Food and Agriculture

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Comment by Daniel P. Voglesong 1 day ago

Here is an article from Organic Consumers about GM Corn from MONSANTO which has contaminated the Genetic Code of Earthworms. This indicates how DANGEROUS the GM Corn could be for Human Consumers of Genetically Modified grains !
Transgene from GM Corn Found in Soil-Dwelling Animals"
GE News List, June 4, 2009 www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_19757.cfm

Transgene from GM Corn Found in Soil-Dwelling Animals Despite evidence that transgenes (from species other than the "engineered" species) in genetically modified (GM) plants can persist in the soil, little research has been done to determine the extent of such contamination. This is an important issue because environmental contamination by transgenes "has serious implications for environmental health, including human safety," according to Canadian scientists who recently tested various soil-dwelling animals for the transgene (responsible for resistance to the herbicide glyphosate) present in GM Roundup Ready® corn. They collected the animals in May, August, and October (macroarthropods and nematodes) or in May and Au- gust (microarthropods and earthworms) from a field of Round- up Ready® corn. The transgene was present in all types of animals on all collection dates, with the exception of nematodes collected in August. About 81% of nematodes collected in October tested positive for the transgene. More than one-third of microarthropods (thrips, collembolans, and mites) tested positive. And slightly more than 10% of macroarthropods (mostly various insects) and earthworms tested positive. Concentrations of the transgene tended to decrease in nematodes and earthworms and to increase in arthropods during the growing season. Levels of the transgene in the soil (free of plant tissues) were usually considerably lower than levels in the animals. The scientists who conducted this experiment rather matter-of-factly note: "Whether the presence of transgenes in the soil food web presents a risk for soil animals is not known." We admit to being quite astounded by this statement, which appears to indicate that GM crops are being used far and wide without a clear understanding of their effects on the environment! The bottom line is that (for the first time after years of commercial cropping of GM plants) there is "evidence for large concentrations of transgenic DNA in animals from the food web associated with RoundUp Ready® corn. This indicates that the trans- gene does not significantly degrade within the food web. Further, the guts of these animals may provide opportunity for genetic transformation into native soil bacteria." And that last "opportunity" might lead to movement of transgenes into non- GMplants and ultimately pose risks to human health. It could very well be the case that the commercialization of GM crops will produce animals containing genes that could do great harm to humanity. A perhaps enormously problematic can of worms (and bugs), indeed!

Comment by Daniel P. Voglesong on December 2, 2009 at 4:48pm

Worldwide Protest on December 18, 2009, against MONSANTO, DuPONT-Pioneer Seeds, BAYER, BASF, Syngenta, & Novartis – Genetically Modified Organisms/GMOs Seeds designed for use with Glyfosinate Chemical Herbicides.
On December 18th, 2009 (a week before Christmas, when people are feeling charitable and concerned!), let's all take a few minutes out of our busy schedules to send a message to the general public about our stance on Monsanto. Whether it's on a convenience store billboard or a school blackboard (just keep it legal and non-subversive!), leave a compelling note declaring Monsanto's guilt and urging anyone and everyone to open their eyes to the facts. If you're looking for statistics. to add to your message, check out the following website for ideas:

http://www.organicconsumers.org/monlink.cfm

If anyone asks you what you're doing on this day, all the better! Explain to them that the time has come for action and suggest that they start buying organic food locally. You'll be surprised at how easy it is to get a conversation going and to spread the word.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=188297389493&ref=mf

Comment by Daniel P. Voglesong on November 12, 2009 at 3:32pm

The six main culprits of commercialised genetic engineering in the world for monopolies and profit according to Reuters.Three are mid west USA based ,two German, one Swiss, all dire.

www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1040099820091111

Monsanto Co (MON.N) – Based in St. Louis, the company posted record net sales of $11.7 billion and net income of $2.1 billion for fiscal 2009. Among its key products are corn, soybeans and cotton that tolerate weed-killing treatments and resist pests. Attempts to also buy water and seed companies.

Pioneer Hi-Bred – Subsidiary of DuPont (DD.N) based in Johnston, Iowa. Produces, markets and sells hybrid seed in nearly 70 countries worldwide and is the closest rival to Monsanto for market share in U.S. biotech corn seed market. Revenue totaled $4 billion in 2008.

Syngenta AG (SYNN.VX) – The Basel, Switzerland-based company operates in 90 countries and generated 2008 sales of $11.6 billion. Collaborating with International Rice Research Institute to improve rice. Bought Novartis pharmaceuticals a while back.

Dow AgroSciences – Subsidiary of Dow Chemical Co (DOW.N) based in Indianapolis, Indiana. With global sales of $4.5 billion, company offers insect-protected corn and cotton, among other seed products, and is expanding its research into wheat.

BASF (BASF.DE) – Based in Ludwigshafen, Germany, this leading global chemical company is increasingly focusing its health and nutrition division on plant biotechnology to increase crop yields. Like its rivals, BASF is working on a drought-tolerant corn seed. Revenue in its agricultural division totaled 3.4 billion euros in 2008.

Bayer CropScience AG – The unit of Bayer AG (BAYGn.DE), had 2008 sales of 6.4 billion euros and operates in 120 countries. The company is pursuing 56 “bioscience” research projects involving six experimental crops.
Originally posted 3 hours ago.

Comment by Daniel P. Voglesong on October 31, 2009 at 7:10pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC8ml_Mpn3Y&feature=player_embedded

Organic Farmers deliver Greenpeace Petition against BAYER - GMO Rice to the EUROPEAN COMMISSION in Brussels, Belgium..

