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Saturday, May 14, 2011

A Supreme Court that sides against corporate interests

India court orders 2-month ban on pesticide, study - Yahoo! Finance: "India's top court temporarily banned production and sale of a pesticide widely used in the country so its effects on humans and wildlife can be studied.

Endosulfan causes nerve damage and is banned in 80 countries, while others have announced phase-outs over the next few years. India produces about 70 percent of the world's supply to control pests on fruit, vegetable, tea, coffee, cotton and other crops.

The Supreme Court ordered a two-month ban countrywide Friday and ordered an expert report within eight weeks on how the pesticide affects people and the environment.

The court acted on a petition filed by a political group from the southern state of Kerala, citing an increase in deaths and birth deformities in the state's Kasargode district where endosulfan was aerially sprayed on the cashew crop."

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