I've seen a lot coming out lately about ties between MONSANTO and people serving in our government who have been hired to see over our food and environmental safety.
Here is an excerpt from my report that was written by myself last year.
-Monsanto was the first major agrochemical and pharmaceutical company to pursue the “life sciences” concept. During the 1990s it shed many of its chemical concerns and embarked on a spending spree investing heavily in biotechnology research, and acquiring seed companies worldwide. They began genetically modifying and patenting seeds that were resistant to Roundup calling them “Roundup Ready”. They were somehow able to legally patent LIFE. Though Roundup was designed to kill anything green, these “Roundup Ready” seeds were designed to be sprayed by that very chemical to keep the plants from feeling the effects while wiping out any pests therein. These traits have been genetically engineered into commodity crops such as soybeans, corn, canola, and cotton. Wheat is among the next they are trying to attain. Monsanto is one of the top 10 U.S. chemical companies. According to legal documents, Monsanto's GMO crops were first grown commercially in the US in 1995. Monsanto's legacy includes the production of herbicides 2,4,5-T, RoundUp, Agent Orange used primarily during the Vietnam War as a defoliant agent (later proven to be highly carcinogenic to any who came into contact with the solution), DDT (banned), PCBs, Dioxin, the artificial sweetener Aspartame (NutraSweet), and rBST/rBGH (Bovine Growth Hormone). These very chemicals have proven to be horrible carcinogens, yet Bovine Growth Hormones are still used on a wide scale in the dairy and meat industries across the globe.
In May of 1994 a new Tomato was introduced to the market in the U.S.A titled “FlavrSavr tomato”. This was a supposed ultra fresh hybrid with a long lifespan that could withstand cold temperatures and stay fresh on store shelves. What many people were unaware of at the time was that it was a GMO which received the approval to be sold to the general public without their knowledge. Calgene, the company responsible for genetically modifying and marketing the “FlavrSavr Tomato”, performed their own tests and concluded that this particular GMO was perfectly safe for human consumption, though many scientists with and without ties to the company concluded much differently. Tests concluded that procedures conducted on female rats consuming this GMO, developed severe stomach lesions. The director of the FDA's Office of Special Research Skills wrote that the tomatoes did not demonstrate a "reasonable certainty of no harm", which is their normal standard of safety. The Additives Evaluation Branch agreed that "unresolved questions still remain." The political appointees, however, did not require that the tomato be withdrawn. Luckily the product did not stand up to its claims as a super food among store shelves. People disliked the taste and the tomato had a weaker shelf life than promised, it was later discontinued.
The first time anyone in the public had heard of a GMO was in 2001, when a woman by the name of Grace Booth became very ill and was rushed to the ER in Oakland, Ca. Grace had ingested some corn products while eating at a local taco restaurant. A short while later Grace would endure such severe chest pains that she had to be rushed to the hospital. It was later determined that she had suffered a severe allergic reaction. It was traced back to “StarLink”, a genetically engineered variety of corn designed by Sanofi-Aventis. Since StarLink contained ingredients known to cause allergic reactions and the like to some humans, the EPA approved it for animal feed NOT human consumption. Yet this very product found its way into over 300 restaurants and supermarkets across the country being ingested by everyone from infants to adults. The discovery of this infestation prompted stores across the US to wipe its stocks of corn products off the shelves. If it had not been for certain public interest organizations going in and testing these products on their own, doing what we pay our government to do, who knows how long this would have gone on or how big this scandal would have become.
The Department of Agriculture is responsible for accessing the environmental impact of GMO crops and regulates GMO field testing. But a study of over 8,000 field test applications showed that the USDA did not require a single environmental assessment. The Environmental Protection agency regulates insecticides. Bt, a natural insecticide, is engineered into every cell of genetically engineered crops. The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for food safety. Any substance put into food must be tested. Monsanto, DuPont, and many other GMO corporations used all of their financial and legal might to triumphantly pass their products as “Substantially Equivalent” to other foods while somehow acquiring patents of their products that now have this new molecular build up containing a substance that they injected using a virus and/or bacteria. High Fructose Corn Syrup and Soy Lecithin are among the multitudes of patented products. As it turns out most of the GMO’s are actually registered as Insecticides, yet are still contained in food products that billions consume everyday.
It has been estimated that Monsanto owns over 11,000 patents. We only know of a select few. Monsanto owns vast species of modified crops across the globe and do not have to inform the public about it. This genetic engineering company along with others has been able to go into our nations seed banks and legally patent every seed that is not otherwise. Whoever controls the seeds controls the food. Until there is a federal law that requires everything to be labeled as containing GMO’s, we will continue to be this human experiment run by a massively profitable corporation that is knowingly destroying the very environment it is claiming to be saving. Monsanto backs their efforts as the proposed savior of the starving people of the world due to their GMO’s ability to “..yield larger and more effective crops.”. This has yet to be proven.
