Farmers and Seed Producers Launch Preemptive Strike against Monsanto

[Calz]

Another round of David vs Goliath (right up there with 1.5 million female Wal-Mart employees filing a discrimination suit).

How *dare* my farmland get in the way of your windblown seed


Lawsuit Filed To Protect Themselves from Unfair Patent Enforcement on Genetically Modified Seed

Action Would Prohibit Biotechnology Giant from Suing Organic Farmers and Seed Growers If Innocently Contaminated by Roundup Ready Genes

NEW York: On behalf of 60 family farmers, seed businesses and organic agricultural organizations, the Public Patent Foundation (PUBPAT) filed suit today against Monsanto Company challenging the chemical giant’s patents on genetically modified seed. The organic plaintiffs were forced to sue preemptively to protect themselves from being accused of patent infringement should their crops ever become contaminated by Monsanto’s genetically modified seed.

Monsanto has sued farmers in the United States and Canada, in the past, when their patented genetic material has inadvertently contaminated their crops.


http://www.cornucopia.org/2011/03/fa...inst-monsanto/

[daledo]

About time people stand up to Monsatano ... I just made that up, I have no idea if it is original though haha

They are a big part of the problem with our health. The corner the market on all the top crops, corn, soybeans, cotton and many others. Besides cotton the others we consume internally and I have a big problem with roundup and other chemicals in my food.

[Calz]

Posted by daledo (here)
About time people stand up to Monsatano ... I just made that up, I have no idea if it is original though haha

They are a big part of the problem with our health. The corner the market on all the top crops, corn, soybeans, cotton and many others. Besides cotton the others we consume internally and I have a big problem with roundup and other chemicals in my food.

Europe has done a good job of keeping monsanto out (or at least slowing them down).

The focal part of the lawsuit tackles one of the most insane, insidious and ludricrous big corporation power grabs of all time.

How they have gotten away with suing farmers just because some seed innocently blew into their fields is beyond belief.

[meeradas]

Posted by Calz_Avaretard (here)
[...] some seed innocently blew into their fields [...]

Maybe, just maybe, it is like this:

someone [innocently?] blew some seed into their fields.

[Arrowwind]

Europe may be doing a good job but I will tell you right now, they have invaded Mexico.

[Snowbird]

Posted by Calz_Avaretard (here)
How *dare* my farmland get in the way of your windblown seed

! This precisely describes the insane insanity in which we live.

[Herbert]

When Charles/Atticus/Philippe first suggested we might begin a joint conscious focused intention toward the most offending corporations, I immediately thought Monsanto. Food is the rock upon which civilization is built. There is already enough risk and stress involved in farming, without adding to it the insane danger of the wind carrying genetically modified pollen from a neighbouring field into your healthy crops. So long as Monsanto is backed by law, that danger of pollution will always exist.

Is there a conceivable way for Avalon to take action in the name of preserving our food? Is it conceivable that focused intention could work its magic in a feasable and acceptable way that everyone could get behind?

[Belle]

Taken from the following article..."the FDA says, "there is no generalized right to bodily and physical health.""
This is part of the FDA's response to a lawsuit about raw milk, but I think it applies to their overall arrogance.

(NaturalNews) In a response to a lawsuit filed by the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund (FTCLDF), the FDA has articulated its belief that there is no such thing as a right to health or to purchase or consume any given food.

The FTCLDF has sued the FDA for banning the interstate shipment or sale of raw milk products, alleging that the policy deprives consumers and a food buying group owner "of their fundamental and inalienable rights of (a) traveling across State lines with raw dairy products legally obtained and possessed; (b) providing for the care and well being of themselves and their families, including their children; and (c) producing, obtaining and consuming the foods of choice for themselves and their families, including their children."

In a legal response, the FDA countered that "there is no 'deeply rooted' historical tradition of unfettered access to food of all kinds." As evidence for this position, the agency cites "the dietary laws of biblical times."

The FDA goes further, stating that "there is no absolute right to consume or feed children any particular kind of food [because] comprehensive federal regulation of the food supply has been in effect at least since Congress enacted the Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906. ... Thus, plaintiffs' claim to a fundamental privacy interest in obtaining 'foods of their own choice' for themselves and their families is without merit."

In other words, the agency has stated that because Congress has given FDA the authority to regulate food, there is no such thing as a right to acquire any given food.

Furthermore, the FDA says, "there is no generalized right to bodily and physical health."

"Finally, even if such a right did exist, it would not render FDA's regulations unconstitutional because prohibiting the interstate sale and distribution of unpasteurized milk promotes 'bodily and physical health.'"

