(www.gmo-news.blogspot.com) A long-time advocate of protecting the food supply from the detrimental, and most-likely irreversible, effects of genetically-engineered (GE) crops on the environment and humans, Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) has proposed new legislation to ban the open-air cultivation of GE crops programmed to produce experimental pharmaceutical drugs and various other industrial chemicals and additives.
House Resolution (HR) 3554, also known as The Genetically Engineered Safety Act, will prohibit biotechnology companies like Monsanto from planting GE crops engineered to produce experimental drugs, industrial enzymes, and "novel proteins," in open-air fields. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has already allowed more than 300 outdoor field trials of such GE crops without ever requiring proper safety studies, and the threat of widespread food supply contamination is extreme.
"Under pressure from profit-minded industry, we have already allowed the spread of genetically modified crops into our agriculture at great cost to our economy and with unknown effects on our bodies," said Kucinich. "Many Americans are unaware that crops that are genetically engineered to produce experimental pharmaceutical drugs are being grown in this country in the open, allowing them to contaminate conventional crops without detection. We cannot rely on industry to prevent the unintended spread of genetically engineered organisms."
Besides the cultivation of GM crops like corn and soy for use in the food supply, Big Biotech has been busy cultivating GE crops that literally produce drugs and chemicals right on the plants. According to reports, the industry has already created corn, soybeans, rice, safflower, barley, alfalfa, mustard greens, peas, sugar cane, tomatoes, wheat, and a variety of other GE crops that perform this heinous function.
None of these crops has ever been proven to be safe -- and that is, of course, because they are not safe -- and yet the USDA has given the green light to the industry to plant them in fields near food crops where cross-contamination is inevitable. And once contaminated, there is really no reversing the damage done, which has the potential to completely and permanently alter the food supply for the worst.
"This commonsense legislation would simply ensure that our experimentation with genetic engineering and cloning do not disrupt our traditional food supply," added Kucinich. "When you are talking about the safety and stability of the food supply, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Rep. Kucinich has also authored several other GM crop bills that push for proper labeling of GMO foods, increased regulatory approval requirements for GMOs, and increased farmer protections against GM crop systems (http://kucinich.house.gov/Issues/Issue/?IssueID=1459).
Sources for this article include:
http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=271932
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Two important victories against evil GMO corporations and their seed spawn
(www.gmo-news.blogspot.com) With all the bad news about Monsanto and other corporations who create and promote GMOs, here's a couple of good news items from the last couple of years to relieve some doom and gloom. Hopefully, these victories against GMO companies, one by an individual farmer in Canada, the other by a large rice collective in the USA, will inspire others to hold their ground.
Normally, bully Monsanto sues small independent farmers, forcing them to pay fees for GMO plants that grew from various sources of GMO contamination, not by the farmer's choice. But the expense and mental strain of lengthy legal procedures against a wealthy corporation with soulless attorneys is too much to bear. So many settle rather than go bankrupt with Monsanto seizing the farm.
After discovering his crops had been contaminated with GMO seeds from neighboring farms and passing Monsanto trucks, he was sued by Monsanto for patent infringement. Monsanto has been in the business of intimidating farmers with a similar fate by suing them for patent infringement after their fields were contaminated from GMO farms.
This intimidation and harassment has either bankrupted farmers or forced them into signing onto Monsanto's seed plan. Big bully companies use lawsuits to financially destroy small businesses even if there is no actual violation. Schmeiser and his wife, both approaching 70, decided to fight it out on principle.
Patent law says there is no violation if a patented product is not used or stolen. After some back and forth court battles and appeals over ten years, Percy won. Monsanto agreed to settle out of court by paying for cleaning up Percy's farm and not issue a gag order (customary with settlements), which enables Percy to continue touring with his message of resisting GMO and corporate intimidation. The agreement also left Monsanto liable for any recontamination of Percy's farm.