There has been a lot of talk in the “Non-GMO” movement about the many occurrences in India. Although some news agencies attempted to report on this story, it has had a hard time making the light of day.
The official report of the Govt. of the State of Andhra Pradesh, India, on the performance of genetically modified Bt (Bio-tech) cotton in the season 2002, "shows that in North Telengana, net income from Bt varieties was five times less than the yield from local non-Bt varieties. In Southern Telengana, the income from Monsanto's Bt crop was nearly 7 times less than what was obtained from the indigenous non-Bt cotton varieties, demonstrating the resounding failure of the Monsanto variety."
This ties in with a series of other studies on the first year of commercial cultivation of Monsanto's GM cotton in India by government committees and non-governmental organizations which have also supported the claims of farmers that Bt cotton had inferior yields, did not perform well in the matter of pest-resistance, etc.. A six-member panel set up by the State of Gujarat government concluded Bt cotton was simply "unfit for cultivation and should be banned". Gene Campaign today released an official report for the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh, on the performance of Bt cotton in the Kharif season 2002. There has been much controversy about the performance of Monsanto's Bt cotton varieties. Gene Campaign's field study (Kharif-2002) in AP and Maharashtra has clearly shown that the Monsanto Bt cotton has performed very poorly. Several reports in the media (Frontline, Outlook, Businessworld) have also reported the same. Yet Monsanto continues to repeat that their Bt cotton has done well. The Andhra Pradesh reports are very similar to those of the Gene Campaign. What’s worse is that Monsanto knew of this information before these initial reports were conducted, this according to the Gene Campaign as well. Although Monsanto convinced many of India's farmers that buying the more expensive GE cotton seeds would result in higher yields and better cotton, the reverse is actually true. Crop yields for GE cotton were 5 TIMES LESS than traditional Indian cotton and the income from GE cotton was 7 TIMES LESS than conventional cotton due to the cotton having lower quality short fibers. As a result of the high cost of these “Miracle seeds” that put many farmers into massive debt and having a weak crop, more than 100 Indian farmers committed suicide in 2002 alone and the numbers are still mounting. Monsanto has also developed a gene in plants that triggers its own death at a specific time keeping it from going to seed while at the same time selling these very seeds to farmers throughout India and South Africa at a much higher cost with the promise of larger profits and larger yields. This specific patented strain of sterile plant is known as the “Terminator Gene”. Though Monsanto has promised they no longer use this strain, it is still being discovered in many third world countries. These people will never get a refund, and they will never revive their dead loved ones. Who made the real profit here?
Being that Monsanto has patented vast amounts of plant species and plants as we know have seeds that can travel great distances such as wind, birds etc., if a seed happens to land on a farm a few miles down the road or the next town over, Monsanto basically owns you. This company has taken a multitude of farms, family owned in particular, to court over this and won just about every single case. It is known that Monsanto owns a vast amount of pesticides in the global market. The problem with pesticides is throughout a very short time these pests and weeds develop immunity and only become stronger. As the pests become stronger, so does the chemicals being sprayed onto our foods. The GM crop itself is roundup ready, so when the crop is sprayed with these super strong pesticides, it does not die. When you place a GMO and your average Organic crop next to one another, chances are they will look exactly the same. The way Monsanto is able to tell the difference is because of their patented molecular structure that has been manufactured into the products themselves. Frankenfoods as many have called them. When these crops seeds have made their way onto someone else’s private land they do what is natural, they germinate and grow. This is one of the many genius moves these companies have made. The laws take no account of natural process when it comes to a patented item. So when these GMO’s take over even the slightest area of your own land, Monsanto can legally take you for all that you have. There are of course your settlement options which consist of conveniently handing your land over to Monsanto and if you’re lucky, they’ll let you work for them. This will only happen if you had signed the legal agreement to keep your mouth shut about it. Luckily many farmers have walked away and fought the big corporate types from these very actions. Some have won, most take the bait. Monsanto has been able to quickly take over mass amounts of farm land using this very method. As if it weren’t already bad enough for these family owned farms that already struggle do to the cheap prices of the massive GMO industry. Keeping true traditional methods of farming alive has been dwindling, and Monsanto and others are on the ready pushing it ever so faster.
