3.11 Individual Matter: Vandana Shiva
73
3.11 Individual Matter: Vandana Shiva
Vandana Shiva was born on November 5, 1952, and is an Indian environmental
activist as well as a renowned author (see Fig. 3.9). She has supported many
traditional practices and is a member of many global solidarity movements. Her
criticism of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has made her famous in the
environmental realm and enabled her to appear in many rallies that oppose GMO.
She is famous for arguing that the introduction of genetically modified seeds within
India has resulted in the deaths of numerous poor farmers who were enticed by false
GMO promises. For instance, it is estimated that 270,000 farmers in the Indian seed
market committed suicide.
After completion of her studies, Shiva founded the Navdanya organization. The
website of the organization states that its mandate is to provide protection to the
integrity and diversity of native seeds and living resources as well as enhance
organic farming (Navdanya n.d). Under her leadership, the organization has become
a national movement (Shiva and Mies 2014). Furthermore, Shiva is an opponent of
globalization and agricultural genetic engineering. In this regard, she has authored
more than 20 books on these topics. Perhaps, it could be stated that many of her
efforts have mainly been premised on ecofeminism.
She has played an important role in the international ecofeminist movement.
In her 2004 article titled “Empowering Women,” she argued that sustainable
agricultural production could only be attained through the reinstatement of a
Fig. 3.9 Vandana Shiva. Source: Frank Schwichtenberg via Encyclopædia Britannica (n.d.)
73
3.11 Individual Matter: Vandana Shiva
Vandana Shiva was born on November 5, 1952, and is an Indian environmental
activist as well as a renowned author (see Fig. 3.9). She has supported many
traditional practices and is a member of many global solidarity movements. Her
criticism of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) has made her famous in the
environmental realm and enabled her to appear in many rallies that oppose GMO.
She is famous for arguing that the introduction of genetically modified seeds within
India has resulted in the deaths of numerous poor farmers who were enticed by false
GMO promises. For instance, it is estimated that 270,000 farmers in the Indian seed
market committed suicide.
After completion of her studies, Shiva founded the Navdanya organization. The
website of the organization states that its mandate is to provide protection to the
integrity and diversity of native seeds and living resources as well as enhance
organic farming (Navdanya n.d). Under her leadership, the organization has become
a national movement (Shiva and Mies 2014). Furthermore, Shiva is an opponent of
globalization and agricultural genetic engineering. In this regard, she has authored
more than 20 books on these topics. Perhaps, it could be stated that many of her
efforts have mainly been premised on ecofeminism.
She has played an important role in the international ecofeminist movement.
In her 2004 article titled “Empowering Women,” she argued that sustainable
agricultural production could only be attained through the reinstatement of a
Fig. 3.9 Vandana Shiva. Source: Frank Schwichtenberg via Encyclopædia Britannica (n.d.)