The rice that Bayer contaminated with GMOs came through Riceland Foods, the nation's largest rice co-operative that collects from USA rice farmers for distribution and export. Japan simply banned all rice from America, and EU nations insisted on strict inspections before committing to any purchases. Both regions are resisting GMOs.
Riceland was awarded $11.8 million in compensatory damages and $125 million in punitive damages. The jury also decided that Bayer was responsible for any loses from GMO contamination claimed by rice farmers. Indeed, exactly a year earlier for Riceland's victoy. Arkansas rice farmers had been awarded $5.9 million in compensatory damages and $42 million as punitive damages.
There are rice farmers in other states in line with suits pending on Bayer also. Monsanto must be a little concerned. They now contract farmers with a clause that makes the farmer liable for contaminating other farms (http://www.naturalnews.com/031599_GMO_resistance.html). So there is some hope. Here's where you can help Percy Schmeir recover his legal expenses (http://www.percyschmeiser.com/).
Sources for this article include:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/25/percy-schmeiser-farmer-who-beat-monsanto.aspx?e_cid=20111225_SNL_Art_1
http://www.jerebeasleyreport.com/2011/04/jury-awards-136-8-million-in-genetically-modified-rice-lawsuit/
http://www.bayerricelitigation.com/PDFs/SKELLY67_1271429373912.pdf
Two important victories against evil GMO corporations and their seed spawn
by: PF Louis
News from www.gmo-news.blogspot.com
Normally, bully Monsanto sues small independent farmers, forcing them to pay fees for GMO plants that grew from various sources of GMO contamination, not by the farmer's choice. But the expense and mental strain of lengthy legal procedures against a wealthy corporation with soulless attorneys is too much to bear. So many settle rather than go bankrupt with Monsanto seizing the farm.
Not this time Monsanto
A feisty Canadian commercial canola farmer, Percy Schmeiser, started his fight against Monsanto's intimidation tactics in 1998. This is not a promotion of canola, but the story of a farmer who has used, saved, and developed his own seeds on his own land for over 40 years, and his David versus Goliath struggle.After discovering his crops had been contaminated with GMO seeds from neighboring farms and passing Monsanto trucks, he was sued by Monsanto for patent infringement. Monsanto has been in the business of intimidating farmers with a similar fate by suing them for patent infringement after their fields were contaminated from GMO farms.
This intimidation and harassment has either bankrupted farmers or forced them into signing onto Monsanto's seed plan. Big bully companies use lawsuits to financially destroy small businesses even if there is no actual violation. Schmeiser and his wife, both approaching 70, decided to fight it out on principle.
Patent law says there is no violation if a patented product is not used or stolen. After some back and forth court battles and appeals over ten years, Percy won. Monsanto agreed to settle out of court by paying for cleaning up Percy's farm and not issue a gag order (customary with settlements), which enables Percy to continue touring with his message of resisting GMO and corporate intimidation. The agreement also left Monsanto liable for any recontamination of Percy's farm.
Someone big enough challenges Bayer's GM rice
Sometimes when a big guy goes after a trouble maker, the trouble maker gets it big. In April 2011, Riceland Foods won a major case against Bayer Crop Science in the Arkansas State Court System. The case involved contamination from an experimental, unapproved GM rice, Liberty Link. Its function is withstanding unlimited use of Bayer's herbicide Liberty.The rice that Bayer contaminated with GMOs came through Riceland Foods, the nation's largest rice co-operative that collects from USA rice farmers for distribution and export. Japan simply banned all rice from America, and EU nations insisted on strict inspections before committing to any purchases. Both regions are resisting GMOs.
Riceland was awarded $11.8 million in compensatory damages and $125 million in punitive damages. The jury also decided that Bayer was responsible for any loses from GMO contamination claimed by rice farmers. Indeed, exactly a year earlier for Riceland's victoy. Arkansas rice farmers had been awarded $5.9 million in compensatory damages and $42 million as punitive damages.