Why are family owned farms so important? As I mentioned earlier, it all comes down to buying local and Organic. You get to ask the questions directly to the people growing and handling your food, and most often visit the very place your food is coming from. These small family run businesses strive on providing the things we ask for, and more often than not, do so with honest hard work. There are most likely GMO’s in a number organic foods. Not because they are “allowed,” (because they aren’t) but because contamination is widespread throughout the agricultural industry. The USDA’s National Organics Program (NOP) is designed so that GMO’s can enter USDA Certified Organics through “accidental contamination.” The program is “process based.” That means that as long as the approved process of growing the organic crop is followed, then there is no reason to believe that contamination exists and therefore, no reason to conduct a test for GMO’s. This is another reason why the GMO industries must be stopped. Buy local, know your suppliers, ask these questions.
It is estimated that over 12,000 years ago, people around the globe started saving and planting seeds. Through this hard work and natural growing processes, crops flourished and with it, civilizations grew as well. In China rice was available in thousands of varieties, over 5000 potato species existed around the globe, and in the U.S.A. over 7,000 varieties of apples were grown throughout the Nineteenth Century. In the 20th Century, farming would undergo a massive change. With the use of nitrogen bombs and nerve gas in WWII, nitrogen based fertilizers and pesticides were born. This along with some other new technologies promised higher yields with more availability at a much lower price. The original “Green Revolution”, funded by the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations and the governments of many developing countries, began with the idea of bringing together a unified culture of foods across the globe in a way never seen before. As a few years passed there was a large increase of growth and production. Throughout the years these large yields were grown using only one crop, otherwise known as a Monoculture. This proved to be very dangerous. When you grow only one crop throughout a vast area, insects and disease flourish greatly. A well known example is the great potato famine in Ireland. Approximately 1,000 years earlier people in Ireland planted a very minimal variety of potatoes. When these tubers became diseased, over 1 million people died. Meanwhile, roughly 6,000 miles away in Peru, the same disease struck their potato crops. The Peruvian people survived this by initially planting a large selection of potato species throughout different areas of their lands.
With the massive plots of monocultures growing throughout the country, only 4 varieties of potatoes are now widely grown. Almost 97% of the vegetables grown at the beginning of the 20th century have gone extinct. With the monocultures proving to be of great distress due to pests and disease, the use of pesticides and the like were increased massively. The pests and disease of course grew more and more resistant so the farmers were forced to spray even more, thus polluting the air and waterways. There is just something about seeing a man wearing a gas mask, spraying our food with pesticides and other chemicals that really makes you scratch your head in utter disbelief. Eventually with the introduction of RoundUp to the world markets, and the gene manipulation process in underway, the Gene Revolution had begun. We have found ourselves on this submerging turnstile ever since. I would absolutely love to believe that this system of gene manipulation to save our worlds hunger problems were true. The FACTS show, it simply is not. When you have hugely successful corporations who have patents on gene structures that have been manipulated into a living food, this spells disaster for the entire world.
I’ve spent countless hours trying to find some kind of article stating that GM crops have done well in one form or another, but even the slightest bit of positive feed back was from the very GM companies themselves.
Being that Monsanto has patented vast amounts of plant species and plants as we know have seeds that can travel great distances such as wind, birds etc., if a seed happens to land on a farm a few miles down the road or the next town over, Monsanto basically owns you. This company has taken a multitude of farms, family owned in particular, to court over this and won just about every single case. It is known that Monsanto owns a vast amount of pesticides in the global market. The problem with pesticides is throughout a very short time these pests and weeds develop immunity and only become stronger. As the pests become stronger, so does the chemicals being sprayed onto our foods. The GM crop itself is roundup ready, so when the crop is sprayed with these super strong pesticides, it does not die. When you place a GMO and your average Organic crop next to one another, chances are they will look exactly the same. The way Monsanto is able to tell the difference is because of their patented molecular structure that has been manufactured into the products themselves. Frankenfoods as many have called them. When these crops seeds have made their way onto someone else’s private land they do what is natural, they germinate and grow. This is one of the many genius moves these companies have made. The laws take no account of natural process when it comes to a patented item. So when these GMO’s take over even the slightest area of your own land, Monsanto can legally take you for all that you have. There are of course your settlement options which consist of conveniently handing your land over to Monsanto and if you’re lucky, they’ll let you work for them. This will only happen if you had signed the legal agreement to keep your mouth shut about it. Luckily many farmers have walked away and fought the big corporate types from these very actions. Some have won, most take the bait. Monsanto has been able to quickly take over mass amounts of farm land using this very method. As if it weren’t already bad enough for these family owned farms that already struggle do to the cheap prices of the massive GMO industry. Keeping true traditional methods of farming alive has been dwindling, and Monsanto and others are on the ready pushing it ever so faster.
