Monsanto Pays Millions $$ To Keep US Public In The Dark

By Theodora Filis

Despite claims that their very expensive, patented, genetically modified (GM) seeds are the best thing since sliced bread, chemical seed giant Monsanto is fighting awfully hard to defeat California's Proposition 37 on November 6 – and paying millions of US dollars to do so.

The biotech industry and Big Ag have already dumped $25 million into the pot - $4.2 million from Monsanto alone. Other major contributions against Proposition 37 were given by:

E. I. Dupont de Nemours – $1,273,600

Dow Agrosciences – $1,184,800

PepsiCo – $1,126,079

"The giant pesticide and food companies are afraid of the mothers and grandmothers who want the right to know what's in our food," said Stacy Malkan, media director of California Right to Know.

"These companies will try to buy the election, but it won't work. California moms and dads will prevail over Monsanto and Dupont." As of today, the "Big 6" pesticide companies (Monsanto, Dow, BASF, Bayer, Syngenta and DuPont) have contributed $13.5 million to defeat Proposition 37.

You would think Monsanto would be too busy trying to explain to farmers why their Bt sweet corn crops are being eaten by the root-worm, after being told the genetically modified seeds would be immune to them. After all, it says it on the label! Happy to report, their drought resistant corn isn't doing much better. Sigh...

A letter from California State Senator, Mark Leno (D), to his colleagues, expresses the opinion of those in support of labeling GMO foods:

Dear Colleagues & Candidates,

I’m writing today to ask that you join me in saying Yes on 37.  Please join the CA Democratic Party, the California Labor Federation, the California Nurses Association, UFW, Sierra Club, CALPIRG, Consumer Federation of America, dozens of farmers and doctors, and hundreds of other organizations and businesses in officially endorsing Yes on 37.  Yes on 37 is California’s Right to Know ballot measure that would label genetically engineered foods.  You can endorse Prop 37 right now at http://www.carighttoknow.org/endorsements or simply by replying to this e-mail.

Yes on 37 is based on a pretty simple notion: we have the right to know what’s in the food we and our families eat.  Food products should have simple labels that tell us if they have been genetically engineered, especially since we don’t know these foods to be safe.  This “right to know” is a fundamental right and a bedrock American value.  It is time for California to join 49 countries that already label genetically engineered foods.

Yes on 37 is part of a massive, rapidly-growing national grassroots movement.  Here in California, we’ve secured the endorsements of several elected officials, including U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer, Congresswomen Maxine Waters & Judy Chu, Chair of CA Dems Women’s Caucus Christine Pelosi, State Assemblymembers Allen, Huber, Monning, Huffman, and Ammiano, and many more.

Please learn more and join us today:  http://www.carighttoknow.org/.

Thank you!

Despite massive public opposition, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced plans in 2011 to streamline its genetically engineered petition process, and this year those controversial changes were implemented, speeding up the approval process for new genetically engineered seeds and crops. This new process will cut in half the time it takes for new GE seeds and crops to enter the market.

And, if that wasn't bad enough, earlier this summer the USDA posted twelve new GE crops for public comment with a September 11, 2012 deadline, and nine are under the new fast-tracked process. 

That's twelve to review and issue comments on in two months! The worst of these new GMOs are Dow’s 2-4,D soybeans (2), Monsanto’s new dicamba tolerant soybean and a new GMO apple.

According to a recent USDA press release, the new fast-track process is part of efforts by the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, to “transform USDA into a high-performing organization that focuses on its customers.”

Customers like Monsanto, Dow, Dupont, BASF, Syngenta, and the other biotech companies anxiously awaiting their piece of the  “Frankenfood” pie.