 km west of Ahmedabad. It's an industrial hub with rice processing mills, cotton ginning units, and pharmaceutical companies. The acquaintance, from a very ordinary middle-class background, lived there because his son worked in one of the major pharmaceutical units nearby. However, he recently moved to a housing society in Ahmedabad, and I asked him why.

Search This Blog