Why are family owned farms so important? As I mentioned earlier, it all comes down to buying local and Organic. You get to ask the questions directly to the people growing and handling your food, and most often visit the very place your food is coming from. These small family run businesses strive on providing the things we ask for, and more often than not, do so with honest hard work. There are most likely GMO’s in a number organic foods. Not because they are “allowed,” (because they aren’t) but because contamination is widespread throughout the agricultural industry. The USDA’s National Organics Program (NOP) is designed so that GMO’s can enter USDA Certified Organics through “accidental contamination.” The program is “process based.” That means that as long as the approved process of growing the organic crop is followed, then there is no reason to believe that contamination exists and therefore, no reason to conduct a test for GMO’s. This is another reason why the GMO industries must be stopped. Buy local, know your suppliers, ask these questions.
It is estimated that over 12,000 years ago, people around the globe started saving and planting seeds. Through this hard work and natural growing processes, crops flourished and with it, civilizations grew as well. In China rice was available in thousands of varieties, over 5000 potato species existed around the globe, and in the U.S.A. over 7,000 varieties of apples were grown throughout the Nineteenth Century. In the 20th Century, farming would undergo a massive change. With the use of nitrogen bombs and nerve gas in WWII, nitrogen based fertilizers and pesticides were born. This along with some other new technologies promised higher yields with more availability at a much lower price. The original “Green Revolution”, funded by the Rockefeller and Ford Foundations and the governments of many developing countries, began with the idea of bringing together a unified culture of foods across the globe in a way never seen before. As a few years passed there was a large increase of growth and production. Throughout the years these large yields were grown using only one crop, otherwise known as a Monoculture. This proved to be very dangerous. When you grow only one crop throughout a vast area, insects and disease flourish greatly. A well known example is the great potato famine in Ireland. Approximately 1,000 years earlier people in Ireland planted a very minimal variety of potatoes. When these tubers became diseased, over 1 million people died. Meanwhile, roughly 6,000 miles away in Peru, the same disease struck their potato crops. The Peruvian people survived this by initially planting a large selection of potato species throughout different areas of their lands.
With the massive plots of monocultures growing throughout the country, only 4 varieties of potatoes are now widely grown. Almost 97% of the vegetables grown at the beginning of the 20th century have gone extinct. With the monocultures proving to be of great distress due to pests and disease, the use of pesticides and the like were increased massively. The pests and disease of course grew more and more resistant so the farmers were forced to spray even more, thus polluting the air and waterways. There is just something about seeing a man wearing a gas mask, spraying our food with pesticides and other chemicals that really makes you scratch your head in utter disbelief. Eventually with the introduction of RoundUp to the world markets, and the gene manipulation process in underway, the Gene Revolution had begun. We have found ourselves on this submerging turnstile ever since. I would absolutely love to believe that this system of gene manipulation to save our worlds hunger problems were true. The FACTS show, it simply is not. When you have hugely successful corporations who have patents on gene structures that have been manipulated into a living food, this spells disaster for the entire world.
I’ve spent countless hours trying to find some kind of article stating that GM crops have done well in one form or another, but even the slightest bit of positive feed back was from the very GM companies themselves.
Mexico has taken great pride throughout its history for their corn also known as “Maiz”. During the corn blight of 1970, the US was saved thanks to Mexico and its wild strain of corn that could resist the very disease that nearly wiped out our own corn supply. Throughout the years though these same farmers had started to buy Government issued American Yellow corn because it was far cheaper to buy than to grow. These farmers did what most would, they saved the seed and started growing this strain along with their own. However, after years of doing so, the GM species of corn have since made their way into these ancient crops. American Corn is Subsidized (Paid for) by the American tax payers, which is why it is so much cheaper for suppliers in Mexico to buy. Though the American based corn may be cheaper and thus more profitable for suppliers in Mexico, many farmers personally choose their own corn due to better taste and as an over all common sense (there’s that word again) factors over all. Mexico has a beautiful array of corn species and the threat of this GM species entering their growing fields had been discovered in October of 2000 thanks to the in-depth research of U.C. Berkeley’s own Dr. Ignacio Chapela and his team. Mexico has kept in effect a moratorium on Monsanto's GM corn since 2005, citing a lack of safety studies and evidence showing the "Frankencorn" is safe and that it will not cross-contaminate non-GM crops. The Mexican government recently denied Monsanto's request to expand a pilot program for its crops in Northern Mexico as well.
Companies like Monsanto have very deep ties to the very people we send our hard earned money to, the very people who are supposed to have our best interests in mind. I’m speaking of our politicians on every level. In 1977 a very skilled man with ties to Washington D.C. named Donald Rumsfeld was appointed as CEO of G.D. Searle & Company, the very corporation that developed Aspartame (NutraSweet). Searle was more than a decade into the production of Aspartame but was having trouble getting it approved by the FDA. It was concluded after many tests of various sources, that Aspartame caused over 92 very harmful side effects. These effects included- migraines, weight gain, numbness, heart palpitations, burning urination, insomnia, loss of hearing, depression, irreversible brain damage, chronic fatigue syndrome, lymphoma, seizures, birth defects, and brain tumors just to name a slight few.
