THeir size and history of aggression has repeatedly brought an end to what is undeniably a legitimate and very important debate. They believe in information, but only that which ensures a favorable public response to their often dangerous products. More than 1,850 individuals from 54 countries have written personal protests to the US Secretary of Agriculture demanding that the technology be banned. Hours before a government agency met to approve Monsanto's request to plant gene-altered soybeans, a Brazilian federal judge granted an injunction blocking the application. For St. Louis-based Monsanto, the ruling is a setback that would be a real defeat if the company misses the Brazilian planting season in October and November.
Brazil is a potential market worth tens of millions in profits.
The corporation's toxic Superfund sites poison workers and community members, and its dioxins will continue to cause birth defects and major health problems for generations to come. More and more activists, farmers, and consumer advocates around the world are calling for a global campaign against Monsanto. Look for further details in upcoming issues of Food Bytes. The biological pollution of these new GE crops pose a real threat to organic farmers and sustainable agriculture across the U.S. and the world. Despite overwhelming public concern, U.S. companies and regulatory agencies remain unalterably opposed to mandatory labeling.