Posts tagged Monsanto
Letter Shows Monsanto Planted GMOs Before USDA Approval
May 4th
4th May 2012
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
Did Monsanto actually plant genetically modified alfalfa before it was deregulated by the USDA? There is some shocking evidence that, until recently, was withheld from the public showing that Monsanto’s genetically altered alfalfa may have been set free in 2003 — a full two years or more before it was deregulated in 2005. In a letter, obtained by NaturalSociety with permission to post for public viewing, it becomes clear that the USDA may have turned a blind eye to the entire situation, allowing widespread GMO contamination of GMO-free crops.
Amazingly, the letter actually proves that the USDA was fully aware of the situation. In order to fully understand the intricate details of this event, it is first important to understand a few key factors regarding alfalfa and its connection to the entire food supply.
Continue Reading – Letter Shows Monsanto Planted GMOs Before USDA Approval
Taking Monsanto to the People’s Court
Apr 27th
25th April 2012
By Blair Braverman - wagingnonviolence.org
On April 21, approximately 100 people came to a courtroom in Iowa City to attend a mock trial called the Monsanto Hearings, the second of five such events scheduled nationwide. The trial was modeled after a preliminary hearing, an attempt to collect stories about harm caused by agribusiness giant Monsanto and determine if further public scrutiny is warranted.
The court’s five presiding judges — including a professor, a graduate student and an organic farmer — made no pretense of impartiality. “We are under no obligation to be even-handed,” they announced early on, “because in the court of public opinion, Monsanto is not even-handed. They have money for lobbyists, advertisements, corporate-funded research and media campaigns. The influence of this hearing, by contrast, depends on the power and truth of what is said.” The court, they explained, would not be considering legal violations, but rather violations of nature, ethics and human rights.
Blamed for Bee Collapse, Monsanto Buys Leading Bee Research Firm
Apr 20th
20th April 2012
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
Monsanto, the massive biotechnology company being blamed for contributing to the dwindling bee population, has bought up one of the leading bee collapse research organizations. Recently banned from Poland with one of the primary reasons being that the company’s genetically modified corn may be devastating the dying bee population, it is evident that Monsanto is under serious fire for their role in the downfall of the vital insects. It is therefore quite apparent why Monsanto bought one of the largest bee research firms on the planet.
It can be found in public company reports hosted on mainstream media that Monsanto scooped up the Beeologics firm back in September 2011. During this time the correlation between Monsanto’s GM crops and the bee decline was not explored in the mainstream, and in fact it was hardly touched upon until Polish officials addressed the serious concern amid the monumental ban. Owning a major organization that focuses heavily on the bee collapse and is recognized by the USDA for their mission statement of “restoring bee health and protecting the future of insect pollination” could be very advantageous for Monsanto.
Continue Reading – Blamed for Bee Collapse, Monsanto Buys Leading Bee Research Firm
Mother Who Took on Monsanto, Wins Global Prize
Apr 19th
17th April 2012
By Kristin Schafer - momsrising.org
Hats off to this mother of three who got fed up and took charge. Thirteen years ago, Sofía Gatica’s newborn died of kidney failure after being exposed to pesticides in the womb. After the despair came anger, then a fierce determination to protect the children in her community and beyond.
Today, she’s one of six grassroots leaders from around the world receiving the Goldman Environmental Prize, in recognition of her courageous – and successful – efforts.
We at Pesticide Action Network are deeply honored to host Sofía as she travels to San Francisco for tonight’s ceremony and celebration. And personally, I look forward to meeting a mom with the chutzpa to take on Monsanto to protect her children.
Continue Reading – Mother Who Took on Monsanto, Wins Global Prize
Street Riots Form in Response to Monsanto Intrusion into Nepal
Apr 18th
18th April 2012
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
After the Nepalese government decided to allow Monsanto into their borders and subsequently force farmers to use genetically modified seeds, the citizens took to the streets. The starving nation let Monsanto in despite recent and massive bans in a number of EU countries. In addition, Monsanto’s GMO crops have been shown by a team of 900 scientists to be virtually ineffective at combating starvation — in fact, they perform way worse than traditional and sustainable agriculture.
Continue Reading – Street Riots Form in Response to Monsanto Intrusion into Nepal
GMO Takedown: Do You Have the Guts?
Apr 17th
17th April 2012
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
If you have not noticed, a revolution is underway! Our high-tech rifles, horses, catapults and cannons are the internet, petitions, rallies, protests, and other acts of civil disobedience. We are using our passionate hearts and community networking, our growing activism, intelligence, and courage to take claim of our liberties. The core of this revolution is the same force at work in revolutions past: the heart’s innate desire for freedom, justice, and unhampered joy. Yours, mine, all of our hearts.
Since my passion is healthcare and holistic medicine, which derives its power, protocols, and principles from nature, and specifically the integrity and vitality of natural products, I will share with you what I consider the most crucial aspects of our relationship to GMO, biotechnology, and organic foods—the crux of our new global healthcare crisis.
Explosive: Monsanto ‘Knowingly Poisoned Workers’ Causing Devastating Birth Defects
Apr 13th
13th April 2012
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
In a developing news piece just unleashed by a courthouse news wire, Monsanto is being brought to court by dozens of Argentinean tobacco farmers who say that the biotech giant knowingly poisoned them with herbicides and pesticides and subsequently caused ”devastating birth defects” in their children. The farmers are now suing not only Monsanto on behalf of their children, but many big tobacco giants as well. The birth defects that the farmers say occurred as a result are many, and include cerebral palsy, down syndrome, psychomotor retardation, missing fingers, and blindness.
