Monsanto - From Agent Orange To GM Foods To Pesticides & More

[Magda Hassan]

Sorry for the very bad googlish translation but Chile had a really big win today against Monsanto. The law that was passed in 2010 giving Monsanto control over all the seeds has been struck down by the new government. And it is looking like Monsantos days are numbered in Chile at least. Next stop Argentina.

Chile celebrates fall without GMOs Monsanto Law and inclusion require new analysis of the issue

March 17, 2014 - 18:11 | By: Paulina Hidalgo |
/ Facebook.com / chilesintransgenicos
Ivan Santadreu, biologist, co-founder and spokesman for the organization said: "We hope that those who have been players in this fierce opposition we be included in future analyzes, which invite us and we take into account that there is a panel of experts and to avoid that perhaps out what. "




The biologist, co-founder and spokesman for Chile Without Transgenics, Ivan Santadreu not hide his joy after the Government's decision to withdraw from handling the controversial bill that seeks to regulate the rights over plant varieties and repealing Law No. 19.342, better known Act as Monsanto.
"We were caught by surprise because the initiative was on board to be Tuesday in room. This confirms the commitment that was the current minister and Senator item and permanent initiative opposition. It's clearly a very good sign that finally there is anyone reading what comes to Congress, "said Dinamo.
However Santandreu is clear to remember that "this project was sent by Ms. Bachelet and apparently did not read it because when asked just remembered header indicating it was to strengthen technological innovation and productivity in the field, and then said what would review ". Then add in return that "if Senator Rincón was clear the reality of project and always had a very critical position because the project was clearly to the detriment of the country, food sovereignty, small farmers, rural communities, indigenous and Overall all Chileans because heritage was lost. "
The leader of one of the organizations that led the opposition to the initiative with protests and even several marches that were held in the major cities, said ahead of the new Minister Secretary General of the Presidency that "I think she has done management that realizes a very good sign that meets the Government's program. Somehow Ms. Bachelet keeps his word. "

The need for inclusion and lobby

But Santandreu rushes to emphasize the importance of communities and citizens are included in the new revision of this complex issue. "We now hope that those who have been players in this fierce opposition we be included in future analyzes, we are invited and we take into account that there is a panel of experts and to avoid anything which might leave, "he said.
In this regard he noted two concerns: one hand that "these so-called experts from academia and industry who are often very dangerous and have a very negative view as demonstrated this bill meet. We hope that the same people who always says the same is not acknowledged. "
On the other hand, stressed that "citizenship, people we have informed and know the subject closely have to be invited to participate and deliver the information that we have on behalf of the citizens because we have more experts that many of them .'s necessary to have a really new look and sound arguments, scientific, international experience on the subject to continue no longer preaching in the wilderness, because we invite commissions such as Agriculture or seminars but finally when going to legislate, we are absent ".
According to this discussion biologist call Monsanto Act was marked by the Lobby. "This was clearly hand Lobby, there are parts of the project that does not explain how one is there."
And he said as an example "the fact that TNCs can register as new varieties that already exist and have not been marketed, is a freshness, can not qualify otherwise. It goes against the peasant communities that have never worried about being recorded or selling anything because they exchange their seeds. Them come agronomists hired by these big companies to discover, among local quotes-varieties that have not been sold, it is simply a robbery and that was in the bill explicitly for us is nothing but the hand of industry lobby. "
"We advocate that there is a disinterested look with lofty goals for the good of the country and the people and social movements and other professionals can bring a good attitude towards Chile and the industry not only be present in this discussion we have to react to a fait accompli, "he concluded.

http://www.eldinamo.cl/2014/03/17/chile-...-del-tema/

[David Guyatt]

This calls for regime change! Urgent cables will be passing between supreme headquarters in St. Louis and Washington.

However, I fear that Monsanto will be back - in one form or another anyway.

But for now, as Lady Thatchler once said "Just rejoice!"