Comment by Daniel P. Voglesong on October 31, 2009 at 6:12pm

> Global alert against 'Monsantosizing' our food
> UN General Assembly to discuss patents on seeds and right to food
>
> 21 October 2009. Today a global alert is being filed by farmers and
> development and environmental organisations warning about a new class of
> patents covering plants and animals and endangering innovation and food
> security. It is being presented on just the same day as the UN Special
> Rapporteur on the right to food, Olivier de Schutter, is presenting his
> new report in front of the UN General Assembly, warning that seed patents
> might increase food crises. New rules to restrict patents on seeds and
> animals therefore have to be enacted urgently.
>
> The global appeal is being filed by the international coalition "no
> patents on seeds", organised and supported by farmers and development and
> environmental organisations. The alert is directed at governments,
> parliaments and patent offices like the European Patent Office, and warns
> about a new class of patents covering plants and animals derived from
> conventional breeding. These patents even claim harvests and derived food
> products such as milk, butter and bread. By speaking of 'Monsantosizing'
> the signatories are warning that the whole chain from seed to food
> production might be controlled by a few big international companies like
> Monsanto, DuPont and Syngenta, leading to a process of oligopolies and
> increasing concentration.
>
> "A radical change in both patent legislation and the practice of patent
> offices is needed to eliminate patents on plants and farm animals," says
> François Meienberg of the Berne Declaration. "Corporations should not be
> allowed to continue to misappropriate and monopolise seeds, plants and
> farm animals via patent law. If they are, these patents will become a
> major threat to global food security, food sovereignty and innovation."
>
> The alert was initiated by the organisations Berne Declaration, Swissaid,
> Misereor No Patents on Life , Greenpeace and The Development Fund
> (Norway), and is supported by farmer organisations from Europe, South
> America and Asia. They include Coldiretti in Italy, COAG in Spain, dairy
> farmers from Germany, Federación Agraria Argentina and Bharat Krishak
> Samaj, an Indian farmer organisation. "The big companies are about to
> control seed, harvest, trade and even food production," warns Luis
> Contigiani at Federación Agraria Argentina. "We can see how Monsanto tries
> to license fees on soy production , imposing embargoes on European
> importers of Argentinian soy and derivatives based on patents that are not
> valid in our country. This is an example of the consequences when genetic
> resources are subjected to the logic of monopolisation by patent rights."
>

Comment by Daniel P. Voglesong on October 13, 2009 at 4:30pm

US Federal Court Finds USDA Violated Federal Law by Allowing Genetically Engineered Sugar Beets on the Market
Center for Food Safety
September 22, 2009
US Government Failed To Evaluate Environmental and Economic Risks of Monsanto Product
San Francisco, CA - In a case brought by Center for Food Safety and Earthjustice representing a coalition of farmers and consumers, a Federal Court ruled yesterday that the Bush USDA's approval of genetically engineered (GE) "RoundUp Ready" sugar beets was unlawful. The Court ordered the USDA to conduct a rigorous assessment of the environmental and economic impacts of the crop on farmers and the environment.
The federal district court for the Northern District of California ruled that the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service ("APHIS") violated the National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA") when it failed to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement ("EIS") before deregulating sugar beets that have been genetically engineered ("GE") to be resistant to glyphosate herbicide, marketed by Monsanto as Roundup. Plaintiffs Center for Food Safety, Organic Seed Alliance, Sierra Club, and High Mowing Seeds, represented by Earthjustice and the Center for Food Safety, filed suit against APHIS in January 2008, alleging APHIS failed to adequately assess the environmental, health, and associated economic impacts of allowing "Roundup Ready" sugar beets to be commercially grown without restriction.
"This court decision is a wakeup call for the Obama USDA that they will not be allowed to ignore the biological pollution and economic impacts of gene altered crops," stated Andrew Kimbrell Executive Director of the Center for Food Safety. "The Courts have made it clear that USDA's job is to protect America's farmers and consumers, not the interests of Monsanto." http://www.saynotogmos.org/ud2009/usept09b.php#monsanto

Comment by Daniel P. Voglesong on October 13, 2009 at 12:28pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPKoSrc99p4 Preview of “DAVID versus MONSANTO” Film
http://www.denkmal-film.com/abstracts/preise.html “DAVID vs MONSANTO” DVD cost: 16 Euros
This “Denkmal Film” from Munich, Germany, is a 2009 documentary about PERCY SCHMEISER, Organic Farmer from Canada, and two other farmers from Indiana, USA, who were sued by MONSANTO for not buying the MONSANTO Genetic GMO Seeds. All three organic farmers won their expensive lawsuits.

Comment by Daniel P. Voglesong on October 12, 2009 at 11:45pm

We are being poisoned by MONSANTO, DuPont and Bayer Chemical Corps.
http://louisproyect.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/food-beware/

Comment by Daniel P. Voglesong on September 22, 2009 at 5:32pm

http://www.flickr.com/groups/gmo-free/discuss/72157621873164852/
See this GMO Discussion Group

Comment by Daniel P. Voglesong on September 21, 2009 at 8:51pm

Codex Alimentarius is not a phrase you are likely to hear or read in the mainstream media. The phase simply means ‘Food Code’ or ‘Food Law’, yet the 27 committees of the International Codex Alimentarius Commission are advancing global legislation which will effectively eradicate Organic Farming, in favour of irradiated GM/GE products; and will destroy the Complementary & Alternative Health Community by making it illegal to prescribe, or even recommend, nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbs or other natural health remedies.
This pernicious attack on our Health Freedoms is being driven by the corporatocracy of Big Farmer & Big Pharma … yet few people are aware of the Codex steam train coming down the tracks at an alarming rate!

Visit www.thealternativeview.co.uk

www.healthfreedomusa.org

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