7 children taken to Hospital after they consumed a plant used to
produce biodiesel.
On Thursday Evening Medical Staff at the Banglamung Hospital
admitted 7 children who were thought to have ingested a poisonous
plant. The 5 girls and 2 boys attend the Sutawat Temple School in
Soi Neun Pleub Wan and after school the group met near the school
which is when they apparently ate what they thought was a harmless
fruit which was brought along to the Hospital. In fact the fruit
comes from a tree called Jatropha Curcas Linn which is used to
produce the non-edible Jatropha oil, for making candles and soap and
as an ingredient in the production of biodiesel. Although not highly
poisonous the children suffered repeated vomiting and were treated
with medication and released some hours later. The children were
told never to eat anything more in the future unless a responsible
adult confirmed it was edible.
http://www.pattayacitynews.net/news_02_02_50_4.htm
-----------
[Comments: We are reading and listening about cases of accidental
poisoning from regions where Jatropha plantation is in progress. Few
months back poisnous Jatropha made ill 11 children in Chhattisgarh.
Similiar incidences have been reported in many other countires
including in South Africa. Few days back one of our group members
who has joined this group by mistake(?) as he is strong Jatropha
supporter, wrote to me that consumption of Jatropha by children is
baseless assumption. I suggested him to read the reports in
Internet.

Experts say that such incidences will increase in coming days. It
seems that Jatropha promoters want to earn money anyway, even taking
lives of children and providing damage to nature forever.]

Please read this Hindi article written on 'slow speed research' by
our research organisations published in Kheti Duniya, Patiala in
year 2006.

http://ecoport.org/storedReference/557112.pdf

regards
Pankaj Oudhia

--- In jatropha@..., Ravinder Singh
<povertyfree77@...> wrote:
>
> Dear Pankaj,  GOI has released a new Jatropha variety that yields
only 1000 kg/ year seed yield or Rs.13/hetare/day. - Ravinder Singh
>
>
>   Trade Deficit 2004-07 From $14b To $27b To $39b To $54b
>   Loose and eccentric policies of Manmohan Singh have resulted in
run away trade deficit of over $4.5b per month compared to $1.2b
when he took over. Figures trade deficit for 2003-04 was $14.3b that
nearly doubled to $27 in first year of Manmohan Singh government to
$39b to $36b in 8 months or $54b in full year.
>
>   The year he took over Indian imports were $78b (2003-04) and in
eight months period April-November2006 Indian import has already
crossed $116b and racing to $175b for full year- clear increase of
nearly $100b in three years. Respective exports figures are $64b,
$101b and $80b largely low value addition products.
>
>   This deficit could have been wider had India not exported iron
ore or unprocessed seafood and such products India need for our own
people.
>
>   Considering India huge and cheap labor, banks are overflowing
with funds India ought to have been trade surplus by $100b. This
$154b could have contributed in improving the living conditions of
the poor. GOI is actually promoting SEZ and loot programs
artificially enriching corporate while starving and strangulating
rural population and farmers are committing suicides all over.
>
>   Inflation has crossed 6%.
>
>
http://finmin.nic.in/stats_data/monthly_economic_report/2006/inddec06
.pdf
>
http://finmin.nic.in/stats_data/monthly_economic_report/2005/inddec05
.pdf
>
>   Wheat Procurement in best year 2002-03 was 19 MT and even in
worst year 2003-04 was 15.8 MT that has come down to 9.22 MT for
2006-7 (Wheat is harvested in April).
>
>   Most shameful is low rice procurement of only 9 MT up to
November30 this year considering rice is cultivated all over India
all the year in south. This is 9 kg per capita in eight months or
1125 grams per capita per month. Punjab and Haryana might have
contributed almost the entire quantity.
>
>   In current 8 months states picked up food grains for public
distribution only 20.60 MT compared to 24.72 MT.
>
>   Jatropha Fraud On Farmers; In the following one page document
you can see that average yield projected for a new variety is 1000-
1100 kg per hectares and farmers are paid Rs.5/- per kg. This is
$110 per hectare in a year or $0.30 per hectare per day.
>
>   http://agmarknet.nic.in/icar1.pdf
>
>   No bird or pest or insect consumes the biomass produced.
>
>   Farmers were paid only Rs.650 per quintal for more of the
procurement season and bonus of Rs.50 was announced after Commission
Agents procured all their needs. In the following link to Agro-
Markets you will find average wheat price in open market is average
Rs.1100/- or 70% more in just 8-9 months.
>
>   http://agmarknet.nic.in/
>
>   In the above link you will also find farmers are paid around
Rs.2-5 per kg for all vegetable but retail price is in Rs.16-60 per
kg range.
>
>   Most shamefully GOI has not up dated Ministry of Food site for
two years. I have actually looked in to large files of states to get
an idea of state of Indian agriculture.
>
>   My rating of Manmohan Singh government is 0/10.
>
>   Ravinder Singh January27, 2007
>   Corruptionfree2007@...
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Bored stiff? Loosen up...
> Download and play hundreds of games for free on Yahoo! Games.
>

Trade Deficit 2004-07 From $14b To $27b To $39b To $54b

Dear Group Members,

I am still recieving lots of mails by Jatropha supporters that
there is no plant on this earth having positive qualities like
Jatropha. Few months back I prepared an article to give scientific
explanation of Myths related with Jatropha. For new members here is
link to that article

Bare facts about poisonous Jatropha curcas.
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=877&page=-2

I am adding new information regularly in this article. The social
workers have translated this article in over 10 Indian languages and
also in many foriegn languages. They are using it as tool to fight
against promotion of Jatropha. Keep visiting this link for new
updates.

regards
Pankaj Oudhia

Dear Group Members,

        I am still recieving lots of mails by Jatropha supporters that
there is no plant on this earth having positive qualities like
Jatropha. Few months back I prepared an article to give scientific
explanation of Myths related with Jatropha. For new members here is
link to that article

Bare facts about poisonous Jatropha curcas.
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=877&page=-2

I am adding new information regularly in this article. The social
workers have translated this article in over 10 Indian languages and
also in many foriegn languages. They are using it as tool to fight
against promotion of Jatropha. Keep visiting this link for new
updates.

regards
Pankaj Oudhia

Thanks for sharing your views. It is wrong to promote few species in
the name of Biodiesel. Today everyone is running behind Jatropha
blindly without considering other species. Indian scientists have
listed over 300 species having potential to be used as Biodiesel.
Jatropha is one of these sources. Jatropha may be useful for the
regions from where it has originated. But it is wrong to plant any
exotic species like Jatropha in thousands of hactares without
thinking of native flora. Yes it is good point that farmers can grow
their biodiesel in their field. I support it. But seeing the
demerits of Jatropha specially related to public health I am not in
favor of planting it near human population. In my state the
incidence of accidental poisoning due to Jatropha seeds in case of
children are becoming common.  I am not in favor of encouraging
farmers to handle *Hell oil* i.e. Jatropha oil having well known
carcinogenic properties or to touch it for their own use. In India
due to pressure of human population our villages are loosing
pastureland. Planners are planting Jatropha in remaining land.
Jatropha is poisonous for cattle, as world literatures also describe
it. Your suggestion is really useful for safe biodiesel sources not
for poisonous Jatropha.

