Ban Endosulfan-By Vandan Shiva (OPEN LETTER TO SMT SONIA GANDHI)

11 April, 2011
Countercurrents.org

OPEN LETTER TO SMT SONIA GANDHI

Subject BAN ENDOSULFAN

10 th April 2011

Smt Sonia Gandhi

President Congress Party

Chairperson National Advisory Council

Dear Smt Sonia Gandhiji,

You have played an important role in ensuring that the government initiates a response to the growing movement against corruption I write this letter to draw your attention to the urgent need to stop continued poisoning of people in our country against hazardous chemicals like Endosulfan .

More than 9000 victims of Endosufan have been identified in Kasergod district , of Kerala , in which over 4800 patients are bedridden . Reports from Idukki , Palghat & Southern parts of Karnataka.

A consistent movement of the survivors against Endosulfan during last 14 years have come together under the banner of “endosulfan Spray rotest Action Committee ‘ has forced the Kerala Govt as well as Karnataka Govt to ban Endosulfan . Australian Govt & many other Govts have banned Endosufan . 20 years of Aerial sprays of this hazardous pesticide has resulted in health & ecological hazards . Crippling neurological , physical , genetic , immunological hazards have occurred . Recognizing the magnitude of the health & ecological hazards over 74 countries have banned Endosulfan & over 20 countries have asked for a ban On 25 th April 2011 UN Stockholm Conference is to take place in Geneva .

The Indian delegation has in the past included pesticide Manufacturers representative & has tended to take a position which totally disregards public health & is against public interest . .

During the Vietnam war the American army had done aerial spraying of hazardous herbicide Agent Orange in Vietnam during the war . Many of the children were born congenitally deformed , resulting in lifelong agony to the mothers & families of the affected children . In Kasargod , the Plantation Corporation of Kerala has inspite of evidence of health hazards has sprayed Endosulfan for 25 years , poisoning the air , soil & drinking water sources of innocent people , totally destroying the lives of many .

More than 9000 victims of Endoufan have identified in Kasergod district of Keral;a alone of which 4800 patients are bedridden

Why should children continue to be crippled with chemicals which are known to be unsafe . issues of Food Safety Biosafety cannot be disregarded .I along with large number of citizens am deeply concerned to find that the Agriculture minister has totally denied the health hazards .He has also wrongly communicated to you & misled the parliament ,that the States want the use of this hazardous pesticides to continue . This is blatantly untrue because no state has asked for continued use . On the contrary states such as Karnataka & Kerala have actually banned Endosulfan . In any case when in doubt , the Precautionary Principle should be applied . In case of Endosulfan evidence of its hazardous nature is significant .

I would appreciate if you could advice the Govt to :-

1implement a total ban on Endosulfan at the National level .

2 Ensure relief &Rehabilitation of the victims.

3 take Severe action against those using corrupt influences &responsible for continued use of this known hazardous product which has been banned in 74 countries .

4 Ensure that Indian Delegation supports the Global ban against Endosulfan at the United Nations's Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants to be held in Geneva on 25 th April 2011 .

Counting on your urgent intervention in this vital issue .

Yours sincerely

Dr Vandana Shiva .

Founder

NAVDANYA

A 60 Hauz Khas

New Delhi . 110016

vandana@vandanashiva.com


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