Watch Out, Monsanto!

Trey Smith

When it comes to citizen activism, I live in a very pedestrian area. People around here don't tend to get collectively up in arms about anything. Use of drones? Yawn. Bailouts to Wall Street? Blink. Even hot-button social issues like abortion or same sex marriage don't cause the local minions to awaken from their lethargy.

So, it was rather shocking last weekend when a march (and informational booths) was held to protest the agri-giant, Monsanto. It wasn't heavily attended, but Della and I happened by near the end and the adjacent parking lot was crammed full of vehicles. This was at the point when things were winding down.

As reported by Democracy Now!, "actions were held in 52 countries and 436 cities around the world, including New York City and Mexico City." One of those cities happened to be Raymond, Washington!

You may not have realized that hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets last Saturday because, by and large, the mainstream media decided not to cover these events. No matter. The lack of coverage didn't dissuade people from joining in.

If I was Monsanto, I would be more than a bit alarmed. While I'm sure the corporate big wigs aren't shaking in their boots due to a small protest along the southwestern Washington Coast, they should be. If even people here are fed up with Monsanto and their GMOs, that would seem to indicate that a groundswell is growing against this corporate bully. Maybe, just maybe, the unwashed masses are starting to wake up.

Oh Shaddup Already

Trey Smith

Rep. Steve King is a Republican Congressman from Iowa. On his website, under the issues tab, there is a statement called "Upholding the Constitution." As part of this statement, he writes,

I believe that our great Founding Fathers implicitly understood the threat posed to individual liberties by a large and intrusive federal government. One of the ways the Founding Fathers sought to limit the power of the federal government was by reserving powers to the individual states, and to the people themselves. I am a firm believer in states' rights, which is why I am a proud member of the Tenth Amendment Caucus, which focuses on restoring the critical balance between the powers of the states and those of the federal government. (emphasis mine)

After reading his declaration, you might be a wee bit surprised by the following news item.

On Wednesday, May 15, an amendment to the House version of the Farm Bill, inserted under the guise of protecting interstate commerce, passed out of the House Agricultural Committee. If the King Amendment makes it into the final Farm Bill, it would take away states’ rights to pass laws governing the production or manufacture of any agricultural product, including food and animals raised for food, that is involved in interstate commerce. The amendment was proposed by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), largely in response to a California law stating that by 2015, California will allow only eggs to be sold from hens housed in cages specified by California. But policy analysts emphasize that the amendment, broadly and ambiguously written, could be used to prohibit or preempt any state GMO labeling or food safety law. (again, emphasis mine)

You see, conservatives care immensely about states' rights...except when they don't! For example, they don't want the federal government to legalize same-sex marriage. THAT should be left to individual states to decide. But when it comes to doing the bidding of Corporate America, that's completely different. All of a sudden, they have no qualms about "a large and intrusive federal government."

This isn't some anomaly either. The states' rights argument almost always is red herring. They want America to be shaped to their ideology. When the federal government makes decisions they don't favor, then they become "champions" of states' rights. When states make decisions they don't favor, then they become "champions" of federal decision-making.

This Is Capitalism?

Trey Smith

“The Farmers Assurance Provision” is the title of a rider, Section 733, inserted into the House of Representatives 2013 Agriculture Appropriations Bill. Somehow, as a farmer, I don't feel the least bit assured.

The only assurance it provides is that Monsanto and the rest of the agriculture biotech industry will have carte blanche to force the government to allow the planting of their biotech seeds.

In addition, the House Agriculture Committee’s 2012 farm bill draft includes three riders – Sections 1011, 10013 and 10014. These amendments would essentially destroy any oversight of new Genetically Engineered (GE) crops by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

If these riders had been in place during the review of GE alfalfa, Monsanto could have requested – no they could have compelled – the Secretary of Agriculture to allow continued planting of GE alfalfa even though a federal court had ruled commercialization was illegal pending completion of an environmental impact study.

Essentially, the riders would prevent the federal courts from restricting, in any way, the planting of a GE crop, regardless of environmental, health or economic concerns. USDA's mandated review process would be, like court-ordered restrictions, meaningless. A request to USDA to allow planting of a GE crop awaiting approval would have to be granted.
~ from Monsanto Gets Its Way in Ag Bill by Jim Goodman ~

This is how we're told that capitalism works: Companies compete to influence consumers into purchasing their products and services. Those companies that win the most consumers are those who provide the best and most cost-effective products and services.

But where is the competition factor when certain companies are allowed to rewrite the rules in such a way that their products and/or services are foisted upon the consumer -- a consumer who can't say no?

This is not the way capitalism is supposed to work...but it IS the way that Fascism works.

Another Reason Not to Shop at Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world’s largest retailer, has confirmed to the Chicago Tribune that despite protests from environment and food-safety advocates, it will not restrict sales of genetically modified corn in its stores.