More clearly I am in favor of promotion of different biodiesel
sources in different parts as per preference of farmers and other
native people. There must not be any 'pressure' for preference like
our farmers are facing in case of Jatropha. These sources must be
economically viable. Jatropha is not profitable crop for fertile
lands. Even Jatropha supporters in India are not in favor of its
cultivation in fertile fields. Also before promotion of any
biodiesel crop or plant there must be open discussion. In India few
planners decided Jatropha and without asking from different
components of society planting was started.  Today it is becoming a
case of *grand failure* in different parts of India and no one is
coming forward to take responsibility. It is really matter of shame
that by hiding the failures in India, Jatropha promoters are
influencing planners of other countries by presenting false stories
of Success in Jatropha.


Pankaj Oudhia



--- In jatropha@..., Ueli Scheuermeier
<uscheuermeier@...> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> I am new on this list. I am Swiss and I work in many
> countries as a consultant and business man.
>
> I have always thought that large plantations
> specifically for growing biofuel on cultivated land
> are an exceptionally ill-advised investment given the
> volatility of the energy market, even though I would
> expect oil-prices to generally increase and that the
> recent slump is only of a temporary nature. On a
> time-scale of 20 years I expect diesel prices will
> fluctuate. The price will bounce up and down but in a
> general upward direction. So biofuel does make a lot
> of sense per se. But not necesseraly large industrial
> plantations.
>
> The alternative is to aim for Jatropha or Pongamia
> production within the prevailing farming systems of
> villagers. Think of villagers producing their own fuel
> for their own tractors and generator-sets, and at the
> same time using these perennial plants for
> rehabilitating degraded lands. And let's not forget
> the edge effects in the hedges which have obvious
> interactions with the livestock-management systems. Of
> course that will usually mean lower yields per
> surface, but the low inputs and overall systemic
> effects would suggest that villagers will be able to
> produce seeds at lower prices than plantations.
>
> Question: Does anybody know of instances where this
> has been explored and looked into in any detail?
>
> Thanks
> Ueli Scheuermeier
>

Hi all,

I am new on this list. I am Swiss and I work in many
countries as a consultant and business man.

I have always thought that large plantations
specifically for growing biofuel on cultivated land
are an exceptionally ill-advised investment given the
volatility of the energy market, even though I would
expect oil-prices to generally increase and that the
recent slump is only of a temporary nature. On a
time-scale of 20 years I expect diesel prices will
fluctuate. The price will bounce up and down but in a
general upward direction. So biofuel does make a lot
of sense per se. But not necesseraly large industrial
plantations.

The alternative is to aim for Jatropha or Pongamia
production within the prevailing farming systems of
villagers. Think of villagers producing their own fuel
for their own tractors and generator-sets, and at the
same time using these perennial plants for
rehabilitating degraded lands. And let's not forget
the edge effects in the hedges which have obvious
interactions with the livestock-management systems. Of
course that will usually mean lower yields per
surface, but the low inputs and overall systemic
effects would suggest that villagers will be able to
produce seeds at lower prices than plantations.

Question: Does anybody know of instances where this
has been explored and looked into in any detail?

Thanks
Ueli Scheuermeier

Dear Viren,
     Thanks for your message. Attachments are not allowed in this
group. Please upload this document in file section of this group. If
you need my help, please feel free to write.

regards
Pankaj Oudhia

--- In jatropha@..., "viren" <vlobo_1@...> wrote:
>
> Attached is the draft proceedings of SPWD workshop on Biofuel
>
> Viren
>

Warning on bio-fuels

Business Standard / New Delhi January 24, 2007



The ethanol-doped petrol and plant-based bio-diesel programme seems
to have run into a bad patch even before it got going in any real
sense. The recent slide in international crude prices has adversely
affected the economics of using some of these green fuels. The worst
affected is the economic viability of bio-diesel, derived from
plants like Jatropha (Ratanjyot), Pongamia (Karanj) and others, as
their production costs work out to be higher than the current prices
of diesel. This is not to take away from the genuine need to search
for alternatives to non-renewable and environment-unfriendly fossil
fuels, especially in an economy that has poor endowments when it
comes to fossil fuels, but the available options need to be
evaluated with care and assessed for their financial viability. It
goes without saying that blending petrol with ethanol, priced
between Rs 21.50 and Rs 23 per kilolitre, was amply justified when
crude prices hovered above $60 a barrel. But that is no longer the
case. As a result, the oil-marketing companies are now jittery about
participating in the mandatory bio-fuel admixing programme?and who
can blame them!

On the supply side, too, the situation is different for ethanol and
bio-diesel producers. While the sugar industry, where heavy
investments have been made in putting substantial ethanol production
capacity in place, may not find it difficult to find alternative
buyers for their produce because of varied industrial uses and the
substantial demand for alcohol, the real problem would be for the
bio-diesel companies, whose output could go abegging. This scenario
calls for a fresh look at the country?s bio-fuel policy. While the
emphasis on ethanol production as part of the sugar industry?s by-
product initiatives may not be misplaced, the enthusiasm for raising
bio-fuel plantations is debatable. In fact, sugarcane cultivation
for the sole purpose of ethanol production, as has been suggested by
some, is not a sound proposition under Indian conditions, though it
may be all right for Brazil, which is the world?s leading bio-fuel-
consuming country. Unlike Brazil, India has neither abundant
agricultural land nor a climate tailor-made for the cost-effective
and ecologically safe production of a water-guzzling crop like
sugarcane. Even in Brazil, ethanol admixing has to be directly or
tacitly subsidised when the prices of crude oil are low. Where
Jatropha and other bio-fuel plantations are concerned, these would
necessarily be competing with other food and commercial crops for
land, water and cash and kind inputs.

What may not have been realised when the drumbeats began on the
subject a year or so ago, is that not enough research effort has
gone into evolving low-cost technologies for the cultivation and oil
extraction from these plants. The move to introduce Jatropha in
Haryana flopped as the young seedlings could not withstand the state?
s severe winter. This apart, one of the studies sponsored by the
Planning Commission is reported to have cautioned that large-scale
Jatropha plantations could encroach on animal habitats and lead to
drinking water scarcity. Pongamia, too, poses the risk of
overwhelming other vegetation in agro-forestry because it tends to
spread laterally to adjoining areas. Besides, there are concerns
about the disposal of the by-products of plant-based bio-fuel
production as many of these may not have other applications or
commercial demand. Therefore, it may be advisable for the government
to revisit such issues and consider the totality of the situation
before committing huge investments in bio-fuel plantations on
millions of hectares.
http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage.php?
autono=272419&leftnm=4&subLeft=0&chkFlg=
===========
Comments: Biodiesel can be prepared successfully by waste plants
i.e. weeds. There is no need for plantation of indigenous trees like
Karanj. Even present population can help to meet demand. In
Chhattisgarh recently 'biodiesel from waste' project started. They
are using plastic waste to make biodiesel. There is no need for
large scale plantation specially of exotic species. Unfortunately such
suggestions are reaching through media to planners when planners have already
wasted millions for this plant. It is wastage of public's money. But planners
can stop this project at this moment also. 'Subah ka bhoola shaam ko laut aiye
to usay bhoola nahi kahate'.

