Ever hear of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill of 2013, otherwise known as the “Monsanto Protection Act”? Well you’re not alone.
President Obama signed a bill last week (House Resolution 933) protecting Biotech Giant Monsanto once again. For those of you unfamiliar with the name Monsanto, they are a biotech company that makes genetically modified foods for human consumption. These Frankenfoods have been the source of major controversy as previously discovered pathogens in Monstano’s RoundUp corn and soy are suspected of causing infertility in livestock and impacting the health of plants as well as being suspected of contributing to major diseases and illnesses.
This bill basically gives Monsanto complete IMMUNITY from the Federal courts. It, in essence, puts Monsanto ABOVE the Federal Government which is a very scary thing. This bill STRIPS the Federal courts of the authority to stop Monsanto from the planting and selling of genetically modified foods (GMOs) seed crop REGARDLESS of any health concerns. From what I’ve read and as I understand it, this was meant to protect farmers as in two other instances alfalfa and sugar beets were pulled right out from under farmers when ordered to do so by the Fed Govt. This disrupted their crops and earnings until the matters were resolved. This bill will enable farmers to CONTINUE to grow what has already been planted. However, crops like alfalfa are not planted yearly so if there is cause or reason to believe these crops are not in the best interest of consumers they can continue to be harvested as long as they are already planted. Does this even make sense?? The Federal Govt in other words cannot force them to be pulled.
This is what got Monsanto’s panties in a wad in 2010 when a San Francisco judge revoked Monstanto’s right to plant sugar beets due to environmental concerns. This is EXACTLY what Monsanto wants control over.
What’s gotten people most upset is the way in which the bill was passed. The riders was introduced ANONOMOULSY as a larger bill was progressing through. The Senate Appropriations Committee critics are calling this a ‘backroom’ deal with the Biotech Giant.
Food Democracy Now has launched a petition stating:
"THE MONSANTO PROTECTION ACT WOULD STRIP JUDGES OF THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL MANDATE TO PROTECT CONSUMER RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT, WHILE OPENING UP THE FLOODGATES FOR PLANTING FOR THE PANTING OF NEW UNTESTED GENETICIALLY ENGINEEERED CROPS." |
A little history – Monsanto maker of Agent Orange
Very few people, including myself, actually realize the long standing and highly controversial history of this company..This is the same company that was responsible, along with Dow Agrosciences, for creating Agent Orange. Agent Orange was created for the US military to be used during Vietnam as a ‘defoliant’ which had a highly toxic chemical in it called dioxin — a type of toxic substance considered to be one of the deadliest on the planet.
Agent Orange was sprayed from planes from the sky covering everything in it’s path with a white powdery substance. A few weeks later they realized the devastating effects. Everything from trees to grass was killed. It was used in an effort to expose the enemy from hidden brush and destroy crops. But it didn’t just kill crops, it also killed 400,000 people and led to 500,000 children born with troubling birth defects. Today the effects are still evident as it is estimated 3,000,000 people were affected.
How did Monsanto react to this chemical concoction that killed and ruined so many lives? They said in a statement that their Agent Orange wasn’t really that dangerous despite all of the evidence that is now accepted as fact:
“We are sympathetic with people who believe they have been injured and understand their concern to find the cause, but reliable scientific evidence indicates that Agent Orange is not the cause of serious long-term health effects.”
This is the SAME company who is making your genetically modified Frankenfoods and SWEARING and CLAIMING they are safe for consumption. Thanks, but no thanks.
Monsanto’s connection with the US Govt
Let’s not also forget that Monstanto has made itself very comfortable with the US Government as former Vice President for Public Safety at Monsanto Michael Taylor is now one of the major heads of the FDA! He was appointed in 2009 by Pres Obama AFTER he promised during his election to LABEL all GMO foods.
According to a petition by Signon.com, “Taylor is the same person who was Food Safety Czar at the FDA when genetically modified organisms were allowed into the U.S. food supply without undergoing a single test to determine their safety or risks. This is a travesty.”
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Add your voice to the labeling of GMO foods at Food Democracy Now
- I just bought some seeds from Seedsnow.com that are GMO free. I have’t gotten them yet, but plan on planting them and putting them on my windowsill until they are ready to be transplanted into my NON GMO garden.
- Stay informed
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