The corn will not be labelled and consumers will not be notified that the sweet corn they are buying are engineered by agro-giant Monsanto and genetically-altered (GMO stands for genetically modified organism) to resist the toxic impact of being sprayed with chemical pesticides and herbicides.
~ from Outcry as Walmart OK's Monsanto GM Corn via Common Dreams ~

Let's Hear It For Labels

Why are there basically no genetically engineered foods or crops anywhere in Europe, while 75% of U.S. supermarket foods — including many so-called “natural” foods — are GE-tainted? The answer is simple. In Europe genetically engineered foods and ingredients have to be labeled. In the U.S. they do not. Up until now, in North America, Monsanto and the Biotechnocrats have enjoyed free reign to secretly lace non-organic foods with gene-spliced viruses, bacteria, antibiotic-resistant marker genes, and foreign DNA — mutant “Frankenfoods” shown to severely damage the health of animals, plants, and other living organisms in numerous scientific studies.

Monsanto and their allies understand the threat that truth-in-labeling poses for GMOs. As soon as genetically engineered foods start to be labeled in the U.S., millions of consumers will start to read these labels and react. They’ll complain to grocery store managers and companies, they’ll talk to their family and friends. They’ll start switching to foods that are organic or at least GMO-free. Once enough consumers start complaining about GE foods and food ingredients; stores will eventually stop selling them; and farmers will stop planting them.
~ from The California Ballot Initiative: Standing Up to Monsanto by Ronnie Cummins ~

I don't usually contribute money to out-of-state political battles, but this is one I will support. If it passes in a state as large and populous as California, it could well start a movement that would sweep the country!

While many, many Americans favor labeling of foods, you can bet that Monsanto and the other agrochemicals corporations as well as many food companies will pour tens of millions of dollars into the campaign to defeat the measure. They'll say that that new labeling will cost them too much money, even though they change and upgrade their packaging frequently.

They will argue that it will cost jobs because less profit in the CEO's pocket will necessitate cutting labor. However, this one doesn't fly either because, when companies redesign their packaging, they don't layoff workers as a general rule.

They will argue that it will cost them untold billions of dollars and these costs will be passed onto consumers. That's a good scare tactic in a down economy except that, even without this mandate, they regularly jack up their prices and pass that onto the consumer.

And I am certain they will argue that accurately labeling GMO foods will bias consumers against their products which is unfair since their hired scientists say that there is no difference between GMO and non-GMO food.

They will say all of this and more; they will say it loudly and frequently. However, screaming untruths doesn't make them true. I sincerely hope California voters see through the fog of distortions and lies.

Seeds of Life

But the biggest threat we face is the control of seed and food moving out of the hands of farmers and communities and into a few corporate hands.
~ from Resisting the Corporate Theft of Seeds by Vandana Shiva ~

There are so many ways corporatists are trying to commodify every aspect of life, but the one that scares me the most concerns seeds. If corporate agribusiness succeeds in monopolizing what farmers and gardeners legally can plant, we will find ourselves in a world of hurt within 100 years or less.

In fact, the problem is so insidious that they won't need directly to corner 100 percent of the market! Heck, 25 - 50 percent will probably doom us because the wind is their greatest ally. Once these frankenseeds grow into plants, their DNA is spread with the breeze. Their screwed up DNA will infect native plants and, before we know it, biodiversity will be lost...probably forever.

Once the vast majority of plants are contaminated, how will we undo the damage? That's the frightening question. Chances are that we will discover we can't undo it. What then?

The only answer is to stop this maddens BEFORE we reach the critical point -- that is, if we haven't already. Needless to say, this won't be easy because, when it comes to potential short-term profit, corporatists tend to get their way.

Hunger and Poverty - Protect the Land, Seeds and Water

Communities around the world lose millions of acres of farmland every year through land grabs by governments and corporations. The world’s precious supply of fresh water is increasingly being privatized. Much of the world’s agro biodiversity is threatened as corporations patent life forms and increasingly control the world’s seed supply.
~ from Ten Things to Reduce Hunger and Provide Good Food For All in The Nation ~

As I mentioned previously -- in relation to some of the aspects noted above -- war over dwindling resources is a REAL concern. If you think the US (and to a lesser extent, European) quest for diminishing oil reserves is bad now, imagine what the world could look like if the battles become for arable land or potable water. Long time allies could quickly turn into bitter foes.

While the specter of all-out war should not leave our minds, the aspect that worries me far more is the commodification of seeds. I've previously shared 15 posts on GMOs and each one conjures up a scary picture! If corporate agribusiness has its way, in another generation or two, we may find ourselves in a situation in which all major foodstuffs have been irrevocably compromised. Once that happens, war won't matter that much as we find we have poisoned that which we cannot live without.

If it comes to that, then hunger and poverty might lose their substantive meanings because being hungry and poor will become part and parcel of everybody's life!

To read the introduction to this mini-series, go here.

Its Own Kind of War

A meta-analysis on 19 studies confirms kidney and liver toxicity in rats and mice fed on GM soybean and maize, representing more than 80 percent of all commercially available GM food; it also exposes gross inadequacies of current risk assessment.
~ from GM Feed Toxic, New Meta-Analysis Confirms by Dr Eva Sirinathsinghji ~

Generally, when we think of war, we think of soldiers, guns, bullets, missiles, drones and tanks. We think of two sides duking it out for territory, resources, religion and/or ideology. But there is another war going on right now, but this one hardly registers a blip on most people's radar screens.