There are rice farmers in other states in line with suits pending on Bayer also. Monsanto must be a little concerned. They now contract farmers with a clause that makes the farmer liable for contaminating other farms (http://www.naturalnews.com/031599_GMO_resistance.html). So there is some hope. Here's where you can help Percy Schmeir recover his legal expenses (http://www.percyschmeiser.com/).
Sources for this article include:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/12/25/percy-schmeiser-farmer-who-beat-monsanto.aspx?e_cid=20111225_SNL_Art_1
http://www.jerebeasleyreport.com/2011/04/jury-awards-136-8-million-in-genetically-modified-rice-lawsuit/
http://www.bayerricelitigation.com/PDFs/SKELLY67_1271429373912.pdf
Two important victories against evil GMO corporations and their seed spawn
by: PF Louis
News from www.gmo-news.blogspot.com
Friday, January 20, 2012
Leaked documents reveal US diplomats actually work for Monsanto
(www.gmo-news.blogspot.com) Biotech giant Monsanto has been genetically modifying the world's food supply and subsequently breeding environmental devastation for years, but leaked documents now reveal that Monsanto has also deeply infiltrated the United States government. With leaked reports revealing how U.S. diplomats are actually working for Monsanto to push their agenda along with other key government officials, Monsanto's grasp on international politics has never been clearer.
Amazingly, the information reveals that the massive corporation is also intensely involved in the passing and regulations concerning the very GM ingredients they are responsible for. In fact, the information released by WikiLeaks reveals just how much power Monsanto has thanks to key positions within the United States government and elsewhere. Not only was it exposed that the U.S. is threatening nations who oppose Monsanto with military-style trade wars, but that many U.S. diplomats actually work directly for Monsanto.
"Country team Paris recommends that we calibrate a target retaliation list that causes some pain across the EU since this is a collective responsibility, but that also focuses in part on the worst culprits. The list should be measured rather than vicious and must be sustainable over the long term, since we should not expect an early victory. Moving to retaliation will make clear that the current path has real costs to EU interests and could help strengthen European pro-biotech voices."
The undying support of key players within the U.S. towards Monsanto is undeniably made clear not only in this release, but in the legislative decisions taken by organizations such as the FDA and USDA. Legislative decisions such as allowing Monsanto's synthetic hormone Posilac (rBGH) to be injected into U.S. cows despite being banned in 27 countries. How did Monsanto pull this off?
The biotech juggernaut managed to infiltrate the FDA positions responsible for the approval of rBGH, going as far as instating the company's own Margaret Miller as Deputy Director of Human Safety and Consultative Services. After assuming this position, Miller reviewed her own report on the safety and effectiveness of rBGH.
U.S. diplomats have unique opportunities to spread honest and intellectual campagins that can serve to better mankind and end suffering, however they are instead spreading the roots of Monsanto deeper and deeper into international territory. As a substitute for the betterment of mankind, these paid-off diplomats are now spreading environment desecration and health destruction.
As if there wasn't already enough information to reveal Monsanto's corruption, the biotech giant also spends enormous amount of money lobbying government each year. Monsanto spent an astonishing $2 million lobbying the federal government in the 3rd quarter of 2011 alone, according to mainstream sources. Why so much cash? The government lobbying focuses on issues like regulations for GM crops and patent reforms. This 'legal' form of persuasion is the reason government agencies like the USDA and FDA let Monsanto roam freely.
Satisfying government officials' financial vested interest is all that matters when dealing with corrupt mega-corporations like Monsanto. As long as these financial ties continue to exist, Monsanto will continue to reign over the food supply and continue to wreak devastation to the environment, ecosystem, and humankind.
