By: Ozren Podnar |
The global movement against genetically modified food |
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On Saturday, 25th of May 2013, activists around the world went on a march against a multinational corporation Monsanto, the leading producer of genetically modified (GMO) seeds and pesticides.
In hundreds of cities in 36 countries, protesters tried to attract public attention to this American corporation, which has acquired a reputation for "meanest corporation on the planet."
Zagreb is one of 286 cities in which a protest march has been organized.
Reasons for protest
Monsanto was founded in 1901 in St. Louis (USA) and the founder John Francis Queeny named the company after his wife’s maiden name.
Today, Monsanto has 18,000 employees and its annual revenues are measured in billions of dollars.
The global revolt against Monsanto broke out because that huge corporation is selling GMO seeds, although there are doubts regarding its safety for human health.
In addition, the company repeatedly recharged sold seed. If a farmer plans on planting seeds saved from the previous harvest, he must pay patent right fees to Monsanto Corporation.
With that policy Monsanto opposes ten thousand years old human practice of keeping seed from one harvest for the next harvest.
Since the fee for each subsequent use of the seed is high, many farmers have been brought to the brink of collapse.
Last year, five million Brazilian farmers filed a lawsuit against Monsanto, demanding 6.2 billion euros in damages.
The Brazilian Court in the first instance ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding them two billion euros in damages. However, the dispute is still pending, because Monsanto has appealed.
The FDA and Obama protect Monsanto
In the United States, Monsanto enjoys the affection of FDA; a State Agency called Food and Drug Administration, which duly approved its demands.
The protesters claim that the top positions in FDA are held by former directors of Monsanto, which greatly help Monsanto.
Recently, the Congress and the President Barack Obama approved the common law that, among other things, prevents the courts from banning the sale of Monsanto's genetically modified seeds.
In the USA, this law was derisively called the "Law for the Protection of Monsanto."
Risks of GMO
Studies have shown that genetically modified food is not harmless.
It has the potential to cause serious health problems such as malignant tumors, infertility, immune disorders, allergies and birth defects.
American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) called on doctors to refer their patients, medical professionals and the public to avoid GM foods whenever possible.
Genetically modified seeds are dangerous for the environment.
For example, scientists have found that GMO seeds contributed to the deaths of the world's bee population.
Allergies due to GMO food
Dr. Peter Lind from Salem, Oregon, said in a Washington Times that some of the types of allergic disorders are caused by GMO foods.
The two separated studies have proven that genetically modified corn can cause an allergic reaction.
Studies have also shown that genetically modified potatoes with cod genes cause allergic reactions.
Ten-year study on genetically modified peas determined that they cause an allergic reaction of the lungs in mice.
British researchers in 1999 found that in the period of 12 months the rate of allergic reactions to soy in the UK rose by 50 per cent, just at the time when UK started importing GMO soy from USA.
In defense of future generations
Tami Monroe Canal, the main organizer and founder of the Facebook page dedicated to Monsanto march, said the protest was initiated to protect her two daughters.
"I feel that Monsanto harms health, fertility and longevity of my daughter's generation. I could not sit still and wait for someone else to do something."
Member of the organizing committee for Greece, Roberta Gogos, spoke about the importance of protests in southern Europe, which is torn by harsh austerity measures.
"Monsanto is trying to bring down the EU regulations, which are binding to all member states and mandate that all GM food items have to be accordingly labeled. We fear that Monsanto will eventually achieve its goal."
What are the protesters calling for
Protest organizers invite consumers around the world to buy only GMO-free products and boycott Monsanto and related manufacturers that use GMO ingredients.
Opponents of GMOs advocate for civil pressure on lawmakers to force producers of genetically modified foods to put GMO labels on their products so that the customers can see the content of the product.
They advise citizens to insist on additional scientific research on the health effects of GMO foods.
Politicians who favor the producers of GMO foods should be disclosed, removed from power in elections and be called on for civil and criminal liability.
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