On May 25, a coordinated series of “March Against Monsanto” rallies were held in 436 cities in 52 countries around the world, drawing over 2 million participants. Monsanto is a globe-straddling behemoth that has destroyed lives in India, throttled family farms in America, corrupted our justice system, and is trying to force their genetically modified products down the throats of people around the world. You’d think that if millions of people band together to fight them it might draw a little media attention but no, the only sound to be heard from the Fourth Estate was the chirping of genetically modified crickets…
If these rallies are news to you, you’re not alone. If you Google “News for anti-Monsanto rallies” you’ll find 390 groups covered the event worldwide; these were mostly reports from local news outlets where the protests happened. Even our own KOIN local news had a report on the Portland rally that drew 6000 people. But look at the national news… ABC, NBC, and CBS all ran the same anemic AP wire report (which was also the bulk of the local coverage). FOX, unsurprisingly, had nothing at all, but the “liberal media” bastions NPR and MSNBC ran with the same AP report the major networks did. Compare this to the wall-to-wall coverage that accompanies every belch of the 67,000-member Tea Party, even rallies as small as a dozen people.
No one can rely on our fractured and corporate-funded media environment to stay informed. It’s up to individuals to seek out information on important issues, and in our opinion the fight against Monsanto is one of the most important issues out there. With that in mind, here are a few links that will help you learn about this powerful force shaping our society. If you agree this is an important issue, then you’ll also appreciate the links to things you can do to get involved. (And really, what does it say about the state of our media that you’re learning about this from your mechanic?)
We Can’t Let Monsanto Win on Genetically Modified Food
Monsanto has been victorious in court, Congress and the White House. Protests will need to grow to stop them. By Sadhbh Walshe, posted on Common Dreams May 29, 2013
Click here for a list of companies committed to using NON-GMO INGREDIENTS
Senate rejects GM food labeling amendment to farm bill
Bernie Sanders of Vermont says he will continue to push for declaration on packaging of genetically modified ingredients. The Guardian, May 23,2013
GMO Food Debate In The National Spotlight
While GM ingredients have only been on the market in America for around 20 years, they’re already sparking national controversy, as people wonder what the potential impacts could be on the environment and our health. By Rachel Hennessey in Forbes Magazine, 11/3/2012
Written anonymously, the Monsanto Protection Act allows corporations to sell genetically-modified seeds even when federal courts have blocked them from doing so. Summary and examination from Snopes.com, May 29, 2013
Click here for our “Furious” column on the Monsanto Protection Act
Repeal the Monsanto Protection Act
Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley proposed an amendment to the Farm Bill that would repeal the Monsanto Protection Act. Sign his petition here to demand a vote in the U.S. Senate that would end this outrageous special interest override of judicial decisions. Senator Merkley’s website
The Real Monsanto Protection Act: How The GMO Giant Corrupts Regulators And Consolidates Its Power
The Monsanto Protection Act is merely a drop in the bucket of government-embedded protections the agricultural giant already enjoys. The company has spent decades packing the US Department of Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency with its own members… by Aviva Shen on ThinkProgress, April 10, 2013
The Organic Consumers Association
This group offers a constant feed on Monsanto, its activities, and ways to take action
Update 6/26/13- GMO Crops burned in Oregon. No media coverage.
Though the controlled corporate media apparatus is suppressing the story, 40 tons of GMO crops were torched, prompting an FBI investigation. There has been a complete media blackout. It was only reported locally live on KXL Radio and echoed by the Oregonian, where the ONLY web mention exists, hard to find because the headline wording carefully avoids the most likely keywords for a search.
Here’s what happened — 40 Tons of GMO Sugar Beets were set ablaze in Eastern Oregon. FORTY TONS — the entire acreage of two full fields of crops in the ground were set ablaze over a three night period of time. That means arson…