Attached is the draft proceedings of SPWD workshop on Biofuel

Viren

Biodiesel industry players hit by a crude shock

NIDHI NATH SRINIVAS

NEW DELHI: Falling crude oil has taken the bottom off the green fuel
market. Now that diesel has become more Rs 6 per litre cheaper than
biodiesel, there is next to no chance of consumers switching to any
green fuel. For investors in biodiesel factories, this huge gap in
retail prices can only mean one thing: an even longer stretch than
expected before they can start raking it in.

The old break-even calculations of biodiesel companies are being re-
written after crude oil dropped to $50/barrel-levels. In
Maharashtra, for example, pumps are currently selling diesel for Rs
35.70/l. This may even be brought down further if international oil
prices remain bearish. In comparison, biodiesel is available for Rs
41/l ex-factory plus taxes. “With such a stark difference, we have
no option but to shut down production for now,” said a managing
director of a biodiesel company in Maharashtra.

For biodiesel manufacturers, there are two options right now: one,
keep capacity idle till crude oil prices spiral again; or two,
reduce the cost of producing biodiesel so that it can compete better
with diesel.

The biggest cost for biodiesel manufacturers is raw material. At
present, farmers are selling jatropha and pongamia for Rs 12,000 per
tonne because of low total volumes. With a processing cost of Rs
1000 per tonne, manufacturers then get 70% deoiled cake and 30% oil
from each tonne of raw material. The deoiled cake fetches around Rs
1400 per tonne in the market.

With this conversion ration, oil costs the company Rs 38.66 a kg.
They spend another Rs 5 converting it into biodiesel. In other
words, the biodiesel is priced at Rs 43 a litre at factory gate.
State taxes are extra.

The only way companies can compete in the new scenario is by
ensuring that either the cost of jatropha is reduced to less than Rs
10,000 per tonne or the conversion cost of Rs 5 is chopped
substantially. While the more efficient units can easily achieve the
latter, jatropha can only become cheaper if more farmers grow it.
However, given the three-year lag period before the saplings bear
fruit, small farmers on marginal lands simply don’t have the deep
pockets necessary to survive this period.

Keeping these problems in view, a section of the biodiesel industry
has been lobbying hard for permission to use palm oil imported at
concessional duty as feedstock. However, that may not be the right
way forward. Diverting an expensive food into fuel may impact 1.1
billion cooking oil consumers in India.

More importantly, because cooking oils are so expensive, there is a
genuine likelihood of palm oil imported for fuel to be diverted to
the food market. Already the government has been troubled by
instances of edible oil being imported in the guise of non-edible
oil. Actual inflow of palm oil would completely distort the market
in favour of a few unscrupulous players.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Markets/Commodities/Biodiesel_ind
ustry_players_hit_by_a_crude_shock/articleshow/1388118.cms

Lands Commission cannot grant one million hectares for bio-diesel
Posted on: 22-Jan-2007

The National Lands Commission on Monday said it was not in a
position to grant one million hectares of land for the cultivation
of Jatropha plant for the production of Bio-diesel.

Alhaji Hamidu Ibrahim Baryeh, the Executive Secretary, Lands
Commission, said there was the need to study soils that had been put
under cultivation to determine the soil fertility after a period of
cultivation before undertaking such a venture.

This, he noted, was to ensure that farmers did not put their lands
under the cultivation of Jatropha at the expense of food and other
cash crops because of loss of land fertility in the long run.

Alhaji Baryeh, who was speaking to the GNA in an interview, said
there was the need for further research on the plant and therefore
called on the proponents for its cultivation on a large scale to
seek approval from the Crops and Soil Research Institute, the
Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Environmental Protection
Agency before embarking on the large scale cultivation.

He said, "Should the country see the need to embark on commercial
cultivation of the plant, there must be enough information about all
possible dangers associated with the crop".

The Executive Secretary said contrary to the view of the proponents,
expert advice indicated that the crop did well on marginal lands. He
therefore advocated that the cultivation of the plant be limited to
marginal lands.

"Where large expanse of unproductive lands are available especially
in some parts of the transitional and Guinea Savannah ecologies, its
large-scale production should be acceptable," he said, but added
that communities interested in the cultivation of the plant should
be guided in the selection of degraded lands for cultivation.

"Since the plant is already well known and cultivated in the
country, sensitisation could be done by the district assemblies and
farmers organizations," he said.

Alhaji Baryeh said the Commission was also concerned about the fact
that Ghana's consumption would constitute only 10 per cent of the
total production when the project became fully operational whilst
the remaining 90 per cent would be exported.

"Initial production should therefore be limited to at most 50 per
cent of the land requirement of one million hectares in order to
determine the full effects of the cultivation of the plant and the
production of the bio-diesel," he said.

Mr Onua Amoa and some investors, after the discovery of the
potential for the conversion of Jatropha plant also known as the
Physic Nut into bio-diesel, had contacted the Lands Commission to
solicit assistance in acquiring vast parcels of land for the project.

The proponents indicated that they needed a minimum of 1,100,000
hectares of land to put under cultivation in order to feed the bio-
diesel plant economically.

Research has showed that the Jatropha plant is a small tree or large
shrub, which grows up to a height of 6 metres. Like many other
Jatropha species, the physic nut is a succulent plant that sheds its
leaves during the dry season.

It is best adapted to arid and semi arid conditions and it is
drought resistant. It grows on well-drained soils with good
aeration.

The plant is well adapted to marginal soils with low nutrient
content, low rainfall where it grows without competing with annual
food crops and has a productive life span of 40 to 50 years.

Source: GNA
http://www.myjoyonline.com/news/read.asp?contentid=900
---------------------------

Comments: Are you sleeping Indian planners? Its time to get lesson
from them.

Here is attachment related to this message forwarded by Soumitra.

WE WANT FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, NOT BIOFUELS

OPEN LETTER TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION, THE
GOVERNMENTS AND CITIZENS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, JANUARY 2007


We, the undersigned organizations express before the European
Parliament, the European Commission, the governments and citizens of
the European Union, our deep concern over the policies that are
probably to be adopted to favour the use and import of biofuel as an
alternative to fossil fuels, whose disproportionate use is one of
the main causes of global warming.


The increasing use of individual automobiles and their associated
oil consumption as one of the main causes of global warming, makes
fossil fuels use grow day by day. In this context, the use of
biofuels would appear to be a positive alternative. However,
everything seems to indicate that this will generate serious
negative impacts, especially on the people of the South.


In fact, it is most unlikely that Europe will ever achieve self-
sufficiency in the production of biofuel from national production of
energy crops and therefore it is very possible that this will be
done at the expense of lands on which the food sovereignty of our
countries depend.


