SPEAK UP, RAISE YOUR VOICE
Join the Ban Campaign before 25th April 2011.
As a fellow human being and a medical person, I cannot keep quite after seeing the pictures of the “living dead” fellow human beings in the north kerala districts, the victims of toxic Endosulfan usage in cashew plantation.
Let us all raise our voice in any way we can and fight against the lobbies working against the ban.
We spend lot of time sending junk emails on jokes and irrelevant matters which goes into spam box. Please try to pass the message across the world before the April 25, 2011,
Urge the politicians of India including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take a strong stand on banning Endosulfan at a conference of parties to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants beginning in Geneva on April 25, 2011.
About Killer Endosulfan
Endosulfan is an organochlorine compound that is used as an insecticide. This pesticide has been banned in 81 countries, excluding the US and India where it is used in cashew crops. It presents health risks to farm workers and those living near where the chemical is used.
Endosulfan enters into the body by drinking contaminated water, breathing contaminated air, eating food crops on which Endosulfan is applied or from skin contact. The researches proved that the detection of Endosulfan and its breakdown products in breast milk, food corps and vegetables.
In human body it causes to a number of health problems. Endosulfan damages the function of central nervous system. It affects the growth of organs and brain in children. Other health problems are damage of kidney, liver and immune system. Possibility of Diabetes and cancer by the exposure of Endosulfan is increasing.
There are some genetical diseases are also reported. It affects the reproductive system by affecting the semen quality, sperm count and other defects in male sex organs.
Northern districts of kerala mainly kasargode and palakkad is being affected by the indiscriminative use of this pesticide which resulted in serious health problem. In kasargode arial spray of this pesticide in plantation crop for the last twenty years has affected the health of people in that area.
Neurological disorders, mental and physical retardation, cerebral plasy,blood and lever cancer, skin disorders, asthma ,psychiatrical problems are the symptoms shown by the people of many villages of kasargode and palakkad.
The situation there has been called “next in magnitude only to the Bhopal gas tragedy.”
In Kasargod District, more than 9000 patients are said to be victims of Endosulfan. After a 14 years’ outcry from social activists and anti-Endosulfan activists, the Government of Kerala has imposed restrictions on the use and marketing of pesticides. Still the illegal application of the Endosulfan has reported in Kerala.
The Central Government’s attitude is against the ban on Endosulfan. The Government claimed that there is no scientific basis for ban. In the Stockholm Convention of October 2010, India is the only nation that voted against worldwide ban. The National Human Rights Commission is also questioned the stand of Government and called for a ban at National Level.
The Social, human and anti-Endosulfan activists are demanding a national level ban on Endosulfan. On the other hand the opponents are opposing the ban. Their arguments are as follows.
1. The substitute pesticides are costlier than Endosulfan
2. There is no scientific basis for ban
3. The health problem reported are not scientifically proven that they are caused by the use of Endosulfan
Remember 81 countries have banned this chemical or are in the process of phasing out its use. Why not India?
We can no longer turn a blind eye to the health and environmental hazards caused by Endosulfan. It’s time for our country and the world to terminate this acutely toxic chemical pesticide.