Sources for this article include:
http://naturalsociety.com/us-start-trade-wars-with-nations-opposed-to-monsanto-gmo-crops/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/03/wikileaks-us-eu-gm-crops
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9RL51J81.htm
http://213.251.145.96/cable/2007/12/07PARIS4723.html
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1677871/fearful-of-genetically-modified-crops-youre-too-late
Amazingly, the information reveals that the massive corporation is also intensely involved in the passing and regulations concerning the very GM ingredients they are responsible for. In fact, the information released by WikiLeaks reveals just how much power Monsanto has thanks to key positions within the United States government and elsewhere. Not only was it exposed that the U.S. is threatening nations who oppose Monsanto with military-style trade wars, but that many U.S. diplomats actually work directly for Monsanto.
What the leaked documents reveal -- Military style trade wars, government corruption
In 2007 it was requested that specific nations inside the European Union be punished for not supporting the expansion of Monsanto's GMO crops. The request for such measures to be taken was made by Craig Stapleton, the United States ambassador to France and partner to George W. Bush. Despite mounting evidence linking Monsanto's GM corn to organ damage and environmental devastation, the ambassador plainly calls for 'target retaliation' against those not supporting the GM crop. In the leaked documents, Stapleton states:"Country team Paris recommends that we calibrate a target retaliation list that causes some pain across the EU since this is a collective responsibility, but that also focuses in part on the worst culprits. The list should be measured rather than vicious and must be sustainable over the long term, since we should not expect an early victory. Moving to retaliation will make clear that the current path has real costs to EU interests and could help strengthen European pro-biotech voices."
The undying support of key players within the U.S. towards Monsanto is undeniably made clear not only in this release, but in the legislative decisions taken by organizations such as the FDA and USDA. Legislative decisions such as allowing Monsanto's synthetic hormone Posilac (rBGH) to be injected into U.S. cows despite being banned in 27 countries. How did Monsanto pull this off?
The biotech juggernaut managed to infiltrate the FDA positions responsible for the approval of rBGH, going as far as instating the company's own Margaret Miller as Deputy Director of Human Safety and Consultative Services. After assuming this position, Miller reviewed her own report on the safety and effectiveness of rBGH.
Many US diplomats pawns of Monsanto's GM agenda
While it may be shocking to you if you are not familiar with the corrupt influence of Monsanto, the cables also show that many US diplomats are pushing GMO crops as a strategic government and commercial imperative. Interestingly enough, the U.S. focused their efforts toward advisers to the pope specifically, due to the fact that many Catholic figureheads have openly voiced their opposition to GM foods. With this kind of political influence, is it any wonder that many food staples are now predominantly GM? Nearly 93% of U.S. soybeans are heavily modified conservatively, with many other staple crops coming in at similar numbers.U.S. diplomats have unique opportunities to spread honest and intellectual campagins that can serve to better mankind and end suffering, however they are instead spreading the roots of Monsanto deeper and deeper into international territory. As a substitute for the betterment of mankind, these paid-off diplomats are now spreading environment desecration and health destruction.
As if there wasn't already enough information to reveal Monsanto's corruption, the biotech giant also spends enormous amount of money lobbying government each year. Monsanto spent an astonishing $2 million lobbying the federal government in the 3rd quarter of 2011 alone, according to mainstream sources. Why so much cash? The government lobbying focuses on issues like regulations for GM crops and patent reforms. This 'legal' form of persuasion is the reason government agencies like the USDA and FDA let Monsanto roam freely.
Satisfying government officials' financial vested interest is all that matters when dealing with corrupt mega-corporations like Monsanto. As long as these financial ties continue to exist, Monsanto will continue to reign over the food supply and continue to wreak devastation to the environment, ecosystem, and humankind.
Sources for this article include:
http://naturalsociety.com/us-start-trade-wars-with-nations-opposed-to-monsanto-gmo-crops/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/03/wikileaks-us-eu-gm-crops
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9RL51J81.htm
http://213.251.145.96/cable/2007/12/07PARIS4723.html
http://www.fastcoexist.com/1677871/fearful-of-genetically-modified-crops-youre-too-late
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