Searle wanted Rumsfeld to use his ties in DC to do what was best for the company and have Aspartame approved. After Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the new President of the USA, Rumsfeld became a part of the president’s transition team. Dr. Arthur Hull-Hayes, a friend of Rumsfeld, was quickly appointed as the new Commissioner of the FDA. Searle wasted no time in their new attempt of getting Aspartame approved. Less than six months after becoming the new Commissioner, Hayes approved the product himself with his own vote among a panel of reorganized scientists that would now allow Aspartame’s use in dry products as well as on its own as a table top sweetener. Less than 2 years later it would also be approved for use in carbonated beverages, like soda. Within the same year that Hayes was given his position with the FDA, he resigned. He was quickly given a new position at Burson Marsteller, the chief public relations firm to Monsanto and Searle. Two years later Monsanto bought Searle and Co. for $2.7 billion. Rumsfeld soon became the CEO of Searle and then as President of the corporation from 1977-1985. We can all assume the story of Donald Rumsfeld (“Rummy”) from there.
Unfortunately the ties between Bio-Tech companies and our government does not stop there-
- In 2009 President Obama appointed former governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture after backing out of his bid for president in 2008. Vilsack has repeatedly given mass support to industrial farms and genetically modified crops. He introduced a bill in 2005 that would block local communities from controlling where GMO crops could be grown. During his term in Iowa, Tom Vilsack was named “Governor of the year” by the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
- October 5th 2009, Dr. Roger N. Beachy, the founding President of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO, would be appointed the first Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) by President Barack Obama. Dr. Beachy is an expert in plant virology and biotechnology of plants. He established principles for the genetic engineering of plants that make them resistant to viral diseases. His research at Washington University in St. Louis, in collaboration with Monsanto Company, led to the development of the world’s first genetically modified food crop - a variety of tomato that was genetically engineered to resist viruses and disease.
- In July of 2009 President Obama appointed yet another person with ties to Monsanto to a prestigious government position. Michael Taylor was a lawyer who began his revolving door adventures as counsel to the FDA. He then moved to King & Spalding, a private-sector law firm representing Monsanto. In 1991 under President George Bush Sr.’s administration, he returned to the FDA as Deputy Commissioner for Policy where he was part of the team that issued the agency's decidedly industry-friendly policy on food biotechnology and approved the use of Monsanto's genetically engineered growth hormone in dairy cows. The FDA guidelines exempted milk producers from labeling dairy products from cows that had been treated with rBGH. His questionable role in these decisions led to an investigation by the federal General Accounting Office, which eventually exonerated him of all conflict-of-interest charges. In 1994, Mr. Taylor moved to the USDA to become administrator of its Food Safety and Inspection Service. After another venture in the private legal practice with King & Spalding, Mr. Taylor again joined Monsanto as Vice President for Public Policy in 1998, working on what the company calls "long range planning.", and has since been sworn in as our nations Food Safety Czar.
Searle wanted Rumsfeld to use his ties in DC to do what was best for the company and have Aspartame approved. After Ronald Reagan was sworn in as the new President of the USA, Rumsfeld became a part of the president’s transition team. Dr. Arthur Hull-Hayes, a friend of Rumsfeld, was quickly appointed as the new Commissioner of the FDA. Searle wasted no time in their new attempt of getting Aspartame approved. Less than six months after becoming the new Commissioner, Hayes approved the product himself with his own vote among a panel of reorganized scientists that would now allow Aspartame’s use in dry products as well as on its own as a table top sweetener. Less than 2 years later it would also be approved for use in carbonated beverages, like soda. Within the same year that Hayes was given his position with the FDA, he resigned. He was quickly given a new position at Burson Marsteller, the chief public relations firm to Monsanto and Searle. Two years later Monsanto bought Searle and Co. for $2.7 billion. Rumsfeld soon became the CEO of Searle and then as President of the corporation from 1977-1985. We can all assume the story of Donald Rumsfeld (“Rummy”) from there.
Unfortunately the ties between Bio-Tech companies and our government does not stop there-
- In 2009 President Obama appointed former governor of Iowa Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture after backing out of his bid for president in 2008. Vilsack has repeatedly given mass support to industrial farms and genetically modified crops. He introduced a bill in 2005 that would block local communities from controlling where GMO crops could be grown. During his term in Iowa, Tom Vilsack was named “Governor of the year” by the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
- October 5th 2009, Dr. Roger N. Beachy, the founding President of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in St. Louis, MO, would be appointed the first Director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) by President Barack Obama. Dr. Beachy is an expert in plant virology and biotechnology of plants. He established principles for the genetic engineering of plants that make them resistant to viral diseases. His research at Washington University in St. Louis, in collaboration with Monsanto Company, led to the development of the world’s first genetically modified food crop - a variety of tomato that was genetically engineered to resist viruses and disease.
