The Evilness of Monsanto Hits WA Farmers

RupertofOZ

Redbeard...

big worm

once all the open pollinated seeds have been hybridized by the gm seeds you will have to buy their seeds if you wish to grow anything. eventualy all seed will be afected and no heirloom seed will remain

RupertofOZ

And I think that's a deliberate plan....

Like in Iraq & Afganistan.... where the national seed stores were deliberately bombed....

And Monsanto designated as the sole supplier of seed... which as you say... is only good for a single crop....

The politics and business of war is so closely aligned with Monsantos ethics... or lack of...

big worm

i worked for monsanto till i had enuff....i learned to say "when"
we made carpet fibers not evil world hunger causing seed tho

Wazza

RupertofOZ wrote:

And studies seem to suggest the supposed yield benefits of GM crops.... just don't match the hype/expectation....

Rupe,

A mate of mine tried some GM conola this year, got exactly the same return from the non GM, just cost him more to put in.

It was a bad year (yes I know it's supposed to work better in a bad year), so he's going to give it one more go to see how it goes on a normal year.

For the record, he did it in the middle of his place so it wouldn't get to his neighbours.

One of the biggest problem I have is it's all about 'buy my incestacide, buy my this, buy my that', where is the work on drought tolerant or salt tolerant? But I guess there is no money for them in that.

As for cross contamination, you shouldn't be allowed to plant within say a k of your neighbours (exact distance needs to be determined by qualified others).

DéjàVoodoo

If I spray paint something on my property and it gets on the neighbors car, or a fire at my place causes smoke damage to my neighbors place...am I not responsible for the clean up at his place? In this case the manufacturer of the paint or the charcoal is not the problem. But me - the one using it. I do not see why GM crops should be any different...as far as I can tell GM crops are capable of damaging non-hybrid crops and the farmers using them should be held accountable for damages to neighboring crops.

That said - I think what Monsantos is doing should be considered very dangerous and time will prove so by many many deaths.

jet

There probably more going on here than meet the eyes.
I fully symapthise and appreciate crop contamination issues for the organic guy.
No one will have tested (or even can test) for GM contamination on his farm id guess.
Id suggest some Canola was found growing amonst other weeds in his cereal crop, as he cant say it is organic therefore its considered contamination. (with the forward knowledge theres GM crop next door)
To get 70% contamination of his crop suggests more than coming from neighbours farm, seed just cant go very far, unless the argument that pollen is the contaminant but I thought the GM canolas were hybrid and therefore sterile?

I hope this gets sorted, theres so much rubbish out there in the GM/Organic debate, a fair bit of it finacially driven from both sides.

Snags

If your neighbour breeds mongrel dogs and you breed pedigrees
Surely he has to contain his dogs from coming into your yard and destroying your pedigree.

Unfortunately Monsanto is so rich and well connected that they will send you bankrupt in order to not have a precedence set in law.

big worm

Unfortunately Monsanto is so rich and well connected that they will send you bankrupt in order to not have a precedence set in law.[/quote]

just do a search on aniston alabama. for you aussies its a town that in the states that is poluted with PCB'S from the plant that monsanto owns.
they gave away the sand used in the sand casting process to local residents to use in their gardens for free to anyone who could haul it away. locals used the sand to break heavy clay soil in their home food gardens. monsanto knew that it was contaminated with PCB'S now everyone who is not dead of cancer has only to wait for it.
i think they just tossed some money at the ones who were still living.....if they just bankrupt you ....feel lucky. least your still living. take it from someone who knows to what extent they will go or do for a quick buck.

jet

Did some reading, seems there was genuine GM canola growing accross some hundreds of ha of neighbours farm.. I just cant see how this can happen but anyway.
Whilst most criticisim is against Monsanto, keep in mind they just sold a product and it moved off site. Debate as to moral side of this products existance is best kept separate.
This leads to larger issues. Contamination like herbicide/pesticide etc is probably happening its just that it cant be monitored or tested unless very severe.
An issue raised is that the organic status of the product is damaged even if the contaminant isnt present or maybe not detectable, then theres issues with heading the organic certificaion route.

timmy

no one really cares about GM foods, it's all a smoke screen for anti globalization groupies.
you only need to see how the conversation quickly turns from talking about GM crops to monsanto to see it.

Snags

I think you will find people really do care about GM
the ones who are selling it and pushing it and the ones who don't want it forced on them.

and yes it its about globalisation and trade and control and the end result is less biodiversity and less consumer choice and farmers indebted to chemical companies and governments in order to feed us and make a living.
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=8810

earthbound

I'm glad you know what people care about Timmy...

The man has suffered loss of earnings due to contamination by others, he's made a significant investment in getting his organic certification which he's lost due to the contaminations..

Next thing fast food companies will start suing surrounding properties where all their rubbish blows, sue them for theft of their packaging items..

RupertofOZ

Monsanto has a long history of suing farmers who's crops become cross-pollinated with their "gene".... basically alledging they're liable for annual licencing fees...

RupertofOZ

Oh... and by the way Timmy... I care about GM in my food ... indeed I believe I have a right to know exactly what's in my food and where it came from... everything in it...and every possible health issue...

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