Help Farmers Fight Monsanto

Via Food Democracy Now

On January 31, family farmers will take part in the first phase of a court case filed to protect farmers from genetic trespass by Monsanto’s GMO seed, which contaminates organic and non-GMO farmer’s crops and opens them up to abusive lawsuits. In the past two decades, Monsanto’s seed monopoly has grown so powerful that they control the genetics of nearly 90% of five major commodity crops including corn, soybeans, cotton, canola and sugar beets.

In many cases farmers are forced to stop growing certain crops to avoid genetic contamination and potential lawsuits. Between 1997 and 2010, Monsanto admits to filing 144 lawsuits against America’s family farmers, while settling another 700 out of court for undisclosed amounts. Due to these aggressive lawsuits, Monsanto has created an atmosphere of fear in rural America and driven dozens of farmers into bankruptcy.

Monsanto: Extinction - A GMO Primer

H/T to @RachaelAshe and @EdibleVancouver for this:

Maine town becomes first to declare food sovereignty

LOVE it:

Via GrownInTheCity: The town of Sedgwick, Maine, population 1,012 (according to the 2000 census), has become the first town in the United States to pass a Food Sovereignty ordinance. In doing so, the town declared their right to produce and sell local foods of their choosing, without the oversight of State or federal regulation.

Monsanto, Dow to begin pushing dangerous 2,4-D herbicide as 'solution' to superweeds

via NaturalNews: The Dow Chemical Company has sponsored a study that aims to position the 2,4-D herbicide, a popular commercial herbicide, as the solution to Roundup-resistant "superweeds." But 2,4-D-resistant "superweeds" have already begun emerging as well, which suggests that increased chemical interventions of any kind will only make the superweed problem worse, not better.

When the number of Americans on food stamps goes up, JP Morgan makes more money

Hmmm:

Via EconomicCollapse/Bloomberg: JP Morgan is the largest processor of food stamp benefits in the United States. JP Morgan has contracted to provide food stamp debit cards in 26 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. JP Morgan is paid for each case that it handles, so that means that the more Americans that go on food stamps, the more profits JP Morgan makes. Yes, you read that correctly.

Food "Safety" Bill Passed (Barely) - What's Next?

Thanks to the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund for this update on S. 510 - the Food Safety Modernization Act:

111th U.S. Congress - FDA Food Safety Modernization Act [formerly S.510 now in H.R. 3082]

7 Reasons to Oppose the "Food Safety" Bill

Via our friends at DownsizeDC.org:

Stop the FDA Takeover of Your Food Supply

Here's the latest on S. 510, the Food Safety Modernization Act, now up for vote:

"If the bill does become law you can say goodbye to farmers markets, organically grown produce, raw milk – the kinds of food increasing numbers of Americans have been producing and seeking out.

Raw Foods Raid - The Fight For the Right To Eat What You Want

Armed government agents on the rampage to protect you from... RAW FOODS???

Top 6 Ways to Identify & Avoid GMO Foods

[reddit]

Take the "Replace Roundup" Challenge!

Monolithic agribusiness & biotech corporations like Monsanto are gaining more and more power over our food supply, thanks in part to Congress creating policies that give them competitive advantage while harming small farmers & competitors, but also because we consume their products every day, without knowing it.

Want to do something about it? Watch this video, then accept the challenge below:

FDA poised to flood food system with engineered animals

The FDA is pushing for approval of the first genetically engineered animal intended for human consumption.

Monsanto & Big Government: A Love Story

The US government has paved the way for Monsanto, the world's largest and most powerful seed company (among other things), to own our food supply AND our nation's farmers.

A few key excerpts from an article in Blacklisted News give a pretty clear overview of how this has happened:

You Have "No Absolute Right to Consume ... Any Particular Food"

Thanks to CampaignForLiberty for this:

FDA's Response to FTCLDF Suit over Interstate Raw Milk Ban

http://www.ftcldf.org/litigation-FDA.htm for details on the case

10th Grader Asks: Is Monsanto Evil?

High school student Amelia chose Monsanto as the subject of her year-long 10th grade project. Her goal was to research the company and ultimately answer the question, "Is Monsanto Evil?"

The Chemistry of Monsanto: 100% Safe. Unless...

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd do a little research on my favorite company... Monsanto. Specifically, the "safety" protocol they used to bring their flagship product, RoundUp weed-killer, to market. Disgusting, really:

'GMO-free' is fastest-growing retailer brand claim

The fastest growing health and wellness claim among store brands in 2009 was "GMO free," with sales of these items up 67% to $60.2 million, says Tom Pirovan of Nielsen Co.

Monsanto Genetically Modified Corn Linked to Organ Failure

Joel Salatin (Polyface Farms) on Food Safety & Small Farms

S. 510: Small Farms Under Attack AGAIN

DNA tests show many foods are mislabeled

Are you eating what you think you're eating?

