Monsanto Threatening Farmers With Jail- Why Isn't Monsanto in Jail

[Guest guest]

They should be the ones jailed, crimes against humanity, for forever

corrupting our food supply...

Misty L. Trepke

http://www..com

 

GM WATCH daily

http://www.gmwatch.org

 

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1.Monsanto threatening farmers with jail?

YOUR HELP IS NEEDED - please spread the word

 

Below is a press release which, in the context of promoting organic

ag, draws attention to another Canadian law case that threatens the

bioteh industry's monopolisation of the food chain.

 

Monsanto, it's reported, is certainly not hanging about in seeking

to capitalise on the recent Canadian decision on the Schmeisser

case. While we are focused on whether the Parliament of Canada will

wake up to the staggering legal implications of this decision,

Monsanto is said to have moved aggressively to globalise the

benefits of the decision they managed to expensively wring out of 5

of the 9 judges of the Canadian Supreme Court.

 

We've been hearing from the BIO-devastation gathering in San

Franciso that a page-size ad has been doing the rounds which is said

to have beenplaced by Monsanto in Chiapas, Mexico. It is said this

ad was repeatedly run in local newspapers in Chiapas directly in the

wake of the Canadian decision.

 

The ad is addressed to " Amigo Agricultor " (Dear Farmer Friend). In

the accompanying message Monsanto reminds its friends, the farmers,

that planting its seeds (or seeds carrying its patented genes)

without its permission is a federal crime under the law of Mexico,

and - they apparently say - can be punished by nine years in jail!

 

Assuming this information to be correct, we would very much like to

know just how widespread this campaign is. If you are in an

agricultural area, anywhere in the world, and are aware of anything

similar having appeared in the local press, we would be very

interested to hear from you.

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Organic Foods Offer an Alternative to Genetic Engineering

http://www.cnw.ca/fr/releases/archive/June2004/07/c1447.html

Attention Business Editors:

 

GREENFIELD, MA, June 7 /CNW/ - The results of another ground-

breaking lawsuit beginning in Saskatchewan may have far-reaching

effects on the future food choices available to Canadian consumers

and shoppers worldwide. The clash is over the rights of farmers to

produce crops organically and the ever-growing spread of

biotechnology in agriculture.

 

Saskatchewan's certified organic farmers, led by the Saskatchewan

Organic Directorate, are seeking class action status in a suit to

hold companies that created genetically engineered (GE) seed legally

liable for the damage caused to organic farmers by the introduction

of GE canola. This case, initiated January 10, 2002, follows the

recent Supreme Court of Canada ruling on Monsanto vs. Schmeiser,

which effectively offered the agrochemical biotech company patent

protection and ownership of whole plants, not just the genetically

engineered and patented genes inserted into the plant or the

engineering process.

 

Along with questions of liability for the unwanted and uncontrolled

spread of GE canola plants, there are a number of concerns about how

the use of GE plants affects the environment. Triple-resistant

canola weeds have been found on Western Canadian farms such as one

in northern Alberta. This resulted from inadvertent crossing of

three different canola systems genetically engineered for the

herbicides Roundup (glyphosate), Liberty (glufosinate-ammonium), and

Pursuit (imazethapyr). Pollination via bees and wind between two

fields was blamed for the occurrence in A scientific study by a

University of Bordeaux professor has found that sediment in the

Richelieu River, a tributary of the St. Lawrence River surrounded by

fields of genetically engineered Bt corn, contains concentrations of

Bt that are five times higher than in nearby agricultural watersheds.

 

In his 2004 book, The David Suzuki Reader, David Suzuki

wrote, " There is absolutely no reason to suppose that biologists

know enough to anticipate the ecological and health ramifications of

a revolutionary technology such as genetic engineering. "

 

For shoppers who want to avoid GE foods, organic products offer an

alternative.

 

" When you choose organic products, you support farmers who grow

crops and raise animals without the use of genetically engineered

seeds or growth hormones, " said Katherine DiMatteo, executive

director of the Organic Trade Association, which represents the

organic industry throughout Canada and the United States. " Each

purchase of organic products sends a message that you want your

foods produced without genetic engineering. "

 

Although there is no requirement to label products made with

genetically engineered seeds or growth hormones, one easy way to

avoid genetically engineered food products is to choose organic

products. Organic farmers are prohibited from using genetically

engineered seeds or growth hormones.

 

Learn more at http://www.ota.com/organic.html.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the business association

representing the organic agriculture industry in North America. Its

over 1,400 members include growers, shippers, processors,

certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers,

exporters, consultants, retailers and others.

 

For further information: Stephanie Wells, (613) 263-0575, or Holly

Givens, (413) 774-7511, ext. 18 both of The Organic Trade

Association; Web site: http://www.ota.com