This war is far more insidious than most. The target is the worldwide food supply and, if the aggressors prove successful, almost everyone in the world will become a war victim!!

As with most wars, money plays a huge role. The agrichemical industry wants to do away with most natural food crops to be replaced by genetically-modified versions. Since they own the patented seeds and farmers are prohibited from saving seeds from year to year, they have created a system that will provide them with a staggering windfall of profit year after year after year.

If that wasn't bad enough -- and it is extremely bad for subsistence farmers -- more and more studies are indicating that these new food crops are dangerous to human health. Isn't that what everyone wants to hear, that your bowl of corn flakes ultimately will kill you?

The worst part of all is that the clock is ticking. This isn't the kind of war that we can put off. We can't say, let's work up a defensive battle plan to implement in the next decade or so. You see, GMO seed and plants are like a Trojan horse. Once the seeds are planted and grow into crops, the wind carries their genetic blueprint to places far and wide. This blueprint mingles with the DNA of non-GMO plants and, before you know it, all plants carry GMO markers.

The agrichemical industry understands this dynamic and so they only need to forestall opposition for a decade or two. If GMOs remain legal during this time frame, they will end up cornering the future market for seeds and food crops by default.

This is why the time to stop them isn't tomorrow; it's n-o-w.

Afternoon Matinee: The Future of Food

To watch this entire 90-minute documentary, go here.

Afternoon Matinee: The World According to Monsanto, Part 10

The World According to Monsanto is a 2008 documentary film directed by Marie-Monique Robin. This 10 part film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around the world. The World According to Monsanto is also a book written as well by Marie-Monique Robin, winner of the Rachel Carson Prize.

Afternoon Matinee: The World According to Monsanto, Part 9

The World According to Monsanto is a 2008 documentary film directed by Marie-Monique Robin. This 10 part film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around the world. The World According to Monsanto is also a book written as well by Marie-Monique Robin, winner of the Rachel Carson Prize.

Afternoon Matinee: The World According to Monsanto, Part 8

The World According to Monsanto is a 2008 documentary film directed by Marie-Monique Robin. This 10 part film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around the world. The World According to Monsanto is also a book written as well by Marie-Monique Robin, winner of the Rachel Carson Prize.

Afternoon Matinee: The World According to Monsanto, Part 7

The World According to Monsanto is a 2008 documentary film directed by Marie-Monique Robin. This 10 part film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around the world. The World According to Monsanto is also a book written as well by Marie-Monique Robin, winner of the Rachel Carson Prize.

Afternoon Matinee: The World According to Monsanto, Part 6

The World According to Monsanto is a 2008 documentary film directed by Marie-Monique Robin. This 10 part film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around the world. The World According to Monsanto is also a book written as well by Marie-Monique Robin, winner of the Rachel Carson Prize.

Afternoon Matinee: The World According to Monsanto, Part 5

The World According to Monsanto is a 2008 documentary film directed by Marie-Monique Robin. This 10 part film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around the world. The World According to Monsanto is also a book written as well by Marie-Monique Robin, winner of the Rachel Carson Prize.

Afternoon Matinee: The World According to Monsanto, Part 4

The World According to Monsanto is a 2008 documentary film directed by Marie-Monique Robin. This 10 part film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around the world. The World According to Monsanto is also a book written as well by Marie-Monique Robin, winner of the Rachel Carson Prize.

Afternoon Matinee: The World According to Monsanto, Part 3

The World According to Monsanto is a 2008 documentary film directed by Marie-Monique Robin. This 10 part film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around the world. The World According to Monsanto is also a book written as well by Marie-Monique Robin, winner of the Rachel Carson Prize.

Afternoon Matinee: The World According to Monsanto, Part 2

The World According to Monsanto is a 2008 documentary film directed by Marie-Monique Robin. This 10 part film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around the world. The World According to Monsanto is also a book written as well by Marie-Monique Robin, winner of the Rachel Carson Prize.

Afternoon Matinee: The World According to Monsanto, Part 1

The World According to Monsanto is a 2008 documentary film directed by Marie-Monique Robin. This 10-part film is based on Robin's three-year long investigation into the US agricultural giant Monsanto corporation's practices around the world. The World According to Monsanto is also a book written as well by Marie-Monique Robin, winner of the Rachel Carson Prize.

The World According to Monsanto

Beginning today in the Afternoon Matinee will be the 10-part documentary, The World According to Monsanto. It is a disturbing film, to say the least! Here's the synopsis from Wikipedia:

The documentary traces a wide range of controversies involving the use and promotion of genetically-modified seeds, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Agent Orange, and the bovine growth hormone. The film delves into cases across the United States (including Anniston, Alabama), Canada, India, Mexico, Paraguay, the United Kingdom and France, pointing out along the way how the corporation's collusion with governments, pressure tactics, suppression and manipulation of scientific data, and extra-legal practices aided the company's attempts at dominating global agriculture. The World According to Monsanto draws on first-hand interviews with scientists, representatives of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, civil society representatives, victims of the company’s activities, lawyers, and politicians.