Coalition demands probe on Dow & Monsanto GMOs & pesticides

Farmers and food industry representatives are demanding a probe into the potential outcome of a new genetically modified crop in combination with the usage of the 2,4-D pesticide.

Dow Chemical is currently awaiting the go-ahead from the U.S. government to start using a new genetically modified corn crop. This crop has been modified to be resistant to a powerful pesticide produced with 2,4-D.

2,4-D was a compound that was crucial to the make-up of the notorious Agent Orange, which killed so many people during the Vietnam war and causes birth defects right up to the present time in that country. Agent Orange was responsible for over 400,000 deaths in Vietnam. 3 million people contracted diseases like cancer, liver damage and heart disease. Over half a million babies were born with heartbreaking birth defects in Vietnam.

If approved, this new corn would be able to "thrive" when doused with the pesticide in farmers' fields and would apparently eradicate unwanted weeds along the way... read full article and view video.

Monsanto convinces Nepal to accept GMO corn — protesters object

Notorious agricultural giant Monsanto has teamed up with the Nepalese government to force GMO seeds on to the country's farmers. Protests in Kathmandu ensued.

RT has reported that the strain of GMO corn which is being forced on the farmers is banned in several EU countries and will be used in Nepal to substitute imports and "boost the starving nation’s maize production."

With corn being one of Nepal's biggest crops, the country still only produces approximately half of what it needs for the feed industry and have to import around 130,000 tons annually to cover this deficit. Even with the imports, over 40% of the Nepalese population is malnourished.

The United States Agency of International Development (USAID) announced in September last year that it wants to create a partnership between the Nepalese Government and Monsanto in order to boost maize production. This is to "lend the starving country a helping hand".... read full article.

Argentinian farmers suing Monsanto for 'poisoning'

Monsanto is once again in the news. This time they and other corporations are being sued for 'knowingly poisoning farmers' in Argentina.

Farmers from Argentina have claimed that agri-giant Monsanto, together with Philip Morris and other U.S. tobacco companies, asked them to use chemicals on their crops. Said chemicals have allegedly caused "devastating birth defects".

The farmers state that the corporations were aware of the implications, but failed to sufficiently warn farmers.

The corporations thus were driven "by a desire for unwarranted economic gain and profit".... read full article.

Video: Dr. Vandana Shiva talks on genetically modified food

A lot of controversy is floating around about Monsanto and its genetically modified seeds and crops and pesticides. For those who wish to learn more, Dr. Vandana Shiva is an expert on the subject.

With a bachelors degree in physics, Dr. Vandana Shiva started Navdanya International 20 years ago.

When she discovered that global corporations, such as Monsanto, wanted to patent seeds, crops and life forms, she started the organisation in an effort to protect biodiversity, to promote organic farming and also to defend the rights of farmers.

She has been involved in creating markets for farmers and in promoting healthy, high quality and tasty food for consumers, by connecting the seed to the kitchen, and biodiversity to gastronomy.... read more and view video.