While Europeans maintain their lifestyle based on automobile
culture, the population of Southern countries will have less and
less land for food crops and will loose its food sovereignty. We
will have to base our diet on imported food, possibly from Europe.


In other cases, energy crops will be grown in Latin America, as well
as in Asian and African countries, at the expense of our natural
ecosystems. Soybeans are forecasted to be one of the principal
sources of biodiesel production, but it is a fact that monoculture
soybean plantations are one of the main causes of the destruction of
the rainforest in Argentina, of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and
Bolivia and of the Mata AtlĂąntica in Brazil and Paraguay.


Indigenous territories have also been affected. The Enwene Nawe
indigenous people in the Matto Grosso declared, “Soybeans are
killing us.” At this time, some scant 429 Enawene Nawe people still
survive. Their territory has been reduced to half its size and they
are surrounded by soybean plantations. Their health is declining and
the children suffer from malnutrition.


In order to serve the soybean business, the governments of the
Southern countries are building dams, waterways, bridges and
highways with the consequent negative impacts on the environment. At
the same time, the expansion of soybean crops is affecting the
health of surrounding populations, where the levels of cancer and
other diseases associated with agro toxic chemicals used on these
monoculture plantations are increasing day by day.


Sugar cane plantations and the production of ethanol in Brazil are
the business of an agricultural monopoly using slave labour, and oil
palm plantations are expanding at the expense of forests and the
territories of the indigenous and other traditional communities of
Colombia, Ecuador and other countries, increasingly geared to
biodiesel production.


The situation is even more serious if we consider that soybean crops
in the Southern countries genetically modified and that private
companies in Brazil are planning to launch genetically modified
varieties of sugar cane on the market in the year 2010.  Rejection
of genetically modified crops in Latin America is widespread, and
the expansion of crops to produce and export biofuels to Europe only
exacerbates these conflicts.


The problem of climate change generated by the countries of the
North cannot be solved by creating new problems in our region. We
are therefore appealing to the governments and people of the
European Union countries to seek solutions that do not worsen the
already dramatic social and environmental situation of the peoples
of Latin America, Asia and Africa.


IT IS TIME FOR FOOD SOVEREIGNTY


LAND MUST BE USED TO FEED PEOPLE, NOT CARS


Alert Against the Green Desert Network, Latin American Network
against Monoculture Tree Plantations, Network for a GM free Latin
America, Oilwatch South America, World Rainforest Movement
======================

--- In jatropha@..., "Soumitra Ghosh" <soumitrag@...>
wrote:
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Ana Filippini <anafili@...>
> Date: Jan 8, 2007 8:54 PM
> Subject: [durban] Biofuels : A clear message from the South
> To: durban@...
>
>  Dear friends,
>
>
> Please redistribute the following Press Release and the letter
attached
> among media contacts and ither networks in your countries.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Ana
>
>
> *For Inmediate Release *
>
>
> *A clear message from the South: WE WANT FOOD SOVEREIGNTY, NOT
BIOFUELS*
>
>
>
> (January 6, 2007) An open letter (please see attachment) was sent
yesterday
> to the European Parliament, The European Commission, The
Governments and
> Citizens of The European Union, in which several networks from
Latin
> American countries expressed their "deep concern over the policies
that are
> probably to be adopted to favour the use and import of biofuel as
an
> alternative to fossil fuels, whose disproportionate use is one of
the main
> causes of global warming".
>
>
>
> They point out :
>
> ?       Increasing use of individual automobiles and their
associated oil
> consumption as one of the main causes of global warming, and
biofuels might
> appear to be a positive alternative. However, serious negative
impacts are
> being experienced by the people and natural resources of the South.
>
>
>
> ?       Europe will never achieve self-sufficiency in the
production of
> biofuel from national production of energy crops. The EU Biofuels
directive
> being announced by the EU Commissioners next week, will drive a
massive
> market expansion in biofuels in Europe that will come at the
expense of
> lands on which the food sovereignty of Southern countries depend.
>
>
>
> ?       While Europeans maintain their lifestyle based on
automobile
> culture, the population of Southern countries will have less and
less land
> for food crops and will loose its food sovereignty. We will have
to base our
> diet on imported food, possibly from Europe.
>
>
>
> Energy crops grown in Latin America for the European market :
>
> ?       will increase the level of destruction of the rainforest in
> Argentina, of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and Bolivia and of
the Mata
> Atl⟎ica in Brazil and Paraguay, and
>
>
>
> ?       genetically modified soybean crops, that are already being
planted,
> affect the health of surrounding populations, where the levels of
cancer and
> other diseases associated with agro toxic chemicals used on these
> monoculture plantations are increasing day by day.
>
>
>
> ?       sugar cane plantations and the production of ethanol in
Brazil are
> the business of an agricultural monopoly using slave labour, and
oil palm
> plantations are expanding at the expense of forests and the
territories of
> the indigenous and other traditional communities of Colombia,
Ecuador and
> other countries, increasingly geared to biodiesel production.
>
>
>
> The decisions on the EU Biofuels directive being made by the EU
> commissioners on January 10th are critical to the future of many
in the
> Southern nations.  The Latin American networks appealed to the
governments
> and people of the European Union countries to seek solutions that
do not
> worsen the already dramatic social and environmental situation of
the
> peoples of Latin America, Asia and Africa.
>
>
>
> Some European organizations, organized a campaign to support the
Latin
> American Network position and also sent their own message to the
Commission.
> The commission are urged to act to prevent further deforestation,
> biodiversity losses, and evictions and impoverishment of local
communities
> by placing a moratorium on the EU biofuel targets and obligations
until the
> sustainable sourcing of biofuels can be guaranteed; and taking all
possible
> measures to stop imports of biofuel feedstocks for bioenergy where
crop
> production is linked to deforestation, peat drainage, biodiversity
loss,
> pollution or human rights abuses.
>
>
>  Note:
>
> Additional information about this issues can be found in the
signatories'
> web pages: Alert Against the Green Desert Network,
> http://www.desertoverde.org/ ; Latin American Network against
Monoculture
> Tree Plantations, http://www.wrm.org.uy/plantations/RECOMA.html ;
Network
> for a GM free Latin America, http://www.rallt.org/ ;
>
> Oilwatch South America, http://www.oilwatch.org/ ;  World
Rainforest
> Movement, http://www.wrm.org.uy/ ;
>
>
>
> Some good in-depth articles on the impact of biofuels to
communities people,
> biodiversity and resources in Latin America can be found at:
> http://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin/112/viewpoint.html  on the World
Rainforest
> Movement website.
>
>
>
> Contact details:
>
>
>
> In Latin America:
>
> Ana Filippini, World Rainforest Movement.  Email: anafili@... ,
> Telephone: 598 2 4132989 Cell phone: 598 99367966
>
>
>
> Elizabeth Bravo, Email: ebravo@...   Telephone: 593 22 547516
>
>
>
> In Europe:
>
> Jutta Kill, Email: jutta@... , Telephone: +44 1608 652 895
>
>
>
> Andrew Boswell, Large Scale Biofuel Action Group.  Email:
> andrew.boswell@... , Telephone: +44-1603-613798, Mobile:  +44-
> 7787-127881;
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Maldonado 1858, CP 11200
> Montevideo Uruguay
> Tel:598 2 4132989 Fax: 598 2 4100985
> *http://www.wrm.org.uy*
>
>
>
> The following section of this message contains a file attachment
> prepared for transmission using the Internet MIME message format.
> If you are using Pegasus Mail, or any other MIME-compliant system,
> you should be able to save it or view it from within your mailer.
> If you cannot, please ask your system administrator for assistance.
>
>   ---- File information -----------
>     File:  WE WANT FOOD SOVEREIGNTY.doc
>     Date:  4 Jan 2007, 15:40
>     Size:  32256 bytes.
>     Type:  Unknown
>