- In July of 2009 President Obama appointed yet another person with ties to Monsanto to a prestigious government position. Michael Taylor was a lawyer who began his revolving door adventures as counsel to the FDA. He then moved to King & Spalding, a private-sector law firm representing Monsanto. In 1991 under President George Bush Sr.’s administration, he returned to the FDA as Deputy Commissioner for Policy where he was part of the team that issued the agency's decidedly industry-friendly policy on food biotechnology and approved the use of Monsanto's genetically engineered growth hormone in dairy cows. The FDA guidelines exempted milk producers from labeling dairy products from cows that had been treated with rBGH. His questionable role in these decisions led to an investigation by the federal General Accounting Office, which eventually exonerated him of all conflict-of-interest charges. In 1994, Mr. Taylor moved to the USDA to become administrator of its Food Safety and Inspection Service. After another venture in the private legal practice with King & Spalding, Mr. Taylor again joined Monsanto as Vice President for Public Policy in 1998, working on what the company calls "long range planning.", and has since been sworn in as our nations Food Safety Czar.
- Justice Clarence Thomas, nominated by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, is a former lawyer for Monsanto’s regulatory affairs. Justice Thomas has been more notorious as of late for his conflict of interest allegations from the general public and some politicians for other such “unethical” behaviors.
- Tommy Thompson, U.S. Secretary of Health, received $50,000 in donations from Monsanto during his winning campaign for Wisconsin's governor.
- Michael Kantor was the former secretary of commerce and one of President Bill Clinton's closest advisers. Kantor joined two other Washington insiders on the Monsanto board--William Ruckleshaus, former director of the EPA and Gwendolyn King, former head of the Social Security Administration. It was Kantor who opened the doors to the White House and pushed the administration to pressure the EU over Monsanto's genetically engineered grain. Kantor's new law firm- Mayer, Brown & Platt, watches out for Monsanto’s interests in matters of international trade, food safety and product labeling.
- Lidia S. Watrud has a very impressive background with Monsanto. According to www.epa.gov/wed/pages/staff/watrud.htm, Watrud graduated from City College of New York in 1963 with a Bachelor’s in Biology. She went on to receive her Master’s and Ph.D in Genetics from Michigan State University from 1963-65. Dr. Watrud went on to work for Monsanto from 1977-82 as Senior Research Specialist and Group Leader for the Cell Biology Group and Crop Protection Dept. Then from 1982-84 as Senior Research Group Leader of the Crop Protection Dept, 1984-86 Manager of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 1986-90 as Manager of the Commercial Development of New Technologies in the Plant Sciences Dept.
• Member, US EPA Workgroups for Proposed/Final Rules on Microbial Pesticides and Pesticidal Plants, 1993-1994
• Reviewer, USDA Competitive Grants Program for Risk Assessment of Biotechnology Products, 1993-94
• Member, Research Subcommittee on Biotechnology for the 21st Century, National Science & Technology Council, 1994-95
• Member, Institutional Bio-safety Committee, Oregon State University, 1995
• Reviewer, NSF research proposals, 1987-90, 1997
- Tommy Thompson, U.S. Secretary of Health, received $50,000 in donations from Monsanto during his winning campaign for Wisconsin's governor.
- Michael Kantor was the former secretary of commerce and one of President Bill Clinton's closest advisers. Kantor joined two other Washington insiders on the Monsanto board--William Ruckleshaus, former director of the EPA and Gwendolyn King, former head of the Social Security Administration. It was Kantor who opened the doors to the White House and pushed the administration to pressure the EU over Monsanto's genetically engineered grain. Kantor's new law firm- Mayer, Brown & Platt, watches out for Monsanto’s interests in matters of international trade, food safety and product labeling.
- Lidia S. Watrud has a very impressive background with Monsanto. According to www.epa.gov/wed/pages/staff/watrud.htm, Watrud graduated from City College of New York in 1963 with a Bachelor’s in Biology. She went on to receive her Master’s and Ph.D in Genetics from Michigan State University from 1963-65. Dr. Watrud went on to work for Monsanto from 1977-82 as Senior Research Specialist and Group Leader for the Cell Biology Group and Crop Protection Dept. Then from 1982-84 as Senior Research Group Leader of the Crop Protection Dept, 1984-86 Manager of Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 1986-90 as Manager of the Commercial Development of New Technologies in the Plant Sciences Dept.