[Peter Lemkin]

Extreme Levels' of Monsanto's Roundup Herbicide Found in Soy Plants

Emily Cassidy, Environmental Working Group | April 18, 2014 12:01 pm |

A new study led by scientists from the Arctic University of Norway has detected "extreme levels" of Roundup, the agricultural herbicide manufactured by Monsanto, in genetically engineered (GE) soy.
The herbicide has triggered a cycle of super weeds resistant to Roundup, which then means more Roundup is needed to try to kill the hardy weeds. Photo credit: ShutterstockThe study, coming out in June's issue of Food Chemistry and available online, looked at 31 different soybean plants on Iowa farms and compared the accumulation of pesticides and herbicides on plants in three categories: GE "Roundup Ready" soy, conventionally produced (not GE) soy, and soy cultivated using organic practices. They found high levels of Roundup on 70 percent of GE soy plants.
Crop scientists have genetically engineered soy to survive blasts of Roundup so farmers can spray this chemical near crops to get rid of weeds. But some so-called "super weeds" resistant to Roundup have developed. In turn, some farmers use yet more Roundup to try to kill those hardy weeds. This leads to more Roundup chemicals being found on soybeans and ultimately in the food supply.
Who says when Roundup contamination can be considered "extreme?" Monsanto itself. In 1999, the chemical giant defined an "extreme level" of the herbicide as 5.6 milligrams per kilogram of plant weight.
Astonishingly, the Norwegian scientists found a whopping nine milligrams of Roundup per kilogram, on average. What it boils down to is this: every time we eat GE soy we are taking a dose of Roundup with it. This is alarming, because Roundup has been found to be hazardous to human health and sometimes kills human cells. The authors conclude:
This study demonstrated that Roundup Ready [GE]-soy may have high residue levels of glyphosate […] and also that different agricultural practices may result in a markedly different nutritional composition of soybeans […] Lack of data on pesticide residues in major crop plants is a serious gap of knowledge with potential consequences for human and animal health.
Other research has detected Roundup residues in animals and people.
A study led by German researchers found high concentrations of glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, in the urine of dairy cows and humans. This study, published in January in the journal Environmental & Analytical Toxicology, concluded that "the presence of glyphosate residues in both humans and animals could haul the entire population towards numerous health hazards."
Big Ag wants us to believe that there is no difference between GE and conventional crops, but mounting research tells us that just isn't true.

[Peter Lemkin]

Monsanto's Roundup Found in 75% of Air and Rain Samples

John Deike | February 27, 2014 3:52 pm |

A new U.S. Geological Survey has concluded that pesticides can be found in, well, just about anything.
In recent years, Roundup was found to be even more toxic than it was when first approved for agricultural use, though that discovery has not led to any changes in regulation of the pesticide. Photo courtesy of ShutterstockRoundup herbicide, Monsanto's flagship weed killer, was present in 75 percent of air and rainfall test samples, according to the study, which focused on Mississippi's highly fertile Delta agricultural region.
GreenMedInfo reports new research, soon to be published by Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry journal, discovered the traces over a 12-year span from 1995-2007.
In recent years, Roundup was found to be even more toxic than it was when first approved for agricultural use, though that discovery has not led to any changes in regulation of the pesticide. Moreover, Roundup's overuse has enabled weeds and insects to build an immunity to its harsh toxins.

To deal with the immunity issue, Monsanto's solution has been to spray more and stronger pesticides to eliminate the problem.

The health effects of Roundup are also hard to ignore as research has linked exposure to the pesticide to Parkinson's disease and various cancers.

For instance, children in Argentina, where Roundup is used in high concentrations, struggle with health problems, with 80 percent showing signs of the toxins in their bloodstreams.

However, Roundup isn't the only widespread threat to public health. The U.S. Geological Survey, along with others, have identified additional pesticides in the air and water that become more toxic as they mix and come in contact with people.

Spraying Roundup may have short-term economic benefits for Monsanto, but the potential long-term risks could present significant challenges to people in affected regions of the country.