Kalam calls for greater research in energy sector

India needs 60 million tonnes of ethanol and another 60 million tonnes
of bio-fuel in the near future. He said agriculture scientists needed
to research on drought-resistant jatropha plants, a rich source of bio-
fuel, and how to bring jatropha cultivation on greater amount of
wasteland.

http://www.zdnetindia.com/news/business/stories/166817.html
==================
Comments: Oh my God. It means Jatropha is still at research stage then
why without getting complete research results planners are planting it
in 84 thousand hactares of socalled wasteland?

Last year India imported food grains from other countries. I am not
getting any news in which planners are thinking of 'Food
independence'. They are much worried for 'Energy independence'. And to
fulfil this fatal dream, Jatropha plantation is in progress in fertile
food zones of the country.

Seeds from Pongamia trees being fed into the extractor that will press
oil to be used for running generators and farm equipment in Powerguda
Village in Andhra Pradesh, India. USAID has helped support organizing
community groups to spread the practice of biofuel cultivation
http://www.usaid.gov/in/newsroom/pg_biofuel.htm

An experimental study of Pongamia pinnata L. oil as a diesel
substitute
Journal Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part
A: Journal of Power and Energy
Publisher Professional Engineering Publishing
ISSN 0957-6509
Issue Volume 220, Number 7 / 2006
DOI 10.1243/09576509JPE172
Pages 803-808
Present work deals with testing a performance of a compression
ignition (CI) engine with different blends of non-edible oil as well
as their methylesters with petrodiesel. Various blends of a non-
edible vegetable oil, commonly known as honge (Pongamia pinnata L.)
in India, were prepared and tested over a wide range of engine load.
Results obtained from the study showed that 15-20 per cent pongamia
methylester-diesel blend (B15 and B20) could be a better fuel in
terms of fuel efficiency and power developed. Further, the blend can
be used in any existing CI engine without modification and
preheating. The pongamia oil is transesterified by using base
catalysed transesterification process in a batch type
transesterification reactor. Transesterification shows improvement
in fuel properties of pongamia oil. Results obtained with B15 and
B20 show improvement in brake thermal efficiency and reduction in
brake specific fuel consumption, especially at higher load. Emission
results show significant reduction in percentage of CO and HC for
B15 and B20 at medium and higher power output.

http://journals.pepublishing.com/content/j66t700g7475827h/

Local newspapers in Chhattisgarh especially Dainik Bhaskar reported on
December 26, 2006 that railway has dropped the plan to run biodiesel
train between Raipur and Dhamtari. According to this report Jatropha
Biodiesel is affecting the performance of engine. There is need to
modify engine according to Jatropha which is not possible at this
stage. Railway mixed 5 percent Biodiesel in commercial diesel and it
resulted in this failure.  It is big blow to Jatropha promoters. Still
they are not sure about its performance and without confirming it the
large-scale plantation of Jatropha is in progress in full swing.

Pankaj Oudhia

From cgnet yahoo group

Dear Group Members,

When few years back for the first time Daily Navbharat and
Deshbandhu published my objections regarding promotion of Jatropha
in Chhattisgarh I got a phone call (on my birth day) from one of the
technical advisors of government that what the hell you are doing?
The note sheet having your name for advisor(?), state medicinal
plant board is in final stage. If you talk against Jatropha you will
loose it. And finally I lost it. After that, few press notes against
Jatropha were published in state media. At that time I got
information about CGnet. I joined it and surprisingly CGnet took
keen interest
in this issue. I started writing
technical articles against Jatropha (see below). Down to Earth
published it. At that time Jatropha fever was in peak. I got many
odd comments. At international level environmentalists and weed
experts supported me. Farm magazines and journals published my
articles. Also many persons from national and international press
took my comments on Jatropha. I continued the campaign.

During recent dream Chhattisgarh meeting II after all hurdles open
discussion on Jatropha was put in agenda. And I got opportunity to
present my views. It was face-to-face discussion between Jatropha
promoter i.e. a representative from government(?) and person
opposing Jatropha that is me. I got very encouraging responses and
feedback. I said it harmful to diversity, harmful to children and
cattle and also raised question about its use as Biodiesel as it is
one of flop shows in African countries.

Now from last three- four months the facts against Jatropha are
coming in surface. At first the incidence of Magarlod , then Daily
Chhattisgarh published articles against Jatropha in Itwari Khabar
openly, local organizations raised voice against Jatropha promotion,
and from two days I am reading related news in front pages of Dainik
Bhaskar and other dailies. I see it as ray of hope but we have to
fight long war. Plantation of Jatropha is still on. After all
exposure, authorities are still supporting this foreign plant.

Thanks for reading this message patiently. After reading so many
positive news I decided to express my views. Please give your
comments. Once again I am forwarding links to my research articles
on Jatropha written many years back. The doubts and questions raised
are coming on surface.

Who will protect our children from Jatropha poisoning?
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=847&page=-2

Planning of FEW, Problems for generations
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=843&page=-2

Bare facts about poisonous Jatropha curcas.
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=877&page=-2

Jatropha Fever.
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=879&page=-2

Why Karanj is better than Jatropha?
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=845&page=-2

Bastar: The Heaven in danger.
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=1601&page=-2

regards
Pankaj Oudhia

From Chhattisgarh-net yahoo group (http://www.cgnet.in)

An Open Letter to the President of India from The Patriotic People
of Chhattisgarh : 'The Rice Bowl'

Hon'ble President Sir,

At the 6th anniversary of the formation of Chhattisgarh State on 7th
November, 2006, during the State Celebrations you had claimed
that 'While this state would be in the forefront of Bio-diesel
production from Jatropha, at the same time it would be called
the "Diamond State" in future' (as reported by the Media). Besides,
you had also produced a 7-point Mission Goals for the development of
Chhattisgarh by 2015. The State Government too had welcomed you with
the slogan: "Welcome to the Land of Jatropha".

