Pesticide manufacturer vs. local activists: Who is more likely to come out on top?
In a major win for the public’s right to freedom of speech in India, on July 20th the Indian Supreme Court quashed a criminal defamation case against activists who published a report about the horrific impacts of pesticides in Andhra Pradesh. Initiated by the Crop Care Federation (formerly Pesticides Association of India), this Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, or SLAPP suit, would have resulted in a long and expensive trial for the activists, already ongoing for five years.
The report that spurred the case was “The Killing Fields: Farmer Deaths Due to Exposure to Pesticides in Warangal District”, a preliminary investigation of the impacts of pesticide use in the region’s cotton belt.
The report was the product of a 2002 fact-finding mission funded by Greengrants, and led by the Society for Community Health Awareness, Research and Action with involvement of Toxics Link, Community Health Cell, Sarvodaya Youth Organization, and Centre for Resource Education.
Follow-up grants recommended by former India advisor Ravi Agarwal supported the Sarvodaya Youth Organization in building awareness about pesticide exposure among farmers in the region and training healthcare workers on how to treat pesticide-related illnesses. At that time, the India Advisory Board was led by Annie Leonard, of ‘The Story of Stuff’ fame.
Among those named in the SLAPP lawsuit were several Greengrants grantees and advisors, including Ravi Agarwal and Madhumita Dutta. Greengrants supported Toxics Link, Ravi’s organization, to help defray some of the costs of years of legal defense.
After a number of twists and turns and a few dirty tricks, the rule of law has won out in India, and the case has finally been dismissed.
The Indian chemicals industry is particularly active in fighting any attempts at regulation and very aggressive in combating the work of public interest groups. We offer a heartfelt congratulations in solidarity with the intrepid activists who have told the truth and now been supported by the Indian courts in a significant victory for social justice.
For the full Toxic Link press release, click here.
For more information about pesticides in India and the role of grassroots groups, click here and here.