Monsanto Threatens to Sue Vermont if Legislators Pass GMO Labelling Bill
Apr 6th
6th April 2012
By Will Allen and Ronnie Cummins - AlterNet
What it really comes down to this: Elected officials are abandoning the public interest and public will in the face of corporate intimidation.
The world’s most hated corporation is at it again, this time in Vermont.
Despite overwhelming public support and support from a clear majority of Vermont’s Agriculture Committee, Vermont legislators are dragging their feet on a proposed GMO labeling bill. Why? Because Monsanto has threatened to sue the state if the bill passes.
The popular legislative bill requiring mandatory labels on genetically engineered food (H-722) is languishing in the Vermont House Agriculture Committee, with only four weeks left until the legislature adjourns for the year. Despite thousands of emails and calls from constituents who overwhelmingly support mandatory labeling, despite the fact that a majority (6 to 5) of Agriculture Committee members support passage of the measure, Vermont legislators are holding up the labeling bill and refusing to take a vote.
Continue Reading – Monsanto Threatens to Sue Vermont if Legislators Pass GMO Labelling Bill
Monsanto ‘Biotechnology Book for Kids’ Caught Brainwashing Children
Mar 24th
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
Facing direct opposition from the public, biotechnology giants like Monsanto and Dow are now making a disturbing attempt to brainwash developing minds into accepting their genetically modified foods using blatant lies and propaganda. In a last ditch effort to potentially sway public opinion, the Council for Biotechnology Information (CBI) has launched the “Biotechnology Basics Activity Book” for kids. With the intent to be used by ‘agriculture and science teachers’, the activity book spreads absurd lies about GMO crops — even going as far as to say that they ‘improve our health’ and ‘help the environment’.
The book can be seen on the organization’s website, and makes it extremely apparent that it is full of misinformation and propaganda that completely ignores scientific research surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In fact, let’s examine some claims made by this book that serves as an ‘educational’ tool to be used by teachers. The first claim by the activity book is that genetically modified seeds actually grow more food than traditional seeds, and is followed by even more ridiculous statements. The activity book reads:
Continue Reading – Monsanto ‘Biotechnology Book for Kids’ Caught Brainwashing Children
Heartfelt Letter to the Farmers, Seed Growers and Farm Groups Whose Court Battle Was Dismissed Against Monsanto
Feb 29th
29th February 2012
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
This is an open (hearted) letter to the more than 300,000 organic farmers, seed growers, and members of farming and agricultural organizations (collectively “OSGTA”) challenging Monsanto’s patents on genetically modified seed, who today, after suffering through months of deliberation, tediousness and preparation, had their case against Monsanto dismissed by Judge Naomi Buchwald in Federal District Court in Manhattan. The details are here.
We will be sending this letter from all of us to the farmers. Please sign on here to join as one voice, one heart.
Dear Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association,
Today we also heard the bad news. We read of your case being thrown out by Judge Naomi Buchwald. We know the system is broken. And we know that you are trying, however desperately, to stitch a portion of democracy and justice back together again, with us. So, really, this is our case—sane America’s lawsuit. We are writing today to let you know that we feel the pain of today’s decision. We too are saddened and outraged. But our sadness will not last long as we hope yours too will lift soon, with your passion reinvigorated. Far from disengage and extinguish our hope, the decision by Judge Buchwald bolsters our determination, our urgency to do everything in our power to dismantle the Biotech monster machine.
USDA to Give Monsanto’s New GMO Crops Special ‘Speed Approval’
Feb 25th
25th February 2012
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
If you thought Monsanto’s lack of testing on their current GMO crops was bad before, prepare to now be blown away by the latest statement by the USDA. Despite links to organ damage and mutated insects, the USDA says that it is changing the rules so that genetically modified seed companies like Monsanto will get ‘speedier regulatory reviews’. With the faster reviews, there will be even less time spent on evaluating the potential dangers. Why? Because Monsanto is losing sales with longer approval terms.
The changes are expected to take full effect in March when they’re published in the Federal Register. The USDA’s goal is to cut the approval time for GMO crops in half in order to speedily implement them into the global food supply. The current USDA process takes longer than they would like due to ‘public interest, legal challenges, and the challenges associated with the advent of national organic food standards‘ says USDA deputy administrator Michael Gregoire.
Continue Reading – USDA to Give Monsanto’s New GMO Crops Special ‘Speed Approval’
Organic Farmers vs. Monsanto: Update, Petition Comments & What’s Next
Mar 6th
Posted by Wake Up World in Jack Adam Weber
6 comments
By Jack Adam Weber
Contributing Writer for Wake Up World
Dear Passionate Hearts of the World,
Last week we posted an open (hearted) letter to the farmers and seed growers who were part of the group (OSGTA) that sued Monsanto. As many of you know, Monsanto has garnered quite the reputation for bullying small organic farmers, filing suit against them, litigating them to no end, and bankrupting them. Witnessing this for years, the organic and commercial seed farms, co-ops and farming groups did not want to be next. So, OSGTA filed this preemptive suit, meaning that they are seeking to protect themselves and their farms (our food) in advance, before getting that harrowing knock on the door by Monster Santo.
Continue Reading – Organic Farmers vs. Monsanto: Update, Petition Comments & What’s Next