Monsanto Co. wants to take over Mexico's heartland with GM corn

If their requests are approved by outgoing president Felipe Calderón, Monsanto Co. and DuPont will be planting 2,500,000 hectares (more than 6 million acres) of transgenic or GM maize in the heartland of Mexico.

According to ETC Group, the consequences will be devastating for the heart of the center of origin and diversity for maize, and also globally. 

Mexico is considered to be the global repository of maize genetic diversity, as scientists have identified thousands of peasant varieties of maize.

Should Monsanto's applications be approved, this would mark the world's first commercial-scale planting of GM varieties of a major food group, in it's center of origin.Basically this would wipe out all biodiversity, and all the various local varieties of maize, developed over around 7,000 years... read more and find out how you can help/sign petition.

Op-Ed: Does 'No on 37' campaign back their spokesman’s extreme views?

On Monday, the Yes on 37 campaign called on opponents to Proposition 37 to clarify whether they share the extreme and dubious scientific views of their spokesman, Dr. Henry I. Miller.

Miller is a researcher at the right-wing Hoover Institute and is featured as the spokesperson in TV ads currently blanketing California, for the "No on 37" campaign. These TV ads have appeared countless times on television, to millions of Californians, with Miller arguing that Proposition 37 is "illogical"... read more.

Review: The film 'Genetic Roulette' — gambling with our lives on GMOs

Jeffrey M. Smith of the Institute of Responsible Technology has brought out another excellent film on the dangers of genetically modified food.

Digital Journal reported on the Jeffrey M. Smith movie, "The GMO Threat", in August on this year.

Smith's latest film, "Genetic Roulette", features interviews with patients, doctors, and parents. It explains how consuming genetically modified food can lead to numerous health implications, including diabetes, cancer, heart attacks, allergies, autism, asthma, premature aging, autoimmune disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, infertility and other reproductive disorders.... read more and watch preview.

GM crop technology backfires as farmers need more pesticides

A newly-released, peer-reviewed study reveals that the cultivation of genetically engineered crops has increased pesticide usage by hundreds of millions of pounds.

On top of this, Reuters reported today that the pesticide problem will intensify if the new round of GMO crops is approved.

According to Marcia Ishii-Eiteman, PhD, who is a senior scientist at Pesticide Action Network, this newly released study “shatters one of industry’s long-standing myths” that GMOs reduce pesticide use... read more.

'No on 37' — False advertising on the radio, against GMO labeling

The "No on 37" campaign against labeling of GMO products has been advertising on the radio. This advertising is littered with falsehoods, and "Yes on 37" offer the facts.

Proposition 37 comes up for voting in California in November this year and is intended to make it mandatory to label products that contain GMOs or genetically modified products. The "No on 37" campaign is pushing big money from Monsanto and "Big Pesticide", in an attempt to stop this from happening.

This week the "No to 37" campaign is running radio adverts, which consist mainly of falsehoods. California Right to Know wish to point out these falsehoods, and tell consumers the truth.. read more.

Video: Mariel Hemingway on #StopMonsanto film project

In the video, Mariel Hemingway explains about the #StopMonsanto Feature Film Project, being created to educate and inform people on the dangers of genetically modified food and crops.

Mariel Hemingway is an Academy Award nominated actress, author, yoga video producer, activist and health expert who is focused on empowering people to live their best lives.

In the video, she explains that she is passionate about the food that we eat. She says that as Americans, you have the right to eat the food you want to eat. You have the right to know what's happening to your food source... read more and watch video.

'GMO Myths and Truths' — Report released by genetic engineers

In a groundbreaking report, two genetic engineers explain in detail why GMOs are not good for human health or the environment.

The new report has been released today, July 5, and is titled “GMO Myths and Truths”.

The report presents a large body of peer-reviewed scientific and other authoritative evidence of the hazards to health and the environment posed by genetically engineered crops and organisms (GMOs).... read more.

California voters to decide on GMO labeling in November

On the evening of June 11, the California Secretary of State's office announced that the Right to Know initiative to label genetically engineered foods will be on the state's November ballot.

The announcement by the California Secretary of State's office can be viewed here.

Polls show overwhelming support for this historic labeling initiative and this will be the first law in the United States to require labeling of a wide range of genetically modified foods.

Stacy Malkan, a spokesperson for the California Right to Know campaign, said, “We’re thrilled that Californians will have the opportunity this November to vote for the right to know what’s in our food.”... read full article.

AMA is considering labels on genetically engineered food

The American Medical Association is now considering the labeling of products that contain genetically modified or engineered foods.

While Monsanto continues to emphasize that there is no difference between traditional and genetically modified organisms, and while most medical organizations currently believe this, things are about to hopefully change.

The American Medical Association (AMA) might soon support the labeling of GMOs through federal legislation or regulation.

Hoping to accelerate the process towards direct labeling of GMOs, the Illinois State Medical Society and the Indiana State Medical Association have both introduced resolutions to the AMA on this subject. These resolutions urge the AMA to back labeling initiatives, such as Right to Know... read full article.