Monsanto – Don’t Entrust Your Life to Them

Ever heard of Seminis?  I hadn’t until just the other day.  They are a seed supplier to the suppliers.  In other words, they supply seed to a lot of home garden seed companies that send you catalogues.

You’ve probably grown some of their 4,000 varieties.

• Tomatoes – Big Beef, Celebrity, Sunbrite, Cupid.
• Summer squash – Gold Rush, Goldfinger, Lemondrop, Embassy, Sunray, Dixie, Seneca
• Peppers – California Wonder, Big Bertha, Fat n’ Sassy
• Onions – Mars, Red Zeppelin, Candy, Sierra Blanca, Sterling, Cabbalero.
• Cucumbers – Fanfare, Marketmore 76.

The onion Candy and the cucumber Marketmore 76 hit close to home for me.  I have grown these varieties for years and years and have found them to be among the best.

This year – for the first time in almost 20 years I will not be growing candy onions. (Or any other Seminis product for that matter.) Why?

Day late and dollar short that I may be,  I am just learning that Seminis – the world’s largest developer, grower and marketer of vegetable seed, was purchased in 2005 by Monsanto.

Has the seed been changed?  I don’t think so. Not yet anyway. Then why not buy?

I’m going to answer that question, but before I do I need to give you some background on Monsanto’s dark history. I warn you though  – it reads like science fiction.

Where the Proof and Evidence Against Monsanto Comes From

Much of the proof of their dark deeds have come from Monsanto’s own records that were made public during court trials. Other information has come from scientists, veterinarians and others who worked within the FDA, the EPA, Monsanto or related companies. When these men and women would not perform unethically as their respective employer required of them in order to remain employed, they were fired. That  —  or it was made so difficult for them that they had to quit.

Hundreds and hundreds of articles and reports offer evidence and documentation on Monsanto’s atrocities.  They stand accused and have been found guilty of some the greatest crimes against humanity.

4 Well Known Examples  — although far from all encompassing

• They are the makers of Agent Orange.  More than 3 million civilians and servicemen in Vietnam were effected by this herbicide.  And it is estimated that 500,000 children were born with deformities because of it.

In court cases against Monsanto it was revealed that the company KNEW of the dioxin contamination when it sold the chemical to the government.

• They were found guilty in 2002 of poisoning the town of Anniston, Alabama with their PCB factory. (PCBs are mixtures of synthetic organic chemicals.)

When records were made public during the trials it was uncovered that Monsanto knew of the poison all along and covered it up for DECADES. One of the memos made public explained why, “We can’t afford to lose one dollar of business.”

• The story on the bovine growth hormone is still being played out. A little research will quickly make it clear that scientist have acknowledged the increase of antibiotics and pus in the milk from treated cows. Rather than going into all the gory details here, I’ll tell you that former Monsanto scientist have gone on record as saying that after conducting studies on rbGH (bovine growth hormone) they refused to drink any more milk unless it was not treated with the drug.

(Certified organic milk does not have rbGH.)

• Round Up, the herbicide (glyphosate) that has “taken in” most of the population (much to the delight of Monsanto’s profits) is another ongoing story.

Their profits dropped a bit in 2009 when France’s highest court ruled that Monsanto had not told the truth about the safety of the herbicide.  Monsanto claimed it was biodegradable, which it is not. 

It is also toxic, and has been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and human embryonic cell death. In 1996, the New York Attorney General fined Monsanto for falsely claiming that Roundup was biodegradable and good for the environment.

History of Covering up the Dangers

As should be obvious in the examples given above, Monsanto has a history of covering up the problems and dangers of their products. They are very skillful at it.  Their methods are varied and plentiful.  The lies they tell seem to be unending.  And they do it all cloaked in what I term sugar coated words and beautiful deceit.

A look at the Monsanto website will explain exactly what I mean:

Beautiful pictures and good design are accompanied by words that tell of the billions we will need to feed in the future. They tell of how Monsanto will do its part by “producing more, conserving more, and improving the lives — of all farmers who use our products—“ And that they will “do this by selling seeds, traits developed through biotechnology and crop protection chemicals.”

Evidence Indicates the Opposite

Certainly they will have to change their inner core and vastly improve their products in order to do all this.  At this time evidence indicates the exact opposite is true. Report after report tells of the biotech industry yielding negative returns for decades and in addition costing much more because of the fertilizers and herbicides and pesticides that are needed to raise these already much higher priced crops.