We are perturbed that you were not able to grasp the ground-reality
of Chhattisgarh in the midst of glaring artificial lights of the
Capital City during the State Celebrations deliberately decorated by
the rulers and their servants living in palaces. Nor could you hear
the hopes and aspirations of 2 Crore 14 Lakhs patriotic people of
Chhattisgarh whose voices were drowned in the midst of blaring
loudspeakers; people who were sweating in the sun to harvest the
paddy crop in their fields and farms. Therefore, you were unable to
realize the true identity of Chhattisgarh which is known as "The
Rice Bowl" the world over. On the contrary, you played with the
culture and dignity of toiling and sincere citizens of Chhattisgarh,
who have created the true identity of "The Rice Bowl" through
centuries of hard labour and traditional knowledge.

Respected President Sir, you are a Scientist. The basic principles
of Science are "Reality" and "Reason". Even then, you created
an "illusionary dream" by addressing our land of "rice" as the "land
of Jatropha". Why Sir?

Respected President Sir, do you know that out of about 1,40,000
varieties of paddy in the world, 22,974 varieties are found in
Chhattisgarh; of which 19,095 are found in Bastar and Raipur
Division alone. And these rare varieties of rice have been developed
by the farmers and agricultural workers of Chhattisgarh themselves
and not by any scientist or university. Nor were these rare
varieties of rice developed in the so-called modern countries like
USA and Japan etc.

Ever since agricultural- farming originated in human history, the
farmers of Chhattisgarh discovered and developed about 1,50,000
varieties of paddy on the basis of their traditional skills and
knowledge. But, a number of these traditional and rare varieties of
paddy became extinct with the time and changing pattern of
agriculture, due primarily with the use of high yielding variety of
seeds during the "green revolution" or were destroyed due to
chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the name of modern
agriculture. Even then, today there are 22,972 varieties of paddy in
Chhattisgarh. This was possible because of the efforts of a world
renowned agricultural scientist, Dr. R H Richaria, who collected
these rare varieties of paddy seeds from the farmers of
Chhattisgarh, documented their distinct qualities through research,
and created a world record of having the largest collection of paddy
seeds in the Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya at Raipur. The
state government ought to be proud of this distinction.

Respected President Sir, we feel proud in telling you that our
ancestors had developed lakhs of these paddy varieties on the basis
of their traditional knowledge and hard work and, that too, even
before the United States of America (USA) was born or came into
existence as a country! Nothing was then known about
the "agriculture science" in the so-called modern countries when our
farmers developed these hundreds and thousands of varieties of paddy.

Respected President Sir, about 6 million tonnes of rice is produced
every year in Chhattisgarh, and that too when only 34 percent of the
agricultural land is irrigated, according to the claim of the
government, though, the ground reality is that not more than 16 per
cent of agricultural land is under irrigation. This means that if
the entire paddy produce was equitably distributed amongst the 2.14
crore population of Chhattisgarh, then each citizen would get 2
Quintals 80 Kilograms as their share. Just imagine this share would
suffice to feed them for, at least, 560 days i.e. approximately for
one-and-a-half years! So the "Food Security" system is already in-
built in our "Rice Bowl". But, what is lacking is the "distributive
justice".

Rice is not only the foundation of economics in Chhattisgarh, but an
integral part of its cultural identity, self-hood and dignity. When
we welcome a guest, we put "rice" as a "Tilak" on his/her forehead.
No Worship (Puja) is complete without "rice" in Chhattisgarh;
various festivals like "Cher-Chera" and "Akti" in Chhattisgarhi
villages are closely related to "paddy" and "rice".

Respected President Sir, even today the people of Chhattisgarh feel
proud when addressed as "Pasiya Peene Wala" (People who survive by
drinking Rice Water). "PASIYA" is equated as food of the poorest of
the poor, and consists of cooked rice mixed with water, left
overnight in an earthen pot, and eaten the next morning as break-
fast, just before the toiling people leave for day's work, whether
it be in the fields or barns, or in the factories or mills. Even
when hundreds and thousands of workers, men, women and youth migrate
to other parts of the country in search of job, they survive
on "pasiya".

Against this backdrop, any reference made to Chhattisgarh as
the "land of Jatropha" under-mining the significance of "rice" as
the foundation of people's economy, cultural identity and dignity is
not only an insult to the Chhattisgarhi people, but also an open
attack on their Right to Life and Livelihood. Such a situation would
never be accepted by the patriotic and sincere people of
Chhattisgarh! It becomes all the more acceptable when such a
situation arises out of the discourse by the President of Indian
Republic, who is not only the "Head of the State" but also
the "Custodian of the Constitution" , under which the citizens have
been guaranteed fundamental rights like the Right to Life, including
the Right to Food.

Respected President Sir, the "Politics of Jatropha" is a war-cry of
the Capitalist Corporate World to destroy the "Food Sovereignty" in
Chhattisgarh, and is a well thought out conspiracy to, once again,
chain the people of Chhattisgarh in the fetters of foreign slavery.
As an intellectual and a scientist it would be easier for you to
travel through the pages of history and remind yourself of the "Food
Politics" that was exposed in the secret documents of American
Congress in the 60's. It revealed the imperialist conspiracy of
keeping in control other nations, especially the developing
countries, and pressurizes them to toe the line of the imperialist
countries by using food (not guns or bombs) as a powerful weapon of
subjugation and subordination. And today it is turning out to be
true that in the age of globalization, the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) is systematically destroying the "food-producing capacity" of
the entire world, especially of the agriculture- based economy of
countries like India. A blue-print has been prepared for "agri-
business" under the dictates of USA. This model is being thrust upon
self-reliant food-producing regions like Chhattisgarh known as
the "Rice Bowl". The plantation of Jatropha destroying paddy farming
is an integral part of the very "Food Politics" that has led to
hunger and starvation on the one hand, and on the other hand to
large-scale suicides of farmers in various parts of our country.

After the formation of the state of Chhattisgarh, the state
government prepared a model of development in a document named
VISION -2010. It is not strange that in this document the term "Rice
Bowl" was not used even once. The real identity and dignity of
Chhattisgarh being the "Rice Bowl" was totally ignored. It is worth
reflecting that this document spelling out the future development of
Chhattisgarh was prepared by a Multi-National Corporation called the
PriceWaterHouseCoop ers. There was no participation of the patriotic
people of Chhattisgarh in this discourse; even the people's elected
representatives (MLAs & MPs, etc.) and intellectuals were not
consulted to contribute to the planning of such an important
document shaping the destiny of the state and its people. After the
formation of the state of Chhattisgarh, during the Congress-I regime
paddy was projected as the main cause of poverty and people were
mislead to believe in such a false propaganda.

Respected President Sir, as we have already mentioned earlier that
the main reason behind the "Politics of Jatropha" is to destroy
the "Food Sovereignty" of Chhattisgarh and transform the "Rice Bowl"
in to a "Hunger Bowl". Against this conspiracy, we clearly see the
hands of international market forces under the patronage of
Imperialist nations. Recently, the attempts to rob Chhattisgarh of
rare varieties of paddy seeds by some Trans-national Corporations
like "Syngenta" and "Mahco-Monsento" exposes this international
conspiracy. In 2002, the Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya,
Raipur entered into a secret deal with the TNC called "Syngenta" for
sharing valuable information for research on 'germ-plasm" of rare
varieties of rice seed collections. The MoU was cancelled after
people's agitation. Similarly, another TNC by the name of "Mahco-
Monsento" was caught experimenting with hazardous varieties of BT-
Rice, BT-Ladyfinger, and BT-Brinjal, that too in illegal
collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Krishi Vishwavidyalaya, Raipur.
The role of the state government has also come under a cloud of
suspicion when the entire illegal and hazardous experimentation
going on in the backyard of the IGKV came to the light. There is
wide spread anger prevalent amongst citizens, especially the
farmers, against this secret operation.