Sources for this story include: http://www.thecompletepatient.com/j... http://www.thecompletepatient.com/j....

[DawgBone]

Food is the ultimate weapon.

If corporations are people, Monsanto wears jackboots.

[jackovesk]

[Arpheus]

That lawsuit is pointless they are going to end up losing it tho,why?Because monsanto has everyone in their pocket including the supreme court of the usa,dont fool yourselves the system has been bought long ago they own everything and the organic growers are gonna end up getting the short nd of the stick sadly .

[Providence]

At least this might be an effective method to get some much needed publicity for the farmers that are being ravaged and beaten by the likes of Monsanto. There appears to be an awakening towards this type of corporatocracy, and every little bit of press will help. I only hope that it gets the press it deserves and there would be some investigative reporting on the subject. I guess it depends on whether or not there is another major news story that breaks, such as Charlie Sheen, or Lady Gaga...

[sygh]

Posted by Herbert (here)
When Charles/Atticus/Philippe first suggested we might begin a joint conscious focused intention toward the most offending corporations, I immediately thought Monsanto. Food is the rock upon which civilization is built. There is already enough risk and stress involved in farming, without adding to it the insane danger of the wind carrying genetically modified pollen from a neighbouring field into your healthy crops. So long as Monsanto is backed by law, that danger of pollution will always exist.

Is there a conceivable way for Avalon to take action in the name of preserving our food? Is it conceivable that focused intention could work its magic in a feasable and acceptable way that everyone could get behind?

I thought the same thing. Maybe if we rallied behind this case? Also, there are organizations, as the one below...

http://organicconsumers.org/monsanto/index.cfm

[Nervana]

There is a movement named Millions Against Monsanto that is gaining support to try to stop this corporate monster. You can join the fight and try to spread the news. We are all at risk, once food and water are controlled by the elites, we are all doomed.

[Snowbird]

Posted by Nervana (here)
There is a movement named Millions Against Monsanto that is gaining support to try to stop this corporate monster. You can join the fight and try to spread the news. We are all at risk, once food and water are controlled by the elites, we are all doomed.

World Food Day: October 16, 2011

Our Goal: 435 chapters, one for each Congressional District x 2300 supporters in each chapter = 1,000,000 people against Monsanto, in support of our right to know and choose what's in our food.


Millions Against Monsanto

http://organicconsumers.org/monsanto/index.cfm

[Arpheus]

They own the media as well,so what makes you think this sort of thing will get any publicity or MSM time anywhere?Keep in mind these moguls own everything under different names or corporations it really sucks tho big time,i am not trying to be negative about it either,dont get me wrong i think this is great but at the same time given the reality of the situation to see this getting any real big fruition just seems unlikely to me,that of course is just my humble opinion.

[taizen]

I feel this whole issue isn't about Monsanto. It is about the farmers who choose to go with Monsanto. Change the mind, change the choice. If the choice is money, the mind will find the direct path. If there was going to be money in using non-gmo's, then IMHO, the farmers would go that route. But as far as I can tell, the farmers are only choosing what comes most natural, the path that leads to the item which will support their own family. Monsanto is just the most widely known supplier. There are other companies out there like Monsanto, however, those guys are under the radar. (look up agritechcompanies) Here is an interesting link: http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...-crop-research .
What can we do? Well, for starters, IMO, people should support their local farmer's markets. Buy from farmer's who use the heirloom seeds; write to your state's rep's, senators and congressmen; continue to educate your self and those around you about the folly of gmo's and listening to positive gmo propaganda; lastly, meditate on the positive - people are actually becoming pro active and wanting their voices heard; plant an heirloom seed garden of your own (it can be one seed or a whole garden-again, it's the positive thought that counts!)
I love and respect myself and those around me.

[trenairio]

This needs to gain widespread attention soon.

[Alecs]

I've decided to take action, namely to save my money and buy a small farm away from other farms (wind-wise) and do my thing of growing organics and as many heirloom cultivars as possible. This is a more important task IMO than getting, say, an advanced degree. If anyone here is a small farmer and could offer some advice, I'd appreciate a PM. Thanks.

Erin

[DawgBone]

Posted by Alecs (here)
I've decided to take action, namely to save my money and buy a small farm away from other farms (wind-wise) and do my thing of growing organics and as many heirloom cultivars as possible. This is a more important task IMO than getting, say, an advanced degree. If anyone here is a small farmer and could offer some advice, I'd appreciate a PM. Thanks.

Erin

Fabulous goal!