• Member, US EPA Workgroups for Proposed/Final Rules on Microbial Pesticides and Pesticidal Plants, 1993-1994
• Reviewer, USDA Competitive Grants Program for Risk Assessment of Biotechnology Products, 1993-94
• Member, Research Subcommittee on Biotechnology for the 21st Century, National Science & Technology Council, 1994-95
• Member, Institutional Bio-safety Committee, Oregon State University, 1995
• Reviewer, NSF research proposals, 1987-90, 1997
- Ann Veneman former USDA Secretary, is also a former director of Calgene (since bought over by Monsanto and now part of Pharmacia), the biotech company that created the world’s first genetically altered food, the “Flavr Savr” tomato. Before becoming USDA secretary, Veneman was an attorney and was appointed by California Governor Pete Wilson as the secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). In January of 2001 Ms. Veneman was sworn in as Secretary of Agriculture. Before leaving her post on January of 2005, Ms. Veneman would hire a spokeswoman who was the former public relations director of the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, a Chief of Staff who used to be the Associations head lobbyist, a former President of the National Pork Producers Council, and former executives of the meatpacking industry among others. She went on to serve as the Executive Director of The United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) from 2005 to 2010 where she had articulated Unicef’s position on how exclusive breastfeeding for toddlers is critical to combat hunger and promote child survival. Since joining the Nestlé board of directors (the world’s biggest manufacturer of artificial baby formula), the former Unicef Director has undergone a change of heart.
- Toby Moffett was a lobbyist on Capitol Hill for more than a decade starting in 1975 before becoming a congressman for the state of Connecticut. He then went on to be a political strategist for Monsanto.
Anthony J. (Toby) Moffett is now Chairman of the Moffett Group where he is the principal liaison between clients, Congress, the Obama Administration, and other federal agencies as well as relevant private and nonprofit organizations. He is a constant presence on Capitol Hill, communicating with members of Congress on a daily basis.
- Michael A. Friedman, M.D, former acting commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration & Department of Health and Human Services. He went on to serve as Senior VP of clinical affairs at G. D. Searle & Co., a pharmaceutical division of Monsanto Corporation. According to Forbes.com & Celgene.com, In February of 2011 Dr. Friedman was named to the Celgene (Division of Monsanto) Board of Directors. Dr. Friedman currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of City of Hope, a leading cancer research, treatment and education institution, as well as director of the organization’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. He holds the Irell & Manella Cancer Center Director’s Distinguished Chair. Before leading City of Hope, Dr. Friedman was senior vice president of research and development, medical and public policy for Pharmacia Corporation and Chief Medical Officer for biomedical preparedness at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Since 2004, Dr. Friedman has served on the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, created by California State Proposition 71 to govern the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and oversee implementation of California’s stem cell research effort. Dr. Friedman has received numerous commendations, including the Surgeon General’s Medallion in 1999.
- William D. Ruckelshaus served as Acting Director of the FBI between April 1973 and July 1973. After serving in a number of state offices, Mr. Ruckelshaus was appointed to the Department of Justice and, in 1970, became the first administrator of the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He served in the EPA until his appointment as Acting Director. After Director Kelley was then confirmed to the FBI Director position, Mr. Ruckelshaus returned to private practice. In 1983, after much scrutiny towards the EPA, he returned to Washington as the fifth administrator of the EPA. The White House acceded to Ruckhelshaus's request to allow him maximum autonomy in the choice of new appointees and served there until 1985. He also oversaw removal of the pesticide Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) from U.S. agricultural use, reaffirmed EPA commitment to a federal-state partnership to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay, and helped EPA institute tighter controls on hazardous waste management. Ruckelshaus has served as Chairman of the Board of the World Resources Institute, special envoy to the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the U.S. and Canada , Chairman of Enterprise for the Environment, and on the President's Council for Sustainable Development. He has served on the boards of directors of Cummins Engine Co., MONSANTO CO., Nordstrom, Inc., Weyerhaeuser Co., Inc., Gargoyles, Inc., Coinstar, Inc., and Solutia, Inc. … Salmon Treaty...Served on the Board of directors for Monsanto...GM Salmon controversy…
- John Ashcroft, former Attorney General under President George W. Bush, received the largest campaign contribution of any candidate during his failed run in the 2000 elections.
- Toby Moffett was a lobbyist on Capitol Hill for more than a decade starting in 1975 before becoming a congressman for the state of Connecticut. He then went on to be a political strategist for Monsanto.
Anthony J. (Toby) Moffett is now Chairman of the Moffett Group where he is the principal liaison between clients, Congress, the Obama Administration, and other federal agencies as well as relevant private and nonprofit organizations. He is a constant presence on Capitol Hill, communicating with members of Congress on a daily basis.