Besides, there appears to be a clear-cut conspiracy to uproot and
displace hundreds of thousands of adivasis, dalits, farmers from
their common property resources by planting Jatropha on public land,
revenue and forest land under the "Politics of Jatropha". The public
life and environment is already getting endangered by the hazardous
impact of Jatropha. Only recently, on 22nd November, 16 children
were taken seriously ill after consuming the fruits of Jatropha in
Magarload block of Dhamtari Tahsil in Chhattisgarh. All of them had
to be admitted in the Primary Health Centre; three children are in a
serious state. Respected President Sir, as a scientist, you must be
definitely aware of the hazardous carcinogenic qualities of
Jatropha, which causes dangerous diseases like Cancer. But, not
aware of the hazardous qualities of Jatropha, children are tempted
to eat its sweet fruits. In addition, Jatropha destroys millions of
organisms in the soil thus rendering the land barren; and its
poisonous qualities have their own deadly impact on animals and
plants etc. For reference, kindly see JAPANESE JOURNAL OF CANCER
RESEARCH: Presence of Tumor Promoters in the Seed Oil of Jatropha
curcas L. from Thailand, In: Jpn J Cancer Res ( 1987 Mar) 78(3): 223-
6 ISSN: 0910-5050).

There is a growing possibility of many adivasis living in the forest
of Chhattisgarh getting their traditional and fundamental rights on
forest-land under proposed legislation "The Scheduled Tribes
(Recognition of Forest Rights) Bill, 2005". The "Politics of
Jatropha" is also seen as a tool to displace them from their
ancestral forest-land, which appears to be an extension of
the "historic exploitation and injustice" of tribals and other
traditional forest-dwellers during the British Rule.

It is also clear that the Joint Parliamentary Committee has
recommended the cut-off date as 13.12.2005 instead of 24.10.1980 as
proposed in the Bill for granting forest rights. This is yet another
reason that the Government of Chhattisgarh, under the "Politics of
Jatropha", wants to deny the adivasis and traditional forest-
dwellers their traditional natural rights to cultivate the forest
land. Respected President Sir, you definitely know that Chhattisgarh
is predominantly populated by adivasis and dalits with 31.13 per
cent of STs and 22.32 per cent of SCs. From amongst these, many are
recognized as primitive tribes under the Constitution of India.
Among them are: Baiga, Kamaar, Pahari Korva, Bhunjia, Birhor and
Maria tribes. Even then, all these primitive tribes are being
displaced from forest-land.

Respected President Sir, during the State Celebrations you wrote a
poem entitled 'Glory of Chhattisgarh' . In this poem too, there is
no mention of the true identity and dignity of Chhattisgarh as
the "Rice Bowl". Although in this poem, you do refer to martyrdom of
Shaheed Veer Narain Singh: "Let me salute the martyrdom of Veer
Narain Singh on this day, In this great land, unfolded the
revolution - Bhoomkal, Born was the pace mission and unity of minds
of GuruGhasidas, Khoobchand dreamt a prosperous land." All the
martyrs from Shaheed Veer Narain Singh to Shaheed Shanker Guha
Niyogi and other noble men and women recognized the true identity of
Chhattisgarh as the "Rice Bowl" and sacrificed their lives for its
real freedom and dignity.

In order to correct the misdirected pattern of development leading
to death and destruction, and also in order to provide vision,
direction and action plan for the people's development, the
patriotic people of Chhattisgarh would like to invite you to
the "Rice Bowl", so that you could come to grips with the ground
reality, and understand the "struggles" and "reconstruction" of
toiling and honest people to build "A New Chhattisgarh for A New
India" based on their hopes and aspirations.

Respected President Sir, for this we would like to cordially invite
you to Chhattisgarh on 19th December, 2006, Shaheed Veer Narain
Singh's martyrdom day; a martyr on whose path we would like to march
ahead and, once again, break the chains of slavery by defeating the
draconian designs of a development promoted by the Imperialist
Powers, as we stand committed to the creation of "A New Chhattisgarh
for A New India"; a state whose foundations would be laid down on
the principles enshrined in the concept of the "Rice Bowl" that are
justice, peace, equality and human dignity etc.

We hope that you would definitely grace us by accepting our
invitation so that the patriotic people of Chhattisgarh could
directly dialogue with the "Custodian of the Indian Constitution" on
these crucial issues of life and death confronting them.

With Greetings!

We remain yours'
1. Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha
2. Chhattisgarh Mahila Jagriti Sangathan 3. Nadi Ghati Morch
4. Ekta Parishad
5. Baiga Mahapanchayat - Chhattisgarh
6. Chhattisgarh Seed Satyagrah
6th December 2006

Note : This letter is purposely being written on 6th December, 2006,
the death anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who made a valuable
contribution in drafting the Constitution of India. Incidentally,
this falls exactly after one month of your visit to Chhattisgarh on
the Foundation Day.

Industry calls for increase in bio-diesel sale price

NEW DELHI, DEC 5:  The Biodiesel Association of India (BAI) on
Tuesday called for an increase in the selling price of bio-diesel to
make its production economically viable. The proponents of bio-
diesel have come together to form Biodiesel Association of India
(BAI) to press their demand.The government had fixed the ex-refinery
bio-diesel sale price at Rs 25 per litre in October last year, and
later revised it to Rs 26.50.
The industry, however, feels it should be allowed to sell it at par
with diesel prices as raw material sourcing is a problem.

Diesel is currently sold in Delhi at Rs 31.35 per litre.

Advocates of bio-diesel have suggested to the government to create
adequate environment for facilitating an investment of Rs 30,000
crore in the sector in the next three years. Out of this proposed
investment of Rs 30,000, about Rs 20,000 crore should be earmarked
for investment in processing of oil from jatropha and the remaining
for its cultivation.

According to BAI, the proposed Rs 30,000 crore investment in three
years would generate permanent employment for 4 million people. If
the programmes run as per schedule, it would result in an annual
turnover of Rs 33,000 crore for the next 35 years and result in
saving of Rs 25,300 crore in foreign exchange outgo, which is mainly
due to huge bulk import of crude oil.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, BAI president,
Sandeep Chaturvedi, said: “There are about 55 million hectares of
wastelands in the country. These wastelands can be used for
cultivation of jatropha. We have asked the Union government for a
comprehensive policy on bio-fuels and sympathetic consideration of
state governments for the programme.”

On pricing, he said that bio-fuel oil should be priced at par with
the retail prices of diesel. Chaturvedi is also the director of
Gujarat Olio Chem Ltd and BAI has three vice presidents - Emani
Biotech director, SK Mondal for eastern region, Garware Chemicals
director, AM Deshpande for western region and Nova Biofuels director
Rajiv Gulati for the northern region.