From the Canadian Press:

Two American high school students have used unique Canadian DNA technology to identify numerous mislabelled food products in New York City markets, deepening concerns over the widespread problem of fraudulence in the marketplace.

From mislabelled fish to cow's milk being passed off as pricey sheep's milk, the Grade 12 students said a high percentage of the foods they collected as samples were not what they were said to be.

Libertarian Lunatic Farmer Joel Salatin Named Person of the Year!

One of my favorite people ever, Joel Salatin, is recognized as Person of the Year by The Hook:
(from Chelsea Green)

Christian-libertarian-environmentalist-capitalist-lunatic farmer and “high priest of the pasture” (New York Times Magazine) Joel Salatin has been farming sustainably for decades. His fiery oratorical style and verbal dexterity has earned him legions of fans and followers. Now, after a glowing profile in Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma and a couple of star turns in high-profile documentaries on food safety, most notably Food, Inc. and Fresh, people are really starting to sit up and take notice.

Whole Foods Health Care

Don't you wish more businesspeople were like John Mackey? Check out this great interview in Reason magazine:

Court: Monsanto guilty of false claims about product safety

France's highest court has ruled that US agrochemical giant Monsanto had not told the truth about the safety of its best-selling weed-killer, Roundup. The court confirmed an earlier judgment that Monsanto had falsely advertised its herbicide as "biodegradable" and claimed it "left the soil clean".

Judge rules against Monsanto’s GM sugar beets

By Caroline Scott-Thomas, 23-Sep-2009

A federal judge ruled on Monday that the USDA failed to adequately assess the environmental impact of Monsanto’s genetically modified (GM) sugar beets before introducing them into the food supply.

If you like Organic / GMO-Free foods... TOO BAD!

Thanks to Aaron for sending me this rather horrifying link:

Racing Toward a Roundup-Ready Food Future

UPDATE: Guide to finding non-GMO foods (thanks Eric)

Here's an excerpt:

The Whole Foods Alternative to Health Care Reform

By JOHN MACKEY, original link here

UPDATE: John Mackey's response to calls for a boycott of Whole Foods

"The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out
of other people's money."

—Margaret Thatcher

New Technology to Support Vibrant Local Food Systems

Here's a little update on what I've been doing with my new tech/food startup - Plenticulture.

Urgent Action: Stop the NAIS, Anti-Family Farms Bill

HR2749 Up for REVOTE TODAY (THURSDAY)!

Call Your Rep NOW: 202-224-3121

Thanks to Andrew from Campaign for Liberty for the head's up:

This just in from the National Independent Consumers and Farmers Association (NICFA):

VOTE on HR 2749 POSSIBLE TUESDAY. CALL TODAY.

Invite friends to take our "Replace Roundup" Challenge!

Our goal is to get as many people as possible to accept our challenge -- please use this tool to invite your friends to join us!

[ Learn about the Roundup Challenge HERE ]

Help promote the Roundup Challenge

I just started running a promoted listing on YouTube for my "Roundup Challenge" video. If you'd like to contribute a few bucks to keep the promotion running longer, you may do so below:

$4/month

Will Small Food Producers Suffer the Same Fate as Small Toy Makers? CSPIA, Food Safety & the Destruction of Small Business

Congress is at it again, with a new draft food safety bill expected to go to legislative hearing June 3rd. While the details have yet to be worked out, it's looking very similar to HR 759, which suffered from the usual one-size fits all approach coupled with overly broad language.

Why is this a big deal?

The End of Small Farms, Part II - HR 759 is in committee, worse than HR 875 (the Monsanto bill)

Our food freedom is under attack! HR 759 has eclipsed HR 875 as a danger to America's small farmers. Currently in committee (and more likely to pass), NOW is the time to act to stop this threat to our freedom to buy, grow and eat real foods. A vote is expected by Memorial day.

Do your own research:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-759
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h759/show

The End of Small Farms? What you should know (and DO) about HR 875, HR 759, NAIS and Monsanto

What is NAIS?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Animal_Identification_System
NAIS: http://nonais.org/

America's small farmers are under attack through a series of bills presented under the guise of "food safety." I don't want to lose my freedom to grow, buy and eat real foods. Let's fight for our small farmers who not only need our protection and support, but actual freeing from government intrusion, control and harm.

Natural Alternatives to Roundup Herbicide
  • All Down Green Chemistry Herbicide
  • Matran 2
  • Dig them up with a hoe or shovel - yes, this one requires slightly more work, but on the upside, it's great exercise ;)
  • Vinegar (acetic acid) - spray directly on weeds
  • Boiling water - pour boiling water on weeds in sidewalk cracks or similar areas. (I tried this and the results were so-so...)