MarchagainstmonsantoThe transnational biotechnology colossus is among other accused of genetically engineering agriculture and food while ignoring the potentially lethal ramifications, the risks for the environment, the devastating consequences for local farmers and communities, and the devastating social consequences.
March Against Monsanto has taken the initiative to raise awareness about the lack of action from national governments and activists have prepared protest marches in major cities, including Berlin, Brussel, Copenhagen, Chicago, Melbourne, Montral, Moscow, New York, Paris and many other major cities. The main focus will be on the lack of government action and the demand to ban Genetically Engineered and Genetically Modified Organisms.
Networking among grassroots organizations, among other with the help of social media, helped the initially small grassroots initiative to develop into a global campaign and manifestation.
March Against Monsanto director Nick Bernabe stated, that genetically engineered food could affect everybody, even the apathetic: “
What we’re trying to do is bring awareness to GMOs and the health effects that they’re causing and bring about some solutions about what people can do to take back their food supply,” he said. “They’re expecting more than 15,000 people in San Francisco alone… We want to get people working together in their communities.”
Monsanto, who recently has described current research into GMO crops as inconclusive, is engaged in a global lobbying campaign so as to being able to continue with the manufacturing of laboratory-made foods without governmental oversight.
In March 2013 the U.S. Congress has passed a biotechnology rider which was dubbed the “Monsanto Protection Act”. The legislation effectively allows Monsanto and other corporations that use GMOs to plant and sell genetically altered products even if legal action is being taken against them. Effectively this means, that the U.S. Congress has given Monsanto and others card blanche to largely ignore the country´s judiciary.
Prior to the adoption of the “Monsanto protection Act” the U.S. Department of Agriculture had oversight over the companies and it either approved or denied the testing of genetically modified seeds. Also prior to the adoption of the “Monsanto Protection Act” by the U.S. Congress the U.S. Federal Courts retained the authority to halt the testing or sale of genetically modified plants if the courts reasoned that there could be a danger to the public health.
The Monsanto protection Act was co-authored by Missouri Senator Roy Blunt who reportedly has received thousands of dollars from Monsanto for crafting the language of the Monsanto protection Act. Being by far the largest agribusiness worldwide, Monsanto is known for having invested millions into lobbying as well as into lawsuits against farmers, or governments.
In the case of the Protect Monsanto Act, co-authored by Senator Roy Blunt, Monsanto could hardly have been more blunt with its openness about how the transnational corporation uses its economic muscle to bias or bribe legislators.
According to Food & Water Watch, the relationship between Monsanto and the U.S. government extends even beyond congress and the Supreme Court. According to Food & Water Watch, communications which were uncovered by WikiLeaks, the U.S- State Department actively lobbies foreign governments to adopt pro-agricultural biotechnology legislation and lobbies to improve the image of biotechnology while challenging commonsense biotechnology safeguards and rules. This lobbying of the U.S. State Department includes lobbying against opposition to genetically engineered food and food labeling laws.
The organizers of the protests, which are to be held on Saturday and Sunday, have accused Monsanto of going on the offensive by planting false statements on social media, such as the one that the protest marches would not be held.
The organizers are also accusing Monsanto of having infiltrated social media groups and pages with so-called Trolls or Debunkers in an effort to derail a constructive dialog, to deflect attention, to spread disinformation and misinformation and so forth.
Tom Canal, who is one of the administrators of the March Against Monsanto´s Facebook page said:
“Events are disappearing, posts are being put on city events pages that say events are being cancelled”. The Organic Pepper Blog states, “In no way, shape or form, has any event been cancelled. I believe Monsanto is behind this. Some of the people on the page that are commenting have newly made profiles and seemingly those profiles were made strictly to cause problems and get a rise out of our participants on the page.”While mainstream media have largely ignored the initiative, the March Against Monsanto activists have, through social networking and independent media, achieved that 200.000 activists are expected to March Against Monsanto on Saturday and Sunday, while the total number of protesters remains to be seen. It is likely that at least another 200.000 will be joining the protests, and that despite of an almost complete media blackout from mainstream, corporate or government media.
The March Against Monsanto initiative has outlined a number of demands, solutions and goals which they are advocating. These include, the labeling of GE/GMO, so that consumers more easily can make informed decisions, a demand for further scientific research on the health effects of GE/GMOs and the demand of taking into the streets to show the world and Monsanto that the people won´t take injustices quietly.
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