- Michael A. Friedman, M.D, former acting commissioner of the United States Food and Drug Administration & Department of Health and Human Services. He went on to serve as Senior VP of clinical affairs at G. D. Searle & Co., a pharmaceutical division of Monsanto Corporation. According to Forbes.com & Celgene.com, In February of 2011 Dr. Friedman was named to the Celgene (Division of Monsanto) Board of Directors. Dr. Friedman currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of City of Hope, a leading cancer research, treatment and education institution, as well as director of the organization’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. He holds the Irell & Manella Cancer Center Director’s Distinguished Chair. Before leading City of Hope, Dr. Friedman was senior vice president of research and development, medical and public policy for Pharmacia Corporation and Chief Medical Officer for biomedical preparedness at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). Since 2004, Dr. Friedman has served on the Independent Citizens’ Oversight Committee, created by California State Proposition 71 to govern the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine and oversee implementation of California’s stem cell research effort. Dr. Friedman has received numerous commendations, including the Surgeon General’s Medallion in 1999.
- William D. Ruckelshaus served as Acting Director of the FBI between April 1973 and July 1973. After serving in a number of state offices, Mr. Ruckelshaus was appointed to the Department of Justice and, in 1970, became the first administrator of the new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He served in the EPA until his appointment as Acting Director. After Director Kelley was then confirmed to the FBI Director position, Mr. Ruckelshaus returned to private practice. In 1983, after much scrutiny towards the EPA, he returned to Washington as the fifth administrator of the EPA. The White House acceded to Ruckhelshaus's request to allow him maximum autonomy in the choice of new appointees and served there until 1985. He also oversaw removal of the pesticide Ethylene Dibromide (EDB) from U.S. agricultural use, reaffirmed EPA commitment to a federal-state partnership to restore and protect the Chesapeake Bay, and helped EPA institute tighter controls on hazardous waste management. Ruckelshaus has served as Chairman of the Board of the World Resources Institute, special envoy to the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the U.S. and Canada , Chairman of Enterprise for the Environment, and on the President's Council for Sustainable Development. He has served on the boards of directors of Cummins Engine Co., MONSANTO CO., Nordstrom, Inc., Weyerhaeuser Co., Inc., Gargoyles, Inc., Coinstar, Inc., and Solutia, Inc. … Salmon Treaty...Served on the Board of directors for Monsanto...GM Salmon controversy…
- John Ashcroft, former Attorney General under President George W. Bush, received the largest campaign contribution of any candidate during his failed run in the 2000 elections.
“Agricultural Biotechnology will find a supporter occupying the White House next year regardless of which candidate wins the election in November.”
-Monsanto In-house Newsletter 10/6/2000
"Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food. Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is the FDA's job"
- Phil Angell, Monsanto's director of corporate communications. "Playing God in the Garden" New York Times Magazine, October 25, 1998
-Monsanto In-house Newsletter 10/6/2000
"Monsanto should not have to vouchsafe the safety of biotech food. Our interest is in selling as much of it as possible. Assuring its safety is the FDA's job"
- Phil Angell, Monsanto's director of corporate communications. "Playing God in the Garden" New York Times Magazine, October 25, 1998
"What you are seeing is not just a consolidation of seed companies, it’s really a consolidation of the entire food chain"
- Robert Fraley, co-president of Monsanto's agricultural sector 1996, in the Farm Journal. Quoted in: Flint J. (1998) Agricultural industry giants moving towards genetic monopolism. Telepolis, Heise.
Every other country in the world requires labeling of any product containing GMO’s, yet the USA does not.
Without a labeling system it would be hard to trace any other viruses or diseases that may have occurred due to these genetically manipulated products entering our foods systems. The allergic reactions some have in accordance with GMO’s has been proven many times, yet this new crop has been legally able to move forward without the public’s knowledge. Many people have given up on Organics all together stating that these GMO’s are easily making their way onto Certified Organic fields and going unnoticed for the most part. Though this is true in many cases, it is yet another reason that this GMO industry must be stopped. The ratio of Organic crops still out weighs the Non Organic and GM crops. Once again, talk to the very people who grow your foods and ask the right questions, and research the researchers. Imagine a multi billion dollar corporation who has over 11,000 patents on living organisms i.e. Corn, Soy, Apples, Cotton, fish, Cows, Alfalfa, possibly wheat, etc. Allow your mind to figure out the rest.
Across the globe there are many organizations that have formed in protest of Monsanto among other GM companies. One in particular is the Organic Consumers Association (OCA) who has since started the Millions Against Monsanto campaign. These rallies and other meetings have proved quite successful and continue to be a threat against the many Bio-tech corporations who threaten the health of our food supplies and our people. Please visit http://organicconsumers.org for an amazing amount of information about everything Organic and the like, as well as how you can help.
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