We Speak For Earth
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Today in Go Fuck Yourself news….
Newest Wikileaks cables show Monstanto’s deep influence on the U.S. government.
foulmouthedliberty:findingrealwords:anonymissexpress:
Anthony Gucciardi & Mike Barrett
NaturalSociety
December 6, 2011
Biotech giant Monsanto has been declared the Worst Company of 2011 by NaturalSociety for threatening both human health and the environment. The leader in genetically modified seeds and crops, Monsanto is currently responsible for 90 percent of the genetically engineered seed on the United States market. Outside of GM seeds, Monsanto is also the creator of the best-selling herbicide Roundup, which has spawned over 120 million hectacres of herbicide-resistant superweeds while damaging much of the soil. Despite hard evidence warning against the amplified usage of genetically modified crops, biopesticides, and herbicides, Monsanto continues to disregard all warning signs.
In a powerful review of 19 studies analyzing the dangers of GMO crops such as corn and soybeans, researchers revealed some shocking information regarding the safety of these popular food staples. Researchers found that consumption of GMO corn or soybeans may lead to significant organ disruptions in rats and mice – particularly in the liver and kidneys. This is particularly concerning due to the fact that 93 percent of U.S. soybeans are known to be genetically modified. Ignoring this evidence, Monsanto continues to expand their genetic manipulation.
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I am a physicist and electronics engineer. I freaking LOVE science and the progress it is bringing! But the things Monsanto is doing just scares the crap out of me. Big corporations only care - ONLY CARE - about profits and growth. That is the sum totality of the morality of the big companies, which of course, is one more reason why the Supreme Court’s declaration that corporations are people when it comes to political donations is incredibly short-sited and dangerous to society. The richest and least moral possible influence has been completely unleashed into our democratic system.
Of course Monsanto just keeps making more of this stuff and does not heed warnings. This quarter’s and the next quarter’s profits are all that matter.
I heard a story on NPR about how there used to be several varieties of wild corn that grew in the hills of Mexico. Almost all of them are gone now because commercialized seed (Monsanto) takes over and cross-pollination eliminates the old species.
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Staying informed about the world almost always equals increased depression for me. The power is in all the wrong hands. Even when we make good personal choices, we are captive to the disastrous things that these mega-corporations are allowed to do. Hell, our tax dollars subsidize the disastrous things that they do to the environment. I’m always outraged that the money we pay in taxes is used to pay for wars and the militarization of our local police. This is why I get so angry at people for not paying attention to politics. We are personally invested in how the money is spent whether we are the ones making the choices or not.
(via climbinglyell)
Discussing Fox “news” with my right-wing dad. Stumbled on this video about Fox caving into pressure from Monsanto, another terrible organization f***ing up the planet. Wasn’t even sure if this was legit b/c the video is a bit cheesy and poor quality, but apparently this is actually what happened! Some other links here, here, and here.
In short, they found that monsanto was giving hormones to cows which posed a risk to humans. They were going to air the story on Fox, but fox tried every way to stop them and then fired them. It went to court. Who won? Fox News. Why? Because the court rules that Fox was allowed to lie.
Yeah. But not too surprising for a country that voted pizza a vegetable.
P.s. We really need to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, which basically made it illegal for news corps to lie. Not saying that Fox shouldn’t be allowed to air (though one can dream!), but they should not be allowed to call themselves a news organization. This is a big picture issue which OWS should pick up on. And, I’ll add, this doesn’t just apply to Fox and conservatives; there is plenty of crap coming from liberal sources as well. We need to put a stop to this. Accurate, truthful reporting is a basic need for a democracy. Links: here and here.
Pests Are Developing Resistance to Monsanto’s Engineered Supercorn
Some consumers may have a problem with genetically modified food crops, but in at least one case described in an Iowa State University researcher’s paper there’s one customer that’s happy to consume Monsanto’s GM corn: rootworms, the very pest the corn is modified to thwart. According to the paper, western corn rootworms in at least four northeast Iowa corn fields have developed a resistance to the natural pesticide in corn seed produced by Monsanto, marking the first time a major Midwest pest has developed a resistance to GM crops.
That could spell all kinds of trouble for food crops, farmers, Monsanto, and pretty much everyone who isn’t a western corn rootworm. Though based on isolated cases thus far, the problem could be more widespread, and the paper is bound to rouse another debate on the benefits and demerits of GM crop cultivation and current farm management practices.
(via scinerds)
