Australian Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson and Markets for Change CEO Peg Putt addressed around 250 protesters gathered at Parliament lawns at 2pm today to demand the continuation of Tasmania’s blanket ban on genetically engineered products (GMOs).
Monsanto has been removed and banned by Austria, Bulgaria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Japan, Luxembourg, Madeira, New Zealand, Peru, South Australia, Russia, France and Switzerland.
In concert with the International March Against Monsanto protests, the movement protests biotech multinational Monsanto’s monopolisation of over 90% of the world’s commercial seed stock, Monsanto’s demonstrated contempt for the law, human health and environment as evidenced by;
– The Indonesian bribing scandal, in which Monsanto was found guilty and fined $1.5 Million
– Aggressive and secretive lobbying of the US government in enacting legislation effectively excusing the company from any accountability for their genetically engineered products and any harmful effects
– The creation and distribution of Agent Orange for use during the Vietnam war, after which No Single Vietnam veteran or Vietnamese have received compensation. The fourth generation of deformed births has been recorded, with no sign of assistance for treatment for the victims, who face a lifetime of disability and disadvantage
– Dumping of ultra-toxic PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl) persistent organic pollutant ( here ), and cause cancer in animals and likely in humans as well, among other health effects, remain in the water along Dead Creek in Sauget. In August 2003, Solutia (a Monsanto spin-off company) and Monsanto agreed to pay plaintiffs $700 million to settle claims by over 20,000 Anniston residents related to PCB contamination. It is now listed as an EPA “Superfund Site”, which effectively means monumental environmental damage has occured, and the government has taken responsibility to clean it up
Monsato’s system of farming with GE seeds creates a cycle of dependence, their patent rights ensuring farmers have to buy seed every year. Under the system, it is illegal for farmers to collect seed, something farmers have done since the beginning of agriculture. GMO crops do not produce a higher yield than open-pollinated seeds, and farmers are forced to buy herbicides over and above the rates promised by Monsanto – the product does not work as it was predicted to.
Monsanto claims it can feed the world with technological developments. The problem for people facing hunger is not a lack of food, it is access to the food (which is usually exported to more wealthy countries). Other causes of food insecurity are lack of access to adequate storage and transport.
