How uninformed do you have to be to write an opinion column

[Guest guest]

Monsanto Caves to Activists on Biotech Wheat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, May 14, 2004

By Steven Milloy

Is it better to feed the poor and make money, or appease Greenpeace (search) and do neither?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Biotech giant Monsanto's (search) management faced that very question this week and opted to cave in to Greenpeace. It's another example of craven shortsighted corporate managers surrendering to pressure from anti-business activist groups to the detriment of corporate shareholders and the public.

Monsanto announced this week that it was "shelving" plans to commercialize its genetically engineered wheat (search). The company denied succumbing to activist pressure in scrapping plans for the first biotech wheat, claiming instead that hard-nosed business calculations forced the decision. Monsanto's spin was that the initial market targeted (spring wheat acreage in North America) had shrunk by 25 percent since research on biotech wheat began in 1997 and that its grower-customers are divided on whether to use the technology.

Greenpeace had a quite different take on Monsanto's decision. "It's a hard-won victory for every environmental group, every consumer, every cyberactivist who has said 'no' to genetically engineered foods. The decision fits a pattern of industry retreat set last month by Bayer CropScience's (search) decision to withdraw GE maize from the UK," said Greenpeace.

Some growers may indeed be concerned about biotech wheat -- but only because Greenpeace and the rest of the anti-biotechnology/anti-business axis did a better job of scaring farmers, food processors and consumers about the technology than Monsanto did in selling it. After all, there are no health, safety or ecological reasons for concern about biotech wheat. It was headed for regulatory approval. Now it's headed for the scrap heap as development has been "deferred for four to eight years," according to Monsanto management.

Biotech wheat wasn't the only beneficial technology canned by Monsanto this week. The company also decided to close down its genetically modified canola (search) operations in Australia -- once again thanks to anti-technology fear mongering. Greenpeace anti-GM campaigner Jeremy Tager celebrated by telling Australian media, "Effectively there is not going to be a commercial release of GM canola and to have defeated that is pretty extraordinary."

Whatever short-term gains Monsanto management thinks it may

 

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.678 / Virus Database: 440 - Release 5/6/2004

[Guest guest]

This is such a victory!!!!!!!!

 

And to answer your question in the subject

line: I don’t know, haha. But, I think these guys that write

this type of report do this on purpose. This will help the majority of

people to continue their negative opinion of Green Peace and the truths they

try to report. Anna

 

 

 

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.678 / Virus Database: 440 - Release 5/6/2004

[Guest guest]

Yeah but they make Monsanto look like this good company just trying to feed the world instead of wanting to control the food supply.

 

 

DrCrandall [drcrandall] Friday, May 14, 2004 3:02 PMherbal remedies Subject: RE: Herbal Remedies - How uninformed do you have to be to write an opinion column

 

This is such a victory!!!!!!!!

 

And to answer your question in the subject line: I don’t know, haha. But, I think these guys that write this type of report do this on purpose. This will help the majority of people to continue their negative opinion of Green Peace and the truths they try to report. Anna Federal Law requires that we warn you of the following: 1. Natural methods can sometimes backfire. 2. If you are pregnant, consult your physician before using any natural remedy. 3. The Constitution guarantees you the right to be your own physician and toprescribe for your own health. We are not medical doctors although MDs are welcome to post here as long as they behave themselves. Any opinions put forth by the list members are exactly that, and any person following the advice of anyone posting here does so at their own risk. It is up to you to educate yourself. By accepting advice or products from list members, you are agreeing to be fully responsible for your own health, and hold the List Owner and members free of any liability. Dr. Ian ShillingtonDoctor of NaturopathyDr.IanShillington

---Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).Version: 6.0.678 / Virus Database: 440 - Release 5/6/2004

 

---Incoming mail is certified Virus Free.Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).Version: 6.0.678 / Virus Database: 440 - Release 5/6/2004

 

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.678 / Virus Database: 440 - Release 5/6/2004

[Guest guest]

<<<<Yeah but they make

Monsanto look like this good company just trying to feed the world instead of

wanting to control the food supply.>>>

 

Yep, that’s the purpose of it, to keep the

sheople weak and oblivious to what’s really going on!! And it’s working!!

Anna

 

 

---

Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.

Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).

Version: 6.0.678 / Virus Database: 440 - Release 5/6/2004