Ms Aruna Rodrigues of India has challenged the Government of India at the supreme court, on account of the Govt attempting to release insufficiently tested and potentially harmful GM crops on to the Indian population. While her court case is still ongoing, it has already set a few legal precedences. One of them is - that business interest, confidentiality clause, and intellectual property rights cannot trump public safety. Thus, safety data on gm crops have to be placed in public domain if such crops are to be approved for general release. I spoke with Aruna today, over the phone, to have her talk about this issue, because it overlaps Canadian's concern that the safety data on Glyphosate, (or any GM crop for that matter) even after decades of release in Canadian environment and agriculture, remains out of reach from the people. I think this information, about the legal precedence set by the Indian supreme court, in support of Ms Aruna Rodrigues and in opposition to the Govt. of India as well as Monsanto, needs to be better understood and pushed for, by countries in the west such as here in Canada. If citizens of India, a democratic nation with a secular constitution, can be protected thus, then Canada, another democratic nation with another secular constitution, should also expect same. If this protection is not offered by the Government, Canadians deserve to demand it. +++++ On another separate development, I received the following information from the office of Minister Hon. Carla Qualtrough: Good morning Mr. Mitra, Minister Qualtrough now needs to be in Ottawa on April 1 so she cannot meet with you and your delegation as planned. I'm very sorry for the inconvenience. I'll call you later today or tomorrow to reschedule. Thank you, Donna Donna Burke, Constituency Manager The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, MP, Delta, BC #110 - 8295 Scott Rd., Delta, BC V4C 6R1