Contamination from gm crops is of world wide concern.  When it happens it is expensive.  Crops unapproved for human consumption can end up (and have) in the food supply and cost billions of dollars.

More Smooth Talk

Unbelievably, Monsanto claims to “operate under a genuine value system — our pledge —that demonstrates integrity, respect, ethical behavior, perspective and honesty as a foundation for everything we do.” They even speak of “protecting the safety of our people and communities.” This is almost ludicrous since nothing could be further from the truth and it doesn’t take much to find it out.

What Does Genetically Modified Mean

A GMO is the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA are extracted from one species and artificially forced into the genes of an UNRELATED plant or animal. The genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or humans.

Genetically Modified Organism is abbreviated GMO.  GM means the same.  GE stands for Genetically Engineered and also means same.   The word transgenic is also used, because it denotes a transfer of genes.

How is This Different from Selective Breeding?

Man has been breeding selectively for centuries to create new varieties of plants and animals. Crosses until now have occurred only within a species.  For example dogs with dogs, cucumber with cucumbers, tomatoes with tomatoes, etc.

The difference in selective breeding and genetic modification is in the DNA—-

AND —-

GMOs Have Not Been Adequately Tested

These products (which are ingredients in 85% or more of non-organic processed food) are on grocery shelves everywhere and have not been adequately tested.  They are not labeled as GMOs. They were placed on the market without required labels, warnings, or post-marketing surveillance. Herein lies the problem with GMOs. Proper testing might extinguish all doubts one way or the other.

Independent tests have linked genetically modified crops to birth defects, sterility,  cancer, organ lesions, altered liver and pancreas cells, changed enzyme levels and kidney and liver problems, not to mention the deaths of thousands of animals who died after eating genetically modified crops.

It’s interesting to note the finding that when animals are given choices of GM or Natural grown feed, all will reject the GM crops.

In spite of this these foods are everywhere and biotech experts estimate that almost 100% of our food could be genetically engineered within the next five years.

Unethical Tactics Get Genetically Modified Products Approved

It is frightening to learn of the way Monsanto has infiltrated and paid off government officials AROUND THE GLOBE!  Reports abound of their infiltration into the upper echelons of government and their unethical tactics to get their products approved.

Their pockets are deep and their arms long.  Here in the United States it matters not the party (whether Republican or Democrat) – their influence crosses party lines and goes all the way to the top.  Even the very attitude (as well as decisions) of government agencies like the FDA and EPA have been influenced and molded by Monsanto’s power.

After reading the accounts it becomes obvious that the line between regulator and regulated is blurred, if it is there at all.

They’re so powerful that they have kept TV programs that would expose them from airing.  They’ve stopped publications of books and have caused magazines already off the press (containing “whistle blowing” articles about them) to be shredded.

Monsanto and The Seed Industry

The seed industry was already concentrated into a few corporate hands. With Monsanto’s purchase of Seminis, Monsanto is now the world’s largest seed company.

Profit was already controlling what seeds were being grown and saved.  Minor crops like those specifically adapted for special regions, taste, nutrition and other specialized corners of the seed market were already in danger of being lost forever.  Even in 2005 there was less than 500 varieties of vegetable seed being offered in US seed catalogs compared to the 5,000 varieties available in 1981.

The seed biodiversity our food supply requires is being compromised globally.

Monsanto is the world’s leading advocate and practitioner of genetic engineering. In addition they are considered by many (myself included) to be the most unethical company in the world.   It doesn’t take a genius to see the handwriting on the wall.

Why I am no longer buying Seminis/(now)Monsanto Products?

If we continue to support Monsanto in any way it will be at a devastating cost. Every dollar we give them makes them stronger.  Judging from their past track record, all of it will be used against us – their fellow man.  They are proven masters of deception and their primary goal — in spite of what they say on their website — is profit.

It is not the profit that is the problem, but the way they obtain that goal.  In all probability, the way it is obtained will not be in keeping with the needs of humanity.

I choose not to support Monsanto in any way no matter the inconvenience. I realize we can’t fix the entire world all at once or by ourselves.  But we can do what is within our reach to do and together perhaps we can cause the “longed-for tidal wave of justice” to rise up!