“The government policy need to clearly demarcate food security
concerns and facilitate cultivation of Jatropha on wastelands. No
crops used for food should be used for production of bio-diesel,”
said BAI secretary and chairman, Cleancilies Biodesel India,
Srinivas Prasad Moturi.
http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=148187

[COMMENTS: Other options are also there. Instead of planting
Jatropha use the existing plant species like Karanj for preparing
biodiesel. Many weeds are having potential to be used as biodiesel
like Calotropis as mentioned in website of Central pollution control
board of India. Use of weeds means very reduced cost of raw
material. This will make the dream of Biodiesel true in real sense.
From these sources cheap biodiesel can be extracted. Why there is
blind race for only one species i.e. Jatropha, having proven record
of nuisance around the world?]

Ratanjot ke peechhe andhi daud kyo? Hindi Article By Pankaj Oudhia
in latest edition of Itwari Khabar, Chhattisgarh p.26-28.
http://www.itwariakhbar.com/issues/issue9/page%201.pdf

Ratanjot: Biodeisel ke saath Maut Bhi. Hindi Article By Jiyaul Husaini
in latest edition of Itwari Khabar, Chhattisgarh.
http://www.itwariakhbar.com/issues/issue9/page%201.pdf

There is no plan for Chandigarh this month. I am going for Jatropha
lectures to Jabalpur and many places of Orissa in December, 2006.

Pankaj Oudhia

--- In jatropha@..., sadasaspati upadhyaya
<sadasaspati@...> wrote:
>
> Pankaj ji,
>
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>
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>
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>
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>   http://www.smile-email.com/pages/index.php?refid=sadasaspati
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Different names of Pongamia pinnata.

Millettia pinnata (L.) Panigrahi

SYNONYM(S) : Cytisus pinnatus L., Derris indica (Lam.) Bennet ,
Galedupa indica Lam. , Galedupa pinnata (L.) Taub. , Pongamia glabra
Vent., nom. illeg., Pongamia mitis Kurz, nom. illeg. , Pongamia
pinnata (L.) Pierre

CHINESE :    Shui huang pi (Taiwan).

ENGLISH : Indian beech, Karum tree, Pongam oiltree, Poonga oil tree.

HINDI : Karnja, Pongam.

MALAYALAM : Pungam, Ungam.

SANSKRIT : Karanja.

TAMIL : Puggam.

TELUGU : Kanuga.

For more details visit at
http://www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au/Sorting/Millettia.html


Pankaj Oudhia




--- In jatropha@..., "Udit Chaudhuri" <uditnc@...>
wrote:
>
> Unfortunately there is still a lot of misnomer, in Gujarat and
Maharashtra
> as I have heard over past two years,  with people believing
Jatropha to be
> English for Karanj/Ponghamia.
>
> On 02/12/06, Pankaj Oudhia <pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
> >

Pongamia pinnata
http://ecoport.org/ep?Plant=1781


Pankaj Oudhia

‘Jatropha, micro hydel projects violating villagers’ sovereignty’
Express News Service
Shimla, November 30: A Non-Government Organisation (NGO) that ended
its three-day-long workshop ‘Policy Analysis for Central Himalayas’
here today has come down heavily on the state’s policy on the
allotment of micro hydel Projects and promoting Jatropha plantation.
Terming both the policies as an intrusion into the sovereignty of
the village folk, who depend on the forest biodiversity for
sustenance, NGO Sutra has called for a review of the former and
immediate abandonment of the second policy.

Sutra director Subhash Mendhapurkar has demanded equity to the local
people where micro hydel projects are being set up. A member of the
working group for the eleventh five-year plan, Madhu Sarin
said, "Jatropha is a weedy specie and spreads itself very fast
leaving lesser grasslands for grazing animals. Some cases have been
reported from Chattisgarh where animals died after eating its
leaves." She suggested Karanj as a good substitute for Jatropha.
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=211624

Pankaj ji,

Aap Chandigarh aa rahe hain kya?

regards,

Sadasaspati Upadhyaya

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Here is related article written few years back but this warning was
ignored by the authorities.

Who will protect our children from Jatropha poisoning?
http://ecoport.org/ep?SearchType=earticleView&earticleId=847&page=-2


Pankaj Oudhia


--- In jatropha@..., "Pankaj Oudhia"
<pankajoudhia@...> wrote:
>
> Bio-diesel project proves fatal to Magarload natives
>
> From G Manjusainath DH News Service Raipur:
>
> The ambitious bio-diesel project of Chhattisgarh government is
> proving fatal for the natives of Magarload in Dhamtari district.
> After eating Ratanjot (biological name Jatropha Curcas) fruits, as
> many as 16 children were taken ill. They were later hospitalised
in
> the nearby primary health centres and are said to be in a critical
> state.
>
> According to the reports reaching here, Ratanjot has been planted
in
> mass scale in many villages of Magarload development block and
> children, ignoring the instruction to avoid going near to the
plant,
> are lured towards its sweet fruits. As the fruits of this plant
are
> highly purgative as well as carcinogenic, children are falling ill
> in Magarload area.
>
> Poisonous fruits
>
> Reports said that three children, Paramanand Sahu (6), Bespal Sahu
> (5) and Seema Sahu (3), of Dhipali village were admitted to the
> community health centre at Magarload in a critical state. Their
> parents stated that the children had gone to play on November 22,
> when they ate the Ratanjot fruits and soon returned home
complaining
> of loose motions and vomiting. Now, their condition is reported to
> be stable.
>
> This is not the first occasion, a few days ago, at Gadadih nine
> children were hospitalised after eating Ratanjot seeds and at
> Amachani village four children took ill. There is no treatment for
> this in any of the health centres in Chhattisgarh.
>
> A senior official of the Chhattisgarh Bio-diesel Development
> Authority requesting anonymity said there is in fact no cure for
the
> cases of Jatropha fruit consumption. “The only remedy is to flush
> out the seed from the patient.” The officer admitted that the
> Ratanjot seed can even lead to death.
>
> The state government started the bio-diesel project in 2004 and
> decided to grow eight crore plants of Ratanjot across the state.
>
> In order to take people into confidence on the bio-diesel project,
> Chief Minister Raman Singh is using 100 per cent bio-diesel,
> extracted from Ratanjot, in his vehicle since August 2004.
>
> The government has planned to begin commercial production of bio-
> diesel from 2008, when the saplings sown in various parts of the
> state will start bearing fruits. This project is drawing flak from
> various agricultural scientists and botanists.
>
> A noted botanist Pankaj Oudhia alleged that this plant is
> carcinogenic and of foreign origin, yet the government is planting
> it at mass scale without considering the consequences. “The
> incidents that has occurred in Magarload is just a beginning. More
> dangerous consequences of such mass scale plantation of Ratanjot
are
> still in store,” he said.
>
>
http://deccanherald.com/deccanherald/nov262006/national23283020061125
> .asp
>