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Addendum in 4 Parts:

PART 1:

To find out if the variety of fruit or vegetable seed you want was/is a product of Seminis (now owned by Monsanto), click the links.  From there you can click on the vegetable and a comprehensive list of the fruit or vegetable varieties will come up. http://www.seminis.com/global/us/products/Pages/default.aspx

I recommend checking out the list of vegetables for both Home Growers and Vegetable Growers.  REASON: Although one is for professional growers, it gives more information.  For example, if one checks only the second link which is for home gardeners — onions and some other vegetables are not listed.  I would never have known what onions were Seminis if I had only checked the home gardeners link since they are only listed under the professional growers link.

If the seed in question is not an exclusive of Seminis/Monsanto — there is the possibility that it may be grown by someone else — and the seed could be bought from the other grower without supporting Monsanto.  As far as I know the only way to find out for sure is to call or email your supplier and ask them where the seed comes from.  For more clarification click here.

(A word of warning: the site is now the property of Monsanto – so I suggest caution in believing what is said on other pages of the site.)

PART 2:

If you don’t want to do all the reading you might want to watch this almost 2 hour documentary that will give you an overview of what’s happening. http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/the-world-according-to-monsanto/

PART 3: For More Reading:

Choose by topic from list after list of articles on Monsanto at this site: http://www.laleva.cc/pharma/monsantofiles.html#Anchor-36340

Revolving Doors: Monsanto and the Regulators by Jennifer Ferrara
The Ecologist September October 1998 (This edition was trashed by the printing office after threats from Monsanto) {it’s footnotes are missing} http://www.psrast.org/ecologmons.htm

Monsanto: The world’s poster child for corporate manipulation and deceit. July 2010 by Jeffrey Smith (I felt this was one of the best articles.  Has 67 footnote references.  This guy knows his stuff.) http://www.naturalnews.com/029325_Monsanto_deception.html

Monsanto: An Evil Company? by Jeffrey Hellender  (An excellent article.) http://www.seventhgeneration.com/learn/inspiredprotagonist/monsanto-evil-company

Monsanto’s Harvest of Fear an article by Donald L. Barlett and James B. Steele (May 2008) I think this is a must-read. The story of Monsanto’s seed police and their methods to intimidate and strong-arm farmers and  put them out of business. http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2008/05/monsanto200805

USDA Recommends “CoExistence” with Monsanto: We Say Hell No! by Ronnie Cummins, Director, Organic Consumer Association.  December 22, 2010. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ronnie-cummins/usda-recommends-coexisten_b_800295.html This article really shows how the USDA and all the chemical companies just don’t get it!  Now, they think they can pay off the Organic Growers when their fields are contaminated by GMOs.  Talk about missing the boat!

This site will tell you the GE process in simple understandable terms and even tell you what combinations have been used (- like fish with strawberries.) http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics/the-ge-process  TELLS the GE Process

GMO Conspiracy Reaches Highest Levels of US Government (Our U.S. Food Safety Czar is a Former Monsanto Executive) January 12, 2011 http://www.responsibletechnology.org/blog/616

Top 10 Resons to Label Genetically Engineered Foods http://www.rodaleinstitute.org/20100727_top-10-reasons-to-label-genetically-engineered-foods

Tells how to avoid GMOs. http://www.nongmoshoppingguide.com/

Genetically Engineered Foods: Too Many Unknowns. An interview with John Fagan, a molecular biologist specializing in genetic techniques and  who took an ethical stand against genetically engineered foods. (2000) http://mothering.com/genetically-engineered-foods-too-many-unknowns

Judge’s Ruling on GE Beets Exposes Inherent Danger in Prevailing Food. December 2010.
http://caivn.org/article/2010/12/15/judges-ruling-ge-beets-exposes-inherent-danger-prevailing-food-system

Three-Pronged System Enables GMO Takover of American Agriculture. March 2010 by Aaron Turpen  (Tells what’s giving Monsanto total control over our food supply. No amount of health reform will make you well if the very basis of your health – food – is unhealthy.) http://www.naturalnews.com/028459_GMO_agriculture.html

GM Watch. A website to watch what’s going on with gmos.  http://www.gmwatch.org/

PART 4: By the way, in case you don’t already know —  Scotts (Miracle Grow) is Monsanto’s exclusive agent for the international marketing and distribution of consumer Roundup.

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